After years of speculating, in 2022, Marvel Studios confirmed that Deadpool would officially join the MCU for a third installment of the R-rated comic book franchise at the start of Phase Six, Deadpool & Wolverine. This would mark the first official character of the Fox X-Men universe joining the MCU (although Patrick Stewart as a variant Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness kinda counts too, we suppose).

In a post on his Instagram story, Ryan Reynolds also gave us a closer look at Cassandra Nova’s sling ring. It looks like two infinity stones, the Time Stone and the Reality Stone, might be appended to it. We guess we’ll have to wait and see just how that works.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s latest teaser trailer brings yet another new Deadpool into the mix. This time it’s Lady Deadpool.

We can’t wait to find out who will be playing this red-clad gal. Additionally, Cowboy Deadpool also makes an appearance.

Here is everything we know so far about Deadpool & Wolverine.

Title

Thanks to a Super Bowl trailer (check it out below!), we know that this film, formerly called Deadpool 3, is actually Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Plot

The plot of Deadpool & Wolverine remains a mystery. All we know is that Hugh Jackman is returning as Wolverine, and that it takes place before the feral X-Man’s death in Logan. In fact, Jackman has confirmed that time travel will be involved in the threequel in a big way.

While originally, Deadpool & Wolverine was called Deadpool 3, director Shawn Levy wants to make sure fans understand that the title change is not just cosmetic. Levy notes to Screen Rant:

As far as crafting the Deadpool & Wolverine story, I just felt privileged every day because you’re talking about two massive movie stars in their most iconic roles. It also gave me an opportunity. It’s the third Deadpool movie, but it’s not Deadpool 3. It’s a different thing that’s very much Deadpool and Wolverine. And it’s not trying to copycat anything from the first two movies. They were awesome, but this is a two-hander character adventure.

As most folks know by now, Deadpool’s third solo film will reunite him with his X-Men Origins: Wolverine co-star. Deadpool and Wolverine will work together, although they have made it very clear that these two characters “hate each other.” It will not be a love-fest in this story. But the fact that Deadpool & Wolverine is smack in the middle of the Multiverse Saga should give us all a clue as to what’s going to go down, and probable multiversal shenanigans will ensue.

Dogpool, of course, will also star.

Make sure to follow him on Instagram.

We also now know what Deadpool & Wolverine‘s new official logo looks like thanks to a fun poster.

Deadpool & Wolverine will, of course, be the first R-rated movie in the MCU. And that means it’s not pulling any punches. In fact, its latest official synopsis drops two F-bombs. Let’s take a look:

Marvel Studios presents their most significant mistake to date—Deadpool & Wolverine. A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him. When his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier… reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to—Fuck. Synopses are so fucking stupid.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s Cast

We know Hugh Jackman will return, along with the very obvious Ryan Reynolds. Here’s who else we know about: Karan Soni, cab driver Dopinder, Leslie Uggams, Emma Corrin, and Matthew Macfadyen. In exciting news, Morena Baccarin and Stefan Kapicic are reprising their roles as Vanessa and Colossus in Deadpool & Wolverine. So are Rob Delaney’s Peter, Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), and Shioli Kutsuna (Yukio). Jennifer Garner’s Elektra from the 2003 Daredevil Marvel Fox movie is also reported to reprise her role in this MCU film.

Behind the Scenes

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s director for this third outing will be Shawn Levy, most recently known for his work on Stranger Things. This would be a reunion for Levy and Reynolds, as the pair previously worked together on the movie Free Guy. Levy is also known for the time travel movie The Adam Project.

On the writing side of things are Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, writers for the popular animated series Bob’s Burgers. The writers for the first two Deadpool films, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, are also contributing to movie number three’s screenplay, as is Ryan Reynolds himself.

Deadpool & Wolverine Release Date

Deadpool & Wolverine will arrive on July 26, 2024.

Originally published on January 4, 2023.

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Before Hugh Jackman’s long-awaited return to Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine, it’s a good time to revisit some classic tales of Canada’s most famous superhero, who turns 50 this year. Wolverine has maintained a solo comic title since 1988, with various mini-series and specials before that. But which runs are the best for the self-described “Best he is at what he does?” Our criteria for picking a top ten run is that the series has to feature Logan in a lead role, or have the name “Wolverine” in the title somewhere. Although a couple are technically team-up series, and one’s an X-Men book. However, the iconic mutant hero is front and center in each one.

10. Greg Rucka

with Darick Robertson, Leo Fernandez

Writer Greg Rucka is famous for writing definitive runs on Batman, Punisher, Wonder Woman, and many others. He also had a relatively brief run on Wolverine, which brought Logan into grittier territory than he’d been in for some time. In this run of issues, illustrated by Darick Robertson and Leo Fernandez, Logan takes on human traffickers, crime lords, and has a rematch with his mortal enemy, Sabretooth. Rucka also reinforces Logan’s friendship with his X-Men teammate Nightcrawler during his time on the title. This run doesn’t get as much attention as some others on this list. Yet it’s a solid run that deserves a revisit, and a spot on the greatest Wolverine runs ever.

Issues in Greg Rucka’s Wolverine Run

Wolverine (Vol.3) #1-19 (2003-2005)

9. Jason Aaron

with Chris Bachalo, Nick Bradshaw, Ramon Perez, and Pepe Larraz

Jason Aaron first gained fame for his years-long run on Thor. But he gave Logan a massive status quo change in his Wolverine and the X-Men series, where he turned the gruff loner into a headmaster for a school of mutant kids. After the death of his beloved Jean Grey, Cyclops and Wolverine have an ideological schism, splitting the team in two. As a result, Logan ends up taking charge of the newly named Jean Grey School as its headmaster.

All of this leads to many hilarious stories where Logan has to suddenly not just think about his own needs, but has to become a mentor to dozens of kids. While most Wolverine books rarely lean into comedy, Jason Aaron’s book is often hilarious. And it all blends with the mutant melodrama extremely well. As good as Aaron’s writing is, it’s complemented by some incredible art. Pencilers like Chris Bachalo, Nick Bradshaw, and others brought their A-game. Technically, this is an X-Men title, but since “Wolverine” is in the title and is front and center, we’re counting it.

Issues in Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men Comic Run:

Wolverine & The X-Men (2011) 1-35, 38-42; Wolverine & The X-Men Annual (2011-2014)

8. Walter and Louise Simonson

with Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams

This one’s a bit of an oddball book, because it’s a title Wolverine shared with another X-Man, and many don’t remember it these days. Havok & Wolverine: Metldown is still an incredibly fun read, even today. Back in 1988, the X-Men were laying low in the Australian Outback meaning for a brief period, Logan was teammates with Cyclops’ brother, Havok. X-Factor and Thor writers (as well as spouses) Walt and Louise Simonson decided to put Wolverine and Havok together, caught up in an adventure when the two are on vacation in Mexico.

This story runs through a four-part Epic Comics mini-series, with gorgeous mixed media artwork from Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams. This story is very of its time, dealing with the partial meltdown of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986, which we find out was actually an inside job that went out of control. (Yes, the “meltdown” in the title is literal). The whole thing was a plot that was actually concocted to trap the X-Men! Who knew? This story also has the wildest hair Logan has had in any comic series to date. That detail alone makes it an underrated gem.

Issues in Walt and Louise Simonson’s Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown Comic Run:

Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown #1-4 (1988)

7. Chris Claremont

with Al Milgrom

After the massive success of the 1982 4-part Wolverine limited series, it was inevitable there would be a follow-up. But writer Chris Claremont didn’t just want to do a Wolverine II. Instead he teamed up the grizzled Canadian mutant with the X-Men’s youngest member, Kitty Pryde, for a six-issue mini-series with artist Al Milgrom that takes the pair of X-Men on an adventure to Japan. This mini-series deepened the friendship of Logan and the teenage Kitty. Logan teaches his young protégé about the way of the samurai as they fight the ninja Ogun. Nowhere near as great as the first Wolverine mini-series, especially without Frank Miller’s art, however this storyline had a profound effect on the characters of both Logan and Kitty going forward.

Issues in Chris Claremont’s Kitty Pryde and Wolverine Comic Run:

Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1-6 (1985)

6. Mark Millar

with John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson

Fans have always wanted to see Wolverine fight his fellow heroes in the Marvel Universe. Well, in the first Mark Millar run on Wolverine, which lasted 12 issues under the Marvel Knights imprint, it finally happened. In this story, Logan gets brainwashed by Hydra and the Hand, becoming a living weapon for the notorious ninja clan. Throughout this storyline, Logan has to fight SHIELD agents, his fellow X-Men, and other Marvel heroes like the Fantastic Four. The storyline, which features premium summer-blockbuster action from writer Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., shows the heroes of Marvel racing to try to deprogram Logan before it’s too late. This run took place in Wolverine Vol.3 #20-32, and it collected as Wolverine: Enemy of the State.

Issues in Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s Wolverine Run:

Wolverine (Vol.3) #20-32 (2004-2005)

5. Paul Jenkins and Joe Quesada

with Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove

It was Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont’s belief that Logan was far too popular a character to have his mysterious backstory ever fully explained. Claremont believed maintaining the mystery behind Wolverine’s backstory was key to his popularity. That edict lasted until the year 2000, when Marvel EIC Joe Quesada decided that if Marvel Comics didn’t tell Logan’s origin story, then Hollywood was going to. They beat the movies to the punch in a 2001 mini-series plainly titled Origin.

Quesada hired Paul Jenkins to be the mini-series writer and introduced and confirmed many bits of information. We learned that Logan’s real name is James Howlett, and he was the wealthy son of a Canadian plantation owner back in the 19th century. This finally confirmed just how old Wolverine really was. Jenkins cleverly reveals the genesis of Wolverine’s name Logan, his predilection for redheaded ladies, and so much more. What could have been a disaster ended up as a gorgeously told and tragic story, not done justice at all in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Issues in Paul Jenkins, Joe Quesada, and Andy Kuberts’ Origin Run:

Origin #1-6 (2001-2002)

4. Barry Windsor Smith

When Wolverine became a star in Uncanny X-Men, writer Chris Claremont didn’t even reveal that Logan’s claws were a part of his actual body, and not just his gloves. He eventually revealed that his claws were part of an adamantium exoskeleton grafted onto his entire body. Logan wouldn’t let anyone know just how he got them. The answers finally came in this 12-part story in the anthology Marvel Comics Presents back in 1991, a milestone year for the X-Men brand, in a saga written and illustrated by the legendary Barry Windsor Smith, titled Weapon X.

This storyline details how the government’s top-secret Weapon X program captured a feral Logan, treating him like a test subject animal in order to create a living weapon. The art by Barry Windsor-Smith is next-level detailed, and his writing isn’t too shabby either. The hearts of readers everywhere broke for Logan, as his body and mind shattered thanks to the torture. The story’s main antagonist, Dr. Cornelius, is instantly a memorable villain, even if this is his one standout storyline. Hollywood has adapted or referenced this run in projects like X-Men: The Animated Series, X2, X-Men: Origins: Wolverine, and X-Men: Apocalypse. But the original is still the best.

Issues in Barry Windsor-Smith’s Wolverine Run:

Marvel Comics Presents #72-84 (1991)

3. Chris Claremont

with Frank Miller

No one at Marvel anticipated that Wolverine was going to be the breakout hero of the new X-Men series. By the early ’80s however, it was clear he was the star of the show. So in 1982, Marvel Comics decided to finally give Wolverine his own mini-series, written by Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont, with art by Daredevil artist Frank Miller. This was only Marvel’s second-ever limited series, and became an instant runaway hit. Having two creatives from Marvel’s two top-selling titles made this series a must-have for comic book readers at the time.

This all-star creative team gave us a story about Logan journeying to Japan, his subsequent battles with the Yakuza, as well as the ninja clan known as The Hand and his doomed romance with Mariko Yashida. The art by Miller is kinetic and exciting, and unlike anything readers at the time were accustomed to in mainstream comics. Clocking in at just four issues, this story is a tight “one and done,” even if it did have a huge impact on Logan as a character going forward. This story is the main inspiration for the 2013 The Wolverine film.

Issues in Chris Claremont and Frank Miller’s Wolverine Run

Wolverine (Vol.1) #1-4 (1982)

2. Mark Millar

with Steve McNiven

Similar to Batman with The Dark Knight Returns, one of the ultimate Wolverine stories takes place in a possible dystopian future, where our hero has to contend with the mistakes of his past and return for one last fight. Written by returning writer Mark Millar and drawn in requisite detail by Civil War’s Steve McNiven, the story takes place in issues #66-72 of Wolverine in 2009. Titled “Old Man Logan, ” this saga is set in a future where superheroes are outlawed, and Logan lives on a remote farm away from civilization. He’s haunted by his past where the machinations of Mysterio forced him to kill all his fellow X-Men, believing they were the enemy.

Trying (and failing) to kill himself, he never popped his claws again, letting the Wolverine identity effectively die. But as always, one last mission calls, a chance for redemption. If Mark Millar wrote an excellent Wolverine thriller with Enemy of the State, he wrote the definitive Wolverine saga in Old Man Logan. The story is filled with cameos from Marvel characters, with special emphasis on the Hulk and Hawkeye. The themes of this run of comics helped inform the movie masterpiece Logan, but this story is a comic book masterpiece in its own right.

Issues in Mark Millar’s and Steve McNiven’s Wolverine Run

Wolverine (Vol.3) #66-72, Wolverine: Giant Size Old Man Logan Conclusion

1. Larry Hama

with Marc Silvestri, Mark Texeira, and Adam Kubert

Chris Claremont may have defined Wolverine as a member of the X-Men, but former G.I. Joe writer Larry Hama is the writer who really made Logan shine as an ongoing solo hero. Hama wrote Wolverine’s first ongoing series from issues #31-118 starting in 1988, then the tie-in Age Of Apocalypse miniseries Weapon X #1-4. Hama’s artistic collaborators were some of the most iconic artists to ever draw Wolverine, including Marc Silvestri, Mark Texeira, Adam Kubert, and Leinil Yu.

Hama’s run was so great throughout because he touched on every aspect of Logan’s character. We get traditional superhero yarns, spy stories, mutant espionage, ninja tales, and a battle or two with Wolverine’s mortal foe, Sabretooth. Hama wrote Wolverine for over six years, even during his bone claw phase, longer than anyone outside of Chris Claremont. And he certainly left his stamp on the character. This is the Wolverine run that all the others try to live up to.

Issues in Larry Hamas’ Wolverine Run

Wolverine (Vol.2) #31-119 (1990-1997)

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In the pages of Marvel Comics, Victor Creed, a.k.a. Sabretooth, is Wolverine’s biggest rival. The Joker to his Batman, if you will. He’s the worst-case scenario version of Logan—an animal-like mutant, who is almost impossible to kill, a true psychopath with no redeeming qualities. Despite this, he’s worked for and against Wolverine and the X-Men over the years. Thanks to appearances on X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men: Evolution, and in the live-action films, Sabretooth has become iconic. Now, Sabretooth returns for one more bloody tussle with Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine. Here’s everything you need to know about Wolverine’s most hated enemy.

What Are Sabretooth’s Mutant Powers?

Sabretooth has very similar powers to his main rival, Wolverine. He has razor-sharp claws, regenerative capabilities, including an extensive healing factor, and animal-like senses. He has enhanced agility, speed, stamina, and strength. Similar to Wolverine, Creed’s healing factor allows him to age very slowly. Although his true age remains a mystery, many believe him to be well over 150 years old. As a side effect of Creed’s powers, he suffers from an unquenchable bloodlust.

Over the years, he’s asked various psychic mutants to help alleviate his murderous tendencies with a telepathic soothing balm he calls “the glow.” But even that hasn’t ever fully stripped him of his murderous nature. Eventually, Creed would get an adamantium skeleton of his own like Logan’s, although it would come and go. Even without his powers, Creed remains one of the most skilled hunters and trackers in the Marvel universe, undergoing training by organizations such as Hydra, SHIELD, Weapon X, the CIA, and many others.

Sabretooth’s Marvel Comics History and Relationship with Wolverine

Sabretooth didn’t first appear in X-Men comics, however. He first appeared in the pages of Iron First in 1977, as the martial artist’s intended primary antagonist. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, Claremont shifted Sabretooth over to the pages of Uncanny X-Men, where he developed a long-standing rivalry with the similarly-powered Wolverine. This began in earnest when Mister Sinister recruited him into his Marauders, and he helped slaughter several Morlocks during the Mutant Massacre. From that point forward, they presented Sabretooth as Logan’s primary nemesis.

The source of the Logan/Creed animosity is still a question. Some believe Sabretooth simply hates that there is someone out there with a similar skill set. Others have suggested that their animosity stems from incidents that happened to them while part of the government’s Weapon X project, and several murders of Wolverine’s loved ones he committed. However, some of those incidents are thought to be implanted memories now. The prevailing belief is that Creed simply hates that Logan won’t unleash his feral nature. He disdains Logan’s moral compass, something Sabretooth totally lacks.

Sabretooth Is X-Men Enemy and a Member of the X-Men

Despite his truly amoral nature, over the years Sabretooth has been part of several teams. Aside from Sinister’s Marauders, he’s been a part of the terrorist Brotherhood. There, he worked under his former lover Mystique. The pair have a child together, the human-supremacist leader Graydon Creed. Sabretooth has also been part of the X-Men, during a time when Professor X thought he might cure Sabretooth of his sadistic tendencies. They also forced Creed to work with the government-sanctioned X-Factor for a time, before breaking free of their control. In the recent Krakoan era of X-Men, one of the few mutants who did not agree to the “no killing humans” rule was Creed. So for a time, the X-Men imprisoned him within the island itself.

Sabretooth in the 20th Century Fox X-Men Movies

There are two contradicting versions of Sabretooth in the Fox X-Men films. The first was played by wrestler Tyler Mane. He worked for Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants in the original 2000 X-Men film. He tussles several times with Wolverine, although there is no indication that he knows Logan from a previous life at all in this film. The two fight atop the Statue of Liberty, a battle where Wolverine soundly defeats him. In the first X-Men, he barely has any lines. His personality is blank outside of a few mean snarls.

2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine introduced us to a totally different version of Sabretooth, played by actor Liev Schreiber. This version was Logan’s half-brother, who fought by his side for years. Eventually, they have a falling out, becoming bitter enemies. Although Marvel writers once toyed with Sabretooth and Wolverine as relatives, it never happened. So this is a complete Hollywood invention. Not only does this Victor Creed not visually match the one in the comics, but he also seems totally foreign to the one in the original X-Men film. Very little ties these two characters together visually. Perhaps the first glaring notion that there was no real continuity at work in the Fox X-Men universe.

Which Sabretooth Appears in the MCU and Who Plays Him?

We now have confirmation that Sabretooth will appear in Deadpool & Wolverine, and have a rematch with Logan (Hugh Jackman). We see the two prepare to fight in the wasteland we believe to be the Void from Loki in a recent trailer. The version in the film is clearly Tyler Mane, the original version from the first X-Men film, from nearly 25 years ago. There are rumors that Liev Schreiber’s version of Victor Creed from X-Men: Origins will also appear, so maybe we will get an answer as to which version is the “real” Sabretooth at last. We’ll know for certain when Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters on July 26.

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Deadpool & Wolverine is almost here, and the fandom couldn’t be more excited to see “Marvel Jesus” and his adamantium-boned buddy team up at last. While we still don’t know many things about the film, the trailers have given us some rather large clues as to the plot. And we think those clues hint strongly that Deadpool & Wolverine will lead directly into Avengers: Secret Wars, the final chapter of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. What we do know is that Logan and Wade are trapped together in Void, the repository of dead timelines first seen in Loki. We also know that they’re fighting X-Men villain Cassandra Nova.

In that Mad Max-esque Void, there are several known mutants from the X-Men films, like Pyro and Sabretooth. This is the first MCU project that officially canonized the Fox X-Men films as part of the larger cosmology, much as Spider-Man: No Way Home did for the pre-Tom Holland Spidey films. So we think it’s all leading up to a classic X-Men reunion, probably fighting the Avengers in Secret Wars. One thing we feel confident in saying about any of these Multiversal mutants coming our way is that the Wolverine from Logan definitely won’t be resurrected.

Deadpool & Wolverine to Feature Zombie Logan? Probably Not

Marvel Studios is leaning hard into the Multiverse right now. Therefore, we know that Jackman’s arrival means they are not going to undo Wolverine’s death in Logan. As it stands, that movie felt disconnected and in its own universe, even from the original X-Men films. After all, the events of Logan don’t really line up with the restored future we saw at the end of Days of Future Past. So with the Multiverse Saga in play now, we think that Logan can remain its own thing. Whatever version of Wolverine we see in Deadpool & Wolverine definitely won’t be the same one who died in Logan. They won’t dig him up and Frankenstein him back to life, so to speak. We think the integrity of James Mangold’s film is safe.

A Deadpool and Wolverine Road Trip?!

In the past, Ryan Reynolds has said that his original plans for Deadpool & Wolverine involved a “Rashomon-style road trip with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.” We feel that is probably still the case, only with a Multiversal bent this time. One particular scene in the trailer of Logan and Wade jumping through a mystical portal, very similar to that of Doctor Strange’s portal, suggests it is. To us, that indicates they’ll be reality-hopping together, at least part of the time. We honestly believe that with Hugh Jackman coming back for Deadpool & Wolverine, he’ll stick around for one more outing afterward, and it’ll be Avengers: Secret Wars. And maybe he will bring some of his fellow X-Men with him.

Deadpool & Wolverine Will Lead to an X-Men Reunion

Problematic director aside, the original X-Men films still matter. Their success paved the way for Spider-Man and eventually the entire MCU. And Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige himself has a bit of a sentimental soft spot for the first X-Men movies. They were his first on-screen credits in a Marvel film after all. That’s why he included Patrick Stewart in Multiverse of Madness, and Kelsey Grammer’s Beast in The Marvels. Those films started him on the path that led him to become head of Marvel Studios. So before the inevitable reboot of Marvel’s mutants, which is on the horizon, he might want to pay homage to the ones who started it all. It’s just a question of which X-Men make the cut. We know several confirmed secondary mutants already. If they’re in this, some of the main team must be coming our way, too.

Is Deadpool & Wolverine a Prelude to Avengers: Secret Wars?

If the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars follows the comics in even the smallest way, it will see the introduction of Battleworld. In the comics, that was a patchwork planet made out of the remains of several realities. But each of those realities became slightly different (or sometimes very different) when merging into Battleworld. So one of those realities could be a version of the Fox X-Men universe. It doesn’t even have to follow the continuity (such as it is) of the Fox X-Men films, because they have recreated it as something new. As we stated, we know that a good chunk of the film takes place in the Void from Loki, the repository world of dead realities. Could the Void simply become Battleworld in Secret Wars?

Given all that, we could still get the original actors back in their roles. Meaning we could get a proper send-off for not only Hugh Jackman, but also Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, Kelsey Grammer, and Patrick Stewart. He recently hinted broadly as to his return. We think he knows something he’s not sharing with the rest of the class (of Xavier’s School).

Could We See Costumed X-Men at Long Last?

