Deadpool and Wolverine: Every Wolverine variant, explained
By Mark Lynch
The levels of success that Deadpool and Wolverine has achieved in a short space of time are insane (it has received extremely positive reviews and broke box office records in its opening weekend) but aren’t shocking. Not only is Deadpool a well-received franchise, but Marvel Studios finally gave fans a movie starring Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson.
One part that shouldn’t be surprising is seeing alternate reality Logans. This is a multiversal movie that showcases just how expansive that concept is.
*WARNING! SPOILERS FOR DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE AHEAD!!!
Deadpool and Wolverine starts with Wade Wilson digging up Wolverine's bones from Logan. Eventually, this leads Wade on an adventure throughout the multiverse looking for a Logan to bring to his universe. Two things are certain as he goes throughout the multiverse: First, every version of Wolverine hates Deadpool and some variants are silly. Here are the variants explained.
Patch
Logan and Wolverine are known in Japan, but so is Patch. In the comics, Patch’s reputation precedes him there and sometimes it’s not affiliated with Logan. Yes, his disguise is just an eyepatch and a suit, but is that really any different from Superman’s disguise?
The costume department used the classic white suit jacket and black pants that Patch wears. They even had him playing cards. The attention to detail was fantastic.
Old Man Logan
Admittedly, I thought Logan’s story in Deadpool and Wolverine would be similar to Old Man Logan's. It was sad, but not the tragedy of Wolverine killing the X-Men that unfolded in that particular storyline. However, we still saw Old Man Logan appear in the movie, with Hugh Jackman playing the role.
And like when he was with his family, Logan didn’t use his claws to take on Deadpool. Instead, he shot Wade.
Cavill-rine
Henry Cavill was one of the actors fans have wanted to see play Wolverine for a long time; he has the rugged look and muscles to make it happen. Those fans finally got their wish in Deadpool and Wolverine. Instead of getting it in an entire movie, however, they were given a taste of what he would have looked like. And man, did he look great!
The slow reveal while Logan worked on a motorcycle and Deadpool fawning over (who he called) Cavill-rine made the appearance perfect.
Comic book-accurate Wolverine
People complaining that Hugh Jackman was too tall to play Logan saw what it would look like if the live-action movies adopted a more comic-accurate approach. Logan being five feet three inches in the comics is one thing. Being that height in a movie doesn’t look good. Sure, the CGI made it look goofier (and that was certainly the point), but tall Wolverine works better.
He's still a short king, like Deadpool said!
Age of Apocalypse
Age of Apocalypse Wolverine (who went by Weapon X) was the best-looking variant of them all. He had this comic book variant’s wild hair, costume, and cut-off hand with a metal forearm that Logan had during this timeline. The berserk rage was a nice touch. Deadpool barely made it out alive.
On an X Wolverine
After losing a fight to the Reavers in Uncanny X-Men No. 251, Wolverine was crucified on an X symbol by his dispatchers. Luckily for him, Jubilee was around to help him.
During Deadpool and Wolverine, the iconic comic cover from this issue was used to pay homage to that moment. Rain and skulls were added to the ground to hit the point home. but unlike Jubilee, Wade left Logan nailed to the X.
The brown and yellow suit (and that Hulk cameo, too!)
Deadpool and Wolverine combined two Marvel Comic moments in this scene. First, there’s the classic brown and yellow costume, which represented one of the times Wolverine changed his look in the comics; The first was taking the whiskers off his mask before joining the X-Men but it could be considered the third if you count the quick use of Fang’s costume in Uncanny X-Men No. 137.
This was also a nod to a tease in The Wolverine that never paid off. In the 2013 movie, a cut scene shows Logan given a briefcase with his yellow and brown Wolverine costume. Comic book readers hoped this would eventually make its way into a movie. It did, just over a decade later.
Second is his fight with the Hulk while wearing the costume. On the cover of Incredible Hulk No. 340, you can see The Hulk in the reflection of Wolverine's claws. This moment was replicated in the movie when Deadpool stood in front of the Jade Giant.
Fans got a look at Hugh Jackman in one of Wolverine’s most popular costumes and a fight between him and the Hulk. The latter is something we may never see again in the MCU, so it was something we can definitely appreciate here.
Which of these variants was your favorite? Are there others you would like to see? Let us know on the Bam Smack Pow Instagram and Twitter.