Wolverine stands tall among the world’s most popular superheroes, and much of that is due to Hugh Jackman’s legendary portrayal of the character. Yet, Wolverine wasn’t always the star of the show. He wasn’t even part of the original X-Men lineup. In fact, for several years, he was a secondary character, and when Jackman was cast to play Wolverine, fans thought it was the worst decision possible. But fast forward to today, and it’s impossible to imagine the X-Men without Wolverine. Fans even joke that they’d be happy to see Jackman play Logan until he’s 90.
So how did this character, who was once overlooked, become the X-Men’s most beloved figure? Let’s take a deep dive into Wolverine’s journey from comic book obscurity to pop culture phenomenon.
The Origins of Wolverine
Wolverine’s story begins in the mid-1970s, when Marvel Comics was doing reasonably well in Canada but hadn’t yet achieved massive success outside the United States. Marvel’s editor-in-chief at the time, Roy Thomas, saw an opportunity to boost sales by creating a Canadian superhero. He enlisted writer Len Wein and artist John Romita to bring this vision to life, and thus, Wolverine was born.
Wolverine’s first appearance was in The Incredible Hulk #180, where he made a brief cameo before engaging in a full fight with the Hulk in issue #181. His design was almost identical to the one we know today, though his mask had a few differences. At the time, very little was known about him—he had adamantium claws, but most readers assumed they came from his gloves, not his skeleton. His mutant status hadn’t been revealed yet, nor had his involvement with the Weapon X project. Wolverine’s motivations were unclear, and his personality was vastly different from the brooding loner we’d come to love. Back then, he was more talkative and even a bit playful.
Marvel’s initial plan for Wolverine was quite limited. He was intended to be a one-off Canadian assassin with no future role in the broader Marvel universe. Like many other characters who had their brief moments in superhero comics, Wolverine was meant to debut and disappear into obscurity. But everything changed in 1975 when Marvel relaunched the X-Men.
Wolverine Joins the X-Men
In the mid-70s, Marvel decided to revamp the X-Men, who had been around since the 1960s but were struggling to gain traction. Len Wein sought to refresh the team by adding new members with diverse backgrounds. This included Colossus from Russia, Nightcrawler from Germany, Storm with African origins, and Wolverine from Canada.
Wolverine’s transformation from a secondary character to a mutant hero began in Giant-Size X-Men #1, where it was revealed that he was indeed a mutant. His personality also started to take shape—impatient, aggressive, and violent, with little regard for morality or the greater good. He didn’t join the X-Men out of any noble cause but to escape the Canadian government’s control. This made Wolverine distinct from other Marvel heroes of the time. While characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Daredevil had their flaws, they ultimately stood for justice and were role models despite their imperfections. Wolverine, on the other hand, was an anti-hero through and through—someone who didn’t question whether his actions were right or wrong and felt no remorse for killing.
Due to comic book regulations at the time, Wolverine’s kills weren’t shown explicitly, but it was heavily implied that he had killed before and would do it again if necessary—or even if he simply felt like it. In an era when anti-heroes hadn’t yet gained popularity, Wolverine was a rare breed. He preceded iconic characters like Cable, Deadpool, and Spawn by over a decade. The only remotely similar character was the Punisher, who debuted in 1974, but even he wouldn’t get his own comic until 1985, eleven years later.
Wolverine’s rebellious, no-rules attitude drew attention, but he wasn’t the X-Men’s star just yet. In fact, for a long time, he was a secondary character. He had minimal lines, wasn’t featured on major storylines, and was often left off comic covers. On the cover of Uncanny X-Men #94, which marked his first appearance as a regular member of the team, Wolverine was only visible in a small circle—a clear indication that he wasn’t yet seen as a leading character.
Many readers didn’t take to Wolverine initially. His constant anger, his tendency to pick fights with other X-Men, and his abrasive behavior made him difficult to root for. He tried to kill Nightcrawler, wanted to let Professor X die, and treated Colossus poorly, even after Colossus saved his life. His rivalry with Cyclops, fueled by jealousy over Jean Grey, also made him come across as petty and reckless. His one redeeming quality was his respect for Jean Grey, but even that was questionable—he respected her mostly because she was a redhead, and even then, “respect” might be a generous term.
Readers found it hard to empathize with Wolverine because so little was known about his past. Without understanding why he was always so angry, it was difficult for fans to connect with him on a deeper level.
