I think trauma followsWolverinein every universe. The guy can’t catch a break on any Earth. It’s a running theme that doesn’t get talked about enough because, unlike some heroes (I’m looking at you,Spider-Man and your Parker Luck), Wolverine doesn’t sit around and mope about his misfortunes. That’s not me giving him a gold star for being masculine, either, as not opening up is partially why he’s miserable.
The prime example that always comes to mind when I think about Wolverine’s bad luck isUltimate X-Men#41 by Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch.The original Ultimate Universe’s darkest momenttakes a break from all main storylines, focusing on a teenage mutant whose powers manifest upon puberty and can kill anyone within his vicinity.
With powers like his, he can’t stay alive, andWolverine’s assigned to kill the child. For a story with only two central characters, tragedy follows everyone in the worst way possible.
Marvel’sUltimate X-MenUsed Wolverine to Kill One of Its Most Tragic Children
Ultimate X-Men#41 by Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch, Art Thibert, Frank D’Armata, and Chris Eliopoulos
Let’s start withthe child whom Wolverine is tasked to kill, a young boy who doesn’t even have a name. I’ve noticed some sites guess that his name could be Jesse, but the closest we actually get to having his name revealed is a note he leaves for his mother, referring to himself as “J,” and that’s where the tragedy lies for me. It’s the fact that he never has a name in the comic, because as far as anyone else is concerned, he’s not a kid: he’s a problem and a statistic.
The boy says himself that if his chromosomes had a minor adjustment, he could have been one of the X-Men.
The teenager is dehumanized without a name becausehis powers are so depressingthat he’s stripped of his agency and identity before he’s old enough to come into either. The boy says himself that if his chromosomes had a minor adjustment, he could have been one of the X-Men. Before he or anyone can consider his potential, “J” is seen as a casualty whose ailment would only further the division between mutants and humanity. He’s a victim of circumstance. This kid doesn’t so much as have a name because, according to Professor X, he’s merelya potential threat that Wolverine has to stop.
Wolverine’s Tragedy Is That He’s Tough Enough to Handle the Responsibility
His Powers and His Tough-Guy Demeanor Prevent Wolverine from Knowing Peace
This is where Wolverine’s tragedy comes into play. I know; comparing the killer to the child who was killed sounds like comparing apples to oranges, but bear with me. Bigger than the fact that he’s drawn to appear somber about the task he’s been given is the fact thatWolverine is the only one who can do something like this. It’s not just because ofWolverine’s nearly invulnerable healing factorthat prevents him from dying in J’s vicinity, which is just an added bonus.
It can be inferred that Charles Xavier sent Wolverine to kill J becauseit’s presumed that Wolverine can handle the difficult task. Wolverine has endured egregious pain in his past, but he’s always maintained a tough-guy exterior. Xavier would never ask Cyclops or Jean Grey, his star pupils, to do something like this. Wolverine, though - a soldier who never complains, never mopes, never cries - can handle it. That’s the presumption. To an extent, the presumption is correct, asWolverine lets people unload their griefon him because he can and has handled the worst that life offers.
Wolverine’s Very First Kill Gave Him 1 of Marvel’s Most Tragic Origins
A lot of superheroes are fueled by tragedy, but few were broken by it as dramatically as Wolverine, whose first kill obliterated his entire life.
That’s a heavy cross to bear for Wolverine, and all because he doesn’t express how stuff like this gets to him. There have been many instances in Marvel lore whereWolverine clearly still mourns and carries emotional pain.It’s easy to overlookhow tragic Wolverine’s life isand how he internalizes pain. All he does is internalize it, never actually showing his emotions. Xavier sending him on a mission to kill a child is one of Xavier’s cruelest deeds, but it’s hard to blame him when so many assume that Wolverine can handle the tough missions that others can’t without holding back or harboring guilt.
The Saddest Part About Wolverine’s Kill Is the Comic’s Ending
It’s True That a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
As a Wolverine-centric story with pages that are often silent, the imagery from this issue speaks for itself. The fact that there are virtually no words is what makes the story resonate, specifically inJ’s final conversation with Wolverine. The last few pages are the most dialogue that the book has. It’s not about what they say during the conversation and more about reflecting on how Wolverine acts in retrospect upon re-reading. He’s utterly kind to the boy, knowing what he has to do. He gives J his first and last beer. Kindness isn’t often a trait associated with Wolverine, but he shows it in spades to J.
If you loved the 2001-2009 era ofUltimate X-Men, don’t forget to check out the updated version for Marvel’s revamped version of the Ultimate Universe.Ultimate X-Menby Peach Momoko is available now both digitally and in collected edition from Marvel Comics.
That being said,an underrated part of Wolverine’s characteris how fatherly he can be with the children around him. It makes the final panel all the more heartbreaking when Wolverine exits the cave alone, leaving J’s fate even more obvious. The comic ends there, but the abrupt nature of the ending followed by a close up of Wolverine’s somber, remorseful face tells the whole story. That look onWolverine’sface is what broke me more than anything, and despite how sad it makes me, Logan’s pain keeps me coming back to one of my favorite stand-alone comic issues.
Ultimate X-Men#41is available now from Marvel Comics.
Wolverine
The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men’s wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics' biggest stars. He’s played in Fox and Marvel’s movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.
