This past weekend Marvel announced their next 3 graphic novels in the Season One collection of retold origins. The next 3 classic Marvel characters to have their tales retold are Wolverine, Iron Man, Thor! All 3 original graphic novels are schedule for release next year, with some rather incredible creators on board to put together these stories.

First up we have Thor: Season One, which will be handled by writer Matthew Sturges (Jack of Fables, JSA All-Stars). Sturges is writing an adveture for a much younger Thor, well before his time on Earth. The story will of course include Thor’s evil brother Loki, likely in a less mischievous fashion then we are used to, and a less voluminous Volstagg, amongst other iconic Asgardians. Joining Sturges on the book is artist Pepe Larraz (The Mighty Thor, Captain America). You can check out three pages of Larraz’s beautiful art on the upcoming title below:

 

The best there is at what he does is going to require two writers to handle his tale in Wolverine: Season one, as writers Ben Blacker and Ben Acker of “Supernatural” and “The Thrilling Adventure Hour” join artist Salva Espin (Deadpool, Generation Hope). The two Ben’s are basing their story around Len Wein’s first appearance story of Wolverine, including Department H, Weapon X, his friendship with the Hudsons, and the costume of that time period. Yes, it will be the Hulk and Wendingo vs Wolverine story. Obviously the writers are fans of this early Wolverine appearance, but the artist even has a generational legacy attachment. “Wolverine is always a great challenge, a challenge with side-whiskers and sharp claws,” Salva Espin says. “My father—Salvador Espin Sr.—has always been a Marvel fan, so he lent me his 70’s classic comic collection for research about Wolvie’s first steps in the Marvel Universe.” From the art we’ve seen and are sharing with you, his research is certainly paying off. But what do the writers have to say about their plans? “This story is about Wolverine’s internal conflict between man and beast as he throws down against two other characters—Hulk and Wendigo—who have that same internal conflict,” Acker reveals. “So we got to highlight the berserker, the man resisting his demons, the gallows humor of a man aware of his limitations as he strives to exceed them. I am pleased that just as we got to show the animal lurking under the humanity, we also get to show that when he is at his most animal, he has humanity lurking just as ferociously underneath that surface”. Ben Blacker adds that “Besides the man vs. animal aspect, we talked about the moment when he pops his claws being important, the first time he puts on the yellow-and-blue costume, the shadowy conspiracies about his past—and present—his lack of memory, and, of course, where ‘bub’ came from.” Look for Acker, Blacker, and Espin’s Wolverine to see publication sometime next summer, until then we have a 3-page preview of Espin’s freshly inked art on the series.

 

And wrapping up the newly announced Season One titles is Iron Man: Season One. The new Iron Man graphic novel will be written by acclaimed comics creator, Howard Chaykin (Dark Horse Presents, Black Kiss II). The American Flagg creator has been working on quite a few Marvel titles recently, but Chaykin has only really dealt with Iron Man as an artist in his Invincible Iron Man #503 backup last year. But his writing seems to have impressed someone at Marvel enough to place him on the new Season One story along with artist Gerald Parel (S.H.I.E.L.D., Captain America). Gerald is known mostly for his impressive comic covers at Marvel, so it will be quite the treat finally getting to see him do some Marvel interiors. The story of Iron Man Season One will focus on many of the traditional elements of Iron Man’s origin, including his change from privileged playboy to hero with a conscience. The more offbeat aspects of Stark’s personality really drew Chaykin in to the book, which he was first offered all the way back in 2008. “His right wing politics, his alcoholism, his nihilism—and how all of these things were character flaws and character, too,”  are what Chaykin claims he found appealing characteristics of Tony Stark while writing the script for Iron Man Season one. The script has been finished for over 3 years now, but Iron Man Season One doesn’t see publication until April of 2013. Thankfully we have some stunningly painted art by Parel, down below, to help ease the further wait.