Kevin Feige was one of the few true Marvel Comics fans on the set of X-Men, according to Hugh Jackman. In fact, Jackman has said in interviews that Feige snuck him Wolverine comics to his trailer, on the sly, as comic books were forbidden on set. And he also fixed Logan’s hair to be more comics-accurate. Now that he’s in charge of the whole enchilada, we knew he couldn’t resist finally putting Jackman in a comics-accurate costume. So if any of the other original X-Men show up, we think this holds true for them as well. Imagine if we see the 2000s cast, flying into action as the X-Men: The Animated Series theme plays? We’re losing our minds over it already.

Now, maybe Jackman’s return to play Wolverine really is “one last time.” But given his comments in the past about how fun it would be to be part of the MCU someday, we have a feeling that Deadpool & Wolverine is almost certainly not the end quite yet. And the X-Men might stand next to the Avengers and the Fantastic Four in battle before it’s all said and done.

Originally published on September 28, 2022.

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Often, the parts of superhero movies the studios are terrified of spoiling in trailers are revealed months in advance via toys. And the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine is no different. This collector’s 1/6 scale figure from Hot Toys/Sideshow Collectibles replicates the look of Hugh Jackman’s Logan from the film, complete with the iconic mask from the comic books at last. Although we’ve seen the mask before in certain promotional images, this figure is the best idea we have outside the film itself as what Jackman will look like in his full comics-accurate Wolverine regalia. You can check out several images, as well as read the official description, below:

Click To View Gallery

The screen-accurate collectible action figure is crafted based on the appearance of Wolverine portrayed by Hugh Jackman from the upcoming theatrical release, features a newly developed masked head sculpt with interchangeable lower faces showcasing different expressions, a highly poseable muscular body, arms made in silicone material with seamless elbows design, carefully tailored costume that replicates his battle outfit, multiple interchangeable hands with attachable bladed claws for additional posing options.

This Deadpool & Wolverine figure includes one newly developed masked head sculpt with three interchangeable lower faces, a screen-accurate facial expression, and detailed beard and skin textures. Wolverine stands at approximately 31 cm tall, and a body with over 30 points of articulation. They made the arms from silicone material with seamless elbow joints. There are 6 pieces of interchangeable hands including one pair of fists, one pair of relaxed hands, and one pair of open hands. The Deluxe Edition comes with a Hugh Jackman maskless face sculpt, as well as sleeves.

The costume is a yellow, navy, and black color Wolverine suit with weathering effects. It comes with one set of body armor, including chest guard, shoulder guards, and gauntlets. Logan also has one pair of navy and black colored boots. Of course, Logan has a pair of bladed claws (attachable to the back of the hands). A specially designed figure stand with the movie logo and character nameplate is also part of the package. The price for this bad boy is $280.00, and $340.00 for the Deluxe Edition, with shipping expected April to September 2025. You can click here to pre-order the Hot Toys Deadpool & Wolverine figures.

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2024 is shaping up to be the year of Deadpool & Wolverine, not just on the big screen, but also in the pages of Marvel Comics. The publisher has announced The Weapon X-Traction Saga, an event story starring Logan and Wade Wilson that will run through several titles this summer. Instead of appearing in its own series, this storyline will be a backup feature, at no extra cost, through eight ongoing Marvel titles. Weapon X-Traction Saga is written by Ryan North (Fantastic Four) and illustrated by Avengers artist Javier Garrón. You can read the official synopsis below:

Weapon X-Traction kicks off when a weary Wolverine runs into a clingy Deadpool at a favorite watering hole. From this humble beginning, they embark on an epic journey of non-friendship that will carry them across the Multiverse, battling zombies and gun-wielding librarians and—of course—one another!

The first issue for this storyline is Incredible Hulk #14, hitting in July. Fitting, as that’s the same month Wolverine & Deadpool arrives in theaters. It’s also fitting that this storyline kicks off in an issue of the Incredible Hulk series in particular. In July 1974, Wolverine made his debut in Incredible Hulk #181. So his starting a saga this big where he got his start fifty years ago just feels right. Marvel has yet to reveal which other titles this storyline will unfold in. Additionally, a release from Marvel shares that “Fans will also find that each issue containing an installment of the saga will have a special WEAPON X-TRACTION VARIANT COVER” that celebrates Deadpool & Wolverine. Cute.

Although the character of Deadpool hit the scene almost two decades after Wolverine, the pair of frenemies have long been synonymous with one another. Mainly thanks to their similar powers via the Weapon X program, and their not-so-similar demeanors. Lest we forget, Ryan Reynolds’ version of the Merc with the Mouth actually first appeared in live-action in a Wolverine movie. Although, we do think Reynolds would like us to forget that actually.

The first chapter of The Weapon X-Traction Saga arrives this July. You can check out the full line-up below.

On Sale 7/17
INCREDIBLE HULK #14 Deadpool & Wolverine Weapon X-Traction Teaser Variant Cover by Javier Garrón

On Sale 7/24
CAPTAIN AMERICA #11 Deadpool & Wolverine Weapon X-Traction Variant Cover by Steve McNiven
FANTASTIC FOUR #22 Deadpool & Wolverine Weapon X-Traction Variant Cover by Steve McNiven

On Sale 7/31
SPIDER-GWEN: THE GHOST-SPIDER #3 Deadpool & Wolverine Weapon X-Traction Variant Cover by Ryan Stegman​​​​​​​
IMMORTAL THOR #13 Deadpool & Wolverine Weapon X-Traction Variant Cover by Jorge Molina

On Sale 8/7
AVENGERS #17 Deadpool & Wolverine Weapon X-Traction Variant Cover by Cafu​​​​​​​
THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MEN #6 Deadpool & Wolverine Weapon X-Traction Variant Cover by Declan Shalvey

On Sale 8/14
X-MEN #2 Deadpool & Wolverine Weapon X-Traction Variant by David Nakayama

Originally published on February 23, 2024.

The post Deadpool and Wolverine Marvel Comics Event Story Coming This Summer appeared first on Nerdist.

Not long ago, former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo indicated on social media that Deadpool was an “off-limits” character for them to use on the series. Now, it seems that rule might not be a forever rule, and future seasons might include Wade Wilson in all his glory. While talking to Screen Rant, Marvel Animation’s Brad Winderbaum clarified the Deadpool situation regarding X-Men ’97, and hinted that we just might see him pop up in future seasons. Here’s what he had to say about everyone’s favorite Merc with the Mouth:

I don’t know that it was like a hard and fast rule that we couldn’t use Deadpool. We would have had to have an insanely compelling reason to bring Deadpool in. Because we’re also developing the feature simultaneously. So, unless it was something that really was an undeniable creative idea, it seemed like, ‘Why would we do it?’ But also, I’ll say, the season is so chock-full of big, giant, amazing fulfilling ideas that throwing Deadpool in there almost feels like arbitrary at a certain point. Is there a potential for Deadpool to come in? Absolutely, he was in the original series, briefly as we all know, and certainly we’re all fans, so we’ll see what happens.

Several years back, Marvel announced a Deadpool animated series for FX with Donald Glover in charge. However, they canceled it before airing a single episode. Maybe Ryan Reynolds didn’t want anyone else playing him on the regular. A guest appearance on an X-Men show may not be as hard to pull off though. If and when Deadpool shows up, it will likely have something to do with Wolverine’s Weapon X days. With Logan no longer having his adamantium skeleton, he might need help to get it back. Who better to enlist than another survivor of the same program like Wade?

We imagine any version of Deadpool on X-Men ’97 would be significantly more toned down than the big-screen iteration. After all, X-Men ’97 isn’t really a show where one drops f-bombs left and right. A “safe for kids” version appeared in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon back in 2013 on Disney XD. So there is precedent for this to happen.

Having said that, we wouldn’t be surprised if Ryan Reynolds played the role in X-Men ’97 when the time comes. This is not something we expect to see in the near future. In the meantime, we’ll have to be content with the live-action X-Men meeting Wade in Deadpool & Wolverine.

The post Deadpool Could Appear in a Future X-MEN ’97 Season After All appeared first on Nerdist.

We can all agree Logan is one of the finest superhero movies ever. Even Kevin Feige thinks so—enough that he originally told Hugh Jackman not to come back as Wolverine and to keep Logan as his final outing as the hero. Of course, both Jackman and Feige ignored this advice, and Jackman will indeed play Wolverine in the MCU’s Deadpool & Wolverine.

But, here’s what Feige shared with Jackman. He reveals, “I said, ‘Let me give you a piece of advice, Hugh. Don’t come back. You had the greatest ending in history with Logan. That’s not something we should undo.’” Oops! Of course, Feige also confirms the MCU won’t fully “undo” Logan because Hugh Jackman won’t play “the exact same Logan we’ve met in previous X-Men movies.” So, there’s that. Still, it’s funny how these things go.

For his part, Jackman previously shared that choosing to return to the character of Wolverine was a long process. Jackman recently shared of his return as Wolverine that despite his own reservations and apparently, the reservations of Feige and others, he reached a point where he just knew he had to come back.

The actor notes, “I was on my way – I was just driving – and literally just like a bolt of lightning came this knowing, deep in my gut, that I wanted to do this film with Ryan… for Deadpool and Wolverine to come together. And Jacqueline, I swear to you, when I said I was done, I really thought I was done. But, in the back of my head, ever since I saw Deadpool 1, I was like ‘Those two characters together…’ I knew it: I knew the fans wanted it. Ever since I put on the claws fans have talked about these two, so that had always been there, but I just knew.”

Jackman adds, “And I literally couldn’t wait to arrive. Soon as I arrived, I rang Ryan. And I just said, ‘Let’s do it.’ Like, I hadn’t rung my agent, no one. I had to ring my agent and said, ‘Oh, by the way, I have just committed to a movie.’”

But we’re glad to see Jackman join the MCU for one last turn as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine, and we bet Kevine Feige is, too, despite his early reservations.

Originally published on May 3, 2024.

The post Kevin Feige Told Hugh Jackman Not to Return as Wolverine in the MCU appeared first on Nerdist.

The season finale of X-Men ’97 had one emotional moment after another, leaving fans with several huge cliffhangers. Yet the scene on everyone’s mind is the seminal moment from X-Men #25, where Magneto pulls the adamantium out of Wolverine’s body. In “Tolerance is Extinction Part III,” Logan clings to life after that attack. He lies on a makeshift hospital bed, with his best buddy Morph by his side. The most heartfelt moment came when Morph takes Jean’s form, and confesses their love for Logan. And that wasn’t just Morph taking Jean’s form to keep him fighting for his life. This was Morph truly confessing their feelings for Wolverine.

In case there was any ambiguity about what Morph meant with that scene, former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo confirmed on social media (via Comic Book Resources) that Morph transforming into Jean Grey and telling Logan they loved him was a true confession of their feelings for the iconic X-Man. DeMayo said “Yes, Morph was confessing romantic feelings for Logan. He later posted “You know when you’re secretly in love with a close friend, and you’re terrified to tell them? Wouldn’t it be nice to turn into someone you know THEY love, say the words to just finally say them and have them feel it, even if you haven’t fully accepted you feel them?”

Every queer person who ever had a crush on their straight friend in high school absolutely relates to this moment. We’ve all been there. In case there was any confusion, DeMayo explained further on social media, saying “Yep. Morph was giving the object of their desire the comfort of hearing those words from the woman he loves because Morph is in love with him.” Will Wolverine remember what Morph said when he eventually wakes up? We’ll have to wait for X-Men ’97 season two to see how this soap opera continues to unfold.

The post Yes, Morph Was Confessing True Love for Wolverine in the X-MEN ’97 Finale appeared first on Nerdist.

From the looks of things in the trailers, it seems Deadpool & Wolverine is going to have many cameos from characters from the Fox X-Men universe. One scene in the second trailer shows Cassandra Nova, probably the film’s main villain, emerging in front of several characters in the Void. Her stronghold seems to be the dead body of an Ant-Man variant. Eagle-eyed Marvel fans will notice several mutants from the Fox X-Men films standing about. While we can’t confirm if the original actors return to these roles, we can tell it’s those same characters at least. Here’s who we know is in the Void with Logan and Wade in the Deadpool & Wolverine trailers, and which X-Men films they originated from.

Azazel (X-Men: First Class)

One of the easiest characters to spot at the giant Ant-Man corpse that is Cassandra Nova’s HQ is none other than Azazel. The red-hued demonic-looking mutant first appeared in 2011’s X-Men: First Class. In that film, he was one of Sebastian Shaw’s henchmen in the Hellfire Club. However, the movies explained that he died between the events of that film and Days of Future Past. Perhaps he didn’t really die, and they sent him to the Void? Azazel was once believed to be Nightcrawler’s father in the comics. However, recent events show that Mystique was Nightcrawler’s father, and conceived Nightcrawler while using Azazel’s form. Jason Flemyng portrayed Azazel in First Class. Will he return for Deadpool & Wolverine? We still don’t know.

Lady Deathstrike (X2: X-Men: United)

Lady Deathstrike threw down with Wolverine in one of the best-ever X-Men films, X2: X-Men United. The movie reimagined Yuriko Oyama as an experiment of William Stryker’s in the Weapon X project, just like Logan. She was a mutant with a healing factor like Wolverine’s, and had similarly grafted adamantium claws. This is a significant change from her comic book counterpart. Nevertheless, Kelly Hu and Hugh Jackman had a legendary fight in the climax of X2, where Deathstrike appeared to definitively die. It seems like a version of her still exists in the Void, so we may finally see the Wolverine/Deathstrike rematch after two decades. Hopefully, with Kelly Hu in the role.

Sabretooth (X-Men)

Rumors persist that the Liev Schreiber version of Sabretooth from X-Men: Origins will appear in Deadpool & Wolverine, yet the version in the trailer is confirmed as the Tyler Mane iteration from the first X-Men. It was always unclear if both versions of the animalistic mutant were meant to be the same character or not. Yet this is the version who said to Storm “You owe me a scream” back in 2000, now stuck in the Void.

Toad (X-Men)

Another veteran of the original X-Men film who seems to be lurking in the shot of everyone together is Toad. In the first X-Men film, Darth Maul performer Ray Park portrayed Magneto’s amphibian lackey. He even had a big battle moment with Jean Grey. Storm dispatched him as she uttered the lines “Do you know what happens to a toad when it’s struck by lightning?” True, it seemed like Toad kicked the bucket after Storm smoked him. But maybe he was just discarded with the other Fox mutants in the Void?

Pyro (X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand)

We first saw Aaron Stanford’s fire-controlling mutant Pyro in the first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. This was his big comeback, after a serious head butt from Iceman in X-Men: The Last Stand. It’s hard to say if it’s the version from the previous Fox X-Men films, or some kind of variant—a variant that is now stuck in the Void. Unlike the other characters, we can at least confirm the same actor plays Pyro from the original X-Men films.

There Will Be More Cameos to Come for Deadpool & Wolverine

We bet we can expect many more cameos to come when Deadpool & Wolverine releases in theaters. But the good news is that all of these cameos will serve a purpose in the story of the movie.

Recently, director Shawn Levy shared, “I’ll say we didn’t start off with a wishlist. From the day we started devising this Deadpool and Wolverine story, we let the story dictate the characters, not the other way around. Aaron and his return as Pyro was an outgrowth of that, and that applies to pretty much all the characters you’ll see in the movie.”

We can’t wait to see what other Fox X-Men cameos will come our way as we learn more about Deadpool & Wolverine.

Originally published on April 22, 2024.

The post DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE’s Confirmed Mutants From the Fox X-MEN Movies appeared first on Nerdist.

We only have two episodes left of X-Men ’97, and former series showrunner Beau DeMayo has been giving fans “homework” for the final episodes of season one. This homework takes the form of old X-Men episodes or comics to prepare for what’s coming next. The latest assignment comes in the form of watching the original X-Men animated pilot from 1989.

In the clip for episode nine of X-Men ’97, which you can see above, we see the team suit up in their classic costumes. Cyclops wears his suit with the skullcap, Wolverine puts on his brown and tan costume. Storm has her original suit from the comics. These are the same looks from the comics, also famously used in the original X-Men pilot, “Pryde of the X-Men.”

Another factor used in “Pryde of the X-Men” was Magneto’s orbiting stronghold, Asteroid M. His fortress was already teased several times in the show’s opening credits, as it appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series. We think the addition of “Pryde of the X-Men” as so-called homework only further fuels the notion that Magneto’s base of operations is making a big comeback. You can watch the full “Pryde of the X-Men” episode right here:

X-Men: The Animated Series is one of the most iconic superhero cartoons ever made. Without its huge success, it’s unlikely Fox would have ever greenlit the first X-Men film. But the X-Men cartoon we got was almost entirely different from what Marvel originally planned. Back in ’89, Marvel commissioned a pilot episode that introduced the X-Men’s junior member Kitty Pryde, hence the title “Pryde of the X-Men.” It only aired sporadically in syndication, before an eventual VHS release with a very odd live-action intro of Spider-Man talking about the importance of voting… to a presumably kid audience. (Sure, why not).

“Pryde of the X-Men” is fascinating for several reasons. It is a sort of spinoff to the version of the team first introduced in 1982’s Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends series. That is why they continued the weird decision to make Wolverine Australian, an idea first used in Spidey’s cartoon. (And which kind of predicted Aussie actor Hugh Jackman’s eventual role as Logan). For some reason, the producers substituted Rogue with Dazzler.

The cartoon had the classic line-up and concept from Uncanny X-Men, despite the late ’80s comics featuring a different team at the time. Despite its theme song paling in comparison to the ’90s show, the original pilot has some great things going for it. Overall, the animation was better. Plus, it featured iconic team members like Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Kitty as regulars. Kitty never once appeared in the ’90s show, which always felt like a glaring omission—maybe one X-Men ’97 will eventually rectify.

Back then, no network believed in X-Men as an animated series. It was producer Margaret Loesch who successfully pitched Fox Kids on the X-Men concept on the second try, in 1992. She cited the massive sales figures for X-Men #1 as an example of the IP’s popularity. No executive believed in X-Men, but Loesch staked her reputation on Marvel’s Mutants becoming huge. She was right, and the rest is history. Although X-Men: The Animated Series as produced bore little resemblance to “Pryde of the X-Men,” the one-off cartoon had a second life. Its designs and concepts were the basis of the massively popular Konami X-Men arcade game, also released in 1992.

As different as both shows were, they had one big thing in common. Both pilots featured a POV character who was a young girl discovering her mutant powers, and she’s our eyes and ears into this new world. In the ’90s series, it was Jubilee. We could easily see this approach, which began in “Pryde of the X-Men,” translated into the eventual MCU X-Men. It’s just too good and obvious a storytelling device. In the end, we would not be shocked in the MCU X-Men film begins with a teenage girl approaching the doors of a certain mansion located at 1407, Graymalkin Lane. But for now, it looks like X-Men ’97 is going to pay homage to this once-forgotten iteration of Xavier’s students.

Originally published on March 22, 2022.

The post The Original ’80s Animated X-MEN Pilot Is Deemed Homework for X-MEN ’97 appeared first on Nerdist.

The MCU loves a yellow super suit. First, it gave Charlie Cox’s Daredevil his red and yellow outfit when he appeared on the Disney+ series, She-Hulk. And now, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have officially revealed what costume Wolverine will wear for his MCU debut. And no surprise, Deadpool 3, a.k.a. Deadpool & Wolverine, has opted to give Wolverine his bright yellow (and blue) suit, a costume pulled straight from the pages of Marvel Comics. Although Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine has appeared on our movie screens many times, his yellow comics-accurate suit has not made the live-action jump… Until now. But a bright yellow suit on this extra grumpy version of Wolverine in Deadpool 3 seems exactly appropriate.

You can check out the first-look image of Wolverine’s MCU costume from Deadpool 3 below. Then, take a minute to fully appreciate the incredible yellow-ness of this suit.

We bet we’re going to hear Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool refer to Jackman’s Wolverine as “Sunshine” at least once in the movie, thanks to this costume. And, the yellow and red suits for these heroes might lead to some ketchup and mustard jokes in Deadpool 3, much to Wolverine’s annoyance. But Wolverine had to eventually suit up in the comics’ yellow and blue X-Men costume in a Marvel movie.

Another Look at Wolverine’s Yellow Deadpool 3 Suit Comes From an Unexpected Source

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s first trailer did not feature another look at Wolverine’s yellow suit. But now, another glimpse at how the comics-accurate suit will look has emerged from an unexpected source, a drink cup displayed at Cinema Con. Although this rendition of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine seems more like concept art than a true visual from the movie, it’s still interesting to take a look at the details. You can check out the image below.

New Images Reveals the Finer Details of the Deadpool & Wolverine Yellow MCU Suit

Our latest look at Deadpool & Wolverine zooms in on the finer details of Hugh Jackman’s new yellow suit. You can take in all the finer points of the costume below.

The Marvel Comics Origins of Wolverine’s Classic Costume, the Yellow and Blue Suit

So how did we arrive at this Deadpool 3 look for Wolverine? Wolverine made his debut in The Incredible Hulk #181 in 1974, wearing his classic yellow and blue costume. The mask was slightly different at first. But by the time the Canadian mutant became a part of the X-Men in Giant Size-X-Men #1 the following year, the classic yellow and blue suit as we know it was introduced, with the larger Wolverine mask. That look stuck until 1980, when Logan received his brown and tan suit. The second Wolverine costume lasted a decade, but he went back to his yellow and blue for the X-Men: The Animated Series era in 1992. This is likely why Wolverine’s yellow suit is seen as THE costume for a generation.

If there’s a true direct from the comic books inspiration here, the Deadpool 3 costume looks the most like Wolverine’s in Astonishing X-Men, which ran from 2004-2008. The great John Cassaday designed that outfit. The biggest detail that doesn’t match up to the Astonishing X-Men look is that Wolverine now has sleeves instead of bare arms. Oh, and no mask that we can see yet. But we expect that’s coming. You simply can’t have a complete classic yellow Wolverine costume without the mask, right?

Deadpool 3 Brings Us This Iconic Look in Hugh Jackman’s Potentially Final Turn as Wolverine

Fans have long-clamored to see this classic-colored costume on the hero. And the MCU loves to deliver an Easter egg if it can. As mentioned, yellow might seem an odd color for the hero known for being a bit of a grump. But, although Wolverine has worn many different costumes in his long Marvel Comics’ career, his suits have more often than not included yellow in them. It seems like Hugh Jackman had to don the color as Wolverine at least once before he hung up his claws.

Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy shared more about Wolverine’s potential final turn on screen and bringing the yellow suit to life. He noted, “Like the rest of the world, I’ve waited two decades to see Wolverine in a whole movie with Deadpool, and I don’t know if this is our last shot at Wolverine on screen, so I was going to make goddamned sure we get the old yellow and blue just once, and that we get it right.”

And, in order to do that, Wolverine’s yellow costume went through “multiple, multiple, multiple iterations and fittings.” But Levy adds, “It also helps that I’m making this movie within the MCU, so I have access to an army of the nerdiest nerds available to a Marvel project.”

Could Deadpool & Wolverine Be Hugh Jackman’s Final Outing as Wolverine?

