The infamous word used to describe the popping of mutant anti-hero Wolverine's adamantium claws in almost every X-Men and solo comic since the character's first appearance in the pages of The Incredible Hulk #180 in 1974. Back then, the character was seen in the last panel of the comic sporting a familiar yellow and black costume that would later be adapted for his first encounter with mutant mastermind Charles Xavier, in a revival issue of X-Men (#94 1975). By this time the writers and artists had done away with the whiskers on his mask in favour of a more Batmanesque cowl, and the pace was set for Wolverine's rebellious and dangerous nature.
This issue introduced Wolverine among a roster of other mutant heroes Xavier finds in order to help Scott Summers (aka Cyclops), track down the original X-Men who went missing on an important mission against a powerful foe. Within these pages the character (notably one of the first canadian superheroes) comes across as someone not to be messed with, and introduced is the famous tension felt between Logan and Cyclops over Marvel Girl, better known to most as Jean Grey. This semi love triangle would echo through the years, and impact most of the tension seen onscreen for the first adaptation of the characters in X-Men 2000.
Since the first Bryan Singer directed movie, Hugh Jackman has portrayed the character in nearly several films. This including his cameo in Matthew Vaughn's prequel X-Men: First Class, where Jackman steels the entire movie by simply telling Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) to "go fuck yourselves". Also taking into account his obviously large role in the mega production of upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). This movie will see the reunited cast of the original X-Men trilogy, having to communicate with their younger counterparts (:First Class actors) to stop a mutant holocaust caused by the creation of mutant hunting machines called Sentinels. This film will be loosely adapting the story from the 1981 published series of the same name.
It has now been roughly three weeks since myself and two of my fellow moviegoers braved the motorways to reach a cinema in time to see The Wolverine. This James Mangold directed piece is a direct sequel to the last movie in the original trilogy (:The Last Stand 2006) not to be confused with the origin story directed by Gavin Hood in 2009 under the title X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The film does take a heavy dose of what we witnessed of Logan's life before his memories were lost in the 2009 release, but focusing more on his time in Japan. There were many spin-off issues of the Wolverine from the X-Men comics, and if like me you were a child of the 90's, you may have been able to read some of these by picking up an imported (almost hard cover) issue of the comics from your local newsagent.
Within these pages you would likely receive a current issue's storyline, followed by a separate story for a different character within the Marvel Universe, and then a re-print of an older comic, like one of Wolverine's adventures in Japan from the 1980s. This is how I personally became familiar with characters like Viper (portrayed in this film by Svetlana Khodchenkova), and the Silver Samurai. But more importantly, the brutal nature of the Wolverine character. In this outing, Wolverine is estranged from the world, living in the wilderness and ignoring his memories of Hiroshima in WWII, and his fantasies of once again seeing his true love, Jean Grey (returning cast member Famke Janssen). With a quick Snikt of his claws in a bar fight, we see Logan back in action, and returning to Japan to once again meet with a friend whose life he saved some 75 years previously.
From there its all: ninjas, slashing, shooting, running, and surprisingly heroic behaviour from the character who is through most of the first half of the film, in no mood to be a good guy anymore. The Wolverine serves up a transnational style of action movie, so be sure to read the subtitles when characters venture into the Japanese language, otherwise you may find yourself a little lost as to why the characters around Logan are doing what they are doing. Having watched X-Men Origins the night before seeing this new release, it was safe to say that I realised how disappointing that move actually was. Although I enjoyed it upon the first screening, it was a little rushed and could have done with a bit more more t.l.c.
This new addition will more than make up for any wrong doing in the last, and with the list of films in its past, and present, The Wolverine reminds us to respect what was done during the first 20th Century Fox movie in 2000. Too often are fans going out of there way to praise the likes of Warner Bros/DC Entertainment filmmakers like Christopher Nolan for their style of bringing superheroes into a non campy, realistic and modern setting. Did Bryan Singer not do this first in 2000? Did he not set up what was so appealing for all future X-Men movies, by ridding the characters and setting of anything that could bee deemed comic or camp?
So he might have taken a step back when he approached Superman Returns in 2006, but with the upcoming release of :Days of Future Past next year (that he is directing), and Mangold's Wolverine out now. We can safely say that these characters are in good hands. I advise you to see The Wolverine whilst in cinemas, whether you are a comic fan or not. It still packs one hell of a punch, and some razor sharp cutting edge action sequences.
*SPOILER ALERT*
DO NOT READ ON IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO KNOW MORE
Do make sure to stay after the fist part of the credits for an upcoming view of the next chapter in the X-Men saga. You will not be disappointed with the faces that show up in this scene!
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