The first issue of All-New Wolverine hit this week, with Laura “X-23” Kinney officially taking on the role vacated by the death of James “Logan” Howlett lo, those many months ago. Reactions to the new status quo are mixed, but for my part, I’m a little bit psyched to see a former teen hero graduating to one of the big-league costumes. Granted, she hasn’t yet taken his place in the Avengers lineup nor is there any indication of whether this is a long-term plan or a short-term stunt, but it’s gratifying to see Marvel picking up at least some of the “Legacy Hero” chips that DC so callously discarded as part of the Flashpoint retcon. If All-New Wolverine does stick around, it could also change the dramatic balance of any number of stories leading us to today’s best-at-what-it-does query…
The MS-QOTD (pronounced, as always, “misquoted”) isn’t in the cynical business of guessing how long a plot point will last, but is interested in one part of the equation, asking: Are you in favor of the All-New Wolverine to permanently (whatever that means in comics) replace the original?
8 Comments
Well, the original hasn’t felt like the original to me in a long time, so why not? Wolverine’s appeal felt strongest when he was a mystery with impulse control issues, and they’ve pretty much answered all those questions and resolved the rage. Then we had a couple more decades of story on top.
And besides,I think I’ve aged out of Marvel’s target audience; and really to grab the new younger readers it’s important to have something that feels new and fresh for them, e.g.. “This is not your father’s Wolverine.” IMO, It’s often better, more effective, to develop a new character to explore paradigms that speak to the modern audience than it is to try to force an old character to be something it isn’t (even if it’s something it once was but no longer is.)
I’m fine with it. I actually find this a reasonable shift rather than getting a “new” character to fill that role. Ideally I would prefer they just leave the “Wolverine” name vacant until the unavoidable future time they bring Logan back (because we all know it will happen eventually), but at least this doesn’t feel forced like it would if they just threw some brand new character into the costume and name.
I am fine with it, I actually like X-23 a lot and think it’s awesome that she has a chance to be in the spotlight. Besides, alternate reality Logan is in like 3 other books if you want him too,
No not permanently
Im never in favor of replacing established characters permanently. You gotta remember, someone somewhere is a fan of the character that got shafted. Replacement will always feel like cheap knock off for them. I know I feel like that in case of Thor and Cap.
Sure. I am not one to miss Logan, and Laura has some interesting possibilities.
But I liked her better as X-23, or just plain Laura.
Anyone and everyone is replacable.
Wally is my favorite Flash. If we went by the idea that they couldn’t be replaced, the DC Silver Age couldn’t have occurred.
Dick is long overdue on being the permanent Batman.
Ryan Choi should have stayed the Atom or for that matter recreate the DC and Marvel Universes for all that I care, as long as the stories are good.
I have read multiple versions of the Shield and really like the current iteration of the Black Hood.
That brief time when DC used ‘legacy’ characters was easily one of their best.
Wally as the Flash, Dick Grayson assuming the mantle of the Batman (with Damien as Robin) after Bruce’s ‘death,’ Kyle as the Green Lantern …
It allowed time to take its natural course. The universe grew and matured. People grew into their new roles, trying to fill the shoes of their mentors who’d held the role before.
It’s actually one of the things that I like about what Marvel is doing now, with Sam taking over as Captain America, Jane picking up the hammer and so on. It allows far more character growth than simply holding to the status quo.