Before Deadpool 3 became a reality, Hugh Jackman said his Wolverine days had ended, and he would not play the character again. Of course, we can never say never, but those previous pronouncements make it likely the actor will be done with the role of Wolverine, yellow suit or otherwise, after the Deadpool movie. If this is indeed Hugh Jackman’s last time as the hero, then it’s fitting to end it on this classic note. Finally, we will see Wolverine, as we’ve come to know him, in the costume we most associate with the role.

Marvel Studios had slated Deadpool 3 to release on May 3, 2024. But we may see a shift in that release date depending on when the studios agree to fair compensation and support for their writers and actors.

Originally published on July 10, 2023.

The post DEADPOOL 3 Gives Wolverine His Marvel Comics-Accurate Yellow Suit in the MCU appeared first on Nerdist.

Thanks to X-Men ’97, we now know Marvel Mutants and Disney go together like peanut butter and jelly. Of course, the animation style of X-Men ’97 doesn’t evoke the classic “Disney look.” It’s meant to be a blend of the ’90s animated series with a dash of anime. But what if the X-Men were actually animated in the iconic Disney 2D style? Particularly the style from classic ’90s films like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin? Well, now we have a good idea of what that would actually look like and it’s fabulous.

Comic book artist Mark Brooks, whose detailed work you’ve seen on comics like Spider-Man, Star Wars, and many more has reconfigured the classic X-Men characters in the Disney house style, and they’re incredible. Over the past month, he’s been dropping new Disney X-Men characters via social media. Some characters are super famous, some more obscure (Lookin’ at you, Strong Guy). Yet all perfectly capture that classic Disney feel. Here’s a sampling of Mark Brooks’ Disney-style X-Men characters so far:

Storm commands the weather, but in this image, Ororo Munroe looks like she could command a song as one of the Muses from Hercules.

It’s Wolverine and Deadpool’s year, so it makes sense these two would share an image together.

Kitty Pryde is serving us some Belle from Beauty and the Beast energy, and her pet dragon Lockheed looks like the Walt Disney World EPCOT mascot Figment.

The only un-Disney thing about this Gambit is that Remy is smoking. We appreciate that Brooks gave Gambit his costume and his crop top. And where there’s Gambit, Rogue can’t be far behind, sugah.

There are also plenty of villains, starting with the X-Men’s biggest nemesis Magneto. He looks less homicidal and more just grumpy in his Disney form.

Mystique can take many shapes, but looking like a Disney villain may be her coolest transformation.

Mister Sinister, however, is giving us all the dramatic Jafar from Aladdin vibes.

Jean Grey has long been the “princess” of the X-Mansion, so it’s only fitting she’s giving such a classic Disney princess vibe. Her clone the Goblin Queen on the other hand? She feels as if she could give Maleficent a run for her money in the “fashionably evil” department.

This version of X-Men field leader Cyclops has all the Milo from Atlantis: The Lost Empire vibes you could want.

Emma Frost is the White Queen of the Hellfire Club, and she’s also giving a classic evil Disney villain in this one. She might send a hunter to bring back Jean Grey’s heart in a box as if she were Snow White.

Mark Brooks’ Disney-style X-Men series has over 25 characters so far, with more on the way. We can’t wait to see what a Disney-style Apocalypse looks like, or even Mojo. Our hope is that Mark Brooks’ series doesn’t wrap up before we get Iceman, Angel, Bishop, Psylocke, and oh, about a half dozen others. We look forward to every single one of these Disney-fied mutants.

To check out more of Mark Brooks’ amazing Disney X-Men, be sure to head on over to his Twitter and Instagram accounts.

The post X-MEN in the Style of Classic Disney Animation Makes Marvel’s Mutants Magical appeared first on Nerdist.

In the Marvel comics, Wolverine is a very short guy. Yet thanks to the fact that Hugh Jackman stands at 6’3″, a lot of people today forget Logan’s comic book height. He was so short, that his fellow X-Man Colossus (whose height lived up to his codename) could pick Logan up and literally throw him at an opponent. (He can do this while in his metallic form.) Iconic Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont called this maneuver “the fastball special.” It’s a battle move Wolverine and Colossus use this against their enemies to this day. Now, Sideshow Collectibles is immortalizing the iconic X-Men movement with a Wolverine and Colossus statue and a larger premium format figure.

These are perfect for any hardcore X-Men fan. Also, they capture a moment we hope to see happen in Deadpool & Wolverine. Or maybe even in X-Men ’97, should Colossus ever show up there. You can read the official description for both right here, as well as see several images in our gallery:

Click To View Gallery

The Fastball Special Premium Format Figure measures 24″ tall, 15.15″ wide, and 25.5″ deep as Colossus launches Wolverine headfirst into the fray. The metallic mutant plants his feet firmly into the ground while he winds up the pitch. Wolverine has one foot in his friend’s hand and the rest of his body outstretched in anticipation. With his protracted Adamantium claws, he’s going to be the deadliest projectile his enemies have ever known. The Fastball Special: Colossus and Wolverine Statue measures 18” tall, 14.93” wide, and 19.12” deep as a colorful team-up bursts off the comic page and onto your shelf amid a fiery explosion.

Both Logan and Piotr Rasputin are wearing their classic comic costumes from the All-New, All-Different X-Men comic book era. This is the era that catapulted X-Men from a canceled series to one of Marvel’s most influential comics. Wolverine and Colossus stand on a base of molten Sentinel pieces that tell the story of a battle we haven’t seen yet, but we know was brutal. The statue will set you back $755.00 and the premium format figure costs $1,050.00. You can pre-order both by clicking here. The Wolverine and Colossus fastball special figure and statue are expected to arrive in Q4 2024.

The post Wolverine and Colossus’ X-MEN ‘Fastball Special’ Move Gets Deluxe Collectible appeared first on Nerdist.

Wolverine first appeared in 1974’s Incredible Hulk #181 and Deadpool didn’t pop up in Marvel Comics until New Mutants #98 in 1991; however, the two characters are inextricably linked. Mostly, because even though their temperaments are polar opposites, Deadpool and Wolverine’s histories are very similar. The Weapon X project experimented on both of them. Wolverine was given his adamantium skeleton by the shadowy group, and Deadpool had Wolverine’s own healing factor grafted onto his DNA while battling cancer by Weapon X. But in most ways, this is where the similarities end. Let’s dive into Wolverine and Deadpool’s strange relationship and history, both in and outside of Marvel comics, before Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters in July.

Wolverine and Deadpool’s First Comics Together in the Marvel Universe

In the regular Marvel Comics continuity, Wolverine and Deadpool first met in 1994’s Wolverine #88. That issue saw Deadpool trashing an apartment after failing to get his girlfriend back from her new guy, Garrison Kane. This brought Wolverine into the picture, as Kane was his buddy. After trading the usual verbal jabs, then came the actual jabs, with Wade stabbing Logan through the chest with his two swords. And that set the tone for Wolverine and Deadpool’s entire relationship in Marvel Comics—insulting each other, stabbing one another, getting back up again, and doing it all over again. Rinse, wash, and repeat.

But although Wolverine and Deadpool met for the first time in Wolverine #88, it’s also worth noting they briefly shared the comic page a year before the issue was published. In 1993’s Toys R Us X-Men Premium Edition, the X-Men encounter Deadpool for the first time. Logan and Wade don’t actually fight or talk, but they do share a big group panel together. So it kinda, sorta counts as Deadpool and Wolverine’s first comic book meeting.

Despite these temporal truths, years later retcons to Marvel’s universe determined that Wolverine and Deadpool had met much earlier than that, in-universe at least. In 2008, Marvel revealed a new history for Deadpool and Wolverine. The pair’s first fight actually happened when the Winter Soldier, still a brainwashed Hydra agent, hired Wade to take out Logan. This was all in an effort to draw out Daken, Wolverine’s son, who ultimately saved him. This occurred in 2008’s Wolverine Origins story “Deep End.”

The Best Wolverine and Deadpool Comics to Read in Order to Understand the Pair’s History

Deadpool and Wolverine have alternately fought and then teamed up in several comics over the past three decades, which makes for one interesting trip down comics’ history lane. In one infamous fight in 1999’s Deadpool #27, Wade fought Logan as a form of therapy for depression. The Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan mini-series, meanwhile, found Wade Wilson getting into it with the cranky gray-haired version of Logan. In Wolverine/Deadpool: The Decoy, a two-faced killer robot from space wanted to kill Jean Grey for all of her Phoenix shenanigans. Since she was dead (at that time), Wolverine dressed up Deadpool as Jean Grey as a distraction until he defeated the killer robot. In Uncanny X-Force, the pair were true teammates at last. However, even with this new relationship, Wolverine and Deadpool still butt heads constantly.

Friends? Enemies? What Is Wolverine and Deadpool’s Relationship in the Marvel Comics?

Wolverine and Deadpool were what we call “frenemies.” Sometimes they were literally trying to murder each other, and other times they seemed like best buds. Their first meetings were definitely adversarial, as seen in almost all their encounters in the ‘90s. By 1999, the pair fought a group of werewolves together, calling a truce. At the end of that story, Deadpool and Wolverine bonded over their mutual tortures at the hands of the Weapon X program and shared a beer. This was the start of an awkward friendship. Eventually, Logan invited Wade to join X-Force and, for the first time, Deadpool and Wolverine were officially teammates. But they still came to blows sometimes. We’ll likely see this dynamic come to life in the MCU’s Deadpool & Wolverine.

Who Would Win in a Fight, Wolverine or Deadpool?

With over a century and a half of his life and training behind him, Wolverine is likely the better fighter than Deadpool. Although the two have fought numerous times, it almost always ended in a stalemate. Wade Wilson’s healing factor may have been derived from Logan’s DNA, but he had a leg up on the adamantium-clawed mutant. Deadpool literally can’t die. Wade was cursed by Thanos with immortality because the Mad Titan was jealous of Deadpool’s relationship with his beloved entity of Death. So although Logan’s healing factor made it very hard to kill him, Wolverine could actually die. Deadpool, not so much.

Can Deadpool Kill Wolverine in the Marvel Universe?

In the 2012 alternate timeline mini-series Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, by writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dalibor Talajic, Marvel Comics finally showed a version of Wade Wilson who managed to kill Wolverine. Taking place on an alternate Earth in the multiverse, this comic featured a supervillain brainwashed Deadpool, who killed every known Avenger and X-Man. Only Wolverine was left standing at the end. Not for long though, as Deadpool found a way to kill Wolverine in this Marvel reality. In this story however, he needed a carbonadium sword to do it, as that metal is the only one on Earth that can nullify Logan’s healing factor. So yes, Deadpool could kill Wolverine. He just needs a little carbonadium help.

Who Heals Faster, Wolverine or Deadpool? Their Healing Factors Compared

Deadpool got his powers when Department K infused him with Wolverine’s mutant DNA. Yet his healing factor was ultimately superior to Logan’s. Wolverine’s healing factor can’t regrow lost limbs, for example. Deadpool’s healing factor allows him to regrow any lost and severed limb. Deadpool’s healing factor will even allow him to regrow his head. Wolverine’s wounds do heal, but his powers stop short of recreating actually lost cells out of thin air. Deadpool has the superior healing factor in this regard. Probably much to Wolverine’s annoyance—we bet it’s a sore spot in their relationship.

Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Ryan Reynolds’ first appearance as Deadpool actually came in the much-derided X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009. In that continuity, Wade Wilson was a mercenary with a metric ton of confirmed kills. He’s still a wisecracking motormouth, at least, at first. But unlike in Marvel Comics, Deadpool is a mutant fast enough to deflect bullets with swords. In the comics, he was born without the X-gene. But in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Deadpool was recruited into William Stryker’s mercenary Team X, along with Logan, and was eventually used by the Weapon X program as an experiment. Stryker infused his body with the DNA of several mutants, making him an undefeatable “mutant killer.” But he had his mouth sewn shut, so the famously talkative character became strangely mute. Let’s just say… the fans hated it.

Wolverine and Deadpool fought on Three Mile Island, but Logan defeated him. But we later saw that Deadpool’s severed head was still alive, and he winked at the camera. Luckily, X-Men: Days of Future Past rebooted the X-Men movie universe timeline, allowing the 2016 Deadpool to be closer to the comics. At the end of Deadpool 2, using Cable’s time travel device, Wade ventures into the events of X-Men Origins, shooting the previous Deadpool in the head. We have a strong feeling those time-travel shenanigans will play a part in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Hugh Jackman’s Logan Will Fight Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds will meet again for the very first time in Deadpool & Wolverine. From what the trailers tell us, it looks like the Time Variance Authority sends Deadpool to a universe where Logan failed the X-Men in some significant way, almost certainly leading to their deaths. Logan’s drowning his sorrows in a bar when Deadpool shows up to recruit him on a mission to save his own universe—possibly from being deleted entirely.

The pair then end up in the Void, the reality where the TVA dumps the remnants of pruned timelines. We know that after they fight each other, they fight Cassandra Nova, Charles Xavier’s evil twin. Aside from those facts, we know Logan and Deadpool will slice, stab, kick, and punch each other. Regardless of where they are in the multiverse, some things remain constant as their ongoing history and relationship continues to unfold. We can’t wait to see Deadpool and Wolverine, confirmed frenemies, take on the MCU.

Originally published on July 18, 2023.

The post The Complete History of Logan and Wade Wilson’s Rivalry, From Marvel Comics to DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE appeared first on Nerdist.

Logan is dead. Long live Wolverine. Hugh Jackman’s iconic big-screen character is truly back—rather than just his shadow—in the newest trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. Only, he’s not the hero we remembered. Deadpool & Wolverine brings us a very different Wolverine than the one we once knew. He’s a failure. But his foul-mouthed friend wants to give him a shot at redemption. Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool needs to save his world, and he needs Logan to do that.

This definitely ain’t your grandma’s Disney. Or your mom’s. Or, you know, anyone’s. The MCU’s first R-rated film is here to do anything it wants. Well, anything it wants except cocaine. According to its trailer, that’s apparently the line Deadpool & Wolverine can’t cross, per Kevin Feige. That lack of “disco dust” doesn’t look like it’s going to stop Deadpool and Wolverine from having a hell of a good time together, though.

This Deadpool & Wolverine trailer is full of movie references (Fury Road!) and action. It’s also our first real look at Emma Corrin’s terrifying villain, Cassandra Nova. But most importantly this trailer offers our first insight into the actual plot, which will see Deadpool recruit a Wolverine Variant to help him save his dimension.

The trailer even brings us some of the surprise Deadpool & Wolverine cameos we’re expecting to see. But it does leave space for many, many more. Who created that sorcerer portal the two jumped through? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Deadpool & Wolverine comes from Stranger Things‘ Shawn Levy. The movie will mark his third time directing Ryan Reynolds (Free Guy, The Adam Project). While Levy has said this film is not Deadpool 3, it still features many returning stars from the previous two Deadpool entries. Those back for more f***ing fun include Karan Soni, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapičić, Brianna Hildebrand, Leslie Uggams, Rob Delaney, and Shioli Kutsuna. Matthew Macfadyen is also joining the fray as a new TVA agent.

Deadpool & Wolverine join forces—one a little more reluctantly than the other—this summer on July 26, 2024. Long live friendship. And hopefully Wade’s world.

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The opening credits sequence for X-Men ’97 is incredibly faithful to the one for the ’90s X-Men: The Animated Series. At first glance, you might think it’s exactly the same as it was before. But there are subtle changes to the opening sequence with each episode. These changes include many Easter eggs referring to the original animated show, as well as the classic Marvel comics. Let’s break them down, episode by episode.

X-Men ’97 Episode 1,”To Me, My X-Men”

The first episode of X-Men ’97 rather faithfully recreated the original X-Men: The Animated Series opening credits. But from the get-go, there were some changes. The entire team is inside the Blackbird cockpit now, including Jubilee. Jean Grey no longer wears her ponytail, and Storm is sporting her new mohawk. Both Morph and Bishop are added to the “roll call” in the credits. Morph also has a moment where he’s tormented by Mister Sinister. In the final showdown, where the X-Men and their enemies are running towards each other, Lady Deathstrike and the White Queen replace Thunderbird and Gargoyle.

X-Men ’97 Episode 2 “Mutant Liberation Now”

The second episode sees Magneto in his new costume as the first X-Man we see in the credits, effectively replacing Professor X. Although we still see Charles in the credits, right before the title card comes up. Other additions include Storm fighting and beating Callisto in the Morlock tunnels, from the original series episode “Captive Hearts.” We see a brief moment of Jean Grey in full Dark Phoenix mode from the original series’ adaptation of “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” We catch a glimpse of Bishop tumbling through time from the original show’s “Days of Future Past” adaptation. Finally, we see Magneto’s orbiting base Asteroid M, from the X-Men: The Animated Series fourth season episode “Sanctuary.”

X-Men ’97 Episode 3 “Fire Made Flesh”

For the third X-Men ’97 episode’s credits, new additions include a brief shot of the X-Men fighting Magneto. This is from the second episode of the classic series, “Enter: Magneto.” We see mutant Roberto da Costa, chased by the angry mob running toward a chain link fence, just as Jubilee did. Next we see Empress Lilandra of the Shi’ar with Charles Xavier, in a moment from “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” We also witness Jean Grey’s sacrifice in that same episode, in front of a very distraught Cyclops. Finally, there’s a shot of Rogue and Gambit on the basketball court. This scene is a recreation of Jim Lee’s art from 1992’s X-Men #4.

X-Men ’97 Episode 4 “Motendo/Lifedeath Pt. 1”

For the episode four credits, Jean Grey is back in her original X-Men: The Animated Series ponytail, letting us know this is the real Jean, and not the clone Madelyne Pryor. We also catch a glimpse of Jubilee saving the other-dimensional warrior Longshot from Mojo is from the X-Men: The Animated Series episode “Longshot” from season three. Next is a moment is from the classic episode “Cold Comfort,” which introduced Iceman to X-Men: The Animated Series continuity. We see Forge with the government-sponsored team X-Factor, including Lorna Dane/Polaris. Finally, we see Emma Frost, the White Queen of the Hellfire Club, making telepathic contact with Charles Xavier. This is also from “The Dark Phoenix Saga” episodes of the classic show.

X-Men ’97 Episode 5, “Remember It”

This episode, despite its game-changing events, only had two new scenes in the credits. The first shows the cyborg mutant mercenary Cable, fighting a giant size version of the ancient mutant Apocalypse. This is from the original X-Men: The Animated Series episode “Time Fugitives.” Next, we see Gambit and Nightcrawler fighting side by side, presumably from the classic episode “Bloodlines.” Since Cable made his X-Men ’97 debut in this episode, and we got a visit from Nightcrawler, the inclusion of these two scenes makes sense.

X-Men ’97 Episode 6, “Lifedeath Pt. II”

The opening credits for episode 6, “Lifedeath Pt. II,” make another change to the team roster. We now have Nightcrawler, who jumps on his own logo, which was first designed for his 1985 miniseries. We also get a quick flash of the X-Men fighting Nimrod, the future Sentinel. Speaking of Sentinels, we also see a Master Mold produce many of its Sentinel offspring, probably from the original X-Men season one finale. The X-Men fighting the Shi’ar Imperial Guard is from the end of “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” and Lilandra meeting Xavier for the first time is from the opening episodes of “The Phoenix Saga.”

We expect many more new scenes and Easter eggs added to the opening credits as each new episode of X-Men ’97 drops on Disney+.

Originally published on April 3, 2024.

The post The Ways the X-MEN ’97 Opening Credits Change Every Episode appeared first on Nerdist.

After five years of incredible storytelling and a game-changing status quo change, which saw Marvel’s mutants inhabiting the living island of Krakoa, the X-Men’s so-called Krakoan era is coming to an end. However, the “Fall of X” is just a new beginning for the X-Men. Just announced by Marvel, the X-Men line of comics is relaunching this summer. It’s a launch spearheaded by all-star creative teams on the flagship titles—ones with familiar names like Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, and Exceptional X-Men. Marvel has released details and preview art for the first three books in the relaunch called “From the Ashes,” the title itself a reference to a classic ’80s X-Men saga. Marvel even has a trailer setting up what’s to come, which hints at an “Inmate X” at the dismantled Xavier’s School. Are you a prisoner in your own school, Charles Xavier?

Here’s what Marvel’s executive editor Tom Brevoort had to say about the upcoming X-Men relaunch, as well as a preview of the first wave of titles:

The X-Men are fractured in the aftermath of the end of Krakoa, scattered across the globe without a central base of operation, What that means in practice is that all three titles carrying the name X-Men are core X-Men series—they all center around one of the major aspects of what the team has been about at different points. This is very much by design. We want to field a wide assortment of X-titles with different styles and tones and approaches, an X-Men book for virtually any taste.

X-Men

Written by Jed MacKay, art by Ryan Stegman – On Sale 7/10

Krakoa is no more… but the X-Men fight on! From their new base in Alaska, the X-Men raise a flag of defiance! Join Cyclops, Beast, Psylocke, Kid Omega, Temper (formerly Oya), Magik, Juggernaut, and former enemy Magneto as they assemble against new forces, battling for the destiny and philosophy of the mutant species. Mutant business is their business.

Uncanny X-Men

Written by Gail Simone, art by David Marquez – On Sale 8/7

Outlaw heroes once again, the X-Men embark on a new mission! Making themselves at home in the Big Easy, the X-Men protect a world that hates and fears them! Join Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Jubilee, and Wolverine on explosive superhero adventures. Uncanny as ever, the X-Men are back to saving the day mutant-style! According to writer Gail Simone, “I think X-Fans are special in that we identify with having something different about us…and you’re going to feel that in this book, and what it means to have that thing about you that’s different, or exceptional. We go deep into the emotional part of that.”

Exceptional X-Men

Written by Eve L. Ewing, art by Carmen Carnero – On Sale 9/4

Mutantkind’s two greatest teachers mold the next generation of X-Men! Kate Pryde has returned home to Chicago following the war with Orchis. Having stepped away from the world of mutantdom, she is nevertheless called back into action as she crosses paths with a trio of new young mutants, Bronze, Axo, and Melee, who clearly need training and guidance. Unfortunately for Kate, Emma Frost thinks so as well!

According to Ewing, “Longtime fans of Kitty Pryde can count on the kinds of adventures you expect from her as a classic favorite, while I hope new and old readers alike will get to love this all-new team of young mutants. Kitty, the one-time kid sister figure of the X-Men, has to reckon with her own memories—good and bad—of being a child of Xavier as she navigates a role as leader and mentor for a new generation of mutants who are trying to make their way in a time of crisis.”

Now, you might be sad to not see some of your favorite members of the team in these initial lineups. Where are Colossus, Iceman, Bishop, and most importantly, Storm and Jean Grey? Well, these announced titles are just the first wave. Among the second wave of titles coming this year are several others, including solo series for Phoenix, Storm, and Wolverine (of course). Marvel also showed off logos for X-Factor, X-Force, and NYX. Almost all of those have retro ’90s styling. It might just be an aesthetic choice, but that remains to be seen. Between X-Men ’97, Deadpool & Wolverine, and now this relaunch, 2024 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Marvel’s mutants.

