WAY, DILLON NAMED AS WOLVERINE: ORIGINS TEAM

[MattBrady]

Yesterday saw the announcement of a new, ongoing Wolverine series with the April debut of Wolverine: Origins, and today? Marvel has confirmed for Newsarama that Daniel Way and Steve Dillon will be the creative team on the new series, and Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada will be the series cover artist.

The pairing will mark the fourth project for the team, having previously collaborated on Bullseye: Greatest Hits, Punisher vs. Bullseye, and Supreme Power: Nighthawk.

As Way explained to Newsarama, the storyline coming up in Origin is in fact, what he had originally plotted out for the main Wolverine series, where the post House of M exploration of Wolverine’s past has begun with the five part “Origins and Endings.”

The shift and subsequent launch of a new series came as a result, Way said, of some of the coming events in the next 12-18 months. “The decision was made to shunt it over to its own title so that we could tell our story without having to make allowances for crossovers. This is a big story - it needs, and deserves, its own space. Also, we introduce early on that everyone is either already compromised or would become compromised by Logan involving them. For him to do what needs to be done, it is essential that he rolls solo on this one.”

As for Way’s gut reaction to the notion that his story was seen as something strong enough to launch into its own series… “Well, as geeky as it sounds, I was honored,” Way said. “This is one of Marvel's top two characters, so getting the green light to go ahead meant a great deal to me. I'm confident, however, that I'll nail this one - I've been laying out the story for over a year now, cross-checking facts, keeping an eye on continuity, networking with other writers…in short, I've done my homework. To tell you the truth, I feel like the cat that ate the canary because only I and three other people on the planet know where this is all going…but only I know how it's going to get there.”

Way also commented on the non-sequential nature of Wolverine’s exploration of his past, saying of the series’ start: “We start where Logan starts - which, obviously, isn’t at the beginning. He just got a century’s worth of memories dumped into his head so, just like anyone facing an overwhelming workload, he’s going to have to prioritize. Keep two things in mind: 1.) Due to the fact that we’re dealing with so much ‘lost time,’ the trail has gone extremely cold in most cases…therefore, he has to work backward; and 2.) There are those who have every reason to want Logan ‘back on the leash,’ so he needs to stay a step ahead of them in order to continue on his quest.

"Oh, and one other thing: Just because Logan has his memories back, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he has all the answers.”

Jumping in and telling the origin story that virtually dozens of Marvel writers Marvel writer have touched, added to, or played with over the years isn’t something to do without preparation, as Way mentioned earlier. Elaborating further, he brought his research down to earth a little.

“I’d be setting myself up if I said that I’ve read everything Wolverine-related every published…but I can say that I’ve come damn close. The goal of this series is to not simply recount his past, but to explain it…so, yes, I will link up the different stories. Believe it or not, there already are patterns and systems of control imposed on his timeline…ironically, it was the disparities that helped me see these patterns.”

And speaking of the patters he’s found, Way said that he’s going to get a little meta in his explorations, adding some rationale behind the fact that Wolverine does seem to pop up everywhere in the Marvel Universe. “Why is Logan always in the right place at the right time?” Way asked, rhetorically. “Why do the women he loves always seem to die? But, while we're going to be exploring Logan's past - and explaining it - at the same time, pushing him forward on his quest for revenge…but revenge against whom? Short answer: Everyone. No one is innocent.”

Tied into Wolverine’s “right place/right time” nature which can lead to slight to moderate overexposure, Marvel did confirm that, beginning in June, Wolverine will not be a part of the two X-Men teams (X-Men and Uncanny, though he will be appearing in Astonishing).

Last but not least, Way stressed that the series – which will lean on as much a personal journey as a physical one - will be that much stronger thanks to the addition of Dillon.

“What Steve brings to the table = and this isn’t just my opinion, this is what all of his fans already know - is the ability to convey characterization in razor-sharp detail. This comes from several factors, not the least of which is his impeccable visual storytelling. The added bonus - and this is what makes him perfect for this particular Wolverine story - is that Steve draws bad-ass mother____ers like no one else. This series focuses on a man with a century-long ____-list who happens to have both the ability and the stone-cold determination to make everyone on that list pay in full…to have anyone other than Steve Dillon illustrate it would just be stupid.”

[jlawesome]

Great creative team. May be worth checking out after all.

[Don Mega]

Although Dillon´s not as good as he used 2 be anymore I think he´s a good choice.

Haven´t read anything from Mr. Way yet.

Hmmm....I guess I´ll check out the first arc.

[NightRiver]

Wolverine looks silly with that sword.

[Big Red]

I like the use of the brown costume.

This alone may make me check this out.

