Tom LoBianco
Wolverine: A Canucklehead Crafting the American Myth of the Individual
The myth and mystery of Wolverine, Marvel superhero and griity "Canucklehead", has made him one of the most popular fictitious characters in America. So why do Yanks (at least the nerdy ones) love a Canadian hairball like Logan so much?
The answer lies in the America's own cultural mythology, one that has turned everyone from John Wayne in the '50s to Jim Halpert on The Office into pop stars. Americans love people who do it their own way ... and that includes the occasional Canadian.
How does mythology flavor and reflect American culture and how do comic writers capitalize on it? Perhaps the "Ol' Canucklehead" has a few answers.
About Tom LoBianco:
Tom LoBianco is a freelance reporter covering Maryland politics and the 2010 elections for WYPR, Center Maryland and Corridor Inc. (and whoever else will take him before his head explodes.) Until December 31, he was a reporter for The Washington Times where he wrote about, in no particular order: the confirmation battle over Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the climate change debate, Maryland's plan to deliver pumpkin signs to sex offenders on Halloween, the state police branding of two nuns as terrorists and scores of stories about slots, taxes and the state budget. In a previous life, Tom was a political hack and researcher in Boston. He's a native Luthervillain, and is now a proud resident of Greektown (that place on the other side of the tracks from Canton.) His fascination with mythology and Wolverine dates back to elementary school, where he would sketch superhero pictures rather than complete schoolwork.