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With the upcoming premiere of X-Men ’97 on Disney+, there’s an all-time high appreciation for the Marvel mutants in their ’90s heyday. As much as we may love (some) of the live-action films, no media outside of comics has captured what people love about the students of Charles Xavier’s School more than X-Men: The Animated Series. Now, you can display your love for the ’90s era X-Men’s ultimate love triangle heroes, Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey, with a new series of figures from the folks at YouTooz. You can check out images and details for each one right here:

Cyclops (X-Men #1)

The first figure is of Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. The X-Men’s field leader, whose deadly optic blast can shatter a mountain. This figure captures Cyke in his Jim Lee-designed costume, featured prominently on the cover of 1991’s X-Men #1. Of course, it became world famous when X-Men: The Animated Series used it. This Limited Edition X-Men #1 Cyclops will set you back $39.99.

Jean Grey (Uncanny X-Men #281)

Where there is a Scott Summers, so too must there be a Jean Grey. The mutant with psychic abilities arrives wearing her signature ’90s look, as it appeared on the cover of Uncanny X-Men #281. This was the era when Jean joined the X-Men’s Gold Team, and Sentinels killed her (Don’t worry, she got better quickly again). No longer Marvel Girl or Phoenix, the Jean Grey of this era was the team’s most powerful member. This Limited Edition Jean Grey figure is also priced at $39.99.

Wolverine (Wolverine Omnibus Vol. 4)

Finally, it’s just not the X-Men without their most popular member, is it? This Wolverine figure is based on the cover of Wolverine Omnibus Volume 4. It shows Logan tearing through an alley with his adamantium claws. Like Cyclops and Jean Grey, he wears his signature ’90s costume. Also just like his teammates, the Wolverine YouTooz figure is $39.99.

To order these amazing X-Men YouTooz figures for yourself, head on over to their official site.

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The trailer for X-Men ’97 was brief, but it gave us a glimpse of some important plot developments. Magneto inheriting the X-Mansion? A pregnant Jean Grey? Many of these things were actually set up in the original ’90s series. Here are some episodes of the classic X-Men: The Animated Series you may want to watch again before X-Men ’97 releases in March on Disney+.

X-Men: The Animated Series Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2, “Night of the Sentinels”

In the trailer for X-Men ’97, we see the unmistakable hand of a Sentinel robot. The giant mutant-hunting machines are the embodiment of humanity’s hatred of homo superior. In many ways, they are the X-Men’s biggest enemy. We were first introduced to these Sentinels in the two-part opening episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, “Night of the Sentinels,” way back in 1992. They are responsible for killing the shapeshifting X-Man named Morph (he gets better), who will be a key player in the new series. Besides, what’s a better place to start getting ready for X-Men ’97 than with X-Men: The Animated Series very first episodes?

X-Men: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 3, “Enter Magneto”

The trailer for X-Men ’97 also shows Magneto inheriting the X-Mansion, and, presumably, the fortune of Charles Xavier via his last will and testament. It shows that Charles Xavier believed in the good within his former friend turned enemy. The backstory of their complicated relationship is explored in Magneto’s first appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series, “Enter Magneto.” Given Magneto has such a big role in the new show, there’s no better time than now to go back and see how the friendship between Xavier and Magneto fractured. This X-Men: The Animated Series episode will surely come into play in X-Men ’97.

X-Men: The Animated Series Season 1, Episodes 11 & 12, “Days of Future Past”

“Days of Future Past” is one of the most iconic X-Men stories of all time. It tells of a future where Sentinel robots have all but made the mutant race extinct. So, one of the future X-Men must go back in time to change history, preventing this apocalyptic future. The original ’80s comics had Kitty Pryde as the time-traveling X-Man, while the film adaptation used Wolverine. But in the two-part adaptation of the story for the cartoon, Lucas Bishop was the character to go back in time. Since Bishop is now a member of the “prime timeline” X-Men in X-Men ’97, the version of the story found in these episodes of The Animated Series may be one you wish to revisit.

X-Men: The Animated Series Season 4, Episode 8, “Nightcrawler”

Although not seen in the trailer for X-Men ’97, Marvel Studios has confirmed that the teleporting mutant Nightcrawler will be a series regular. For the show, he’ll be voiced by Adrian Hough. Although a main member of the team since 1975 in the comics, X-Men: The Animated Series only used him twice. Still, the episode “Nightcrawler” was a great chapter in the series. It really summed up why the demonic-looking (yet devoutly religious) mutant is so amazing. This is one episode of X-Men: The Animated Series you might want to revisit to get to know Kurt Wagner better before his X-Men ’97 return.

X-Men: The Animated Series Season 4, Episode 18, “Beyond Good and Evil Part 1”

Jean Grey and Scott Summers are the premiere X-Men couple. Although they attempted to get married in season two, their actual nuptials actually took place at the end of season four. Why does this matter? Because in the X-Men ’97 trailer, we see a very pregnant Jean Grey. But what if that’s not Jean, and Scott married someone else? Toy releases tied to X-Men ’97 show that Madelyne Pryor, Jean’s clone and Scott’s first wife in the comics, will play a big part in the show. These toys also show Maddy with a baby. That baby grows up to be the cyborg warrior Cable in the comics. Our theory is that they replaced the real Jean shortly before their wedding in Beyond Good and Evil. Therefore, Scott actually married her clone Maddy. Considering that, it might be a great time to revisit this famous wedding episode of X-Men: The Animated Series.

X-Men: The Animated Series Season 5, Episode 75, “Descent”

Marvel has already confirmed that Mister Sinister will be the main villain of X-Men ’97. The white and pasty-skinned mad scientist has a fixation with mutant bloodlines, and he experiments to create even more powerful mutants. But who is he really? In the final season, the episode “Descent” tells us the origin story of Nathaniel Essex, who used his gifts to give himself powers back in Victorian England. It also ties Sinister into the real-life legend of Jack the Ripper. Given his importance to the upcoming X-Men ’97 series, this episode of X-Men: The Animated Series feels like essential viewing.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series Season 2, Episodes 17 & 18, “The Mutant Agenda” and “Mutants’ Revenge”

You might be confused about these episodes being included, as they are part of the ‘90s Spider-Man animated series, not X-Men. But in the X-Men ’97 trailer, we see a copy of the Daily Bugle, with the headline “Is Spider-Man a Mutant?” This lets us know that Spidey is part of the X-Men: The Animated Series world. But we knew this already because the versions of the X-Men from the ‘90s cartoon appeared in a two-part episode of Spider-Man. It is possible that we might see that version of Peter Parker appear in X-Men ’97. How cool would it be to see these Marvel ‘90s icons meet once again? The ‘90s Spider-Man series is also on Disney+. So it’s worth rewatching the X-Men’s two-episode appearance, as it might actually matter to upcoming events in X-Men ’97.

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Hugh Jackman was adamant that Logan would be his final time playing Wolverine. He surely meant it when he said it. But we always know that no matter how much a performer might truly believe they are done with a character, people can always change their mind. We also know comic book superheroes never stay dead for long. Plus, he said all of that before Disney surprised everyone by buying Fox and its big screen rights to both the X-Men franchise and Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth. That’s a big reason Jackman is back doing something he swore he never would. And we finally got to see him in his iconic role during this year’s Super Bowl, which aired Marvel Studios long-awaited first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine.

Well, we at least got to see his shadow.

“Everyone deserves a happy ending.” That’s an official tagline from Disney. Disney.

Seeing Deadpool teaming up with the Mouse House is almost as good as seeing him teaming up with Wolverine, as the first-ever rated-R MCU movie is officially on the clock. The franchise’s only 2024 big screen release (and its de facto X-Men Origins: Wolverine reunion) finally gave fans of both Deadpool and Wolverine the trailer they’ve been craving during the NFL’s championship game.

It opens with Wade and his silly wig celebrating his birthday with both the (still alive) members of Task Force X and his loved ones. But his entire world (and cinematic universe) is upended by the arrival of TVA agents. They officially bring the Merc With a Mouth into the MCU. From there he’s tasked with being a hero among heroes. He’s also among villains, as X-Men‘s Aaron Stanford shows up as a Variant of his character Pyro. He’s just one of the many Easter eggs from both franchises that pop up in this trailer.

That’s all prelude to the biggest moment, when Wolverine shows in costume after appearing earlier in the trailer from behind at a table. He finds Wade on the ground where Deadpool asks for help. Instead he gets adamantium claws. And we get the Deadpool movie we’ve always wanted.

Deadpool 3 comes from director and frequent Reynolds collaborator Shawn Levy. Bob’s Burgers Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin are the duo behind the script. And the film also stars Karan Soni, Leslie Uggams, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapicic, Rob Delaney, Brianna Hildebrand, and Shioli Kutsuna.

We need to see this movie right now. Unfortunately we have to wait. The movie doesn’t arrive in f***** theaters until this summer on July 26, 2024. Will it truly mark Jackman’s last time playing Wolverine? It wouldn’t matter even if he said it will. Thankfully.

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Nick Fury assembled an impressive Avengers squad to protect the MCU. However, that version of Earth’s mightiest heroes is just one of an infinite number of super teams spread out across the multiverse. A few others are surely better, and a lot more are likely worse, but one stands out because of how it was built. And by that, we mean it’s built from little plastic bricks. Now those heroes are getting their very own special at Disney+, LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red.

The film’s new Easter egg-filled trailer puts together an incredible lineup with a special member. It will have Marvel fans wondering when they’ll get to see such an X-citing unit in live-action.

The Collector is back! The LEGO Variant of the character is looking to add Marvel’s Avengers to his vast library of intergalactic goods. That’s a big problem on its own, but one they can manage. It’s a far bigger issue that will lead to the superheroes asking for help. Here’s the synopsis for LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red from Disney:

The Avengers gather to celebrate their latest victory, but their celebration is quickly interrupted by the mysterious disappearance of Black Widow’s father, Red Guardian. As the Avengers investigate, they discover that Red Guardian isn’t the only one missing when they meet a dangerous new foe quite unlike anything they’ve ever encountered before.

That new foe is Red Phantom. He’s why LEGO Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, two Captain Americas, the Incredible Hulk, and the Black Panther will reach out to a “quirky” Marvel counterpart. And oh, is he quirky. The LEGO Avengers will turn to a grumpy, self-healing, hot dog-loving Marvel legend who has yet to appear in the MCU: Wolverine.

Sorry Hulk, we know you really don’t want to deal with “that guy,” but he does have special skills. And also knives in his hands. Indestructible hand knives are always helpful, especially against plastic. Plus, with Wolverine joining the LEGO Avengers, it might push his MCU Variant to get in on the action sooner rather than later. We really want to see that happen. Wolverine makes every team better in every universe.

LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red stars: Laura Bailey, Trevor Devall, Steve Blum, Will Friedle, James Mathis III, Liam O’Brien, Laura Post, Bumper Robinson, Roger Craig Smith, Fred Tatasciore, Travis Willingham, Mick Wingert. It debuts on Disney+ on Friday, October 27. 2023.

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For the better part of 60 years, Marvel Comics’ X-Men franchise has ruled the comic book store shelves. And in that time, the mutants sworn to protect a world that fears and hates them have had some legendary creator runs. We’re here to reveal our choices for the best of the best. Now, we should note, that these are just the flagship X-Men books. So, no spin-off teams. Also, unless it’s a writer/artist duo that collaborated on the entire run together, we’re classifying each run by writer primarily. For unknown reasons, writers defined the X-Men runs, with various artists contributing more often than not. Now, with all that out of the way, let’s rank the top 10 X-Men creator runs of all time.

10. Fabian Nicieza (X-Men, Vol. 2)

Writer Fabian Nicieza, the co-creator of Deadpool, had the unenviable task of following up writer Chris Claremont’s legendary 16-year run on the X-Men, which was no easy feat. To say he (and writer Scott Lobdell, who wrote Uncanny X-Men) had big shoes to fill is an understatement. But after a rocky start, Nicieza wrote the hell out of the main X-Men title. He really developed Psylocke into more than a gimmick character, truly developed Gambit, and wrote some of the best issues of the groundbreaking Age of Apocalypse storyline, not to mention, he was behind the moment Magneto ripped the adamantium off of Wolverine’s skeleton. His writing was also augmented by some incredible artwork from folks like Andy Kubert. You can’t write that many iconic X-Men moments in their history and not make it on this list.

Issues in Fabian Nicieza’s X-Men Comic Run:

X-Men (Vol.2) #12-45, Amazing X-Men #1-4, X-Men Forever #1-6

9. Brian Michael Bendis (All-New X-Men, Uncanny X-Men)

Writer Brian Michael Bendis wrote many celebrated Marvel contributions. His run on Ultimate Spider-Man is legendary, and he co-created Miles Morales, Jessica Jones, and more. Then there’s his New Avengers run, his time on Daredevil, and on and on. So, expectations were high when he finally came on board the X-Men in 2013 for All-New X-Men. And to be fair, for many, he didn’t meet those expectations. His run, which saw the teenage original five X-Men come to the present, was not without its faults. However, it had some big, noteworthy highlights.

For starters, Bendis made Kitty Pryde the primary mentor of the young, time-lost X-Men. Many of them were her mentors as adults (oh, timey-wimey headaches!), all of which yielded great storytelling moments. He wrote some great chemistry between the adult Emma Frost and the teen Jean Grey. And Bendis finally made it official, and had Iceman come out of the closet as a gay man. This after years of speculation. The art by the likes of Stuart Immonen and others was also consistently top-tier. So yes, the “teen X-Men in the past” thing went on for way too long. But the best parts of this run make it worthy of inclusion in a best X-Men runs list.

Issues in Brian Michael Bendis’ X-Men Comic Run:

All-New X-Men (Vol.1) #1-41, Uncanny X-Men (Vol.2) #1-35, (Vol.1) #600 (2012-2015)

8. Mark Millar (Ultimate X-Men)

In the early 2000s, Marvel Comics was just emerging from bankruptcy and was desperate to get new readers. Unlike DC Comics, they had never resorted to rebooting their universe. But with their new Ultimate line of comics, they created a new universe where younger, contemporary versions of their iconic characters start from scratch, all adjacent to the main universe. Marvel tasked writer Mark Millar, fresh from DC’s controversial superhero book The Authority, to reinvent the X-Men for the 21st century with Ultimate X-Men.

Although some of his choices were questionable (no one needed incest versions of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver), some were so exciting to read. Millar and his principal artists Adam Kubert and Chris Bachalo gave the X-Men’s classic stories a blockbuster movie makeover, showing the potential of what the mutants could be with a budget behind them. Eventually, this series ran out of steam, especially as other writers took over. Not least because they stopped having truly classic stories to reinvent. But Millar’s run remains a big, bombastic blast to read. Sometimes a slightly problematic blast, but a blast nevertheless.

Issues in Mark Millar’s X-Men Comic Run:

Ultimate X-Men (Vol. 1) #1-33 (2000-2003)

7. Mike Carey (X-Men, Vol. 2, X-Men: Legacy)

Although Mike Carey wrote the X-Men for five years, the longest outside of Chris Claremont’s, his run remains criminally underrated. While he used many iconic members like Wolverine and Cyclops, his best team during his years on the title had a very unusual roster—Iceman, Mystique, Rogue, Sabretooth, Cannonball, Cable, and new characters Lady Mastermind and Omega Sentinel. This oddball grouping of wild cards and ex-villains provided the X-Men with some much-needed uniqueness, smack in the middle of crossover event after crossover event.

Carey introduced the Children of the Vault, another advanced breed of humanity which continues to play a part in X-Men lore today. He finally gave Rogue control of her powers after decades, and when the title switched names to X-Men: Legacy, he used it to truly develop Charles Xavier into a multi-faceted character, after years of being either a saint or a monster. Carey’s run was accompanied by a bevy of talented artists, including Chris Bachalo, Humberto Ramos, and more. Hopefully, one day, more X-Men fans will recognize this run as one of the best. We sure think it is.

Issues in Mike Carey’s X-Men Comic Run:

X-Men (Vol.2) #188-207, X-Men: Legacy #208-260 (2006-2011)

6. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (X-Men, Vol. 1)

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were only on the original X-Men series for the first seventeen issues, from 1963-1965. Compared to Lee & Kirby’s run on Fantastic Four, Thor, and even Avengers, these first X-Men comics were certainly lacking. But without a doubt, they lay the groundwork for the entire future of the franchise in these still innovative first few years of Lee and Kirby’s run. Xavier’s School, the Magneto vs. Charles conflict, the love affair of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, the Sentinels. All Lee and Kirby concepts. Really, just the entire idea of Marvel mutants, period. It all started here. Other creators might have improved on the framework that Lee and Kirby created, but without a doubt, their run is where a large chunk of what makes the X-Men THE X-MEN came from.

Issues in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s X-Men Comic Run:

X-Men (Vol.1) #1-17 (1963-1965)

5. Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men, Vol.2)

When writer Joss Whedon came on board the X-Men titles with Astonishing X-Men, he wasn’t the problematic creator we know him as today (Or he likely was, we just didn’t know). Nor was he the director of the first two Avengers films. He was the guy who reinvented TV genre storytelling with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly. But the inspiration for many of the characters on those shows was none other than the X-Men. Buffy Summers herself was based on Kitty Pryde, and her last name was a nod to Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. So Whedon on an X-Men series felt like a long time coming.

Whedon and artist John Cassaday did a full 25-issue run on Astonishing X-Men that followed up on Grant Morrison’s, incorporating elements of his run, like Cyclops and Emma Frost in a relationship, and the Xavier School expanded to dozens of students. However, they also made the X-Men into costumed superheroes once again, something Morrison stayed away from. Most importantly, the Whedon/Cassaday run put Kitty Pryde back in the spotlight after years of being a second-stringer, and gave the character one of her defining moments in the franchise. New villains like Danger, and Cassaday’s incredibly detailed pencils on every issue, also make this a truly top-notch run, and one that was hard to beat for several years after.

Issues in Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s X-Men Comic Run:

Astonishing X-Men (Vol.2) #1-24, Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1 (2004-2008)

4. Jason Aaron (Wolverine and the X-Men, Vol. 1)

These days, Jason Aaron is thought of more for his extended run on Thor, or even his own series, Scalped. But his Wolverine and the X-Men series was a breath of fresh air during an era when the X-books were mostly deadly serious. After the (most recent) death of Jean Grey, Cyclops and Wolverine have an ideological schism, and split the team in two. Logan ends up being the headmaster of the newly named Jean Grey School. Characters like former students Kitty Pryde, Beast, and Iceman were now part of the faculty.

Aaron infused a ton of humor into the awkward nature of Wolverine trying to teach a bunch of teenage kids. All while also writing those same kids with genuine heart and pathos. Aaron wrote the first 42 issues, with artists like Chris Bachalo, Nick Bradshaw, Ramon Perez, and Pepe Larraz. Each of them gave the book a true visual panache. A second Wolverine and the X-Men series came from writer Christos Gage for another 12 issues. It ended when Wolverine died under Marvel mandate (he got better). But the Jason Aaron run remains the best version, and still one of the best X-Men runs overall.

Issues in Jason Aaron’s X-Men Comic Run:

X-Men: Schism #1-5, Wolverine & The X-Men (2011) 1-35, 38-42; Wolverine & The X-Men Annual (2011-2014)

3. Grant Morrison (New X-Men)

Grant Morrison took over the X-Men titles in 2001, following a full decade of other writers trying to emulate Chris Claremont’s style. Some pulled it off. But just as many did not. By the turn of the 21st century, the Jim Lee/X-Men: The Animated Series look and feel was just tired. Morrison, who’d already written groundbreaking runs for DC on JLA and Doom Patrol, decided to change the game for Marvel’s mutants. Their New X-Men run, with artists like Frank Quitely and Phil Jimenez, was the biggest change to the series since 1975.

Morrison’s New X-Men focused on Xavier’s students teaching at a much-expanded School for the Gifted. Mutants became trendy in Morrison’s world, but also an endangered species when the mutant nation of Genosha was obliterated. Morrison evolved Hank McCoy, a.k.a. the Beast into something even more animal-like yet smarter. They even dared to have Cyclops cheat on Jean Grey, and engage in a (psychic) affair with Emma Frost. Their character of Xorn, a Chinese mutant with a star for a brain, was more than we thought at first. Morrison finally evolved the mutants into something more than they’d been in years, more than just costumed heroes. Their three-year run pushed the envelope in ways few writers have ever dared to.

Issues in Grant Morrison’s X-Men Comic Run:

New X-Men #114-156, New X-Men Annual #1 (2001-2004)

2. Jonathan Hickman (House of X, Powers of X, X-Men, X-Men: Inferno)

With few exceptions, for decades, the X-Men were always a group of mutants fighting for a world that fears and hates them. They usually lived in a big mansion, where they trained in the use of their powers. Then, in 2019, Jonathan Hickman came in and blew that whole paradigm up. Starting in the mini-series House of X and Powers of X, the mutants of Earth, under the guidance of Professor X and Magneto, migrate to the living island nation of Krakoa (itself a mutant). There, they essentially become immortal gods on Earth. For the first time, they find themselves in a position of power within humanity, and not perpetual victims.

Hickman’s X-Men era (of which he wrote the main X-Men title and topped it off with the series X-Men: Inferno) introduced new concepts and ideas to the Marvel mutant universe with practically every new issue. Because of this, the franchise became more exciting than it had been in years. Hickman worked with many artists during this time, primarily Pepe Larraz and Leinil Francis Yu, all of which elevated it to one of the best-looking X-Men runs, along with one of the most innovative and fresh. It might have only lasted three years, but Hickman’s time on the X-Men franchise is one fans will still be talking about for decades to come.

Issues in Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men Comic Run:

House of X (#1-6), Powers of X (#1-6) X-Men (Vol.5) #1-20, Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey, Giant Size X-Men: Storm, Giant Size X-Men: Magneto, Giant Size X-Men: Fantomex, Giant Size X-Men: Nightcrawler, X-Men: Inferno #1-4 (2019-2022)

1. Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Vol. 2, X-Treme X-Men)

Simply put, no one else, alive or dead, could have topped this list. Writer Chris Claremont might not have created the X-Men himself, or even the “All-New, All-Different X-Men,” which he inherited from Len Wein. But he wrote the book on them in every other sense of the word. His epic 16-year run on Uncanny X-Men from 1975 to 1991 saw Xavier’s students go from previously canceled and washed-up heroes to the stars of Marvel’s best-selling flagship series. Claremont worked with artistic titans during his tenure too. Creators like Dave Cockrum, John Byrne, Paul Smith, John Romita Jr., Marc Silvestri, and Jim Lee, to name but a few. To list Chris Claremont’s contributions to the X-Men universe would take us all day, so we’re just gonna lightly touch Claremont’s unique contributions to X-Men one at a time.

