Wolverine leaves battlefields in a red dawn
Wolverine: “I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.”
Uncannt X-Men #97
Soldiers have infiltrated the X-Men’s headquarters with orders to kill any mutant they find. They begin firing at a man running at them. The bullets hit their mark, but the man keeps coming. He leaps at the soldiers as metal claws sprout from his fists. This man, this monster, butchers the soldiers before they can react. The other X-Men arrive to a massacre as Wolverine sheathes his claws.
Wolverine is one of the most famous superheroes ever. He’s lived for centuries, fought for mutantkind, and became the face of superhero cinema. So who is he? How’d he become a superhero? And what do you mean he’s dead?! Let’s find out, bub.
Scene Select
Weapon X: Wolverine’s Backstory
U.S. Col. William Stryker: “Your country needs you.”
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Wolverine: “I’m Canadian.”
Wolverine was created by Roy Thomas and John Romita, Sr. in 1974. He was originally an enemy of the Incredible Hulk, but later joined the X-Men. Wolverine was almost killed off because of his similarity to the X-man Thunderbird, but was saved when the publisher decided Thunderbird was a less interesting character.
Wolverine was born in the 80’s. The 1880’s to be precise. James Howlett was the son of a wealthy farmer and an all-around normal kid. His life changed when Mr. Howlett was killed after he accused Logan, the family’s groundskeeper, of rape. James’ mutation awoke and he grew bone claws. James avenged his father by killing Logan, who revealed with his dying breath that he was James’ real father.
Horrified at killing someone, James fled his home and took the name Logan to honor his biological father. Logan eventually wound up in Japan and received samurai training. He married a woman named Itsu and suffered the karma of their son Daken growing up to become one of his worst enemies.
Logan fought in World War 2 alongside Captain America and other contemporary heroes. He was captured by the Weapon X program, which attempted to turn him into their ultimate weapon. They poured molten Adamantium into Logan’s body, covering his skeleton in the indestructible metal. He was the only mutant who survived the torturous procedure. Logan escaped from Weapon X, but suffered amnesia.
The X-Men: Wolverine’s History
Wolverine: “What does it all mean, Hank? I came here to find answers, but now I know less than I did before…can’t even trust my own memories.”
X-Men “Weapon X, Lies, and Video Tape” (Season 3, episode 19 )
Beast: “I have no simple solution for you, Logan, but the X-Men and I are here for you now. Those are real memories…ones I know you can trust. Come on now…let’s go home.”
Logan joined S.H.I.E.L.D. knock-off Department H , taking the codename Wolverine. He helped set up the superhero team Alpha Flight and was sent to kill The Hulk. He failed, but the fight brought him to Professor Xavier’s attention. When the X-Men went MIA during a mission, Xavier recruited a new team, including Wolverine, to rescue them. The new recruits decided to join the team.
Wolverine became the X-Men’s tough guy, the first to throw a punch and the one who put their enemies in graves. He also wound up in a love triangle with Phoenix and Cyclops.
During the story “Fatal Attractions”, Magneto used his powers to tear the adamantium from Wolverine’s bones, nearly killing him. Wolverine, who believed his claws were added by Weapon X, learned that they were made of bone and left the X-Men to discover his origins.
Wolvie eventually learned about his past (good) and had the adamantium returned to his bones (not so good). He returned to the X-Men and became the history teacher at their school for mutants.
The Death of Wolverine
Wolverine: [dying] “So this is what it feels like.“
Logan
Marvel announced in 2014 that Wolverine would die. He was infected with a virus that destroyed his healing factor, which meant he could no longer shrug off damage.
This set up an epic battle between Wolverine and Abraham Cornelius, the scientist in charge of Weapon X who accepted a contract to kill him. Cornelius sent his latest creation to kill Wolverine. He was covered in liquid adamantium during the battle and suffocated. He died content with his long, wild life.
Ultimate Mutant: Wolverine’s Powers and Personality
[about his claws ]
–X-Men: the Movie
Rogue: “When they come out… does it hurt?“
Wolverine: “Every time.”
Let’s get this out of the way. Wolverine’s healing factor is ridiculous. Originally, he healed faster. Over time, writers made him effectively immortal. Hulk tears him in half? He’s walking as soon as he finds his legs. The Punisher shoots him in the nuts with a shotgun and parks a steamroller on top of him? Wolverine’s pissed, but that’s it. A friggin’ nuke? He thought it felt warm. That adamantium bath? Not so good for the breathing. When a superhero publisher decides it’s time for you to die, they don’t care how many nukes you’ve survived.
Wolverine’s claws, coated in indestructible adamantium, can cut through just about anything, but can be stopped by people with magnetic powers. Good thing the X-Men don’t fight anyone like that. He also has super strength and heightened animal senses.
When pushed too far, he enters a berserker rage and becomes a deadlier fighter at the cost of control despite his combat skills.
Wolverine is a grumpy, old warrior. He’s a rebellious loner, but a loyal friend and an excellent leader when he has to be. He has been a mentor to countless heroes and follows Bushido, the samurai code of honor and morality.
The Actors Who Played Wolverine
William Callaway – Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends
Patrick Pinney – Pryde of the X-Men
Cathal J. Dodd – X-Men: the Animated Series, Spider-Man: the Animated Series
Scott McNeil – X-Men: Evolution
Steve Blum – Wolverine and the X-Men, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Marvel Anime: Wolverine, The Super Hero Squad Show, Hulk Vs., Avengers: Earths’ Mightiest Heroes
Kevin Michael Richardson – Black Panther
Hugh Jackman – X-Men, X2: X-Men United, Logan, pretty much every X-Men movie
Didya Get All That?
The best there is at what he does, bub.
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
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