The Astounding Wolf-Man: Difference between revisions

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"When Gary Hampton is mauled and left for dead, his life takes a drastic turn! Gary is cursed -when the moon is full he transforms into a beast of the night - a werewolf! This curse will not be used for evil - witness the birth of the world's most unlikely new superhero - The Astounding Wolf-Man!"
"When Gary Hampton is mauled and left for dead, his life takes a drastic turn! Gary is cursed -when the moon is full he transforms into a beast of the night - a werewolf! This curse will not be used for evil - witness the birth of the world's most unlikely new superhero - The Astounding Wolf-Man!"


Created by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard, this [[Comic Book]] begins with a fairly simplistic concept: a werewolf superhero. What most product descriptions don't tell you, however, is that over its short-lived 25 issue run (July, 2007-November, 2010), the book quickly veers all over the place into multiple unexpected (and [[Darker and Edgier|arguably darker]]) territories very early in the series. Written by Robert Kirkman, famous for [[The Walking Dead]], the series is tied into the larger [[Image]] Comics superhero universe, and features frequent recurring characters from Kirkman's other work, [[Invincible (Comic Book)|Invincible]].
Created by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard, this [[Comic Book]] begins with a fairly simplistic concept: a werewolf superhero. What most product descriptions don't tell you, however, is that over its short-lived 25 issue run (July, 2007-November, 2010), the book quickly veers all over the place into multiple unexpected (and [[Darker and Edgier|arguably darker]]) territories very early in the series. Written by Robert Kirkman, famous for [[The Walking Dead]], the series is tied into the larger [[Image]] Comics superhero universe, and features frequent recurring characters from Kirkman's other work, [[Invincible]].


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* [[Cooldown Hug]]: Gary with Chloe {{spoiler|when they are finally reunited and talk things over.}}
* [[Cooldown Hug]]: Gary with Chloe {{spoiler|when they are finally reunited and talk things over.}}
* [[Covers Always Lie]]: The cover of issue #22 has Wolf-Man and Mecha-Maid about to kiss each other. They {{spoiler|do not kiss in that issue, or anywhere else in the series. In fact, no romantic interest between them is ever implied.}}
* [[Covers Always Lie]]: The cover of issue #22 has Wolf-Man and Mecha-Maid about to kiss each other. They {{spoiler|do not kiss in that issue, or anywhere else in the series. In fact, no romantic interest between them is ever implied.}}
* [[Crossover]]: Quite a few with ''[[Invincible (Comic Book)|Invincible]]''. Supporting Invincible character Cecil is even pretty much a main character for the latter half of Wolf-Man's run.
* [[Crossover]]: Quite a few with ''[[Invincible]]''. Supporting Invincible character Cecil is even pretty much a main character for the latter half of Wolf-Man's run.
** Recurring ''Capes'' villain Vault and some actual members of Capes Inc. also make an appearance. Kid Thor offers Gary a job at the company -- night shift, of course.
** Recurring ''Capes'' villain Vault and some actual members of Capes Inc. also make an appearance. Kid Thor offers Gary a job at the company -- night shift, of course.
** The Actioneers show up in ''Invincible'' a while after the end of their home series' run, with reformed Invincible rogue Powerplex as a new member.
** The Actioneers show up in ''Invincible'' a while after the end of their home series' run, with reformed Invincible rogue Powerplex as a new member.
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* [[Downer Ending]]: The first compiled volume of the series ends with issue #7, which has {{spoiler|Zechariah accidentally but brutally murdering Gary’s wife, and when Gary finds her mutilated body, his daughter walks in and believes he did it...as does pretty much everyone else in the world.}}
* [[Downer Ending]]: The first compiled volume of the series ends with issue #7, which has {{spoiler|Zechariah accidentally but brutally murdering Gary’s wife, and when Gary finds her mutilated body, his daughter walks in and believes he did it...as does pretty much everyone else in the world.}}
* [[Darker and Edgier]]/[[Growing the Beard]]: The first seven or so issues of the series, though gory at times, are fairly light and standard superhero fare. After {{spoiler|Gary’s wife is murdered}}, however, the story becomes much tighter and more serialized, the pace improves, the twists are huge and the stakes are constantly raised. [[Your Mileage May Vary|YYMV]], of course.
