Anticipation has been building for this summer’s action-packed movie blockbusters, which are sure to spark interest in their comic book and graphic novel counterparts. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek and Terminator Salvation all open this May. Seize the opportunity to turn moviegoers into readers with the following titles!

Released on May 1, X-Men Origins: Wolverine - directed by Gavin Hood and starring Hugh Jackman – reveals the mysterious past of Logan/Wolverine, the iconic X-Man known for being “the best there is at what he does.” Jackman brought Logan to life on the big screen in the initial X-Men trilogy, ensuring his popularity as a character to a whole new audience.

To help boost interest in the source material that inspired the film, Hugh Jackman recently recorded a public service announcement (PSA) that debuted on FreeComicBookDay.com and has since been circulating around the Web, receiving more than 25,000 views so far.

Those curious about Wolverine’s origins as a Marvel comics superhero will want to read Essential Wolverine TP Volume 1 (ISBN: 9780785135661), Wolverine Origins TP Volume 1 – Born in Blood (ISBN: 9780785122876) and Wolverine TP: Weapon X (ISBN: 9780785137269). For younger readers, Marvel comics offers Wolverine HC: Worst Day Ever (ISBN: 9780785137573), an illustrated prose novel by Barry Lyga, which explores the character from a young adult perspective. Manga fans may be intrigued by Del Rey Manga’s Wolverine: Prodigal Son (ISBN: 9780345505163), which examines Logan’s origins with a martial-arts manga twist.

On May 8, director J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek will usher in a new era for the longtime fan-favorite sci-fi property, giving new followers and loyal fans alike the chance to see how James T. Kirk’s career with Starfleet began, how he and Spock first met, and how he earned the right to be captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. 

Moviegoers will also be introduced to Nero, the Romulan villain of the film driven by an unshakeable vendetta. But fans can learn of Nero’s origins before or after catching the film thanks IDW Publishing’s Star Trek: Countdown TP (ISBN: 9781600104206), which collects the four-part series. Overseen by director Abrams and Trek screenwriters Robert Orci & Alex Kurtzman, the comic is written by Tim Jones & Mike Johnson and drawn by David Messina. 

Due for release on May 21, Terminator Salvation will take theater audiences to a post-apocalyptic 2018, as John Conner attempts to organize the remnants of humanity to fight back against Skynet and its Terminators. 

Fans of Terminator can prepare themselves for the big screen action of the fourth film in the franchise with IDW Publishing’s Terminator Salvation Movie Prequel TP (ISBN: 9781600104336) in which writer Dara Naraghi and artist Alan Robinson introduce readers to resistance leader Elena Maric and mining engineer Bem Aworuwa, who form an unlikely friendship in hopes of putting up an effective fight against the Terminators.

Be sure to check back in June for more Comic Book/Movie tie-ins!