Marvel: 5 Best Versions of Wolverine

Highlights

• Wolverine’s first appearance was as an antagonist in the I
  ncredible Hulk
  comics, not as a member of the X-Men.
• The
  X-Men: The Animated Series
  portrayed Wolverine as more human, with emotions like longing and regret.
• Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine in live-action films made the character iconic and popular with a new demographic.

There are numerous depictions of the Marvel character Wolverine, with some being an even wilder departure from the source material compared to others. Wolverine’s first appearance was as an antagonist in the Incredible Hulk comic books, not as a member of the X-Men, to which he has made his new Marvel home.

Over the years, Wolverine has appeared in various mediums and has had his personality adapted in numerous different ways. Each of these has had different directors and writers that have changed how he has been portrayed and behaved. These depictions differ wildly, and while some might be right up one fan’s alley, another might not be their cup of tea.

5 X-Men: The Animated Series

An Animated Wolverine That Allows Fans To Learn His Story Across Multiple Seasons

• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 76
• Portrayed By: Cal Dodd

There are two incarnations of Wolverine that might be the most well-known and beloved by fans, with one of them being how he appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series. A lot of comic book stories have had him behave like a rowdy hooligan, a tactless tough guy, and more. This version felt more human than other incarnations of the character, with him expressing longing, regret, and even running in terror after suffering intense trauma.

The series adopts many classic stories from the original comics and can be the perfect way for any fan to enjoy a large portion of the X-Men’s adventures without reading decades worth of literature. It’s five seasons of Wolverine goodness, and this series received a continuation in the form of X-Men ‘97, which continues to evolve Wolverine’s character.

4 Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Films

The One And Only Live-Action Wolverine Who Appears Over 24 Years

• Featured Films: X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Apocalypse, Logan, Deadpool & Wolverine
• Portrayed By: Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman has been the face of Wolverine for every live-action incarnation of the character — dating all the way back to the first X-Men film over 2 decades ago in the year 2000. The Wolverine character was so popular in these films that he received multiple spin-off films. The portrayal provided by Hugh Jackman in the films is unlike any voice role or comic depiction, with witty banter and the flare that live-action cinema is known to deliver. Interviews with Hugh Jackman pointed to two prominent hurdles that would have completely changed the casting of the character.

These films targeted a whole new demographic that was not reading comic books or was familiar with the iconic animated series of the time, which catapulted both superhero culture and Hugh Jackman’s career to new heights. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine might not have appeared in the best comic book movies, but no one can deny that his commitment to the character, and his depiction, is utterly iconic.

3 Ultimate Wolverine

A Wolverine With More Than Just Rage Issues

• First Appearance: Ultimate X-Men #1 (December, 2000)
• Final Appearance: Ultimatum #5 (July, 2009)
• Created by: Mark Millar, Adam Kubert

Universe-160, also known as the Ultimate Universe, brought a lot of new concepts and ideas to how audiences perceive superheroes. The goal is to make heroes more modern and choices have more real-world consequences. His debut arc saw him hired by Magneto to infiltrate the X-Men in an attempt to take Charles Xavier’s life. This version is a lot more selfish, doesn’t value the improvement of life as much, and pushes a lot more buttons.

He would instead betray Magneto and become a hero alongside this universe’s team of X-Men. This incarnation of the X-Men would also drop flashy superhero outfits for more serious black uniforms and showcase reimaginings of classic adventures — but also some completely new ones for readers to enjoy.

2 Old Man Logan

A Wolverine At The End Of His Journey In A Post-Apocalypse Setting

• First Appearance: Wolverine (Vol. 3) #66 (June, 2008)
• Created by: Mark Millar, Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines

With the rising popularity of Wolverine, Marvel thought it best to thrust the character into an alternate future in which villains claimed victory over the world. In Old Man Logan, Wolverine remains as one of the last heroes, living a secluded life where he just wants to be left alone to survive his days in a dying world. This character and his world are so fascinating, that even years later, Marvel is still exploring this setting.

The reality in which Logan lives is Earth-807128, and it’s a diabolical one. Far grittier than other Marvel stories, Old Man Logan really showcases a version of the character that has little hope for the future of the world, and himself. There’s a lot to explore in this version of Logan, with similarities and differences from the other 616 comics.

1 Hulk Vs. Wolverine

A Gravely Wolverine Battles His Biggest And Greenest Foe Yet

• Release Date: 27 January, 2009
• Portrayed By: Steve Blum

A truly amazing story portrayed in many different mediums is the story of Hulk facing off against Wolverine. As stated earlier, Wolverine originally appeared in the Incredible Hulk comics, and this conflict spanned decades later. Readers who enjoy the original can also enjoy it in a whole new depiction through animated form with the Lionsgate film Hulk Vs. — which also includes a battle against Thor.

The animated incarnation delves deeper into Weapon X, and Wolverine lore. The animated feature also shows other iconic characters such as Deadpool and Omega Red. Whether or not someone enjoys animated films, this is a true treat for every Wolverine fan out there — and they owe it to themselves to give it a watch.