* [[Darker and Edgier]]/[[Growing the Beard]]: The first seven or so issues of the series, though gory at times, are fairly light and standard superhero fare. After {{spoiler|Gary’s wife is murdered}}, however, the story becomes much tighter and more serialized, the pace improves, the twists are huge and the stakes are constantly raised. [[Your Mileage May Vary|YYMV]], of course.
* [[Depending On the Writer]]: ''Wolf-Man'' and ''[[Invincible (Comic Book)|Invincible]]'' have an odd case of this happening between two series by the same writer with the character of Cecil Stedman, who appears in both series. In ''Wolf-Man'', Cecil is shown to be much nicer than in ''Invincible''; for example, he's willing to believe the best about Wolf-Man (that {{spoiler|he didn't kill his wife}}), whereas he always believes the worst about Invincible (that {{spoiler|he's a bad guy working with his father}}). On the other hand it's fairly well-known that Cecil tends to hold grudges (by his own admission) and Gary has never given Cecil a ''reason'' to doubt him, unlike Omni-Man or Invincible.
* [[Depending on the Writer]]: ''Wolf-Man'' and ''[[Invincible]]'' have an odd case of this happening between two series by the same writer with the character of Cecil Stedman, who appears in both series. In ''Wolf-Man'', Cecil is shown to be much nicer than in ''Invincible''; for example, he's willing to believe the best about Wolf-Man (that {{spoiler|he didn't kill his wife}}), whereas he always believes the worst about Invincible (that {{spoiler|he's a bad guy working with his father}}). On the other hand it's fairly well-known that Cecil tends to hold grudges (by his own admission) and Gary has never given Cecil a ''reason'' to doubt him, unlike Omni-Man or Invincible.
* [[Drowning My Sorrows]]: Gary tries to do this while on the run but can't bring himself to and throws away the bottle unopened.
* [[Drowning My Sorrows]]: Gary tries to do this while on the run but can't bring himself to and throws away the bottle unopened.
* [[Duel to The Death]]: Two '''epic''' ones. {{spoiler|Wolf-man v. The Elder}}. {{spoiler|Wolf-man v. Zechariah would have been to the death if Zech hadn't ''[[Karma Houdini|lucked out.]]'' }}
* [[Duel to the Death]]: Two '''epic''' ones. {{spoiler|Wolf-man v. The Elder}}. {{spoiler|Wolf-man v. Zechariah would have been to the death if Zech hadn't ''[[Karma Houdini|lucked out.]]'' }}
* [[Face Heel Turn]]: {{spoiler|Zechariah}}.
* [[Face Heel Turn]]: {{spoiler|Zechariah}}.
* [[Furry Comic]]: Naturally.
* [[Furry Comic]]: Naturally.
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* [[Heroic BSOD]]: Truly the whole series is sort of an extended one of these. But a critical moment would be {{spoiler|when Gary's wife is killed by Zechariah.}}
* [[Heroic BSOD]]: Truly the whole series is sort of an extended one of these. But a critical moment would be {{spoiler|when Gary's wife is killed by Zechariah.}}
* [[If You Kill Him You Will Be Just Like Him]]: Very averted. {{spoiler|Gary is out to KILL Zechariah for what he's done. When he finally finds the chance he takes it. Cecil has a different plan unfortunately.}}
* [[If You Kill Him You Will Be Just Like Him]]: Very averted. {{spoiler|Gary is out to KILL Zechariah for what he's done. When he finally finds the chance he takes it. Cecil has a different plan unfortunately.}}
* [[Impaled With Extreme Prejudice]]: {{spoiler|Zechariah}}
* [[Impaled with Extreme Prejudice]]: {{spoiler|Zechariah}}
* [[Involuntary Shapeshifting]]: The 'Moon Rage' that overtakes werewolves on the first night of the full moon. They can learn to control the transformations on any other night.
* [[Involuntary Shapeshifting]]: The 'Moon Rage' that overtakes werewolves on the first night of the full moon. They can learn to control the transformations on any other night.
