REAL Origin of WOLVERINE! (X-Men Week) || Comic Misconceptions || NerdSync

Wolverine is one of the most beloved X-Men Marvel has. And if you think his comic book origin is confusing, wait until you hear how he was almost a real, literal wolverine. Seriously. We're taking a look at the history of Wolverine to discover his REAL origin! Plus, learn the story behind his iconic mask!

Every Wednesday, Comic Misconceptions explores the incredible stories, fascinating ideas, and mind-blowing theories regarding comic books and the rich history and culture that surrounds them!

—————RELATED VIDEOS—————

REAL Origin of Nightcrawler!

REAL Origin of Storm!

Binge watch our full X-Men playlist, like a champ!

———————SOURCES———————

Comics Creators on X-Men - Tom DeFalco
Was Superman a Spy? - Brian Cronin
How To Create A Legend (Dave Cockrum's designs for the X-Men)
Dave Cockrum Interview - TwoMorrows Publishing
Wolverine's Mask - Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed
Dave Cockrum's Wolverine - Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed
Wolverine a Literal Mutant? - Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed
Len Wein's Defense
Spider-Woman origin - Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed

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[NerdSyncProductions]

There seems to be some confusion that I'd like to clear up. When I say that Wolverine was going to be a literal wolverine, *there was never any design for the character to be a small, fighting animal.* This was going to be Wolverine's origin, not his current state of being. The idea was that he would have started out as an actual wolverine, but would be mutated into looking exactly how Wolverine looks today. The concept for this origin was being toyed with _AFTER_ Wolverine had already debuted. They established that he looks like a human male, and they probably weren't going to change that.

For proof, look no further than Spider-Woman's initial origin which copy/pasted the concept, but replaced "mutated wolverine" with "mutated spider." She still very much looked human, and not at all like an actual spider. Sorry to crush your dreams!

[majinjason]

Aw, the Canadian Murder Machine, few people know it is the most polite of all the Murder Machines.

[kinosmead]

the paradox of wolverine is that he`s an impolite canadian

[jimdotbeep]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that one instance where Wolverine was informed about being a literal wolverine by a literal leprechaun. Google it.

[tetsubo]

In the tabletop role-playing game After the Bomb (Palladium, I recommend the 2nd edition) the players run mutant animal characters. You can build a mutant animal character using a point buy system and one of the options is, Full Human Looks. Which means you could actually play a mutant wolverine that looked fully human. Though they would tend to be stocky and hirsute. Sort of like Logan...

[MedalionDS]

Somehow "The Badger" exemplifies Canada so well... this should be a great spinoff character

[burcolclone]

Fan theory: Wolverine has always secretly been a Hydra agent

[Ega-zo]

in the X-men cartoon of the 90's there was an episode where wolverine was mutated to a wolf or wolverine like creature.

[nataliecomer]

Hey, I made some fan art of you (on the computer) is there a way to send you this digitally?

[Grimmijaggers]

Man I miss Wolverine. This made me laugh so much X'D

[theapplecommunity]

You're just too adorable. Thanks for helping me thru depression.

[O_Draws]

I'm glad that the real-Wolverine thing never happened. I first learned about it around 1989, in an issue of Comics Interview. It was pretty baffling. Also, the Cocrum/Thomas/Wein chain may have "created" Wolverine as he is, today, but there was a DC character from 1964 with the same power set (down to the sense, claws, healing factor, and berserker rages) called Timber Wolf. Weird, considering that he's part of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Why would Cocrum want to add a character to that sub-universe of DC that already has an existing counterpart? There had to have been some differences.

That all said, I also wish that bone claws and the whole James Howlett thing never happened, to Wolverine, as well. Wolverine's origin has been hate-fucked to the point of irreconcilability. Too sad.

[MrJackfaire]

I would love to see Wolverine from Earth X trilogy covered. I thought there was some Story about how he was from a tribe of "true humans" and that the Celestials had seeded Humanity but missed some tribes and most humans as they are today aren't true humans but Wolverine and his original people were. Am I right?

been a nerdsync sub for years, you're doing awesome!

[mr.nigmasir]

Can we get a video going into detail about the hyphen in Spider-Man's name? It drives me nuts when it's missed and it actually has a pretty detailed history. Thank you for complying. You have earned the respect of my great mind.

[Noms_Chompsky]

I read an interview where Wolverines claws were originally designed to be like the OG Razorgirl with small thin claws that spooled into his knuckle housings which since they were unbreakable weren't fragile and because of physics sharp enough to cut through almost anything. Then Wolverine was drawn with them great big choppers which looked great and he's been slicin' and dicin' with them forearm swords ever since.

[copperdaylight]

dave's feral wolverine may have nearly happened. as i remember in the comic, when magneto stripped of the adamantium off him, his mutation powers went haywire for a while, and there where even hints that the evolution would make him "perfect". never knew what happened though.

[barney]

I read an origin comic back in the mid 80's where wolverine was originally an eskimo. he was exhiled by the tribe cus they thought he was a demon since he was the only child that never got sick or injured (healing factor). He was found in the middle of a smowstorm by a pack of wolverines. He grew up wild and then the comic flashed forward and ended with him dressed like davy crockett with a big ass rifle and a cowboy hat like some old Canadian/ wild west type of look

[luaiali]

hey scott i have a question :
u said in a video that the lazarus pit is made up of unknown chemicals, well why doesnt raas al ghul study the lazarus pit and why doesnt he synthesize the chemicals, also why doesnt he carry vials of the liquid for quick use when he is in battle??

[jgr]

Great! Now I have a Rocket Raccoon/Wolverine crossover in my head!