20 Of Our Favorite X-Men Characters

Wolverine (Image via Marvel)

4. Wolverine

Am I legally obliged to include Wolverine on this list? I think I am. If I didn’t, I’d worry that the wrath of the commenters and comics fans would come down upon me in full force. I might even make Hugh Jackman sad. That won’t do.

However, this isn’t just an obligatory entry. Yes, Wolverine has been through so many different iterations and storylines that it can make your head spin… and your eyes roll. But, dig past some of the ephemeral silliness that’s been loaded onto the character, and you’ll discover why Wolverine is such a fan favorite.

For one, Wolverine is a giant grump. Who can’t identify with that on a few different levels? He’s also got massive metallic claws (part of a larger adamantium skeleton) which have become his trademark. When he hasn’t been with the X-Men, Wolverine has also worked both with the Avengers and Alpha Flight, a Canadian superhero team. Oh, also, Wolverine – broody, angry, rude Wolverine – is Canadian.

Originally, Wolverine was supposed to be a mutated wolverine turned humanoid. When that was deemed to be a little much, even for comics, his origin changed. Now, he is officially James Howlett, or “Logan”, born in Alberta, Canada in the 19th century. After a standard tragic backstory that involves a lot of stabbing, Logan discovers his mutant powers. Not only does he have the ability to produce bone claws (which will later be coated with adamantium), but he has a powerful healing factor. His healing ability makes him practically immortal. That’s why he’s made it to the 21st century without aging too dramatically.