Chris Claremont’s Influence
Wolverine’s fortunes changed when Chris Claremont took over writing duties for Uncanny X-Men. Claremont is known for penning some of the most iconic X-Men stories ever, including Days of Future Past, The Dark Phoenix Saga, and God Loves, Man Kills. Under Claremont’s guidance, Wolverine slowly began to evolve into a more complex character.
In Uncanny X-Men #109, readers learned that Wolverine had a troubled history with a Canadian superhero group. This was the first time Wolverine expressed feelings of loneliness, suggesting that his tough, antisocial exterior was a defense mechanism to protect himself from emotional pain. The real turning point came in Uncanny X-Men #110, when Wolverine saved Cyclops from certain death. Despite their mutual dislike, Wolverine’s act of heroism showed that he cared about his teammates, even the ones he clashed with. He was still aggressive, but he had become loyal, willing to sacrifice himself for the X-Men.
Wolverine’s popularity surged in the late 70s, leading to Marvel launching his first solo comic in 1982, written by Claremont with artwork by Frank Miller. The story took Wolverine to Japan, where he reconnected with Mariko, a woman he had fallen in love with in previous X-Men comics. The comic combined romance, drama, and action, and explored whether Wolverine would remain a wild animal or choose the path of honor. This solo comic was a landmark moment—it was the first time an X-Men character had been given their own series, signaling Wolverine’s growing popularity.
The Weapon X Saga
In 1991, Wolverine’s backstory was fully revealed in Barry Windsor-Smith’s Weapon X storyline. For the first time, readers learned about the horrifying experiments that bonded adamantium to his skeleton and erased his memories. This backstory was critical in cementing Wolverine’s status as an anti-hero, giving readers a reason to empathize with his gruff, abrasive nature. The trauma he had endured explained his violent tendencies and deep-seated anger.
Despite his growing fame in comic circles, Wolverine still wasn’t a household name. That all changed in 1992 when the X-Men animated series debuted. While the show had a modest budget and was designed primarily to sell toys, it managed to capture the essence of the X-Men, drawing heavily from the best comic book stories of the 80s. The Wolverine portrayed in the animated series was true to his comic roots—grumpy, perpetually at odds with Cyclops, and harboring a crush on Jean Grey. He was fiercely independent, but at the same time, had a strong sense of honor and loyalty.
In one memorable episode, Wolverine refuses to leave his teammates behind during a Sentinel attack, even if it means his own death. This characteristic—a deep sense of loyalty despite his rebellious streak—made Wolverine a compelling character for the show’s audience. However, he wasn’t the show’s central star. Gambit, Rogue, and even Cyclops received more screen time than Logan.
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine
Wolverine’s journey to mainstream stardom truly began in 2000 with the release of X-Men, directed by Bryan Singer. Initially, Singer had wanted Russell Crowe to play Wolverine, but when Crowe turned down the role, he recommended Hugh Jackman instead. Fans were outraged. Jackman was an unknown actor at the time, with most of his experience in Broadway musicals. He didn’t fit the physical profile of Wolverine either—he was too tall, too slim, and too good-looking. Wolverine, as fans knew him, was short, stocky, and rough around the edges.
Adding to fans’ skepticism was the fact that Singer made Wolverine the main focus of the movie. Instead of focusing on the X-Men as a team, the movie centered on Logan’s perspective, following a storyline similar to the early episodes of the 90s animated series.
Despite the backlash, X-Men was a huge success, and Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine was a key reason why. While Jackman’s Wolverine was slightly less aggressive than his comic book counterpart, the core elements of the character—his rivalry with Cyclops, his protective attitude toward Jean Grey, and his tortured past—were all there. Fans quickly embraced Jackman, and his Wolverine became the face of the X-Men in the eyes of mainstream audiences.
Wolverine’s role in the X-Men movies grew with each installment. He was the star of X-Men 2 and X-Men 3, and in 2009, he became the first X-Men character to get a solo film with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Despite the movie’s poor reception, Wolverine’s popularity endured, largely thanks to Jackman’s portrayal. By this point, Jackman had become a global superstar, beloved not just for his role as Wolverine, but also for his charisma and down-to-earth personality.
Wolverine’s Legacy
Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine spanned over 17 years, with his final performance coming in Logan (2017), a critically acclaimed film that brought the character’s story to a fitting end. By the time Logan hit theaters, Wolverine wasn’t just the most popular X-Men character—he had become one of the most iconic superheroes in the world, on par with legends like Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man.
Even after Logan, when Wolverine’s story seemingly came to a close, fans weren’t ready to say goodbye. Jackman’s portrayal of the character had become so beloved that he announced his return for Deadpool 3, confirming Wolverine’s place as one of the most enduring and popular superheroes of all time.