Origin (comic)
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| Origin: The True Story of Wolverine | |
| [[Image:]] Cover Origin #1 |
|
| Publisher | Marvel Entertainment |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Limited series |
| Publication date | November 2001 - March 2002 |
| Number of issues | 6 |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Paul Jenkins, Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada |
| Artist(s) | Andy Kubert,Richard Isanove |
Origin is a six-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics from November 2001 to July 2002, written by Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada and Paul Jenkins, and illustrated by Andy Kubert (pencils) and Richard Isanove (color).
Origin tells the story of the superhero Wolverine, best known as a member of the X-Men. Since the character first appeared in the early 1970s his history had often been shrouded in mystery, with bits of information revealed piecemeal over time (notably in Weapon X), but this series was the first to reveal Wolverine's early days and his original background.
(In their introductions, some of those who worked on the series express their reluctance to reveal the actual origins of one of the comic world's most popular and mysterious characters. Even Wolverine himself has few recollections as of where he came from and this was an essential part of his appeal.)
[edit] Plot
The series reveals that Wolverine was born James Howlett, the son of rich plantation owners in late 19th Century Canada, and has long suffered from various allergies. He is a sickly child so his loving father, John, brings an orphaned girl named Rose up from the town to be his companion (Rose is red-haired which some take as a reference to Jean Grey, with whom Wolverine sometimes showed something of an obsession). The two children also often play with Dog Logan, son of the Howletts' cruel groundskeeper, Thomas Logan (who looks a lot like the fully-grown Wolverine). This friendship is spoiled by the tension between the boys' fathers centering on James' mother, Elizabeth, who went mad after her first son, John, died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. It is hinted throughout the series that Wolverine's elder brother was a mutant himself with powers similar to his own. Both his mother and grandfather allude to this, and the marks on Elizabeth's chest may have come from John's claws.
Dog, over the next few years, becomes increasingly like his father, and his misdeeds become so violent that he and his father are expelled from the manor. Thomas returns for the purpose of robbing the Howlett estate and to convince Elizabeth to leave with him (it is implied that they had an affair and that Thomas may be the biological father of Elizabeth's sons).
John Howlett enters the bedroom after hearing noises. Thomas kills John Howlett with a shotgun blast in front of all three children and Elizabeth. The horror of his father's death causes James' powers to manifest for the first time, and he uses his claws to kill Thomas and injure Dog, before lapsing into shock. Elizabeth, surprisingly, cradles the body of Thomas Logan rather than that of her husband. After a few moments, Elizabeth, with her shallow grip on reality shattered, picks up Thomas' shotgun and kills herself.
Questioned by the police, Dog accuses Rose of the killings and the fact that she fled the scene with James appears to confirm this. James is in shock and appears to have no recollection of what happened. Rose seeks help from her relatives, who reject her, and even James' grandfather drives them both from the house due to the manifestation of James' powers. They are given some money and take the train from Alberta to British Columbia, where they get work in a stone quarry.
Rose claims that her male companion is her cousin and, since they are on the run, calls him Logan in order to conceal his identity; though why she should choose the name of their enemy remains unexplained.
Gradually James/Logan strengthens physically, though his memory is still shattered. He often goes into the woods to hunt game, typically among a pack of wolves, with only his claws.
James becomes close to the foreman, Smitty, who, in turn, develops romantic feelings toward Rose, which she reciprocates. He courts her with books, including poetry by William Blake and a history of the samurai (warriors whom Wolverine of the X-Men models himself after). Logan's public identity as her cousin makes it impossible for him to declare his own feelings for her, so he works out his violence in a series of cage fights, where his brutality earns him the nickname Wolverine among the local population.
Smitty eventually asks Rose to marry him, which she accepts, and Smitty informs her that the cage fights are a fast and easy way to earn some extra money. He asks her to leave with him, which she is reluctant to do because of Logan. Smitty's opponent happens to be Logan, who quickly has Smitty at his mercy. However, James is aware of the relationship between he and Rose and, despite mixed feelings, wishes for her to be happy. He purposely takes a dive, allowing Smitty to win the fight.
Just before the couple leaves to be wed, Dog comes to the quarry, originally sent by Old Man Howlett, on his deathbed, to find his heir. However, Dog blames Logan for the events that led to his father's death and is actually there for revenge. In the ensuing fight, Rose is accidentally impaled on Logan's claws. Logan goes mad with grief and runs into the woods, where he stays for an as yet unknown amount of time, living like a wild animal.
Logan would not let Rose tell him about his past, which he had forgotten anyway. Cookie Malone, who has long hated Logan, steals Rose's few belongings, but contemptuously burns her diary which contains the truth of Logan's past.
[edit] Production
For decades, Wolverine's origins have been a mystery. After the success of the first X-Men film and talk of a solo spinoff film for the character, it was decided if the character's origin wasn't told in the comic, it would be told on film and not by them.
