Comic Info
Comic Name: The Astounding Wolf-Man
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Jason Howard
# of Issues: 7
Release Date: 2008
The Astounding Wolf-Man #1
Reprints The Astounding Wolf-Man #1-7 (May 2007-July 2008). Gary Hampton has his life and the life of his family turned upside down when he is attacked by a beast on vacation. Now a werewolf, Gary finds himself teamed with a vampire named Zechariah and trying to manage his new life as a supernatural superhero. With questions about his origin and abilities, Gary hopes Zechariah can guide him through the transition, but Zechariah might have his own agenda.
Written by Robert Kirkman, The Astounding Wolf-Man—Volume 1 is an Image Comics series taking place in the Invincible Universe. The series features art by Jason Howard and the first issue was a giveaway on Free Comic Book Day on May 2, 2007 with a Director’s Cut of issue one being released in July 2007. The issues in this volume were also collected as part of The Astounding Wolf-Man Complete Collection.
I am a fan of Invincible. The series is a lot of fun, is surprising, and can get really, really dark while still being light. The Astonishing Wolf-Man had the potential to bridge the gap between Invincible and Kirkman’s other famed series The Walking Dead by focusing on the supernatural aspect of the Invincible Universe. In some respects it did, but in other respects, it just feels like a natural branch of Invincible.
The Astounding Wolf-Man #5
Invincible had a bunch of opportunity by creating a world with rich characters, and it was a little odd how The Astonishing Wolf-Man rolled out. There were so many great Invincible characters that could have carried their own book that it was weird that Kirkman gave this new character his new book without introducing him ahead of time. As a result, it kind of felt like Wolf-Man wasn’t really part of the Invincible Universe, and it felt like with the other title I had enough to fill my need.
That being said, the first volume of The Astounding Wolf-Man is kind of fun. You have the mentality of Invincible combined with the supernatural. Wolf-Man (intentionally generically named) is much like all the heroes of the Invincible Universe in that he’s really flawed…and anything can happen as a result. Much like Kirkman’s other series, you never know what is going to happen issue-to-issue and this volume ends on a cliffhanger that almost doesn’t fit the tone of the rest of the collection.
The Astounding Wolf-Man—Volume 1 does hook you in this sense. If you enjoy Invincible (more so than The Walking Dead), you will enjoy this branch title. Though the concept is goofy and some of the issues feel a bit stunted with ideas (pretty much he just runs around and fights things when the plot isn’t going on), the series shows potential. The Astounding Wolf-Man—Volume 1 is followed by The Astounding Wolf-Man—Volume 2.
Related Links:
The Astounding Wolf-Man—Volume 2
