Untamed - by Suzana E Flores (Paperback)

About the Book

"Wolverine. Logan. Weapon X. By any name, Marvel Comic's savage, brooding antihero is, in his own words, the best at what he does--killing with gratuitous precision. The author explores Wolverine's development from bit character to modern legend over more than four decades, with a focus on his enduring appeal as an allegory for resilience through torment"--

Book Synopsis

Wolverine. Logan. Weapon X. By any name, Marvel Comic's savage, brooding antihero is, in his own words, the best at what he does--killing with gratuitous precision. Paradoxically violent yet humane, the beer-swilling, cigar-smoking mutant with retractable claws is universally misjudged in the Marvel Universe yet esteemed by fans worldwide.

The author explores Wolverine's development from bit character to modern legend over more than four decades, with a focus on his enduring appeal as an allegory for resilience through torment.

Review Quotes

"Impressively informative and the result of meticulous and exhaustive research, Untamed is an absolute 'must read' for the legions of X-Men fans and would well serve as a template for similar studies of other Marvel comics heroes and villains"-Midwest Book Review; "Surely, if any comic book super-hero ever needed to be psychoanalyzed, it's Logan, the extraordinary X-Man known as Wolverine--and Dr. Suzana Flores has shown she's just the shrink for the job!"-Roy Thomas, co-creator of Wolverine; "Wolverine is a savage who by adopting a philosophy learned how to control himself and found some degree of happiness functioning in society. To open the shell and understand the subtleties and history of this transformation I recommend you read Suzana Flores' book Untamed."-Joe Rubinstein, comic book artist/painter; "Like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, Wolverine is one of a handful of comic book characters who has become a cultural icon. His powers, personality and the mysteries surrounding him are often imitated and have had a profound effect on popular entertainment. It's about time someone has done a definitive study on him. Enter Dr. Flores--who, like Logan, is the best there is at what she does!"-Tom DeFalco, former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics; "Untamed gives incredible insight into Wolverine, one of the most interesting and complex super heroes ever. Dr. Flores peels back the layers of personal damage and super heroics to reveal the heart of the killer. Absolutely brilliant!"-Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Marvel Universe vs. Wolverine and Black Panther: Doomwar; "Like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, Wolverine is one of a handful of comic book characters who has become a cultural icon. His powers, personality and the mysteries surrounding him are often imitated and have had a profound effect on popular entertainment. It's about time someone has done a definitive study on him. Enter Dr. Flores--who, like Logan, is the best there is at what she does!"-Tom DeFalco, former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics; "Comic book histories and analyses are nothing new. But, the genre is plagued with 'fanboys' who turn pro and run on, off the top of their heads, as if all their pontifications--factual or not--came to them from on high, without their investing disciplined research or citing sources in a way that truly serves history. More academic, related works by professors, professional journalists and doctors are few and far between and are something we've long looked forward to. Untamed: The Psychology of Marvel's Wolverine by Dr. Suzana E. Flores is a very welcome addition."-J. David Spurlock, noted pop-culture author-historian, educator; "In these times of conflict and struggle with those who are perceived as different, the X-Men stories provide a template that is well worth consideration. Many who have suffered tragedies early in life find themselves being misjudged and vilified by others because of a lack of understanding about how emotional pain can create a protective shell that may give the appearance of being cold, callous, and even inhuman. The analysis conducted by Dr. Flores within these pages on characters like the Wolverine in particular, and X-Men in general, are invaluable in providing an opportunity for people to understand the transformational power of pain in sometimes building the framework for a type of resilience and strength that otherwise would not exist. The stories of the X-Men serve as a reminder that heroes are rarely perfect because it is often tragedy that drives their convictions and it is the darkness inside a hero that brings the light of justice to others. Thanks to Dr. Flores, not only is Wolverine more relatable, the character is an inspirational reminder of our own capacity to overcome our greatest challenge...the battle within to retain our humanity in times of adversity."-Jon H. McCaine, director, The Lighthou

About the Author

Suzana E. Flores is a licensed clinical psychologist, TEDx and keynote speaker, and media commentator. She lives in Arizona.