X-Men Origins: Wolverine dives into the backstory of the clawed hero, Logan, aka Wolverine. Set in the 1840s Canadian Northwest, Hugh Jackman’s Logan discovers his ‘gifts’ and embarks on a journey that feels more like a narrative obstacle course. The film tries to cram Logan’s extensive history, including his wild brother Victor (Liev Schreiber), their war escapades, and a stint with the US government, into a runtime that can’t quite keep up, leaving us with more questions than answers.

Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine has been the face of the X-Men series, but this flick shows that even the best actors can’t save a character from being, well, a bit dull. Wolverine’s range of emotions swings from angry to angrier, with a side of revenge. His healing factor is so overpowered that it’s hard to feel any tension; he’s basically the superhero equivalent of a cheat code. Despite this, Wolverine’s rank as the top comic hero baffles critics, who might just need a healing factor for their confusion.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine might be a technical marvel, with director Gavin Hood flexing his cinematic muscles to deliver some eye-popping action. Wolverine’s claws are out and about, slicing through scenes with the finesse of a chef at a sushi bar. But let’s face it, the film sometimes feels like it’s all sizzle and no steak. Our dear Logan becomes less of a complex character and more of a Swiss Army knife for plot advancement. The special effects? Sure, they’re sharper than Wolverine’s haircut, but they can’t stitch up the gap where the audience’s emotional investment should be.

Critics and fans played a tug-of-war with their opinions. Comic enthusiasts could geek out over Wolverine’s angsty origin story, while others might’ve been left craving more than just cool stunts and snazzy graphics. Flaws and all, X-Men Origins: Wolverine carved its initials into the X-Men legacy tree, setting the stage for more mutant mayhem to follow. It didn’t quite dig into the rich soil of Logan’s character, but hey, it made enough scratch to keep the saga going.

The tale of James Howlett, later known as Logan, begins tragically in 1845 in the Northwest Territories. Witnessing his father’s murder by the groundskeeper Thomas Logan, James’ latent mutation is triggered, revealing bone claws from his hands. In a twist of fate, Thomas confesses he is James’ real father with his dying breath. Fleeing with his half-brother Victor Creed, who shares similar abilities, they endure a century of warfare, from the American Civil War to Vietnam. Their time in Vietnam ends in turmoil as Victor’s violent nature leads to a court-martial and a firing squad, which they miraculously survive. Recruited by Major William Stryker for Team X, a mutant ensemble, they embark on several missions. However, the team’s moral ambiguity and Victor’s unchecked aggression drive Logan to walk away, setting him on a path to become the solitary hero known as Wolverine.

Six years on, Logan has settled into a quiet life as a logger in Canada, sharing a home with his girlfriend, Kayla Silverfox. His peace is shattered when Stryker and Agent Zero inform him that former teammates Wade Wilson and Christopher Bradley are dead, victims of a mysterious assassin targeting their old squad. Logan’s refusal to rejoin Stryker’s cause turns personal when he discovers Kayla’s lifeless, blood-stained body. Convinced that his brother Victor is behind the murder, Logan confronts him in a bar but is soundly defeated. Stryker offers Logan a chance at vengeance: an excruciating procedure to bond his bones with adamantium, rendering him nearly invincible. Betrayed by Stryker’s plan to wipe his memory and turn him into a weapon, Logan flees, finding refuge with an elderly couple on their farm. But tragedy follows as Zero murders the couple and attempts to eliminate Logan. In a fierce confrontation, Logan destroys Zero’s helicopter, vowing to take down both Stryker and Victor as he watches the helicopter erupt in flames.

In Las Vegas, Logan tracks down John Wraith and Fred Dukes at a boxing gym. Dukes, now significantly overweight from stress eating, reveals that Victor is still on Stryker’s payroll, rounding up mutants for experimentation at a lab known as “The Island”. He also points Logan towards Remy “Gambit” LeBeau, the sole escapee from The Island, and thus the key to its whereabouts. After locating Gambit in New Orleans, Logan and Wraith confront Victor, who ends up killing Wraith and taking his DNA. Gambit agrees to help Logan free the captured mutants and leads him to Stryker’s base on Three Mile Island. There, Logan discovers Kayla is alive; she was coerced by Stryker to keep tabs on him to ensure her sister’s safety. Despite her surveillance, Stryker reneges on his promises, refusing to release her sister and denying Victor the life-saving adamantium procedure he was promised. In a final twist, Stryker unleashes Weapon XI, also known as Wade, a composite “mutant killer” armed with the abilities of various mutants.

As Logan and Victor fend off Weapon XI, Kayla suffers a fatal injury, leading the imprisoned mutants to safety under Professor Charles Xavier‘s guidance. Following Logan’s victory over Weapon XI, Stryker shoots him with adamantium bullets, causing unconsciousness. Kayla, in her final act, uses her powers to compel Stryker to walk away, saving herself from a fatal shot, and then dies from her wounds. When Logan wakes, his memory is gone. He sees the names “Logan” and “Wolverine” on his dog tags and, despite seeing Kayla’s body, he doesn’t recognize her.

Later, Stryker is apprehended for questioning about General Munson’s death, which he orchestrated. At the battle site, Weapon XI, presumed dead, emerges from debris, touches his severed head, and silences the audience, hinting at his survival.

(1) The film opens with a nod to the 2001 Origin comic, delivering a stellar tribute, albeit without Victor as the brother and Rose’s enigmatic absence. This raises the question: was Victor aware of Logan’s true identity during their confrontation in the original X-Men trilogy? In the comics, Logan’s alleged ‘brother’ Dog is an entirely different character. The animosity between Creed and Logan predates even Professor X, and the roots of their conflict are as elusive as the details in Origin II. Rumours in the comic world suggest a surprising twist in their family lineage, with Creed being more certain of it than any conspiracy theorist, even claiming to be Logan’s father at one point.