Ready? Here we go. The Shi’ar Empire. Magneto reframed as an anti-hero. Mystique. Rogue. The actual characterizations of Wolverine, Storm, and Nightcrawler. Jean Grey’s evolution from constant hostage to the all-powerful Phoenix. The creation of Kitty Pryde (with artist John Byrne). The Dark Phoenix Saga. Days of Future Past. The Mutant Massacre. Mister Sinister. Madelyne Pryor. The Brood. Gambit. All of this culminated in the legendary X-Men #1 in 1991, which sold 8 million copies. Chris Claremont’s later X-Men runs were not as beloved as his first, but who cares? He could have never written another issue again after 1991, and he’d still top this list. The X-Men simply would not be what they are today without him. Period.

Issues in Chris Claremont’s X-Men Comic Run:

Uncanny X-Men #94–279, 381–389, 444–473, Annual #3-14, X-Men (Vol.2) #1-3, (1975-1991) 100–109, 165, Annual 2000, X-Treme X-Men #1-46 (2000-2004) X-Men Forever #1-25, X-Men Forever 2 #1-16 (2009-2011)

The post The 10 Greatest X-Men Comic Book Runs of All Time, Ranked appeared first on Nerdist.

For 60 years, the X-Men have been fighting for a world that fears and hates them. And over the decades, the mutant students of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters have had many, many different teams across Marvel Comics. Some X-Men teams are iconic and instantly come to mind when someone says “X-Men.” Others X-Men teams are made up of awesome characters, but largely forgotten. Here are our choices for the 10 best X-Men teams across comics, TV, games, and film. For the purposes of this list, we’re sticking only with teams called “X-Men” here. If we covered adjacent groups like the New Mutants, X-Factor, X-Force, and others, this list would be a whole lot longer.

10. The Australian Outback X-Men Team

The late ‘80s was a weird era for the X-Men. However, we have a special place in our hearts for this oddball lineup. In 1987, the Fall of the Mutants event saw all members of the X-Men die to save the city of Dallas. But, the goddess Roma secretly resurrected them. To the world at large, and to their former teammates who were not there, the X-Men were dead. So, team leader Storm took advantage of this public perception as a better way to strike their enemies with surprise. No one in Marvel’s world expected to be fighting a bunch of dead mutants.

Instead of going back to Xavier’s School, this X-Men team lived in an old base in the Australian Outback. Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, and Rogue remained a part of the team (all sporting some wild ’80s hair, courtesy of artist Marc Silvestri). New X-Men members Psylocke, pop star Dazzler, Cyclops’ brother Havok, and their first non-mutant member, Longshot, joined them. They also had an Aboriginal member for a time, the teleporter Gateway. This character allowed the X-Men to pop up anywhere in the world at will. This roster only lasted three years, but the members of this X-Men team remain one of the most punk rock and badass lineups in their long history.

Members of the Australian Outback X-Men

Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Rogue, Havok, Psylocke, Dazzler, Longshot, Gateway, Madelyne Pryor (ally)

9. The Original X-Men

Back in 1963, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were mandated by their bosses at Marvel Comics to make “another Fantastic Four.” After co-creating characters like Spider-Man and the Hulk, Lee couldn’t think of a way to give his new team powers, so he came up with Marvel’s mutants. They were all just born that way. The original concept of the X-Men, the one that gained them worldwide popularity decades later, was there from day one.

Professor Charles Xavier gathered younger mutants into his School for Gifted Youngsters. That first class included Cyclops, whose eye beams could level mountains, the telekinetic Marvel Girl, the animal-like Beast, the flying Angel, and the youngest, the polar-powered Iceman. Each student fit their role in the team dynamic perfectly; Cyclops was the serious brooder, and Marvel Girl was the princess. Iceman was the joker, Angel was the “popular good looking rich guy,” and Beast was the brain. Heck, one can say they did the Breakfast Club before the Breakfast Club. When Lee and Kirby left the book, it lost whatever steam it had, and Marvel canceled it.

Although the original team of X-Men was never a huge seller, there’s something undeniably special about this mix of characters. Every time Marvel regroups them, either as X-Factor, or as the All-New X-Men, it brings all the nostalgic feels.

Members of the Original X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel, Iceman

8. The Konami Arcade Game X-Men Team

In 1992, X-Men: The Animated Series launched on Fox Kids, making the Jim Lee version of the team into superstars for kids who had never picked up a comic. But another X-Men roster found big mainstream appeal that year, when Konami introduced the X-Men video game to arcades everywhere. This classic beat ‘em up game was one of the most successful games of its kind. And the X-Men arcade game is often voted one of the best superhero video games of all time.

Despite launching the same year as the cartoon, the team lineup in the X-Men game wasn’t based on the show. In fact, the roster came from the Pryde of the X-Men animated pilot from 1989. Only one episode was ever produced, and it featured a version of the early ‘80s team and their costumes from that time. That pilot, however, replaced Rogue with the light-powered Dazzler. This X-Men team found a whole new life thanks to the game. The Konami arcade game was so popular, many credit it as much as the cartoon with making Marvel’s mutants into pop culture icons.

Members of the Konami Arcade Game X-Men

Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Dazzler, Kitty Pryde, Professor Xavier

7. Grant Morrison’s New X-Men Roster

By the early 2000s, the Jim Lee/X-Men: The Animated Series roster and look had become a bit long in the tooth—something very emblematic of the previous decade. Comics were changing, and as the X-Men were by definition all about change, they had to update too. Enter writer Grant Morrison. The Scottish scribe had reinvigorated DC’s Justice League a few years earlier, and was tasked to do the same for Marvel’s premiere mutant team. He pared down the main X-Men lineup, focusing on the characters of Professor X, Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Beast.

However, Morrison also added a wild card, the X-Men’s former enemy Emma Frost. The ex-White Queen of the Hellfire Club created a volatile love triangle between Cyclops, Jean, and herself. It created the kind of soap opera spice the team hadn’t seen since Rogue and Gambit. Morrison also added Xorn, a mutant with a star for a brain. This team’s leather costumes, designed by artist Frank Quitely, drew inspiration from the 2000 film, but the bold yellow and black also recalled the original 1963 team.

Members of the New X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Beast, Emma Frost

6. Wolverine and the X-Men‘s Team

In terms of X-Men cartoons, most fans think of the ’92 show, or the early 2000s’ X-Men: Evolution. But in 2008, there was another X-Men series that lasted one brief season, titled Wolverine and the X-Men. More like the comics than either of its predecessors, Wolverine and the X-Men saw Logan gather a team of mutants both old and new when both Professor X and Jean Grey were presumed dead.

By the end of this show’s run, we had one of the best X-Men teams ever, a truly all-star lineup. Among the roster of Marvel mutants were the titular Wolverine, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Beast, Iceman, Angel, Nightcrawler, Storm, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Forge, and briefly, Colossus. Other iconic members appeared on the show, like Psylocke and Gambit, but they were adversaries and not actual X-Men. Rumors suggest if there had been a year two, they’d have made the roster too.

Members of Wolverine’s X-Men

Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Iceman, Angel, Beast, Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Emma Frost, Rogue, Colossus, (in absentia) Professor Xavier, Jean Grey

5. The X2: X-Men United Roster of Characters

The Fox movie X-Men were usually a smaller team than in the comics. The first X-Men in 2000 really only had Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Storm as members. Even the original X-Men comics team had five in the lineup. But by X2: X-Men United, we started to get a formidable team, one that reflected the comics at their best. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was still front and center, as was Halle Berry’s Storm, James Marsden’s Cyclops, and Famke Janssen’s Jean Grey.

But Rogue (Anna Paquin) and Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) actually got to use their powers in battle as proper X-Men in this Marvel movie. Also, Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) joined and was introduced in one of the coolest opening scenes in superhero movie history. Even Colossus made a cameo, helping the younger students escape the X-Mansion. And with Magneto (Ian McKellen) and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) aiding the team in their fight, we count them as temporary members. We love the X-Men: First Class team as well, but to us, this is the live-action X-Men lineup to beat.

Members of the X2 X-Men

Professor Xavier, Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Iceman, Pyro, Colossus, Magneto, Mystique

4. The X-Men: The Animated Series Team

It’s hard to oversell the importance of X-Men: The Animated Series to the brand of X-Men overall. Heck, to the very Marvel brand in non-comics media, period. Using the 1991 X-Men #1 comic book roster as its template, the Fox Kids series pared the team down to an essential nine members: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Jubilee, and of course, team leader and mentor, Professor Xavier. And it also included the occasionally dead Morph, based on the old ’60s character Changeling.

X-Men: The Animated Series balanced the characters’ personalities perfectly, in some ways better than the comics at the time. This was in large part because they perfectly cast the voice actors. Only because certain X-Men members from the comics became reduced to guest star roles, like Colossus, Archangel, and Nightcrawler, do we relegate this iteration of Marvel’s mutants to the fourth slot. But for an entire generation of kids, we know this was the GOAT team lineup.

Members of the X-Men: The Animated Series X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Jubilee, Morph

3. The “All-New, All-Different” X-Men

In 1970, Marvel canceled the original X-Men series due to low sales of the mutants’ story. But in 1975, in an effort to court an international audience, the X-Men were revived as a team made up of heroes from all over the world. There was Storm from Kenya, Nightcrawler from Germany, Colossus from Russia, Banshee from Ireland, and some guy named Wolverine from Canada. Led by original team leader Cyclops, the “All-New, All-Different X-Men,” as Marvel advertised them, became a critically acclaimed darling.

Later, when writer Chris Claremont upgraded Marvel Girl/Jean Grey into the godlike Phoenix, he really started to cook with fire. When artist John Byrne joined Claremont on the book, and put these characters through The Dark Phoenix Saga, the X-Men suddenly became Marvel Comics’ biggest brand next to Spider-Man. It’s no wonder that heroes from this version of the X-Men team, particularly Wolverine and Storm, became cornerstone characters for the franchise for the rest of its history.

Members of the All-New, All-Different X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Phoenix, Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Banshee, Thunderbird (deceased)

2. The ’80s X-Men

Coming off The Dark Phoenix Saga in the early to mid-’80s, The Uncanny X-Men was now the biggest hit in comics, regularly boasting over 100,000 in monthly sales. Not bad for a comic Marvel canned only a decade earlier. This was writer Chris Claremont’s creative high point for the team in many ways, and it saw the introduction of iconic team members to Xavier’s School like Kitty Pryde, Rogue, and the second Phoenix character, Rachel Summers.

Storm both lost her powers and became team leader in this era, and Cyclops married the clone of his dead girlfriend (it’s complicated). The X-Men’s arch-enemy Magneto even reformed and joined the X-Men at this point, shocking fandom. This X-Men roster fought the alien Brood, battled in the epic Secret Wars event, and tangled with Loki of Asgard. They even teamed up with DC’s Teen Titans. Some of their costumes were not so great at this time, reflecting a very ’80s MTV aesthetic. But otherwise, this X-Men team absolutely ruled.

Members of the ’80s X-Men

Professor Xavier, Cyclops, Angel, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Rogue, Phoenix II, Magneto

Honorable Mentions for Great X-Men Teams

Before we get to our number one entry, here are some honorable mentions who almost made the top 10: the cast of the X-Men: Evolution animated series from 2000, the all-women team from the 2013 X-Men series, the third Astonishing X-Men team line-up from 2018, and the first X-Men team from the modern Krakoan era.

1. X-Men Blue and X-Men Gold Is the Best X-Men Team Ever

By the early ‘90s, the Uncanny X-Men had been Marvel’s biggest-selling comic for over a decade. It spun off titles like New Mutants, X-Factor, and Excalibur. But there had never been a proper second X-Men title. So, in 1991, Marvel launched a companion ongoing comic for Xavier’s students. The creative team was longtime writer Chris Claremont and a new superstar artist by the name of Jim Lee on pencils. Lee, whose popularity was rising, redesigned the X-Men’s costumes, making some of them THE costumes people think of when they think of these characters.

X-Men #1, which sold a still-record eight million copies, was the beginning of the end of Chris Claremont’s 16-year run. However, it saw the return of the original five members together as X-Men for the first time in decades. It also saw the return of iconic members like Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, and Rogue. Plus, newer Marvel mutants like Gambit, Bishop, and Jubilee became icons themselves just for their membership in this roster, as did the “transformed into a ninja” character of Psylocke. (Our only roster complaint? No Nightcrawler and Kitty). Although split into a Blue Squad and a Gold Squad, they really were two halves of one team. Within a few years, these X-Men would drop the squads and formally become one team. This version of the group even inspired a series of wildly popular trading cards. And, of course X-Men Blue and X-Men Gold inspired the 1992 X-Men: The Animated Series, launching the team into mainstream popularity. It’s why for many, it’ll always be the best.

Members of the Blue and Gold X-Men Team

Professor X/Blue Team: Cyclops, Wolverine, Psylocke, Beast, Gambit, Rogue, Jubilee/ Gold Team: Storm, Jean Grey, Iceman, Colossus, Archangel, Bishop, Forge and Banshee (tech support)

The post The 10 Best X-MEN Teams Ever Across Marvel Comics, Movies, and More appeared first on Nerdist.

He’s one of the X-Men’s deadliest enemies, portrayed on screen by pro wrestlers (Tyler Mane) and prestige actors (Liev Schreiber) alike. But to most people, when they think of Sabretooth, they think of the one from the classic ’90s X-Men: The Animated Series. Now, the folks at Mondo are releasing a deluxe X-Men: The Animated Series Sabretooth 1/6 scale action figure, so you can have the best version of Victor Creed on your shelf. This figure is based on a concept design and sculpt by Alex Brewer, with paint by Mark Bristow. You can check out images of the feral mutant villain in action figure form, including fighting his least favorite mutant Wolverine, in our gallery down below.

Click To View Gallery

X-Men: The Animated Series Sabretooth 1/6 Scale Figure Timed Edition

The Timed Edition includes the Sabretooth figure, a smiling portrait, an angry portrait, a maskless portrait, a blaster, a muzzle, a detonator, an explosive, a Talos head, 4 Pairs of hands/fists, a C-Grip, a trigger, and a dramatic figure stand.

X-Men: The Animated Series Sabretooth 1/6 Scale Figure Regular Edition

The Regular Edition includes the Sabretooth figure, a smiling portrait, an angry portrait, a detonator, an explosive, a Talos head, 3 pairs of hands/fists, a C-Grip, and a dramatic figure stand.

Sabretooth joins other recent X-Men: The Animated Series 1/6 scale figures from Mondo like Wolverine, Jubilee, and their enemy Magneto. Hopefully, we’ll see other mutants from Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and the Brotherhood of Mutants join them in the near future. The Timed Edition is priced at $240, with the Regular Edition priced at $225. They’re limited to two per customer, and estimated to ship in September, 2023. The pre-order for both the deluxe Timed Edition and Regular Edition will be up on The Drop at MondoShop.com on Tuesday, May 30. The Sabretooth Timed Edition will be available until Tuesday, June 6 at 11:59 AM CT.

The post Mondo Unveils X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Sabretooth 1/6 Figure appeared first on Nerdist.

Disney and Deadpool are an interesting match. And many people have been eagerly following Deadpool 3 news to better understand how the Disney-owned Marvel Studios and the previously Fox Entertainment Group’s Deadpool might come together. In previous, Kevin Feige promised that Deadpool 3 would be an MCU movie and that it would remain R-rated, a first for the franchise. And now, we get our first look at this odd-couple pairing. But it comes with an even odder, more exciting couple. Welcome, Deadpool, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And in the same breath, welcome, Wolverine, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And surprise, welcome Hugh Jackman as Wolverine to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Deadpool 3.

If you’re wondering what this means for Logan and Wolverine’s big screen continuity, though, don’t worry, they have answers. Sort of.

Yep, that’s right. What starts as just a casual video from Ryan Reynolds becomes so much more. Because we are getting our MCU Wolverine, baby. And that MCU Wolverine is going to be Hugh Jackman in Deadpool 3. For so long, everyone has been asking, who will play the MCU’s Wolverine? So, of course, the MCU had to answer with the most obvious answer that no one expected to hear. We don’t know if Jackman intends to continue to be the MCU’s Wolverine, but we’ll get him for at least for one more movie. Everyone’s heads are exploding right now in a way that will surely please Deadpool.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Address the Logan/Deadpool 3 Question

We thought we saw the end of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in Logan. (As did director James Mangold.) But this is a comic book character we’re talking about, after all, which means a surprise return is not only possible, it’s expected.

We still have questions, though, about what the Greatest Adamantium Showman’s return in Deadpool 3 means for the “end” of his story. Fortunately, Reynolds and Jackman are here to help address them…in exactly the way you’d expect.

Ah, yes, that clears everything up. Logan takes place years after Deadpool 3, and they both really like Wham! (Who doesn’t!) Jackman also recently noted to Sirius XM’s Radio Andy program:

Because of this device they have in the Marvel world of moving around timelines, now we can go back, because…it’s science. And so I don’t have to screw with the Logan timeline, which was important to me, and I think probably to the fans, too.

Sounds like potential time travel is in the works. And what’s that about a device? For that answer and for answers to questions about the multiverse, the existence of mutants in Earth-616, and the million other queries we have, we’ll just have to wait.

R-Rated Deadpool and Wolverine in the MCU

In previous, Feige noted he felt excited to bring a “very different type of character [to] the MCU.” And Deadpool certainly is that, but also, he isn’t. In many ways, Wade Wilson and Ryan Reynolds both make a lot of sense in the world of the MCU. The franchise has already been pushing the envelope with entries such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This is the logical next step. There are, after all, plenty of kid-friendly options to choose from among the MCU’s many, many movies. And with High Jackman and Wolverine in the mix for Deadpool 3, we can’t wait for what’s certainly in store for us. This will no doubt also be a Wolverine like we’ve never seen him before.

Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine has appeared in an R-rated movie before. But we have a feeling Jackman’s Wolverine rendition in Logan and Deadpool 3 may feel a little different. Recently, Jackman shared more about what we could expect from the new MCU Wolverine. Will we see an angrier Logan or a gentler version of the character? Jackman responded with the obvious, saying:

“He’s definitely angrier, acerbic, grumpy, and he’s gonna take a lot of free shots at Ryan Reynolds, let me tell you… Physically, that is.” It definitely sounds like we’ll see a Wolverine that’s totally new. And that Deadpool better watch out. Reynolds recently confirmed this news, sharing with Variety, “What we pitched him was enough of a divergence from the character that he knows and the character that he’s left behind, that it gives him something completely new to play and something that he’s really excited to do.”

Additionally, Jackman recently offered more insight about the relationship between Deadpool and Wolverine in the MCU. He described the pair’s relationship to The Empire Film Podcast saying:

“10 being really close, zero being — that’s what we are, we are zero. We are opposites. Hate each other. He’s annoyed by him. Wants to be a million miles away from him or punch him in the head. So, unfortunately, he can’t be a million miles away from him in the movie, so I’m probably going to punch him in the head a lot… [They are] Polar opposites. He’s my vinegar to his sugar. He’s the fast-talking, quick-word loudmouth and my character just wants to punch him in the head.”

That’s a lot of punching, for sure.

Deadpool 3 and Phase 6 of the MCU

Jackman has said in previous that he won’t play Wolverine again and was retired from the role. But we guess the siren song of Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool, and the MCU called him back. He notes to Variety that he actually thought about it for a long time, but it took him longer to get onboard. In fact, Reynolds asked Jackman to come back as Wolverine for Deadpool 3 “on the daily” for approximately three years. And had nearly given up when Jackman finally agreed to return to the character.

As for Deadpool himself, we still don’t yet know if Deadpool will hail from a different multiverse in Deadpool 3 or if the move will explain he’s been kicking around the MCU all along, just out of sight. Either way, we are very happy to have him. And with Ryan Reynolds overseeing his long-time character, we’re confident he’s going to turn out just right. Not to mention, we can’t wait to see which of our MCU favs he (and now maybe Wolverine) eventually interact get to meet.

Deadpool 3‘s R-rated nature really does open the door to many new possibilities in the MCU. We wonder if Deadpool will remain a stand-alone R-rated arm, or whether other heroes will get to fight a little dirtier. We guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Deadpool 3, now with more Hugh Jackman Wolverine-fun, was slated to release on September 6, 2024. But now it will release on November 8, 2024. Although the MCU hasn’t said for sure, it could be that Deadpool 3 will kick off Phase 6 of the MCU, which begins with a “Fall 2024” release.

Originally published on September 27, 2022.

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The Marvel Multiverse is about to crack open wide. And that means that at long last, mutants are coming to the MCU. We’ve had some X-Men hints already, but when Wade Wilson crashes into the MCU in Deadpool 3, he’ll be bringing Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine with him. And if we were to take Sir Patrick Stewart’s hints seriously, it seems Professor X and maybe even Magneto may also go along for the ride.

And honestly, with Avengers: Secret Wars coming up, we feel confident that we are getting one last hurrah for the Fox X-Men. We suspect their reality will be part of the eventual Battleworld in Secret Wars. And if it is, that means we are going to be getting some long-awaited Avengers vs. X-Men live-action rumbles. Heck, some may happen as soon as Deadpool 3. Here are the AvX fights we are dying to see play out on theater screens in the coming years.

The Hulk vs. Wolverine

If there’s one big “Avenger vs. X-Man” fight everyone on Earth wants to see, including Hugh Jackman and Mark Ruffalo, it’s the Hulk fighting Wolverine. In the pages of Marvel Comics, these two have a long-standing rivalry. In fact, Wolverine first appeared in the pages of Incredible Hulk, not in Uncanny X-Men. We just hope it’s classic, rampaging Hulk and not smart Professor Hulk. We want to see the most feral versions of Logan and the Jade Giant go toe-to-toe. This one needs to get ugly.

Iron Man vs. Magneto

Yeah, we know, Tony Stark is very dead. But if we’re getting a Battleworld in Secret Wars, it means that some version of Iron Man will be around. Will it be Robert Downey Jr. as a variant? Maybe it will be Tom Cruise as “the Superior Iron Man” as was once rumored? Who knows? Regardless, we want to see the Man of Metal vs. the Master of Magnetism. It’s happened several times in the comics, with various outcomes. But the prospect of RDJ (hopefully) trading not only punches but sarcastic comments with either Sir Ian McKellen or Michael Fassbender has us salivating at the thought.

Captain Marvel vs. Rogue

In the original Fox X-Men films, Anna Paquin’s power-absorbing Rogue was significantly less powerful than her comic book counterpart. A big reason why was that in the comics, Rogue was able to permanently steal a portion of Carol Danvers’ powers, allowing her permanent super strength and flight. With Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel now a major MCU player, we’d like to see Rogue take her on in a fight, and siphon some of her powers. Then, we’d have the two powerhouses actually have a real down n’ dirty battle. The ability for the X-Men and Avengers characters to share a screen now means this storyline can finally see live-action glory.

Scarlet Witch vs. Phoenix (Jean Grey)

The most powerful members of both the Avengers and the X-Men are a pair of women who, at their peak powers, can reshape all reality. Or, more pointedly, destroy it entirely. Jean Grey is the host of the cosmic Phoenix Force, while Wanda Maximoff is the prophesied Scarlet Witch. If these two do battle, everyone else shouldn’t just clear the room, they should clear the whole darn planet. If we see Famke Janssen finally unleash the Phoenix Force at her full potential at an equally powerful opponent like Wanda, we’re in line for this on day one. It would make up for the shoddy treatment Jean Grey received in both Dark Phoenix Saga adaptations.

