Summer Reading Challenge : Marvel Hero Origins

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By Jake Weatherill from Lewisham Branch

 
Howdy y'all. So, I am a bit of a superhero fan. Quite a bit actually. I personally blame 90's Marvel cartoons. Honestly Saturday mornings were the best. Wake up early, stick on the TV, watch all my cartoons. Life was pretty sweet. Now I have comics and superhero movies so it's not all bad I guess. Anyway a few Christmases ago my grandparents bought me something. They usually got me some little presents filled with thought and love. One year they got me a collection of children's books. You might think this is a bit weird because I am obviously an adult. However these were no normal children's books. These were Marvel Heroes Origins. A collection of four superhero origin stories.
 
 
Jake's copy of Marvel Hero Origins
 
First up we have the original superhero Captain America. Steve Rogers wants to serve his country in the Second World War but he is rejected because of his Asthma among a couple of other things. However the kindly Dr Abraham Erskine recognises a deeper strength of character within Steve that his body hides. 

He senses that regardless of what he is asked to do Steve has a strong sense of right and wrong, and will always try to do what is right. This makes Erskine to pick Steve to be the person who gets the first dose of Super Soldier Serum turning him into Captain America. Eventually Steve finds himself frozen in ice and being thawed out in the present day by the Avengers!
 
 
 
Next up we have Marvel's Mutant heroes the X-Men. Professor Charles Xavier is a telepathic mutant, a human born with the X-Gene which grants powers. But mutants are feared and hated by the world. So Professor X creates a school for the gifted to allow young mutants to hide, and train in how to use their powers safely. Eventually Professor X decides that his students are capable enough to use their powers to make a difference in the world. Protecting a world that hates and fears them, the X-Men are formed.
 
 
Entry for Mutant from the Dictionary of Science Fiction in Oxford Reference Online
 
We also have The God of Thunder Thor. Thor is young and arrogant, so much so that his Dad Odin gets sick of it. 

Odin decides to wipe Thor of his memories, trap him in a mortal body and strip him of his magic hammer Mjolnir. Odin enchants Mjolnir, saying it can only be used by one who is worthy of the power Thor. 

On earth Dr Donald Blake wakes up with no memories beyond who he is, what he does and with a walking cane beside him. But what does Dr Blake have to do with The God of Thunder?
 
 
 
 
Finally we get to Marvel's most iconic hero, Spider-Man. Peter Parker is an orphan raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben in Forest Hills, New York. He's awkward and geeky, bullied by his peers. Peter is however super smart, and has a good friend in Harry Osborn who has his back. 

On a field trip one day he gets bitten by a radioactive spider. He soon finds he is stronger, faster and more agile than before, plus he can sense danger before or happens. 

Peter uses these powers to try to get rich and famous. However his newfound selfishness will change his life forever. 
 
Jake's copy of Marvel Hero Origins
 
 
 
This is a cool set of reads for any kid that wants to get in to comics, and gives you a nice simple overview of each Character. I am giving it 7/10. I will be back next week!

We have lots of Marvel comics in Overdrive https://llc.overdrive.com/library/graphicnovels
 
 
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Did you know that we have an online Reference Library which can help you do your homework? With your library card, you have  free access to Encyclopedias, Newspapers from as far back as 1710, magazines, comics and books too. Visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/elibrary with your library card to find out more.
 

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