(2) Wolverine’s bone claws were a well-kept secret, concealed by his adamantium skeleton, until Magneto extracted them in Wolverine #75.

(3) Major Stryker, who is a less experienced version of Colonel Stryker from X2. Given the events that transpire, it’s doubtful the president would give him the time of day, let alone permission to raid a school.

(4) Logan, known for his indestructible nature, surprisingly experiences nausea while flying. This vulnerability, initially chalked up to pre-injury anxiety, quickly becomes a recurring gag, appearing in multiple sequels but absent from the original trilogy.

(5) The meteor stolen by Team X is hinted to be vibranium, which may explain the villagers’ sacred regard for it, particularly under Stryker’s menacing presence. As Logan departs in the midst of an impending storm, with lightning illuminating the scene, there’s a brief moment where we might spot a young Storm watching from a distance – a moment ultimately omitted from the film.

(6) The complex relationship between Deadpool and Wolverine is a highlight of the film. Despite their frequent team-ups in the comics, Logan’s tolerance for Wade appears to be incredibly limited. Deadpool, on the other hand, behaves as if they share a deep brotherly bond.

(7) Wolverine’s secluded life with Silver Fox gives off the impression of a standalone Wolverine comic series, yet it’s unlikely to be a genuine recollection. In the comics, Silver Fox lacks a given name, a sister, or mutant powers, and she has even served as Madame Hydra at one point.

(8) Logan’s been dropping his iconic line (“I’m the best there is at what I do, but what I do isn’t very nice.”) since Wolverine #1 hit the stands.

(9) The drama with Silver Fox’s supposed demise at the claws of Sabretooth? All smoke and mirrors from Wolverine #10, which took us on a wild ride through Logan and Creed’s shared past. The memories were a sham, and Silver Fox was alive and kicking – until the events in Wolverine #64.

(10) And then there’s Agent Zero, the man also known as David North or Maverick. In the comic universe, he’s all about kinetic energy, but the movie turned him into a gun-toting aficionado. Despite the on-screen rivalry, Logan and North are usually playing for the same team in the comics – when they’re not at each other’s throats, that is.

(11) The eclectic crew of Team X, ripped straight from the comic book pages, boasts a roster not entirely linked to Weapon X. Take Chris Bradley, or ‘Bolt’ as he’s known when he’s zapping around; his electric tenure ended in Weapon X #21. Then there’s Fred J. Dukes, the ‘Blob’, who’s been a thorn in the X-Men’s side since Uncanny X-Men #3, and when he’s not causing chaos, he’s mixing up some wicked cocktails. And let’s not forget Wade Wilson, the chatterbox mercenary better known as Deadpool, who burst onto the scene in New Mutants #98 and has been stealing the spotlight ever since.

(12) The ‘X’ in Weapon X is not just a letter but actually means ten. Logan’s breakout scene is a claw-popping extravaganza, differing from his X2 escapade. Fast forward to X-Men: Apocalypse, and we’re watching the same great escape, but this time the timeline’s been jazzed up by a bit of temporal tourism.

(13) The Hudsons, an elderly couple with a penchant for gifting iconic jackets and dropping hints about their son – are a nod to Logan’s comic book buddies, James and Heather Hudson of Alpha Flight fame.

(14) Scott, whose mutant powers decide to throw a tantrum in school, just like the revised timeline in X-Men: Apocalypse.

(15) Stryker’s mutant meddling is a nod to Charles’ ominous line from X-Men, “experimentation on mutants?” In the comics, Xavier’s dad and a host of others, including the dubious Sinister and Destiny, were quite the scientists, dabbling in mutant genes. They even experimented on their own kids, with Toad hopping into a cameo in this film. The final act is a cameo-fest with Quicksilver, Riptide, Banshee, and Emma, who all seem to have taken a wrong turn on the timeline highway, contradicting their later appearances. And Emma looks like Emma Frost, but without a name tag, we can’t be sure it’s her.

(16) And then, drumroll, please… Gambit struts into live-action, stealing the show! He first flipped his cards in Uncanny X-Men #266. His eyes are a permanent casino night light show, glowing red and black when he’s in power mode. His banter with Wolverine? Straight out of the animated series’ playbook, especially their pilot episode quips.

(17) At the mere mention of Creed, Gambit’s muscles tense. Their comic book rivalry is as legendary as in X-Men #33 and Uncanny X-Men #326.

(18) Charles is either bending the timeline to his will, projecting his astral self, or he’s found a serum that’s better than coffee for getting you on your feet. Or it’s just a continuity error.

(19) Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit, it turns out I’m the mastermind behind Chernobyl. Whoops! Sorry about that little nuclear oopsie-daisy. Guess my awesomeness is just too hot to handle.

(20) Now, let’s gab about the wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff in X-Men: Days of Future Past and Deadpool 2. It’s like history got drunk, played Twister, and woke up wearing nothing but a question mark. Are we in the past? The future? Or some comic book fever dream where the only thing that’s certain is my fabulous taste in spandex?

(21) And oh, the post-credits scene—because you can’t spell ‘Deadpool’ without ‘Easter egg.’ My head does this fun little trick where it decides to not be dead. Surprise! With a wink and a shush, I’m all, “Keep it on the DL, folks.” It’s like I’m the Houdini of head trauma, leaving you chuckling and craving more of my charming antics.

(22) And yes, you did read that right. In the merry Marvel mayhem, I’m the wildcard that makes even the Joker go, “Dude, chill.” So, strap in, buttercup, because in my world, the only rule is there are no rules. Except for the one about wearing spandex—that one’s non-negotiable.