Captain America vs. Cyclops

Both the X-Men and the Avengers have had their share of leaders. But the quintessential field commanders of both teams were almost always Cyclops and Captain America. And whenever the two teams clashed, often the iconic image on the comic book cover was the sight of Scott Summers’ optic blasts ricocheting off Cap’s vibranium shield. We’re good seeing Scott take on either Cap, be it Sam Wilson or Steve Rogers. With the multiverse in play, anything is possible. Regardless of who Cap is, it would be nice for James Marsden to finally get to truly show off his skills as the iconic mutant hero.

Thor vs. Storm

One is a Norse God of Thunder. The other is a mutant “weather witch.” Both wield the power of lightning. So yes, Thor vs. Storm has all the ingredients for an epic showdown. Sure, Thor has an advantage, being an immortal god and everything. Storm is a mortal mutant, despite being worshipped as a goddess by her African tribe. But we know Ororo Munroe would give Odinson a run for his money. In the comics, Storm even spent time on Asgard, and was bequeathed her own enchanted hammer, Stormcaster. So she’s not unfamiliar with their forms of combat. These are some sparks we can’t wait to see fly on screen. We’re sure both Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry would have a ball filming this fight.

Scarlet Witch vs. Magneto

In the comics, Magneto is the father of Wanda Maximoff. Well, most of the time. Marvel retcons have changed that fact occasionally. However, he definitely raised her from her teen years on. Yet due to rights issues, Wanda’s relationship with her mutant dad could not be acknowledged on screen. But with Disney now having rights to the X-Men characters free and clear, we want to see the Scarlet Witch encounter her deadbeat dad, and maybe even show the Master of Magnetism who the real power in the family is. As powerful as Magneto may be, his little girl might hand him his butt.

Deadpool 3 hits theaters on November 8, 2024. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars are currently set to release in 2025 and 2026.

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Although Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige might choose to give the old Fox X-Men a final victory lap in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, eventually, he will reboot the mutant team for the MCU. It’s only a matter of time. But with dozens of X-Men as part of the comics over the years, which Marvel Mutants should make the cut for the first official MCU team? In our opinion, for their first outing in the 616, the students of Xavier’s school should go as iconic as possible. All killer, no filler. Sorry, all you fans of obscure mutants. We believe for the initial roster of MCU X-Men project, it’s “go big or go home” when it comes to creating its lineup.

We know there are lots of “cult favorite” members of the team, but we think sticking to the most iconic X-Men is what Marvel Studios should do for their first film. Characters that people think of whenever someone says “the X-Men.” These are the heroes we want to see on the poster. And in costumes that evoke the comics. And yes, we know that 13 X-Men is a lot. But remember how well Marvel Studios juggled the same amount of heroes in Civil War and later Avengers films? We know it can be done. Here are the 13 X-Men “big guns,” in addition to Charles Xavier of course, that we hope to see in the MCU’s lineup.

The Original 5 X-Men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Angel)

When X-Men debuted in the summer of 1963, they were comprised of five outcast teenagers who were students at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Cyclops (Scott Summers), equipped with optic blasts, Marvel Girl, the telepathic and telekinetic Jean Grey, Beast (Hank McCoy), the winged Angel (Warren Worthington), and the polar-powered Iceman (Bobby Drake).

The original “first class” would eventually make way for more popular team line-ups. But they always found their way back home. And in many ways, they remain the core of what Xavier’s dream of mutant/human integration stands for. Besides, the Fox X-Men films never had the “O5” together on screen as a team. The MCU would get off on the right foot by correcting that.

Wolverine

Look, it’s really not the X-Men without the feral Canadian mutant, is it? The adamantium-clawed X-Man is easily the most popular member of the group, and has been since the ‘80s at least. He anchored the movie series and several animated television shows, and made a star out of Hugh Jackman. He may not be our personal favorite member of the X-Men, but it’s undeniable how wildly popular he is. If there’s an X-Men team in the MCU, then it needs to have Wolverine on it.

Storm

Debuting in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men #1, Ororo Munroe is Marvel’s most prominent Black female hero. She’s also one of the publisher’s most iconic women heroes, period. The Weather-controlling goddess has been a leader of the X-Men many times over, and is one of the world’s most powerful mutants. Along with Wolverine, she is probably the X-Man who is most definitely a household name to the general public, thanks again to TV and film exposure. Given her connection to the world of Black Panther as well, it sure would be a big mistake to have an MCU X-Men roster without her.

Colossus

The Russian metal man with a heart of gold, Peter Rasputin also joined Xavier’s class in Giant-Size X-Men #1. He has more or less been a mainstay of the team for the better part of 45 years (give or take a few times when he was dead). Although sidelined in the main X-Men films, he did finally get his due as co-star of the Deadpool films. In our minds, the kind-hearted “big lug” is the heart of the X-Men, and needs to have a spot in the MCU roster.

Nightcrawler

While some mutants can pass for “normal,” that cannot be said for Kurt Wagner, the German X-Man known as Nightcrawler. Looking like a blue demon, complete with a tail and all, Nightcrawler has the ability to teleport. Not to mention, he’s pretty agile and fast too. Despite his demonic appearance, Kurt is a devoutly religious man. He is often the shoulder for the rest of the team to cry on. He appeared in a few X-Men films, portrayed by both Alan Cumming and Kodi Smit-McPhee. But the MCU needs its own version of the former circus performer turned swashbuckling mutant hero in its X-Men lineup.

Kitty Pryde

If Colossus is the heart of the team, then young Katherine “Kitty” Pryde is the soul. Kitty, who can phase through solid matter, joined the X-Men as a young teen, forging important bonds with each member. She provided the older X-Men a “kid sister” of sorts, and then, became something of a team mascot. She’s had many codenames, ranging from Sprite to Ariel to Shadowcat. But we know her best in the end as just Kitty. Although Umbrella Academy’s Elliot Page played the character in a couple of the Fox X-Men films, the MCU needs Kitty to be more front and center in its first lineup.

Rogue

This Southern belle is both a no-nonsense powerhouse, and also a tragic figure. Rogue has the power to absorb other people’s energy, and in the case of mutants, their powers. But this gift makes it so she can’t touch anyone, or she might accidentally kill them. She overcompensates for her tragic circumstances with bluster and bravado, making her a fascinating contradiction of a character. (She also has super strength and flight, permanently absorbed from Captain Marvel). The Anna Paquin version from the Fox films is almost another character entirely. So an MCU Rogue would be a perfect chance to introduce the comics version of this X-Men into a live-action roster.

Gambit

Here’s an X-Man who might have not made the cut, if not for two things. The Cajun mutant, who had the power to energize objects and make them deadly projectiles, was in the 1991 relaunch of X-Men, which sold some 8 million copies. He also became a main character in the ’90s Animated Series which launched a year later. These two things made him an iconic X-Man in the eyes of many fans, and most fans have been dying to see Remy Labeau in a proper X-Men film (X-Men Origins: Wolverine doesn’t count). While he’s not our most favorite mutant hero, he is viewed as a signature X-Man by many, and probably should be on the team.

Jubilee

Much like Gambit, Jubilation Lee, the Chinese-American teenager who was the team’s youngest member (after Kitty left) became iconic thanks to her inclusion in Jim Lee’s comics and the ’90s cartoon. But because of those things, the fireworks-creating mutant Beverly Hills mallrat is synonymous with X-Men. Especially to a whole generation who grew up with the character on TV. While some of the valley girl aspects are super dated now, they could easily update Jubilee to modern times. We think many fans want to see that yellow raincoat on screen.

Of course, some changes will have to be made. With the exception of Storm and Jubilee, it’s an overwhelmingly Caucasian lineup. But they could always diversify some of the characters for the big screen. Marvel Studios has already set precedent for that. Whenever it happens, we’re excited to see what form the X-Men will ultimately take in the MCU.

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Episode two of She-Hulk is now behind us. And it’s filled with larger MCU Easter eggs, all hidden within all the legal drama and one-liners. In fact, for the eagle-eyed viewer out there, this episode might have had our first confirmation of a MAJOR Marvel mutant. In today’s Nerdist News, we explain it all for you.

Episode two begins with Jen losing her job at her law firm. Only for another firm needing a specialist in superhuman affairs to instantly hire her. But before that, we see her job hunting online. One website has a couple of huge MCU reveals. The first says “Man fights with metal claws in bar brawl.” Ok, we know that’s gotta be Wolverine. Since Logan’s first appearance was in The Incredible Hulk, it’s only fitting the first official MCU reference to him is something Hulk related.

Also, we finally have an acknowledgment of the events of Eternals. A website blurb reads “Why is there a giant statue of a man sticking out of the ocean?” We the viewers know it’s a dead Celestial. But it seems that the regular folks think it’s a statue and not an ancient alien god. After the Blip, we can see why that might not be front-page news every single day.

The most fun Easter eggs come in relation to Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), last seen in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. When Jen calls her cousin Bruce to tell him that her new client is the monster who once tried to kill him. Mark Ruffalo actually says to Jen “That fight was so many years ago, I’m a completely different person now. Literally.” Well yes indeed, as back then he was Edward Norton! For more in-depth analysis, including some keen observations about Hawkeye from Jen’s dad, be sure to watch the video above.

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One thing that MCU fans are always talking about is whether mutants will come to the MCU and which X-Men characters we’ll get to see in the universe if they do. Top of mind for many is the question of whether Wolverine will appear again on the big screen. And if Wolverine is destined for the MCU, who might play him. The character remains synonymous with Hugh Jackman for now, but it seems unlikely Jackman will reprise the role. Luckily though, fans have a whole lot of ideas, and rumors are everywhere.

Here are the actors currently rumored for the part, and those we think would thrive as MCU’s Wolverine.

Daniel Radcliffe

The Miracle Workers actor’s name has been tossed into the Wolverine mix for so many years, he recently weighed in. Radcliffe thinks his name often comes up where Wolverine is concerned because they share one major characteristic: they’re both short. But alas he is not Wolverine (yet). Wolverine is 5’3 in the comics and Radcliffe, an affable 5’5, is a credit to short people everywhere. The actor has largely eschewed giant franchises since his decade-long tenure as a famous boy wizard. But given his incredibly varied career, we think, should the MCU come calling, he’d fit right in as Wolverine.

Taron Egerton

Much like Radcliffe, in the years since Jackman bade Wolverine farewell, Egerton’s sat high on the list of potential replacements. Much like the Brits and Bond, it appears that every actor under 5’10 is in the running to play Wolverine. (Although, Jackman is a Tall Man so really it’s anyone’s game.) And like Radcliffe, Egerton—who is actually slightly taller at 5’9—doesn’t quite know how the rumors got started but is flattered anyway.

But it seems like these rumors might have actually started something. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Egerton shared, “I don’t think it would be wrong to say that,” with regards to him hoping to be cast as Wolverine. “I’d be excited but I’d be apprehensive as well because Hugh is so associated with the role that I’d wonder if it’d be very difficult for someone else to do it… But hopefully, if it does come around, they’ll give me a shot.” Although as Jackman’s former co-star, he won’t have to go too far to secure his blessing.

The publication also notes that he “has met with Marvel Studio executives, including the company’s president, Kevin Feige.” Very interesting.

Pablo Schreiber

This is a perplexing set of rumors considering Schreiber—an Extremely Tall Man—is currently quite busy with the Halo tv series. The actor plays Master Chief in the Paramount+ series, which scored a season two renewal before the show premiered. But Schreiber recently told The Playlist that he’s met with Marvel a few times about different projects. Including, as the Orange Is the New Black actor would have us believe, a certain short, Canadian mutant. And, of course, the Canadian actor was enthusiastic about the “dream casting” should he answer the MCU’s call to tackle Canada’s most iconic character. This is all to say it won’t come as a surprise if Schreiber pops up in the MCU one day. But whether he plays Wolverine or Arkon the Magnificent is anyone’s guess.

Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun is a very popular guy. So it’s not surprising that fans are clamoring to see him in the MCU. (The fan forums have cast him as everyone from Namor to Mr. Negative.) But what if the right Marvel role is just waiting to claw its way out. Since his devastating departure from The Walking Dead, he’s remained pretty busy, with films like Minari and the upcoming Jordan Peele movie Nope. Technically he’s already a fledgling superhero on the animated series Invincible. But if the likes of J.K. Simmons, Barry Keoghan, and Michael Keaton can flip flop between comic book universes, I don’t see the issue.

Gael Garcia Bernal

I know he’s already on tap to join the MCU in the upcoming Disney+ special Werewolf By Night but he would make an excellent Wolverine. (I would also accept his BFF Diego Luna, who is not on the list because he’s already busy with Star Wars and I am imposing a few years-long break between Disney-owned franchises.) He’s not tall, can frown like the rest of them, and has largely spent his career doing more lower key movies and shows. So if he’s throwing his hat into the MCU, I want him to go bold.

Nikesh Patel

Nikesh Patel is probably the most unknown actor on the list but I’d love this for him. A highlight in the messy but addicting Four Weddings and a Funeral Hulu TV series, he currently stars as Tom Kapoor an actor and main love interest in the delightful series Starstruck. Fun fact, in Starstruck season two his character signs on for a secret movie that shoots for eight months in Atlanta. Is series creator/star Rose Matafeo manifesting this for him? But in all seriousness, with so many giant movie stars circling the MCU, it would be fun to see a very solid, charming actor like Patel swoop in and nab the role.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves really wants to play Wolverine. And I think that’s a good enough reason to let him. In 2020, Reeves revealed he always wanted to play the clawed hero—unsurprisingly, he’s a popular guy among Canadian actors. But the Bill and Ted actor said he thought it was probably too late, although we disagree. Reeves has a reputation as one of the most thoughtful actors in Hollywood and he would definitely deliver a nuanced (if taller) take on the character. At the very least, Feige should give him a cameo as a multiversal Wolverine. Reeves—and the rest of us, for that matter—deserve that much.

Hugh Jackman

It’s interesting that Jackman is the cinematic iteration of the character considering he’s the BFG where Wolverine is concerned. He is, after all, 6’3—tall by any standards. But he’s played Wolverine in nine films across the X-Men franchise. The films themselves vary in excellence, but Jackman’s performance is quite good. But it seems fairly unlikely he’ll reprise his role as James “Logan” Howlett for anything longer than a cameo—if that. The actor bade the character farewell in 2017 with the extremely good Logan, and seemingly hung up the claws for good. But still, this is Marvel we’re talking about so never say never!

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Hugh Jackman’s allegedly hung up the claws f0r good, but it’s clear Wolverine is still a big part of him. So much so he paid an adorable tribute to the X-Men character on stage recently. The actor is currently on Broadway in The Music Man, where instead of the very specific mutton chops and claws, he flips between a suave derby hat and a marching band cap. But a fan recently brought a special accessory to the show and Jackman couldn’t help but show it off. For starters, I didn’t realize foam Wolverine claws exist, and now cannot wait to buy a pair. But it’s sweet how excited Jackman is to strike that classic Wolverine pose. Recently, the actor posted a video of this The Music Man meets Wolverine mashup to his Instagram story for us all to enjoy.

Both the audience and The Music Man‘s cast seems so utterly charmed by this whole interaction. It is the one—probably even Patti LuPone-approved–instance where using the phone in a theater is remotely acceptable.

The clip is short, so we don’t get to see the full exchange between the fan and Jackman. But the actor posts the crux of it: beckoning him to hand the foam claw over, showing off his spectacular pose, and joyfully tossing it back. But given how delightful the foam claw is, I’m sure just a brief wave at the end of the show was enough to capture Jackman’s attention.

The real question is, what if he performed The Music Man with the foam claw—just once! I’d even settle for a performance of “Ya Got Trouble.” I think the claws would add such a dynamic layer.

Still, though, it’s charming to see so much enthusiasm from Jackman. After all, he did play the iconic mutant in nine films—including two small cameos—over the course of 17ish years. So the Wolverine pose must be as second-nature as blinking at this point. Even if we don’t see him as our MCU Wolverine, at least the character is still very near and dear to Jackman’s heart. And now we feel ready for a full version of The Music Man, everything the same except it stars Wolverine.

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Daniel Radcliffe may not seem like the obvious choice to play “Weird Al” Yankovic in a biopic. But he is famous, after all, for parlaying his time as the titular boy wizard in the Harry Potter franchise into a career full of versatile, eccentric roles. Radcliffe is, so to speak, not afraid to get weird. Which makes him the natural choice. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote his new film The Lost City, Radcliffe talked about WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story, which just finished filming. And, like any actor, Radcliffe couldn’t escape MCU rumors, in this case about him playing Wolverine.

“Weird Al” has a reputation for being one of the nicest people on Earth. And Radcliffe only confirms it further while chatting with Fallon. For starters, the Miracle Workers actor shared that the upcoming biopic ranks as “one of the most fun” projects he’s ever filmed. Radcliffe also said that while he rarely wants to watch his work back. But he feels “very, very excited” to see WEIRD.

In the clip, Radcliffe gushes about getting accordion lessons from the master himself. He also got to hold onto Weird Al’s actual accordion for a whole month as he practiced. And Yankovic didn’t break a sweat when he accidentally broke a strap two days into his month-long practice. It’s clear the “Eat It” singer’s accordion worked its magic. Radcliffe looks like quite an old pro in the image Roku released.

But for those perplexed by Yankovic’s choice, you’re not alone. Radcliffe told Fallon that he was just as confused and even asked Yankovic why him? It turns out a talk show appearance from a decade ago served as his audition. Who would have thought? While on The Graham Norton Show way back in 2010, Radcliffe performed his rendition of “The Elements,” the song from famed musical satirist Tom Lehrer. This took place in Radcliffe’s late-stage Potter years. And, hilariously, he busted out the song in front of “a bemused” Rihanna and Colin Farrell.

The actor told Fallon that Yankovic saw the video and the rest is history. After all, Lehrer was one of Yankovic’s major influences. (Which shouldn’t surprise anyone.) And luckily, Radcliffe’s performance lives on online.

What an adorable clip. He gets so into it! Farrell is clearly charmed and Rihanna is so, so polite. And sure it was a long journey to secure a gig but it’s certainly paid off in the long run. A big round of applause for Daniel Radcliffe.

Daniel Radcliffe on Wolverine Rumors

While Radcliffe wasn’t initially on our radar to play Yankovic in a film, he’s no stranger to fancasts. In fact, he addressed the rumor circulating around yet again that he’ll play Wolverine when the character hits the MCU. Radcliffe surmises that his name frequently popping up in association with the X-Men character because Wolverine, in the comics, is short. Something like 5’3, to be exact. And Radcliffe is a famously petite actor. (Hugh Jackman, for the record, is 6’3.)

Radcliffe said that he switches up his canned “No, I’m not playing Wolverine in the MCU” response every so often and it usually backfires. His answers only end up igniting even more chatter. So it sounds like a fairly firm “No” for now. But you never know. He’s already proven he can secure a role from a stellar talk show appearance. And Kevin Feige has eyes everywhere.

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Back in the early ’90s, no characters at Marvel Comics were more popular than Spider-Man, Wolverine, the Hulk, and Ghost Rider. So fandom went wild when for three issues back in 1991, this quartet of popular heroes took over as the Fantastic Four. Although they only came together a couple of times, fans always wanted more. And now, three decades later, they’re finally getting their wish. Marvel has just announced a New Fantastic Four limited series coming in May.

Legendary writer Peter David is at the helm, with artwork by Star Wars artist Alan Robinson. The series picks up in the immediate aftermath of that first story from the ’90s. Only with this “extreme FF” taking on demonic activity in Las Vegas. This series will also feature some classic FF members, including the often-forgotten She-Thing. There will also be guest stars aplenty. (Given the ’90s vibes, we fully expect a Punisher appearance). You can check out the wraparound cover for issue one by artist Nick Bradshaw above.

In a statement, writer Peter David said “Although their original stint was extremely short-lived, the alternate version of the FF has had its fans for years, including myself. I am fortunate Marvel has given me the opportunity to revisit with them. And to take their battles to new heights in a new location with new allies and new enemies.”

Back in the day, the Fantastic Four creative team of Walter Simonson and Arthur Adams poked fun of their own blatant attempt at getting new readers. They even slapped “The World’s Most Commercialest Comics Magazine!” blurb on the cover. This was in place of “The World’s Greatest Comics Magazine!” tagline the series usually had. With everyone in on the joke, it was hard to get mad about the blatant cash grab. Marvel fans immediately wanted more of the New FF stories. But back then, all we got was some trading cards. Good things come for those who wait, however. Even if the wait is sometimes over three decades! New Fantastic Four #1 hits your local comic shop on May 25.

The post ’90s ‘New’ Fantastic Four Returns in Marvel Limited Series appeared first on Nerdist.

Back in 2019, Marvel’s X-Men family of titles entered a new era, one radically different from anything that had come before. House of X and Powers of X found the mutant community relocating to the living island of Krakoa, forging an X-Nation. And everything changed. Now, with the currently running series Inferno, things are about to change again. And feeling the full brunt of that change is none other than Wolverine.

The next stage in this new era begins with X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine, two concurrently running mini-series which promise to shake up the mutant status quo once more. Particularly, that of Logan’s. X-Force and Wolverine writer Benjamin Percy writes the two series, and we got the chance to chat with him about the most epic story yet about the man who’s “the best he is at what he does.” And in case you forgot, what he does ain’t pretty.

Nerdist: You’ve written Wolverine for a while now, first in Marvel’s scripted podcasts, then in X-Force, and then in his most recent solo book. But this is a whole different ball of wax. You’ve said that with this series, you’re setting out to write “the greatest Wolverine story ever told.” Without giving anything big away, what makes this story the greatest Wolverine story?

Benjamin Percy: Logan’s brain has always been broken. He has been unable to properly patch together everyone he has loved and killed, every decade he has endured, every army and team he has been a part of, every organization that has used him, every bottle of whiskey drank and claw popped and mouth mashed against his in a savage kiss. It’s the mind wipes, it’s the memory implants, it’s the expanse of time, the century-plus of living and fighting that has taken a toll on him.

He’s never known, and so we’ve never known, what was real or not. Now we make it real. Now we make the old known but new. Here are all the hidden lives, but revisited from the vantage of Krakoa. There is a reason I prefer analog clocks. Because I can see the possibility of all time at once. Time is sideways and forwards and backward and upside down. And that is, in essence, what this event will do for Logan. We are getting all the Wolverines. Got that, bub?

Jonathan Hickman introduced the current Krakoan era of X-Men with two interlocking series House of X and Powers of X. Now, the second Krakoan era begins with these two interlocking series you’re writing. What’s it like having the keys to kick-starting this new phase? Especially since readers seem to love this take on the mutants?

X Lives of Wolverine/X Deaths of Wolverine is certainly told in the same spirit and design of House of X/Powers of X, in that the 10-issue weekly event will offer up a mind-flaying tour through time (and dimensions) as we track the greatest Wolverine stories never told and come to understand how a mission a thousand years in the making might save mutantkind (and humankind) from… oh, wait. I can’t tell you that part, because: spoilers.

