We're the best at what we do, and what we do is analyze WOLVERINE! Doc & Anthony break down James "Logan" Howlett and his relationships. Plus Doc sings Peter Cetera and Anthony goes Tough Mudder on Kitty Pryde. Listen now!
SHOW NOTES:
Introduction
Background (8:18)
Created by Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and John Romita Sr. (drawn by Herb Trimpe) in The Incredible Hulk #180/181 (Oct./Nov. 1974)
Originally simply an agent of the Canadian government known as Weapon X tasked with taking down the Hulk (originally, "moving is the thing I do best")
Then introduced as member of new X-Men team in 1975's Giant-Size X-Men #1 – becomes attracted to Jean Grey, Cyclops' girlfriend
Later meets Lady Mariko Yashida in Japan, and falls in love with her – shortly thereafter has to evade Alpha Flight, division of Canadian government Department H who have to bring him in
Becomes engaged to Mariko, but has to break it off because Mariko's family is connected to yakuza
Takes Kitty Pryde under his wing, and he becomes a foster father of sorts to her
Has his adamantium claws forcibly removed by Magneto in the "Fatal Attractions" storyline – reveals his claws are originally bone, and this severely damages his healing factor
Gets kidnapped and driven insane by Genesis' attempt to re-bond adamantium to his skeleton – successfully re-bonded by Apocalypse, although turned into Horseman Death for a time
Origin told in 2002 – born James Howlett, son of a plantation owner in the late 1800s in Canada – after seeing his father killed by the groundskeeper Thomas Logan, James' claws appear for the first time and he kills Logan (later implied to be Wolverine's father) – goes on the run with an orphan girl named Rose, who gives him the name Logan – accidentally kills Rose too while fighting his half-brother Dog
Later discover that he fought alongside Captain America in WWII
X-23 is revealed as a female clone/"daughter"
Joins New Avengers in 2005
House of M – Logan is one of the few mutants who remembers the way the world was before Wanda changed things, and is instrumental in using Layla Miller to turn things back
Discovers he has a son Daken, who he has a difficult relationship with
Schism – Deals with fight between Cyclops and Logan over the path of the X-Men, Logan leaves and starts a new school – Jean Grey School – as headmaster
Sides with Avengers during the AvX storyline – wants to take Hope Summers into custody to protect her from Phoenix Force
Later joins Avengers Unity Squad
Death of Wolverine – dies as a result of his healing factor being shut off from a virus – dies by suffocating in adamantium
Resurrected in comics – still unsure how
Issues (25:17)
Sense of honor vs his pragmatism
Uncertainty over history for so long left him lonely & alone (35:14)
Unable to find lasting relationship – Jean & Mariko (41:40)
Relationship with children is difficult – Daken & Laura vs. Kitty (53:55)
Battles with Cyclops over Jean & direction of team (59:40)
Treatment (66:24)
In-universe
Out of universe
Skit (77:18)
References:
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