* [[It Always Rains At Funerals]]: {{spoiler|Dunford's funeral}}
* [[It Always Rains At Funerals]]: {{spoiler|Dunford's funeral}}
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* [[Power Limiter]]: Gary is placed in one when {{spoiler|he goes to jail.}} It keeps him from using his wolf form.
* [[Power Limiter]]: Gary is placed in one when {{spoiler|he goes to jail.}} It keeps him from using his wolf form.
* [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]]: The general undertone of the series from #7 on.
* [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]]: The general undertone of the series from #7 on.
* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Supernatural Powers]]: [[Invincible (Comic Book)|Invincible]] mentions this during a crossover with The Astounding Wolf-Man. When Wolf-Man asks if Invincible will get in trouble for breaking government property and beating up superheroes, Invincible shrugs it off, saying that as long as he's strong enough to save the earth, he gets a pass.
* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Supernatural Powers]]: [[Invincible]] mentions this during a crossover with The Astounding Wolf-Man. When Wolf-Man asks if Invincible will get in trouble for breaking government property and beating up superheroes, Invincible shrugs it off, saying that as long as he's strong enough to save the earth, he gets a pass.
* [[Sealed Evil in A Can]]: Gorgg. More like "Sealed Evil In a ''Stonehenge''"
* [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]: Gorgg. More like "Sealed Evil In a ''Stonehenge''"
* [[Ship Tease]]: {{spoiler|Wolf-man}} and {{spoiler|Mecha-Maid}} started to get ''really'' close when they were working together. The cover for [http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/3/38780/1183193-astounding_wolf_man_22_super.jpg #22] really takes the cake though because {{spoiler|that [[Covers Always Lie|never happens in-story]]}}.
* [[Ship Tease]]: {{spoiler|Wolf-man}} and {{spoiler|Mecha-Maid}} started to get ''really'' close when they were working together. The cover for [http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/3/38780/1183193-astounding_wolf_man_22_super.jpg #22] really takes the cake though because {{spoiler|that [[Covers Always Lie|never happens in-story]]}}.
* [[Silver Bullet]]: An assassin explains that even if the story about silver bullets wasn't true, silver bullets should at least hurt as much as regular ones. As it turns out, there are a few elements harmful to werewolves, but Silver is the most commonly known one.
* [[Silver Bullet]]: An assassin explains that even if the story about silver bullets wasn't true, silver bullets should at least hurt as much as regular ones. As it turns out, there are a few elements harmful to werewolves, but Silver is the most commonly known one.
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* [[Terrible Trio]]: ''"Triple Threat"'' Construct is plainly the most competent one, the other two are goons.
* [[Terrible Trio]]: ''"Triple Threat"'' Construct is plainly the most competent one, the other two are goons.
* [[Training From Hell]]: {{spoiler|Gary's vampire-killing training is pretty awful. Particularly the training of his healing powers which involves being '''DISEMBOWELED''' by the Elder!}}
* [[Training From Hell]]: {{spoiler|Gary's vampire-killing training is pretty awful. Particularly the training of his healing powers which involves being '''DISEMBOWELED''' by the Elder!}}
* [[Unhand Them, Villain!]]: A hilarious example. The villain, trying to be [[Genre Savvy|genre savvy]], insists that if he drops the hostage off of the ledge he will be able to get away because Wolf-man will be too busy saving the hostage. So when villain drops the hostage Wolf-man lunges over the edge... and brings the villain with him!
* [[Unhand Them, Villain!]]: A hilarious example. The villain, trying to be [[Genre Savvy]], insists that if he drops the hostage off of the ledge he will be able to get away because Wolf-man will be too busy saving the hostage. So when villain drops the hostage Wolf-man lunges over the edge... and brings the villain with him!
* [[Walking Shirtless Scene]]: Gary/ Wolf-man has an exceptional number of these.
* [[Walking Shirtless Scene]]: Gary/ Wolf-man has an exceptional number of these.
* [[Wham! Episode|Wham Issue]]: Issue #7, mainly for its ending. The entire premise of the series changes completely after this issue. This is also the moment things get [[Darker and Edgier]].
* [[Wham! Episode|Wham Issue]]: Issue #7, mainly for its ending. The entire premise of the series changes completely after this issue. This is also the moment things get [[Darker and Edgier]].
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