But as you already mentioned, there is a baton pass from HOX/POX. But you should also note there is a baton pass from Inferno. So this big bad hairy event is indeed the next seismic shift of the Krakoan era. What’s it feel like? It feels f***ing great. I’m having the time of my life. Wolverine is my favorite character, and I’m somehow the custodian of him, and you bet your ass I’m putting all my piss and blood and whiskey into this—the biggest, wildest story I’ve ever told in comics.

You’ve written members of Logan’s family before. But it looks like this time, everyone is going to be together. Daken, Laura, etc. Now, with some of these characters, their interactions with each other have been sort of limited. What’s your take on the concept of the “Wolverine family” for these two series?

It’s something I’ve been building toward from the beginning. Wolverine might not have drunk the Kool-Aid, but he likes the idea of Krakoa. Because it’s a nation he can finally call his own, a place where mutants can seek refuge, and a patch of real estate where he’s surrounded by his family (biological and chosen).

This combo platter offers the promise of—no other word for it—happiness. Is he capable of it? Does he feel he deserves it? Probably not. And a lot of complicated questions rise up when it comes to his relationship with Laura, Daken, Scout. He’s a problematic “father” for sure, but a moment of crisis can clarify feelings and some of the family scenes in this event will maybe break some hearts.

The official announcement for this series seems to suggest time travel, in some form. Some of the greatest X-Men stories have involved time travel. Were any of those an influence on these series? Or is this a totally different kind of time travel story than say, Days of Future Past?

This is a story that channels Wolverine’s legacy from start to finish. But with that said, it’s very much its own thing. I don’t do karaoke. In other words, I am tipping my hat to Days of Future Past, yes, but the X Lives of Wolverine/X Deaths of Wolverine is its own signature narrative. I’ve got a thing for time travel stories (and stories that play with time). The Time Machine. The Terminator franchise. Back to the Future. Looper. Cloud Atlas. Endgame. I’ve always wanted to take on the genre—and we went all out. The clocks and the compasses are spinning wildly. Be ready for a blood-soaked, mayhem-packed, kaleidoscopic journey through time and space.

Logan once constantly talked about how he’s not a team player, and a wild card. Flash forward thirty years, and he’s the headmaster of the school for a time. Do you feel Logan has left his loose-cannon status behind, or will it always rear its ugly head?

He’s always evolving of course. But fundamentally he knows his company is best suited for the woods. Despite the fact that he’s always getting dragged into trouble that demands he join forces with others. He’s not a team player. He’s a reluctant hero. And that adversity—the lone wolf who’s forced to work with the pack—makes for compelling storytelling.

We’ve seen a metric ton of Wolverine’s past in so many stories. Logan in World War II, the Old West, etc. Is there a particular era that we the readers still know nothing about, that you’re dying to tell? And are we going to see it in these two series?

You’ll see World War II, and you’ll see the Old West, yes. But I’m especially excited about returning to a certain lab and learning about what happened before… oh, wait, we’re getting into spoiler territory. Suffice it to say, Joshua Cassara is going to make your jaw drop with his art throughout, but particularly in that moment.

You’re working with two different artists for these companion series, Joshua Cassara and Federico Vicentini. What’s it been like working with them, and what do you feel they each add to their respective series that’s unique?

They’re both badasses. I’ve obviously been working with Josh for several years, and we’ve become close pals. I email and text with him pretty much constantly, and we’ve been brainstorming ideas long enough that we’ve achieved a kind of mind-meld. So he’s heard me out and given me feedback and made suggestions when X Lives was nothing more than a gleam in my eye.

It’s been great and meaningful to collaborate on what is the biggest thing either of us has done in comics. He’s a perfectionist who labors over every panel, and it shows. The backgrounds are exquisitely detailed. The acting is Oscar-worthy. And the storytelling is dynamic and expertly cinematic.

This is the first time I’ve worked with Federico, but damn, he’s been so much fun to get to know through his art and over email. He is pure kinetic energy. The panels are breathlessly paced. He won’t let your eyes rest. X Deaths of Wolverine is relentless in its action, and I can’t imagine anyone else capturing that better. He has a vivid manga style that is all his own. I think—no, I know—his work on this event is going to turn heads.

 Final, silly question: Are you a yellow spandex guy, or do you prefer Logan in the brown and tan?

Everybody has a right to their favorites, and even though the yellow spandex looks cool, I never understood it. Logan’s not a flashy guy. And—just from a practical point of view—that neon palette makes it hard to sneak up on baddies. Brown and tan are earth colors, which not only allow him to blend better with wild places, but match a personality best suited for the piney escape of the north.

X Lives of Wolverine #1, by Benjamin Percy and Joshua Cassara, goes on sale on January 5, 2022. X Deaths of Wolverine, by Benjamin Percy and Federico Vicentini, goes on sale January 12, 2022.

The post Benjamin Percy Explores the X LIVES and X DEATHS OF WOLVERINE appeared first on Nerdist.

If you’re a fan of Wolverine, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve tried to turn random pointy objects into an IRL version of the mutant’s claws. Certainly some of us remember taping pencils to our knuckles in fifth grade in an homage to the claws, anyway. Now, engineer and YouTuber James Hobson has made a new (and very professional) fan version of Wolverine’s stabbers. And they’re both fully metal and also “self-healing.”

Hobson, a.k.a. The Hacksmith, recently posted the above build video to his YouTube channel. For those unfamiliar, Hobson has garnered a massive fanbase thanks to his series of “make it real” projects. As their name implies these projects see Hobson and his crew take objects from movies, comic books, etc. and…make them real. Previously Hobson and co. have made everything from a working Captain America shield to a lightsaber that burns at 4,000°F.

For this project, Hobson aimed to make metal claws that can “heal” themselves upon warpage. Something the engineer was especially keen on doing as he broke his hand this summer and liked the idea of things healing. Apparently, doctors had to put titanium in his hand to fix it as well, so there was certainly some inspiration there.

Hacksmith Industries

As Hobson shows in the build video, he made his Wolverine claws out of nitinol; a unique metal alloy of nickel and titanium that exhibits both the “shape memory effect,” as well as superelasticity. Meaning somebody can deform the alloy and have it remain deformed until it’s heated under extreme temperatures.

Hobson spends about the first two-thirds of the video showing how he created his claws, tapping a Canadian manufacturing house called Smarter Alloys to deliver the initial blades. Hobson then shows how he smoothed, polished, and assembled them to look identical to Wolverine’s.

Hacksmith Industries

As for the slicing and stabbing action? It all begins around minute twelve with Hobson testing the claws on everything from Red Bull cans to a door. And, of course, tons and tons of fruit. Most importantly, however, Dobson shows that even if an object like say, a concrete block, bends the claws out of shape, extreme heat can still bring them back to stiff and straight. Which makes us wonder: Can people put nitinol in their spines? Asking for a friend who’s spent 100,000 hours in an office chair over the past couple of decades.

Feature image: Hacksmith Industries

The post Watch Real Life Wolverine Claws Slash and Heal Themselves appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s almost too good to be true. Insomniac Games—the makers of the unbelievable Spider-Man series—are adding Wolverine to their offerings. In an Easter egg-filled teaser, the company announced that Logan would be getting his own game. And we cannot wait. But where will the game draw from? The trailer has some big hints at a few classic comic book arcs, and there’s some other obvious touch points too. So let’s break it down.

Wolverine miniseries (1982)

Marvel Comics

An angry man with an unknown past, Logan was an enigma wrapped in a mystery as he rose to popularity in Uncanny X-Men. Writer Chris Claremont teamed up with rising star Frank Miller to reveal some hints about Wolverine’s history in this infamous miniseries. Logan travels to Japan in search of his old love, Mariko Yashida. This puts Wolvie in conflict with Lord Shingen, Mariko’s father, and the Silver Samurai, her half-brother. Luckily, he has a freewheeling ally in this fight named Yukio, who also battles the deadly organization known as the Hand alongside Logan. This was loosely adapted in the 2013 film The Wolverine.

Due to the longevity of this part of Wolverine’s backstory, there’s a strong chance we’ll see the game include characters and plot from this comic. We may even see Logan’s love for Mariko become a major part of his motivation. Along with Jean Grey, Mariko is the other great love of Logan’s life and certainly someone he’s willing to fight for.

Wolverine ongoing (1988)

Marvel Comics

Going by the teaser, Wolverine’s first ongoing series seems to be the most obvious influence on the game. We see Logan sitting in the Princess Bar, which means the game at least in part will be set in Madripoor. That ties into what seems like it’ll be one of the game’s biggest influences. The ongoing Wolverine miniseries was launched by Chris Claremont and John Buscema in 1988, and later on featured a notable run by comics legend Larry Hama (bone claws, anyone?). It was the character’s first ongoing since his debut in 1974. We get a nice nod to that in the trailer as the total on the cash register says 19.74. So, aside from Madripoor, what else could the game take from the 1988 Wolverine series?

One of the biggest additions to Wolverine canon comes from this series: the Muramasa Blade. So it’s pretty likely that we’ll see that legendary weapon appear here. During the early issues we’re introduced to the famed Black Blade, and reintroduced to one of Wolverine’s most famed foes, the Silver Samurai. Both of those will likely play a part in the game especially if they reimagine Wolverine’s slightly dodgy comic book connection to Japan. Luckily, with some of the team behind Miles Morales heading to Wolverine, we trust them to give the character the contemporary recontextualization he needs. If the team does take from the tone of the original Wolverine ongoing, we can expect some high adventure and action as well as the emotionally driven storytelling we’ve come to connect with him.

X-23: Innocence Lost (2005)

Marvel Comics

While X-23 A.K.A. Laura Kinney made her comic book debut in the 2003 series NYX, it was here that her origins and connection to Wolverine was revealed. That connection makes us think this will be a likely inspiration point for the game. This revealing series saw the creators of X-23, Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost, return to the character alongside artist Billy Tan. It was a radical introduction that established a new generation of clawed hero.

Just like Wolverine, Laura was subjected to an experimental scientific program. But her traumatic origin is directly linked to Logan. Laura was born out of a desire to replicate the Weapon X program. And the way they decided to do that was by cloning Wolverine. In a nightmarish twist of events, the scientist who created Laura is forced to carry her to term, becoming her surrogate mother. With Laura now such a fan fave character after Logan, she’ll surely at least cameo here. And her tragic, scientifically questionable origins would fit into the darker tone we’re expecting. Laura could even be an inciting incident for Wolverine in the game…

Wolverine: Origins (2006)

Marvel Comics

This cult favorite arc by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon introduces another kid we’re sure we’ll see in the upcoming game: Wolverine’s son Daken. During the run we meet a ton of vital characters who could but probably won’t show up like Captain America, Emma Frost, and Cyclops. But it’s Emma who tells Wolverine that he has a son who’s being held and experimented on by the government. It’s a brutal awakening for Logan who decides to try and save his son. We could see that mission come into play here either as a driving force or a side plot. Either way it would make a great inclusion.

Saving his son isn’t that simple though. Daken has been raised to hate Wolverine and the X-Man has to ally with some outrageous anti-heroes like the Winter Soldier and Deadpool to find him. While the latter of those seems tonally inconsistent with Wolverine and the game, it would make sense if he did play a role because of his connections to the Weapon X program that spawned Wolverine. Either way, we expect to see Daken show up as it adds another humane and family-focused story that will ground the surely incredible adventure to come.

Wolverine: Old Man Logan (2008)

Marvel Comics

The more serious Western influenced tone of the trailer immediately made us think of Old Man Logan by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. The fact that this is also one of the most popular Wolverine arcs also makes it a top contender. While we don’t expect the series to be set on Earth-807128—an alt-Marvel universe where supervillains rule—it’s likely the game might take from the tone or characterization of Wolverine that became so beloved. In Old Man Logan we meet an aged violent version of the hero. He’s living in a dystopian world run by villains. It’s a dark take on the hero that sets him on a tragic quest for survival. That sounds like something we could see utilized. It could be interesting if we saw more than one version of Logan. So perhaps our hero might end up tangling with Old Man Logan or another alt-version of himself.

Other Things / People We’ll Likely See

Marvel Comics

There are a few things from Logan’s canon that are less directly connected to any single arc that you can safely say will show up. The first is his brother Sabretooth. One of Wolverine’s most famed antagonists, it’s likely he’ll play a key role here. That’s supported by the fact that Marvel just announced a new Sabretooth #1. Reintroducing that character in a new title to readers hints that he’s about to come to prominence in other media.

There’s also Logan’s recurring ally/mentor Charles Xavier. He’s been key to Logan’s story since its outset and we’d be surprised if we didn’t at least see him appear here in flashback or cameo. The other option, of course, is that this is a pre-Xavier story in which case we’ll likely meet him at the game’s close. If this is a post-Xavier game, though, we could also see other X-Men like Jean Grey. Perhaps there’s even a little love triangle with Cyclops. The Spider-Man games have set a wicked precedent for introducing deep cut characters, even some in reimagined guises like the Tinkerer in Miles Morales. That makes us think we might see some other less expected Marvel characters show up to aid or hinder Logan’s mission. Silver Fox, Omega Red, and Jubilee are all names that come to mind. We say bring it on bub!

Featured Image: Insomniac Games

The post What Comics Could the WOLVERINE Game Adapt? appeared first on Nerdist.

Insomniac Games’ 2018 Spider-Man game for PS4 was one of the greatest adaptations of Marvel Comics characters. In any format, much less specifically in a video game. A massive open world adventure, the game pit the wallcrawler against all of his most famous villains across the almost life-size island of Manhattan. Its follow-up Miles Morales continued playing with that universe in a great way. And just when we were gearing up for the news of a sequel, Insomniac hit us with an uppercut full of claws: a teaser for a brand new Wolverine game.

The teaser shows a bar after what was clearly a pretty rough brawl. While some jangly soul song plays, a man gets up off the floor and draws a knife. He walks toward the brawl’s apparent winner, a man who sits at the bar with a beer. His black hair and cowboy hat might point to who it is. Once the guy gets closer, we know for sure. The man at the bar puts his arm down and three blades come out of his fist.

Marvel/Insomniac Games

Yes, it’s a Wolverine game! This was just an announcement, of course. The end of the teaser says “In development for PlayStation 5,” which pretty much ensures we’ve got a while before we’ll be able to see much more than this. However, just the idea of a studio that has already proven itself to handle the Marvel universe with care tackling the most famous mutant is almost too exciting.

While an open world exploration game might not be the exact right fit for Logan, something where he has to track people using his sniffer or even just a big ol’ beat-’em-up might be exactly what we want. Whatever the case, we can’t wait!

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!

The post WOLVERINE Game Coming from SPIDER-MAN Studio appeared first on Nerdist.

Mondo

Due to financial issues, the series told from Kitty Pryde’s point of view only had a pilot. It then went to the TV graveyard. But, it did have a line of action figures and toys where Wolverine’s yellow and brown attire is a feature. However, fans best remember Pryde of the X-Men as a popular arcade game from Konami that some believe is better than the pilot. 

The figure is built similarly to the previous “Sad Wolverine” figure. In fact, it even includes another miniature picture frame of Jean Grey and Scott that Logan can wistfully stare at. Poor Logan, lovelorn forever. Even as a collectible.

Mondo

Mondo

Additionally, the limited edition figure includes four swappable heads, claws that retract and extend, and a lightning claw energy effect. And if you don’t want Wolverine in a permanent state of depression, swap that photo of Cyclops and Jean Grey out with a photo of your own. Or, feed Wolverine a turkey leg that Mondo includes as well! Either way, the unique sixth scale figure has many poses and ways to enjoy the new collectible. 

Mondo

The Pryde of the X-Men Limited Edition Wolverine is now available for pre-order. The collectible is limited to 500, and only two per household. So expect this to sell out fast. However, expect a bit of a wait as Wolverine will ship in Spring 2022. 

As far as how much another sad Logan will set you back? Mondo lists the cost as $200 and offers a payment plan for customers in the US. You can order it here.

Yolanda Machado is the West Coast News Editor for Nerdist. Her work appears at TheWrap, The Hollywood Reporter, ELLE, GQ, and more.

The post ‘Pryde of the X-Men’ Wolverine Figure Calls Back to a Classic appeared first on Nerdist.

Thirty years ago, on August 20, 1991, Marvel Comics released the much-anticipated relaunch of their most popular franchise with X-Men #1. Written by longtime Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont and drawn by Jim Lee and Scott Williams, X-Men volume two’s first issue was a seismic jolt to the comic book industry.

The first issue of the second X-Men series sold more comics than any other single issue, before or since. And it helped turn Marvel’s mutant team from something only comic book-reading nerds knew about into a true multimedia phenomenon. It might be the most important single issue of mainstream comics of the modern era. Here are eight ways that X-Men #1 changed not only the mutant franchise, but superhero comic books as a whole.

The Single Biggest Selling Comic of All Time 

Marvel Comics

Throughout the 1980s, popular comics sold in the hundreds of thousands. But it had been since the Golden Age of comics in the ’40s that they had sold in the millions. Then, in the early ’90s, the collector’s market exploded. Comics like “The Death of Superman” and Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man (and later Spawn) started selling millions of single issues. Marvel’s X-Force #1 sold five million copies, taking the crown for the best-selling comic of all time. A crown it held on to… for two whole months.

The X-Men #1 came along and sold a staggering eight million copies. They mainly achieved this through the then-novel idea of the first issue coming in five different covers, spread out across a month. (More on that later). Kids and collectors needed to get each one, so they could unify them all into a single, action-packed image by artist Jim Lee. To this day, no other comic has come close to selling what X-Men #1 sold in 1991. And it’s doubtful that anything will ever top it. No pun intended, but it was a sales juggernaut. And it sealed the X-Men’s place as comics’ most beloved series.

Making X-Men: The Animated Series Possible

Marvel 

Throughout the ‘80s, X-Men was comics’ biggest franchise. So much so, that in 1989, Marvel Productions produced an animated X-Men pilot, titled “Pryde of the X-Men.” Primarily based on the team circa 1975-1984, the pilot aired occasionally in syndication. But no one had an interest in taking it to series. At the time, being the comics industry’s biggest seller meant nothing to network execs. Only one woman believed in it: producer Margaret Loesch.

X-Men producer Eric Lewald said years later, “Margaret Loesch had wanted to do the show for 10 years. Nobody in Hollywood believed the X-Men could be popular. She’d pitch it and pitch it. They said, ‘No, this is too weird. This is too inside-comic-bookie.’” But once X-Men #1 sold eight million copies, it was clear Marvel’s mutants were a phenomenon they could not ignore. Numbers talk. And despite all the network execs thinking it would fail, they greenlit X-Men based partially on the massive numbers X-Men #1 sold.

Marvel Comics

Of course, the team used in X-Men: The Animated Series based its aesthetic and costume designs on those created by Jim Lee for X-Men #1 as well. His new look for the characters cemented what they looked like for an entire generation, thanks to their exposure on Saturday morning television. Some of the X-Men #1 members didn’t make the series regular cut, like Iceman, Archangel, Colossus, and Psylocke. But regardless, there is a straight line from X-Men #1 to the classic cartoon show.

Returning Magneto to Iconic Villain Status

Marvel Comics

Magneto was the team’s primary villain from the original X-Men #1, back in 1963. But over the years, writer Chris Claremont evolved the mutant master of magnetism into a sympathetic bad guy and then, an anti-hero. And then finally, into a fully fledged member of the X-Men. Claremont even made him headmaster of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.

But Marvel wanted the X-Men’s number one adversary back in bad guy mode, and X-Men #1 delivered that in spades. Claremont and Lee gave us Magneto as neither a mustache-twirling villain, nor as a fully redeemed one, but as a complex antagonist. And that portrayal has carried in on in most media interpretations ever since. Most notably on the big screen, as played by Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender.

Jim Lee: Superstar

Marvel Comics

Over the previous two years, a young artist named Jim Lee made a name for himself at Marvel on books like The Punisher and Uncanny X-Men. Very quickly, he proved to be the most popular X-Men artist in a decade. Because of his incredibly dynamic and detailed style, sales steadily rose on the mutant books. Soon, Marvel gave Lee the artistic reins on their big X-Men #1 relaunch.

The year prior, he had designed Gambit (and redesigned Psylocke) and they became instant fan favorites. With X-Men #1, in just this one issue, he’d given characters like Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, and Rogue new costumes. Ones that we still associate them with to this day. Although Lee only stayed on for a year following X-Men #1, the next decade had every artist on the book living in his shadow. And using his designs. He might run DC Comics now, but it was Marvel’s Mutants that made him a comics legend.

The Original Five Come Home

Marvel Comics

The original ’60s run of X-Men was only a modest success for Marvel. It ultimately floundered once creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby left the title. Canceled in 1970, the mutants returned in 1975 as “the All-New, All-Different X-Men.” The only original team members to stick around were Cyclops and Jean Grey. Beast became an Avenger, while Iceman and Angel went from team to team. The other three would guest star over the years. And they’d all even reunite as a separate team in 1985, called X-Factor. But X-Men #1 saw all five original students return to their original team after two decades away from the X-mansion. And they’ve never strayed for very long ever since.

The End of the Chris Claremont Era

Alameda Entertainment 

With the ascension of Jim Lee sadly came the end of writer Chris Claremont’s run on X-Men. (At least for a decade or so). After writing Uncanny X-Men for 16 straight years, Chris Claremont defined who the Marvel mutants were. But by the early ‘90s, Marvel editorial saw that it was Jim Lee’s art driving the comic books’ sales. And despite Claremont’s massive importance to the title, Marvel went where the money went.

And Lee wanted something more “classic X-Men,” while Claremont wanted to push the storyline in wild new directions. Marvel chose Lee’s take, and Claremont quit. Ironically, Lee would also quit a year later to form Image Comics. So for much of the next decade, Marvel tried to mimic what Claremont and Lee brought to X-Men #1, only without either creator. Regardless, X-Men #1 holds a special place in history for marking the beginning of the end of a major era for the series.

Inspiring a Video Game Phenomenon 

BleedingxClone

The mega-success of X-Men #1 made everyone take notice. Included among “everyone” was the video game company Konami. A year after X-Men #1 came out, the X-Men game hit arcades across America. And it was an instant smash. Interestingly though, the team used for the game wasn’t based on X-Men #1, but on the “Pryde of the X-Men” cartoon pilot. (It debuted around the same time as the X-Men: The Animated Series). But the Jim Lee X-Men definitely inspired games that followed its wake. Games like X-Men: Children of the Atom, Clone Wars, Mutant Apocalypse, and so many more.

The Variant Cover Comics Apocalypse 

Marvel Comics

For all the good things that came with X-Men #1, there were definitely bad side effects. The five variant covers played a significant role in the issue selling eight million copies. And it began a craze in the comics industry. Marvel, DC, and every publisher in between decided that multiple covers of the same comic would result in big sales. And speculators gobbled up those issues, hoping to make some coins months or years later. That speculator boom crashed by 1994 and nearly took the entire comic book industry down with it. No one at Marvel in 1991 could have known this cover gimmick would lead to a huge trend, but it did. But it might have been better if X-Men #1 had never started this trend.

