Height: 5'3"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Eye color: Brown (or blue, depending on the artist)
Hair color: Black
Wolverine - or Logan as this X-man is also known as - originates from Canada though his past remains a mystery - even to himself. Because Logan's memories are a mixture of "memory implants" (this guy has been through a lot!) and real memories, he remains in constant search of his own true identity - often plagued with fragmented nightmares full of pain and loss. Some of the things Logan remembers of his past are that he spent some time in Japan where he trained as a samurai and that he was an operative for the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency). But although these memories might seem real to Logan, he cannot be sure that they are as it is somewhat impossible for him to distinguish between real and implanted memories....
However, Marvel has recently launched a mini series (6 issues in total) called Origin which for the first time ever brings out into the open the true origin of this enigmatic hero. It is here revealed that his name is James Howlett, as we meet him as a fragile little boy. Reaching early puberty, the boy's family is struck by a big tragedy that forces the young Wolverine and Rose, the girl who looks after him, to flee. On the run and as a means to cover his identity, the name Logan is adopted by our hero.
Today, Logan is part of Professor Charles Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning (based in New York) where he and the other X-men fight for their own and mankind's safety. Wolverine and the rest of Xavier's students are also known as mutants. This group of mutants are constantly fighting for justice and attempting to make the world a safer place, although they are feared and hated by most "normal" human beings. Their biggest enemy is the Master of Magnetism, Magneto, and his less friendly fellow mutants.
As a mutant, Wolverine posseses abilities beyond those of a "normal" human being. One of Wolverine's great powers is his animal-keen senses that enables him to track people/objects in almost any environment - especially through his enhanced sense of smell and hearing. Furthermore, Logan has an amazing healing factor that allows him to survive wounds that would prove fatal to most humans and mutants. Wolverine also has a set of 3 razor-sharp claws on each hand (forearm) that pop out from his knuckles whenever he feels angry or threathened. These claws are part of his skeletal structure. Logan's skeleton has been bonded with the strongest metal there is: adamantium.
The adamantium was originally bonded to Wolverine's bones by a group of scientists who worked for the Canadian Government (this took place some time after the second World War). Wolverine was kidnapped and held captivated while he was turned into a "killing machine" - also known as the Weapon X project. The codename used was Wolverine. He only survived the bonding process because of his amazing healing factor. Later on, the adamantium was removed by Magneto as he simply tore it from Wolverine's body. However, fairly recently, the evil mutant Apocalypse kidnapped our hero and forced him to fight on his behalf. Under the control of Apocalypse, Wolverine's skeleton was yet again bonded with adamantium.
There is obviously a lot more to be said about Marvel's most enigmatic hero. The Internet is full of interesting sites about Wolverine. Try some of the links below for more information on Wolverine:
The Many Origins Of Wolverine * * Wolverine's R.E.A.L.M. * * Wolverine Basic Info
Here is a beautiful painting that my boyfriend, Alan, did for me for my birthday this year:
