The Abridged History of Wolverine, Grand Finale
All his life, Wolverine had been used as a weapon and manipulated by others. Weapon X was just the tip of the iceberg. The truth is, there were people who had been messing with him for decades, and since he couldn’t remember them, he couldn’t retaliate. However, all of that changed on M-Day when Logan finally remebered everything. And while he did make protecting what was left of Mutantkind a priority, he had a more personal quest: revenge. And his quest would lead him to uncover a relative he never knew he had and the mastermind behind much of the misery in his life.
But first, another story!
Wolverine Has a WHAT?!?
The year was 1946; the place was Japan, still recovering from the ravages of war. Japan had always had a certain appeal to Logan, and this time was no exception. Logan had fallen in love with a beautiful woman named Itsu, the two got married, and were expecting a child.
And the one messing with him didn’t want him to be happy. So using his contacts, he got Bucky Barnes, already being turned into the Winter Soldier, to murder his wife while he was away. And it looked like the child had died with her. Spoiler alert: he didn’t. Cut from his dead mother’s womb, he survived thanks to getting his dad’s healing factor. His name was Akihiro, but everyone called him a mongrel, Daken. And he grew up to be as vicious a killer as his dad. It was only after M-Day that Wolverine learned that his son was alive, and hated his guts thanks to the man who had taken him.
As Wolverine discovered from learning more about Weapon X, that man was the one pulling the strings behind the inhumane project. He gave them the knowledge and research they needed to turn Wolverine into a weapon, all for his benefit. That man’s name was Romulus.
Romulus is to Wolverine as DIO is to Jotaro Kujo
Romulus claimed to be part of a species of humans that evolved from canines, but that was a lie. What is known is that he was thousands of years old, had similar powers to Logan and Daken, and had been in charge of an empire from the shadows for centuries. He had been manipulating Logan most of his life, trying to mold him into the ultimate weapon that he could use against whoever he wished.
Lucky for Logan, he had a secret weapon. After Itsu’s death, he had visited a mystical swordsmith called Muramasa. Using his magic, they forged a blade made from a piece of Logan’s soul and blood. The result was a weapon capable of negating any healing factor, perfect against Romulus. However, things didn’t go as planned. Romulus still beat him and broke the blade.
Worse, Daken stole part of the blade and fused the metal to part of his claws so he could kill both his dad and Romulus and take the latter’s empire. Fortunately, Logan got to Romulus first. Another battle ensued, one in which Wolverine emerged victorious. However, he didn’t kill the man who had messed with him his whole life. Instead, he trapped him in another dimension where he would remain forever. Granted, he got out, but by then, Wolverine was above the manipulations of Romulus.
As for Daken, he beat his son, removed the Muramasa claws, and buried them and the blade on the Howlett Estate. At last, the past was put behind him…for now.
Wolverine is One of the Most Complex Characters in Comic Book History
There’s a good reason why Wolverine is among the most popular superheroes in Marvel’s house. He’s more than just a cool anti-hero that kicks butt, takes names, and somehow gets all the women. He’s one of the most complex characters in comic book history, with a backstory that’s as traumatic as it is confusing. He’s gruff and abrasive and plenty can take issue with his willingness to kill, but be honest. If you went through everything he has, would you make it out squeaky clean on the other side? Assuming you survived to make to the other side, that is. He had to become who he is to survive!
The story of Wolverine is dark and violent, but despite everything, it’s a story about the ultimate survivor. Logan has had the world out to get him all his life, but instead of giving in, he tells the world to go shove it. And after everything he’s been through, he eventually found a family that wouldn’t leave him in the form of the X-Men. They brought out the best in him. And while he wasn’t intended to become it, Wolverine has gone on to become the face of the team. He is the X-Man, and anyone foolish enough to pick a fight with them will regret it.
If you want to learn more about Wolverine, his history, and his family (including his daughter, X-23), there are plenty of essential guides and books available to read. Chris Claremont’s run on the X-Men are some of the best comics I’ve ever read, and that’s saying something! Or go watch the cartoons!
