Wolverine's Very First Kill Gave Him 1 of Marvel's Most Tragic Origins

Summary Wolverine's tragic origin story reveals his first kill was his biological father, setting the standard for his life of violence.

The murder of his father and rejection by his mother left him with trauma and a hardened heart as he became the deadliest man alive.

Wolverine's origin embraces the theme of his humanity being at odds with his animalistic rage, as his claws cost him everything.

Content Warning: the following article contains discussions of suicide and suicidal ideation.

A lot of superheroes are fueled by tragedy, but few were broken by it as dramatically as Wolverine. Unlike many other crime-fighters, Wolverine is a lethal hero, cutting down scores of gangsters, ninjas, aliens and mutants in the name of protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty. Hundreds if not thousands of people have fallen thanks to the Wolverine's claws, and it all started with a single kill that decided the path of his entire life.

Wolverine's tragic origin was revealed in the aptly named Origin by Paul Jenkins and Bill Jemas. This story gives readers the first real look at Wolverine's childhood, back when he was known as James Howlett. James grew up in a wealthy mansion on top of a hill, the son of John and Elizabeth Howlett. John employed tons of people to work on the land around his mansion, including the groundskeeper Thomas Logan.

Eventually, Thomas Logan grows tired of the Howlett family lording over him. Consumed by jealousy and anger, he takes his son (nicknamed 'Dog') to the mansion one night with a pair of shotguns, hoping to run away with Wolverine's mother Elizabeth Howlett. The attempt goes wrong, and Thomas ends up shooting John in front of his family.

Related Sorry, But Wolverine Is Actually Cooler Without His Adamantium While his adamantium skeleton and claws are an iconic aspect of his character, Wolverine is actually much cooler WITHOUT adamantium - and here's why.

Wolverine Unknowing Killed His Biological Father

Origin #2 by Paul Jenkins, Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada, Andy Kubert, Richard Isanove, Wes Abbott and Oscar Gongorra

Overcome with grief, Wolverine's mutation activates and his bone claws make their first appearance. He immediately murders Thomas Logan in a blind rage, and while he gets his revenge, this murder is just another part of Wolverine's heartbreaking origin. Unbeknownst to James, his biological father wasn't actually John Howlett. James' father is actually Thomas Logan, who he just murdered. The tragedy doesn't end there though. After James is revealed to be a mutant, he is immediately rejected by his mother, Elizabeth, who banishes him from the Howlett Estate. Elizabeth then takes her own life shortly after. This leaves James coping with the trauma of seeing his father's death, killing his biological father and being utterly rejected by his mother before losing her too, now making his way in a world with no money and no experience of anything but a pampered existence.

Wolverine would later reconnect with his half-brother Dog, who ended up as a time-traveling villain. The character shouldn't be confused with Sabretooth, who isn't Wolverine's brother in the comics.

In many ways, Thomas' attack on the Howletts represents Wolverine's true nature invading and destroying the happy, 'civilized' life he could have lived.

Wolverine's Origin Set the Standard for the Rest of His Life

Wolverine's 'Father' Passed Down a Legacy of Violence

It was a fascinating choice to make the macho, loner Wolverine a spoiled child, but this decision helps to emphasize how dramatically the hero's life fell apart in a single day. Fans instantly know that Thomas Logan must be Wolverine's father because of their similar appearances and loner attitudes, as well as the fact the Wolverine will later adopt 'Logan' as his civilian name. In many ways, Thomas' attack on the Howletts represents Wolverine's own animalistic potential invading and destroying the happy, "civilized" life he could have lived, with the fact that fans already know who James will become adding a note of predestination.

It's almost as if Wolverine's future arrives to butcher his past, as 'Logan' kills the people who love James Howlett and then turns him into a killer. Violence is suggested as Wolverine's genetic legacy, with him even eventually taking the name of the man who brought bloodshed and death into his home. Wolverine unknowingly killing his biological father also redefines the many moments of Wolverine being forced to kill lovers and friends for various reasons, suggesting that his formative experiences set the standard for the tragedies to follow. These concepts may not be literally true (Wolverine is constantly fighting to be better than his worst self), but they echo how Wolverine sees his own life and identity.

Wolverine's very first kill was his biological father - the man who he'd just seen murder his father John in front of him. The confrontation destroyed Wolverine's life and left him to make his way with nothing and no-one to turn to, beginning the process that would harden him into the deadliest man alive. Marvel only had one chance to give Wolverine the definitive origin story he deserves, and it nailed it with Origin's horrific reveal about his early years.

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.