The post How X-MEN #1 Changed Marvel Mutants Forever appeared first on Nerdist.

Poor Wolverine. Yes, the adamantium-clawed mutant is basically indestructible. But he still gets all mushy whenever he thinks of his crush, Jean Grey. Everyone who grew up with X-Men: The Animated Series in the ’90s remembers the scene where Logan pines away for Jean. All while staring wistfully at her photo. Decades later, that moment has become a meme that’s helped it live on for all time.

Well, now that iconic animated version of Wolverine has its own sixth-scale action figure. This sad Logan figure is coming from the good folks at Mondo in their first-ever sixth-scale X-Men toy. Mondo’s San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Limited Edition will be available to pre-order on MondoShop.com on Friday, July 23 at 12pm CT.

Mondo

In this 1/6 scale recreation of the iconic moment from X-Men: The Animated Series, Wolvie is all nestled up in his bed. He comes with four swappable expressions. Also, retracted and extended claws and a lightning claw energy effect. Of course, there’s a glossy photo of Cyclops and Jean Grey as well. You can switch the photo out with one of your own choosing, should you wish for Wolverine to pine over you instead. And just like the cartoon, Logan comes with a turkey leg. For reasons. The Wolverine 1/6 Figure – Limited Edition SDCC Variant will set you back $200.

Mondo

In a statement, Mondo’s Hector Arce and Michael Bonanno said, “There were really only a handful of Saturday morning cartoons in the ‘90s that stood out amongst the rest. I think we all remember that first day we watched the first-ever episode of X-Men the Animated Series. Sitting in bed or on our couches, excited and then…THAT song plays. Little minds were blown everywhere! That intro song hooked us right from the beginning. It kept us coming every Saturday for months and months, excited to see what happened to Wolverine and the X-Men.”

For more information, head on over to Mondoshop.com.

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Who is Razor Fist?

Although this isn’t a Razor Fist explainer, seeing as he’s currently wielding the blade we’ll start here. First introduced in 1975’s Master of Kung Fu #29, the first villain to hold the mantle was an assassin. In a horrible twist of fate, his arms were surgically replaced with blades. That’s obviously where he got his name. The first Razor Fist even has a Fantastic Four connection as Doom built robots of him after his death. We don’t know which version of the villain we’ll get here, we can probably assume this is one of the latter two Razor Fists, as they both began with just one hand replaced with a blade. But here that blade glows a mysterious red. Which is why we think it might be the legendary Muramasa Blade.

What is the Muramasa Blade?

Marvel Comics

Now it’s time to get into the important stuff. The Muramasa Blade is named after the legendary Japanese swordsmith Sengo Muramasa. He established his school during the Muromachi period, and history remembers him for his unique weapons. The Marvel Universe reinvented the real life figure as a fictional one to create its version of the Muramasa Blade.

The first Muramasa sword appeared in the late ’80s Wolverine series. It was known as the Black Blade. In the comics, Muramasa is a demon blacksmith who forged his own soul into the blade of this sword. That violent choice imbued the blade with superhuman powers. But it’s the second iteration of the Muramasa Blade that became the most well-known. And that the one we think might have made an appearance in the Shang-Chi trailer.

The Red Muramasa Blade

Marvel Comics

While the forging of the Black Blade used Muramasa’s soul, the second Muramasa Blade came with a slice of Wolverine’s soul and blood inside it. It was a weapon created solely for revenge after Wolverine’s wife Itsu was killed by the Winter Soldier. Yes, Bucky Barnes murdered Logan’s wife in the comics. Shocking stuff.

But the creation of the Blade is just the beginning. It’s purported to be one of the few weapons which can actually hurt Wolverine. Logan’s previous wounds from the sword have taken much longer to heal. Supposedly, the Muramasa Blade even has the ability to slice through adamantium, the nigh-indestructible metal lacing Wolverine’s bones. This makes the sword one of the few items that could be truly fatal to the mutant with healing powers.

Over the years, the red Muramasa Blade has been in and out of Wolverine’s possession. Even Captain America himself has wielded it. It’s a mythical artifact with connections to both Wolverine and his son Daken who we’ve yet to see on screen. The last time we saw it in the comics, it had been melted down and made into bullets. But Wolverine has recently had a new Muramasa Blade crafted in order to protect the nation of Krakoa.

Why would it be in Shang-Chi?

Marvel Studios

Well, it looked like we met Razor Fist in Madripoor. The original Black Blade first appeared during the Madripoor era of Wolverine. So there’s a big Muramasa connection there. Also, if we look at the original plan for Shang-Chi’s release—in February of this year—it seems like Marvel might have been seeding its appearance in its huge X of Swords comic event. The publisher has a history of introducing or highlighting characters, concepts, or artifacts in the comics leading up to the movies where they’ll appear. The Muramasa Blade played a key part in X of Swords, which would have led directly into its appearance in Shang-Chi. Other than that, there’s the fact that this seems to be a film about magical artifacts—including the titular Ten Rings—so it would make sense to see other fantastical weapons appear.

What does it mean going forward?

Marvel Studios

Wolverine teases are becoming a new trend in the MCU as we approach the debut of the X-Men. We’ve had Madripoor in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which even introduced “The Patch Act” for good measure. What relevance does that have? Well, when Wolverine was in Madripoor he wore an eyepatch and went by, you guessed it: Patch. If Razor Fist does have the legendary blade attached to his arm, that doesn’t necessarily mean Logan is right around the corner. But slowly introducing the places and objects that play a big part in his life could simply be good long term storytelling on the part of Feige and co.

If this theory is correct, then we can be sure of one thing: Razor Fist won’t have it by the end of the film. It could be reclaimed by any of the massive roster of characters, good or bad. In the comics he died pretty quickly, so potentially he could die here and someone could steal his arm blade or hide it away for protection. Just like how we first saw the Infinity Gauntlet in Thor, this could be a little bit of Easter egg foreshadowing for whenever Wolverine or Muramasa himself shows up. Either way, we expect that the MCU will do a little better of a job introducing the legendary blade and its story than the comics. Perhaps we could even see a Japanese or Japanese-American hero wielding it rather than James Howlett?

Featured Image: Marvel Studios

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It was a weird day when Disney purchased Fox. The acquisition threw the status of a lot of films into question, including (maybe especially) Fox’s Marvel movies. Imagining Ryan Reynolds’ foul-mouthed take on Wade Wilson in the Disney realm seemed far-fetched. While Deadpool 3 is absolutely moving forward under the Disney umbrella and will become an R-rated MCU film, it could have been something else. Ryan Reynolds shared on Thursday afternoon that the pre-Disney Deadpool 3 would have been a road trip between Wolverine and Deadpool.

In other words, we could have had it all.

Hugh Jackman’s Logan alongside Reynolds’ Deadpool? It’s perfection. Jackman and Reynolds already have a long-running “feud” on social media. They regularly throw barbs at each other. We have no doubt that energy would translate well to their superhero counterparts. Imagine how many times Deadpool would have to stop for bathroom breaks and how perturbed Logan would be. And perhaps the best part of this cool as hell sounding film? Reynolds mentioned the story would have unfolded “Rashomon style.”

Named after Akira Kurosawa‘s 1950 film Rashomon, the Rashomon effect is all about the unreliable narrator. Viewers see an event from multiple, contradictory vantage points, and thus have no idea who is actually telling the truth. Watching Logan (whose last appearance was in 2017’s Logan) and Deadpool play something like that out? Yeah, it would have ruled.

Fox

We’re sure Deadpool 3 will be fun and full of the irreverence we love. However, we’ll have this might have been in the back of our heads.

Reynolds dropped this Deadpool bomb while posting about Bell Let’s Talk, a Canadian program that intends to break the silence and stigma around mental illness. However, many have criticized Bell, a telecommunications company, for making it more a marketing ploy than about mental health.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of The Jedi Mind, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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For over 50 years, X-Men comics have been a long running soap opera. One writer creates a plot thread, only to have it forgotten about and dropped by the next. If you’ve been a fan for decades, it can be kind of frustrating. Now, the folks at Marvel Comics are finding a creative solution to that problem with their new ongoing series X-Men: Legends. The new series will bring back past creative teams for yesteryear, in an effort to tell in-continuity stories that will tie up loose plot ends that have been nagging fans for years.

You can read the official synopsis for the series down below:

Marvel Comics

“Break out the yellows and blues, fire up the Danger Room and snap on your pouches as legendary X-writers return to classic eras of the mutant super heroes in all-new, in-continuity stories set during their groundbreaking runs! Featuring greats like Chris Claremont, Louise Simonson, Fabian Nicieza, Larry Hama, Peter David, and more, X-Men: Legends will deliver startling tales month after month that dive into the rich history of the X-Men to tie up loose ends, resolve long-standing plot danglers, and reveal shocking truths that will change the past and future of the X-Men!”

The first arc comes from writer Fabian Nicieza, who steered the X-Men titles in their ’90s heyday. He plans to begin this series with a special saga of Cyclops and his brother Havok, one that will solve one of the greatest X-Men mysteries of all time. Finally explaining just who Adam-X is, as well as what his startling connection to the Summers bloodline is. The first story arc will be illustrated by fan favorite artist Brett Booth.

Of course, this has our mutant-obsessed minds spinning with other long-standing X-Men plotlines that could now be resolved. Here are but a few we’d like to see:

The Mystery of the X-Men’s Outback HQ

Marvel Comics

Back in the late ’80s, the X-Men had a whole Aussie phase. They faked their own deaths, and instead of residing in Xavier’s School, they live in an abandoned high tech base in the Australian Outback. Before the X-Men arrived there, the evil cybernetic Reavers use it as an HQ. The strong suggestion here however is that they didn’t build it themselves. So who built the X-Men’s version of the Bat-cave? Maybe Chris Claremont can finally give us all answers.

Rogue’s Real Last Name and Lineage

Marvel Comics

Rogue’s background has always been a mystery, ever since her introduction by Chris Claremont back in the early ’80s. For years, she refused to give her fellow X-Men her birth name, or say anything about her birth family. A mutant runaway from Mississippi, Rogue is then adopted by the mutants Mystique and Destiny as a teenager.  She eventually reveals her birth name as Anna Marie (a nod to the X-Men movies), but no last name was ever given. It has always felt like there was more to the story of who her family was. Maybe now we’ll find out.

Will Colossus Discover He Has a Son?

Marvel Comics

When the X-Men’s lovable metallic bruiser Colossus was on a mission in the primordial world of the Savage Land, he became romantically involved with a native woman there named Nereel. His relationship with Nereel was brief however. After Colossus left the Savage land, they didn’t see each other for a very long time. But readers would later find out that first romantic liaison produced a son. Although he met the boy, Petey never put two and two together. So is Peter Rasputin ever going to find out he’s a dad?

Cyclops’ Terrible Behavior

Marvel Comics

Maybe this doesn’t really need explaining, but it does to us. After the death of Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix, Scott Summers went into a deep depression. He eventually snapped out of it and married a Jean lookalike named Madelyne Pryor (who later turns out to be Jean’s clone. Comics, ya’ll). They married and had a baby named Nathan, who would later become the gun toting Cable.

Then, Jean suddenly came back to life, and Scott abandoned his wife and newborn soon to hook back up with his ex girlfriend. Maddy Pryor later went off the deep end and became the villainous Goblin Queen. But wouldn’t you if you were treated like that by your husband? Cyclops’ decision needs to be better explained, otherwise he’s forever going to be a deadbeat husband and father to us.

X-Men: Legends #1 arrives at your local comic shop in February of 2021.

Featured Image: Marvel Comics

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Long before Hugh Jackman popped his metal claws on-screen, X-Men: The Animated Series introduced a generation to Marvel’s mutants. Thanks to the ’92-97  Saturday morning cartoon, characters like Wolverine, Storm, and Cyclops became household names. And it also had one of the best theme songs to any superhero animated show ever.

For years, the classic X-Men: The Animated Series episodes were not found on any streaming service, so fans had to bust out their old DVD copies. But with the emergence of Disney+, all five seasons are now available. Now that Xavier’s students are officially part of the House of Mouse, Disney+ has cooked up a new modern style trailer for the show in a totally 21st century style. You can watch the X-Men: The Animated Series “Unofficial Official” trailer above.

The trailer does indeed hit all the bullet points about what made X-Men such a memorable series. Sure, the animation was never on par with Batman: The Animated Series, which also aired on Fox Kids back in the day. But its fidelity to the classic Marvel comics of Chris Claremont took it a step above other animated superhero shows of the day. In fact, the animated version of The Dark Phoenix Saga is truly superior to any of the live-action movie versions. MORE BELOW THE BREAK.

Disney

Nothing is solid yet, but there are rumors of a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series for the Disney+ service. This wouldn’t be a reinvention of the show, like X-Men: Evolution, but a continuation of the original series. Certainly, there are a lot of great comics from the past thirty years for the series to draw from. And the old show never introduced Kitty Pryde, which is definitely something any revival needs to correct. Just please — don’t ever get rid of that theme song.

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Featured Image: Disney

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This off-kilter X-Men fan film was written and directed by Mahmut Akay, and you can watch it in its entirety down below:

This short film begins in what looks like an extremely swanky barber shop. Unfortunately for Wolvie, this barber shop employees are a bunch of anti-mutant supremacists. Realizing the gentleman about to sit in their chair is the notorious Wolverine himself, they foolishly decide to try to take him out. While they seem to be very aware of the feral X-Man’s extremely large kill count, they somehow seem to not know about his mutant healing factor. Because if they had, stabbing him with whatever they have lying around the shop would have come off as a really bad idea.

Mahmut Akay

If you’ve ever watched a single X-Men film, cartoon, or read any Wolverine comics in your day, then you pretty much know how this ends for the boys in the barbershop. It’s really hard to feel sorry for them, even though meeting your end by Logan’s claws is maybe not the best way for anyone to go. But this is what happens when you poke the bear. All Logan wanted was a nice clean shave, some way for him to look pretty for Jean Grey, and racist humans had to go an ruin that for him too. Humans are jerks, man.

Featured Image: Mahmut Akay

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The thing with actors is they are nothing more than professional liars. They make money by pretending to be people they aren’t. Usually that happens in front of a camera, but many also present a false image of who they are off-screen. Well, it’s time to call out two of the biggest frauds in Hollywood for who they really are, because at this point it’s clear that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have been playing as all for fools. Oh, no, they’re still super, super nice people. It’s just that that their obviously fake “feud” isn’t even pretending to be real anymore. Not when Reynolds is narrating a coffee ad starring Jackman.

But at least it’s all for a good cause. Even if it does feature a particularly grumpy Jackman.

Reynolds performs the voiceover for a new Laughing Man Coffee ad that shows Hugh Jackman in a way we’ve never seen him before—being a jerk. The promo features the former Wolverine living an angry, isolated life in his apartment. From his loft he screams at both local kids and his own adorable dog.

Ryan Reynolds/Laughing Man Coffee

But the Greatest Showman we all know and love arrives when Jackman drinks his coffee. And that coffee is really the best part of this whole thing. As Reynolds wrote on his YouTube page, “Hugh Jackman founded Laughing Man coffee so he could give back 100% of his profits to the fair trade farmers who grow it—and also to make himself way less of an asshole. That coffee is actual magic.” Well mission accomplished on both ends.

The second best part of this commercial, though, is the bonus joke the Deadpool star got in because of this ad.

Ah, that’s the stuff. Because while this feud has always been fake, we still like to pretend it’s real.

Featured Image: Ryan Reynolds/Laughing Man Coffee

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One of the best things about superhero cartoons back in the day was their infectious theme songs. This started in the ’70s with the Super Friends. Then it peaked in the ’90s with great opening music for shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Spider-Man. But the show with the best opening credits music of all of these Saturday morning shows was X-Men: The Animated Series.

Now, classical musician Samara Ginsberg has created her own version of the iconic mutant music (which you can listen to here). She performed the catchy tune with eight cellos. You can listen to the amazing results below:

Honestly, as much as I like many of the Fox X-Men films, it was a big mistake to not incorporate the animated series theme in some way. This proves why. It’s still the music a whole generation hears in their heads when they hear the words “X-Men.” Hopefully, when Kevin Feige ultimately reboots the X-Men franchise for the big screen, we get an orchestral version of the cartoon theme to go along with it. After all, Michael Giacchino successfully reworked the ’60s animated Spider-Man theme song for the MCU movie, so why not?

Marvel Entertainment

Ginsberg has created other amazing renditions of classic cartoon and pop culture themes in the past. She’s built her whole YouTube channel around it. Maybe the best of these videos was when she got into full Mario regalia and performed a three cello version of the old Nintendo game play music. And this cover of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme music will immediately put you in the mood for pizza. She’s also done the theme music for Thundercats, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and Knight Rider among others. You can listen to them all now by visiting her YouTube channel.

Featured Image: Marvel Entertainment 

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The Fox X-Men films have finally started to drop on Disney+, including 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Fans wondered if the movie would make it to the streaming service uncensored. It has not only an f-bomb (uttered by one Charles Xavier) but also contains one of the franchise’s only brief moment of on-screen nudity. For just a couple of seconds, we see Hugh Jackman’s bare bottom, right after he transfers his mind into his younger body in the ’70s. Up until now, Disney+ has been stressing they are a “family friendly” service. That means showing nothing parents would feel uncomfortable letting their little ones see.

According to Variety however, Jackman’s well-toned rear end did not get edited out for the Disney+ version. Jackman even commented on this fact on Instagram (see above). The reason it’s surprising is because of change to a different movie earlier this year. Disney edited out actress Daryl Hannah’s bare bottom with digitally elongated hair in the movie Splash. That movie was PG, and not PG-13, but the briefest flash of skin as Hannah dives into the ocean was considered too racy for America’s children. Disney also edited two f-bombs out of Hamilton so it could get a PG-13 rating. That rating makes it Disney+ safe.

Twentieth Century Fox

So why did X-Men get a pass? It seems like an enormous double standard, as if saying female nudity is automatically sexual, but male nudity is not. Although a few people thought Jackman’s butt falls into “funny naked” and not “sexy naked.” (Note: Nerdist has reached out to Disney about this matter, but we have not received a statement). As for the f-bomb, it’s one of the few movies on the service to contain that particular swear word. Films can be PG-13 with a single instance of f**k, but Disney has gone out of their way to make sure the streaming service is “safe for kids.”

At least two other X-Men films have characters uttering the f-word, X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Apocalypse. It would be funny if, at the end of the day, the nudity and swearing on the streaming service came from Marvel’s Merry Mutants. But even given all this, do not hold your breath for the R-rated Deadpool movies to show up on the streamer. Like, ever. That’s just a bridge too far. Even though Ryan Reynolds‘ joked “he’s excited for them to do the same for Deadpool. It’s time children knew.” We can’t imagine it will ever happen.

Featured Image: Twentieth Century Fox

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Some say that in modern times, comic book superheroes have become the world’s secular religion. We gather in movie theaters and in front of our televisions to see stories about mutant heroes and alien saviors, the same way the Greeks sat around the campfire listening to tales of Zeus. Well, all good religions need a proper temple, right? These amazing stained-glass works of art featuring iconic superheroes should definitely adorn the windows if someone decides to ever build one.

Jesse Olwen

Thanks to Geeks Are Sexy, we’ve discovered the amazing work of artist Jesse Olwen. Based out of Montreal, Quebec, Olwen makes absolutely stunning stained glass windows of all kinds. All his windows have different themes, which he makes using the the Tiffany style copper foil technique. He has recently turned his attention to creating windows based on classic comic book covers and characters. Olwen has recently posted all of these to his Instagram account.

The first is a recreation of the famous cover to Batman #241 from 1972. It’s one of Neal Adams’ earliest illustrations of the Dark Knight—an image that helped cement the Gothic version of Batman after the campy TV series. This cover image would go on to be used on merchandising for many years.

Another wonderful tribute is Olwen’s recreation of Jim Lee’s X-Men #9 cover from 1992. This is from the book’s peak era of popularity, which would soon lead to the X-Men getting their own Saturday morning cartoon and becoming household names. I mean, it’s Wolverine vs. Ghost Rider. Can it get more ’90s than that??

And another ’90s throwback is this recreation of Todd McFarlane’s cover to Spawn #300. While the cover it is paying tribute to isn’t from the ’90s, it was McFarlane paying homage to an earlier Spider-Man cover of his from that era. One that was from the beginning of his comics career. So I feel safe saying it counts as a ’90s comics tribute.

And finally, Cyclops and Wolverine have never looked more ready for action. All we need is a Jean Grey window to go right between the two of them, finishing comics’ most famous love triangle.

Hopefully, Olwen tackles Superman next. He’s already a Messianic figure. Who better to get their own stained glass window?

To check out more of Olwen’s amazing creations, but sure to head on over to his Instagram account.

Featured Image: Jesse Olwen

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the original X-Men film. Though they’re not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they got the Marvel movie domination ball rolling. And that first X-Men movie is one of four films in the franchise coming to Disney+ this summer. The 2000 blockbuster arrives on the service on Friday, August 7th. X-Men: Days of Future Past drops July 10th, X-Men: Apocalypse on July 17th, and finally, The Wolverine lands on Sepember 4th. The 2005 Fantastic Four movie is also coming to the streaming service on August 28th.

Twentieth Century Fox

But that’s not the only Marvel action coming to Disney+ this summer. Ant-Man and the Wasp flies in on Friday, August 14th, making Disney’s MCU library almost complete. The only missing titles from the MCU at this point will be Sony’s two Spider-Man films, along with The Incredible Hulk. Universal distributed the latter.

Marvel Studios

It will be interesting to see how Disney incorporates the Fox Marvel films into their Marvel section on the service. Right now, they have the 2015 version of Fantastic Four sandwiched in between Avengers: Endgame and Iron Man in the interface. If they continue this formatting, it could lead to brand confusion. The average viewer might believe they are all MCU films. It might be a wiser move to have an MCU section, along with a separate Fox Marvel section. For that matter, how about putting the MCU films in chronological order?

Twentieth Century Fox

I am also curious to see if Disney+ censors these movies in any way. While the first X-Men doesn’t contain any nudity or f-bombs, X-Men: Apocalypse has one utterance of the f word by Magneto. Charles Xavier does the same in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Remember, Disney+ recently edited Daryl Hannah’s bare bottom in the PG-13 Splash to make it more family friendly. So don’t be surprised if you hear a bleep where that f-bomb was supposed to drop.

No word yet on when X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and X-Men: First Class will land on Disney+. It might be awhile before Dark Phoenix arrives since it’s currently on HBO Max. As for the profanity laced, uber-violent Deadpool movies, they should pop on the service on the first of Never at Zero o’clock.

Twentieth Century Fox

This summer is the perfect time to revisit many of these X-Men films. Of the four that are coming to Disney+, two are genuinely good, a second is pretty decent… and then there’s Apocalypse. But even that one has some fun Quicksilver moments. Days of Future Past in particular is a high water mark for the series, and it might have been best to leave the franchise at that end point. Before the inevitable MCU Mutant reboot, why not have an X-Men Disney+ marathon this summer?

Featured Image: Twentieth Century Fox

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