Editor's Note: X-Men Origin: Colossus arrives in stores tomorrow, May 14.

Plot: The defining moments for Russia's metal mutant.

Comments: Having an "Origin" story for a mutant doesn't make much sense. The mutants in the Marvel universe are, of course, born that way. There is no radioactive spider or super soldier serum to kick things off. Piotr Rasputin was just born with special powers which emerged in his teen years. Not to say there isn't a story to be found in a mutant's early years; there are plenty of plots to explore and an "Origin" story allows a deeper look into the background of a character. But what defines a mutant origin story? The first time his powers activate? When the mutant in question joins the X-Men? Unlike Peter Parker or Tony Stark, there is no particular moment in time when a mutant becomes a mutant. So it has to be something more character driven. Sure, character informs all hero origins, but character development is all a mutant has, a collection of "Defining Moments." So an origin story can have all the significant events that kick start an X-Man's career (meeting Xavier, the first meeting with an arch enemy) but for a true origin you need only one thing: motive. A mutant has no choice about being a mutant, but a person does have a choice in what to do with the gift(s) he is given, and those defining moments shape that choice. Chris Yost understands this with a writer's gift. X-Men Origin: Colossus gives us the defining moments that turned Peter Rasputin into Colossus. That is how Yost makes sense of an "origin" story for a mutant.

Origin wastes no time in laying the groundwork for the man who will become Colossus. Peter had an older brother who was a cosmonaut. In the first page of the book Mikhail promises to watch over Peter, always, no matter what. It's a defining moment for Peter in many ways. Of course, when Mikhail tells Peter to "Look to the stars and know that I'm looking back," we know exactly what fate is in store for Peter's older brother. When Peter learns of his brother's death, it triggers his mutant power, another defining moment. This moment also drives the plot forward. Mikhail's best friend, Alexander, was the only witness to Peter's transformation, but the "powers that be" have their radar up. It's the cold war, and mother Russia wants some mutants of their own. Peter is watched.

The next big moment for Peter is the birth of his sister Illyana. He makes the same promise to "watch over her no matter what" that his brother made to him. The echo in sentiment shows just how much Peter worshipped his older brother and how Peter views the same role. We as readers know to what lengths Peter will have to go to keep that promise, but it's a touching human moment and our foreknowledge only makes it more bittersweet. As the years go by, Peter learns of the X-Men's battle with Magneto (A front page picture from the New York Times that looks very familiar. Why wasn't it the Daily Bugle though?). Because of the world's reaction he keeps his ability a secret. Eventually, the wrong people do find out, though, and they come for Peter with helicopters and guns. Another defining moment: Peter steps up to protect his family and those copters and guns find themselves on the wrong side of an angry organic metal mutant.

The next defining moment is meeting Xavier and making the choice to join the X-Men. Peter understands that Xavier's dream is the best hope for his family and especially his sister to have a peaceful future. He leaves Illyana, restating his promise to always watch over her. This time that statement is not only as a loving brother but as someone who has just made a defining choice. It's hard to get around the knowledge of what fate has in store for Illyana and the tone leaps over bittersweet straight to sadness. The last page is a beauty shot of Xavier's new team and Peter taking his place among them.

The art for the book complements the level of quality in the writing. Trevor Hairsine hits all the right visual notes in the emotional development of Colossus. Each defining moment punctuated with a beautiful splash page. Peter's transformation becomes a strong counterpoint to the bleak snowy landscape of Siberia. The coloring has a naturalistic approach (once again, Siberia) with cold blues and similar chilly tones. The exception are the moments of violence near the end of the story; bright red backgrounds snap you out of the chill of the mundane. Illyana, the other exception, has dresses that step out of the earth tones of the rest of the characters, but that’s because she is the real color in Peter's life.

Final Word: What motivates Peter Rasputin to become an X-Man are his family and his desire to make a better world for his baby sister. Chris Yost clearly defines this motivation in a believable and well structured story. He also smartly plays off of our knowledge of Peter's future to make his choices even more poignant. The book has a sense of continuity, a solid command of tone and atmosphere and a gentle melancholy heart. Peter's transition from Russian farm boy to X-Man makes sense. What more could you ask from an origin book?

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