[Adam Sasher]

So will Daniel Way be writing both Wolverine comics or is the current Wolverine book gonna be getting new writer when Origins starts?

Looks like it will be very cool though, love Dillons artwork on these types of stories (actually sounds similar to Preacher, the whole journey aspect of it anyways). Looking forward to this one should be a winner.

[Punchy]

Steve Dillon?

I'm officially interested.

[blankpoint]

I enjoyed, in the most recent issue, Dillon's depiction of maggots coming out of a corpse's eyeball, and Nighthawk's subsequent vomit explosion.

[Paladin]

I think the art looks at least as good as Dillon's art on Preacher.

I've been somewhat satisfied with Way's Hulk.

I also dig the brown costume.

I'll give it a shot.

[JustAnothaSucka]

Originally posted by NightRiver
Wolverine looks silly with that sword.

feelin ya right there. how stupid to have a guy who has claws wielding a sword.

[BlueThunderArmy]

Ok, this could be really good. As I posted in yesterday's thread, Wolverine is far from my favorite character, but I do like the idea of this long, varied history that needs to be sorted. I'm on for at least the first arc.

[Lestat de Lioncourt]

HOLY MOSES! I JUST GEEK-GASMED!

This is fantastic news! A great xmas pressie too, haven't been online in two weeks heh. I read and enjoyed House of M and that splash page of Logan waking up sent shivers down my spine. THIS is the storyline ive been waiting to read since i started reading Wolverine with issue 123! CANT BLEEDIN WAIT GUVNAR!

[JustAnothaSucka]

Marvel's Danny Way == Dc's Geoff Johns?

[Skully]

I'll stick to the usual Wolverine ongoing thanks.

I've lost interest with Way already.

[eh_ver]

Hmmm. I have serious doubts about a second Wolvie book (some would say there's no need for a FIRST Wolvie book), but I dig the creative team. I'm also really happy to hear that he'll be off most the X-teams starting in June. Good move. But seriously, get him off that Avengers team. Seriously. That's just stupid. Can't say I'll be picking this up for sure, but I'm mighty tempted. If he had gotten his memories back from something other than the House of M travesty, then I would likely be a lot more interested. Oh, and I'm surprised that we haven't heard anything on if he's still going to go by the name Logan. Granted, he may, in actuallity BE a Logan, but with his memories back, you can't say that he would necessarily WANT to go by that name.

[JustAnothaSucka]

ok this is it...


I thought Wolvie learned about himself at the end of one the Assault on Weapon's Plus story arc that Morrison wrote... oh wait that's right that didn't happen,

[OM]

...Hee! This could actually be a *fun* book, and it's been a while since I ever thought about an X-book - much less a ____ing Marvel book - as anything along the lines of fun. The key here is going to be Dillon's art, because anyone who's read Preacher knows that Dillon has an incredible talent for death and mayhem, especially where facial expressions are concerned. No other artist can capture that "oh s*h*i*t, I have just been f'ucking killed." look!

Ah, a Wolverine - Saint of Killers crossover. Maybe when the current Marvel "regime" is removed with someone more DC-friendly...

[bizarrolike]

Quesada is doing the series covers......beyond cool

[lonewulf]

Originally posted by JustAnothaSucka
ok this is it...


I thought Wolvie learned about himself at the end of one the Assault on Weapon's Plus story arc that Morrison wrote... oh wait that's right that didn't happen,

Man, that story was just dumb. Dumb.

[Skully]

Originally posted by JustAnothaSucka
Marvel's Danny Way == Dc's Geoff Johns?

No, Johns got a better workrate.

[Punchy]

Originally posted by JustAnothaSucka
Marvel's Danny Way == Dc's Geoff Johns?

Why are you insulting Way?

[Blind Assassin]

yee-haw!

[gredenko]

Yikes, is that the art? I'm not familiar with either creator, but that art has my interest waning significantly after the announcement yesterday. It looks like Wolverine as played by Bruce Campbell, a little.

[Kolimar]

Way is OK but, even though I love Dillon, I'm not completely sure he's the best artist they could have put on this (and that scene with the katana shows why). Oh well. Waiting for the first issue.

Originally posted by MattBrady
Tied into Wolverine’s “right place/right time” nature which can lead to slight to moderate overexposure, Marvel did confirm that, beginning in June, Wolverine will not be a part of the two X-Men teams (X-Men and Uncanny, though he will be appearing in Astonishing).

Well done.

[saiyanspider]

Nice artwork.

I was hoping for a redesign of the old brown and gold colors. Something similar to the current yellow and blue. Maybe make it similar to the yellow and blue, and remove the stripes and the shoulder pads.