Wolverine: First Class, Vol. 2: To Russia, With Love

Wolverine: First Class (Collected Editions)

by Fred Van Lente, Clayton Henry (Illustrator), Marc Sumerak (Contributor)

Presents three stories in which X-Men pursue Wolverine into Canada after he has fled there with Kitty Pryde; Wolverine and Kitty try to save Colossus who is kidnapped by Soviet Super-Soldiers; and Wolverine encounters a monster of the Canadian wilds, Wendigo.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Marvel, X Men, Adventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy

120 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2009

About the author

Fred Van Lente is the New York Times-bestselling author of comics as varied as Archer & Armstrong (Harvey Award nominee, Best Series), Taskmaster, MODOK's 11, Amazing Spider-Man, Conan the Avenger, Weird Detective, and Cowboys & Aliens (upon which the 2011 movie was based), as well as the novels Ten Dead Comedians and The Con Artist.

Van Lente also specializes in entertaining readers with offbeat histories with the help of his incredibly talented artists. He has written the multiple-award winning Action Philosophers!, The Comic Book History of Comics, Action Presidents! (all drawn by Ryan Dunlavey), and The Comic Book Story of Basketball with Joe Cooper (Ten Speed September 2020).

He lives in Brooklyn with his wife Crystal Skillman, and some mostly ungrateful cats.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

"[Wolverine] has not only stolen our plane, he has taken young Kitty Pryde with him. That is unacceptable." -- Professor Charles Xavier, founder of the X-Men

You know what else is 'unacceptable,' Professor X? The latter half of the volume. Although it started out strong - with Wolverine working on a rescue mission alongside a few members of Alpha Flight, the long-running Canadian superhero team that occasionally gets lost in the Marvel shuffle - the remaining stories sunk a little too much into adolescent melodrama. (There's actually a 'spin the bottle' scene during a lull in action. I know this is geared for a younger audience, but come on . . . )

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is more of the same as the first. It is a little unusual how the stories seem to be aimed at younger readers, then they throw a dark story with a sad ending at you as well. I guess they want to mostly keep it light but throw a more serious story in from time to time too. The Alpha Flight story was the more serious one, then a bit of a silly one, then a 2 part story that takes place in Russia. I like it, but some, if not most, would find the stories a little too trite.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel almost the same about this volume as I did about volume 1. The Canada story and the Russia story are both solid, all-ages fun. Nothing really stand-out, but entertaining enough. Like your least favorite episodes of your favorite TV show. But the other story--Wolverine babysitting four teenage girls while trying to watch a hockey game--manages to be really sweet and touching (in a teen-drama kind of way.)

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice compilation of Xmen shorts, centering around Wolverine and intersecting with Kitty Pryde, Piotr the Russian Colossus, Power Pack and the Canadian Alpha Flight team. Includes an old nugget penned back in the day--didn't know that Nightcrawler was part of the original uncanny Xmen!

[Jostalady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the variety the collection of stories offer. Even the art is distinct from story to story. It is interesting to me how the various Wolverine graphic novels I have read take a different angle on him, but there is a lot of core history and characteristics that unite them.

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Alpha Flight reunion, but prefer when this series sticks with Kitty and Wolverine.

I had the opportunity to interview this author for The All the Books Show:
https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/of...

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that Logan was really warmed up to Kitty by the end of this volume. My favorite issue in the book by far was the one about Wolverine's past. It was presented really well and the plot was particularly good.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to Wolverines story. I like that it jumps around in stories and writers. Very funny to me in many parts. Teen or Adults would enjoy never too bloody. Teen+

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much better outing than last volume as Fred Van Lente installs some personality and heart into the series and Kitty in particular. I really enjoyed the Alpha Flight story as it shows Logan's honor, the sleepover story as it showcases Kitty's ridiculousness as a teen girl, and then the Russian trip was just okay. The art was fine for what it was. Overall, these stories do a better job of just being fun and not taking everything so serious.

[Βαλάντης Δοξάκιερ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Decent Volume of Stories with Wolverine & Shadowcat(Kitty Pride)!!!!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 4 stories. This Kitty and Wolverine pairing continues to be fun and highly enjoyable.

[Mckinley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Includes several issues.

[Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sure there must be some good X-men comics out there, but this ain't it bub.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's weird to see Kitty so interested in Piotr, because you don't really see them interact at all in this series. I guess that lack really drives home the idea of one-sided puppy love.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's weird to see Kitty so interested in Piotr, because you don't really see them interact at all in this series. I guess that lack really drives home the idea of one-sided puppy love.

[Ondra Král · Rating 3 out of 5]

Série zaměřená na mladší čtenáře, ale bavilo mě to.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

We interviewed author Fred Van Lente for Previously on X-Men.
Tune in here: http://previously-on-x-men.libsyn.com...

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Individual issues on marvel unlimited