Marvel’s Wolverine Needs to Embrace All Aspects of Logan’s Character, Including His Height

by

As a devoted comic book enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about the days before Hugh Jackman brought Wolverine to life on the big screen. Even then, this character was already among Marvel’s top three icons, much like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman were for DC in their respective universe. In the pre-MCU era, Spider-Man, the Hulk, and Logan (Wolverine) reigned supreme, each with an enduring appeal that has withstood numerous adaptations.

So when Insomniac announced “Marvel’s Wolverine” two years ago, the hype was palpable, the fanfare was deafening, but there wasn’t much surprise. After all, Logan is one of the most adored characters in comics, and he just seems like a natural fit for a mature Marvel video game.

As a diehard fan of the Wolverine character, I can’t help but feel a tad disappointed with how adaptations have handled one crucial detail – his height. From the animated versions to his MCU debut in Deadpool and Wolverine, it seems like everyone overlooks this minor yet significant aspect. In truth, Logan isn’t your typical six-foot-tall powerhouse; he stands at a mere five-feet-three, making him one of Marvel’s shortest heroes.

While the towering and imposing version of Jackman’s Wolverine is more common, I strongly believe that Insomniac should stick to the comics’ original height for the Wolverine in Marvel’s Wolverine. It might not be as physically intimidating, but it would certainly add an interesting twist to the character, staying true to the source material.

Marvel’s Wolverine Needs to Embrace All Aspects of Logan’s Character, Including His Height

Logan’s Height Lends Itself to His Unique, Feral Fighting Style

A key element of Wolverine’s combat technique often overlooked in adaptations is his exceptional agility. Despite his entire skeleton being constructed of metal, Wolverine is able to swiftly and gracefully navigate from one adversary to another. This is largely due to his compact size and lower center of gravity. This distinct fighting approach has long been a part of comic lore but remains underrepresented in other media due to the challenge in portraying a larger character executing such maneuvers convincingly.

By setting Logan’s height according to his comic book counterpart, Insomniac is unveiling a unique combat system for Marvel’s Wolverine, emphasizing agility, ferocity, and acrobatics. This system could resemble the combative style they developed for the Marvel’s Spider-Man series, but with the brutal, gory flair that only Wolverine can offer.

Other Adaptations Are Finally Warming to a Shorter Wolverine

Up until not long ago, taller versions of Wolverine were commonly used for the character, possibly due to the success of Jackman’s portrayal. However, over the past year, nearly every significant representation of Logan has either kept him at his canonical height or acknowledged it in some way. For instance, X-Men ’97, a continuation of an X-Men series from before the Fox movies, showcases Logan at his short stature. Marvel Rivals, which is currently one of the most popular depictions of the character, presents him as small enough for the Hulk and Thing to throw him during the famous Fastball Special. Even in Deadpool and Wolverine, they made a mention of his actual height, though it was a humorous, multiverse-related joke.

After over two decades, it’s refreshing to see non-comic outlets starting to understand that Logan doesn’t need to be tall to be an imposing character. Despite being joked about in Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan’s actual height has been moving away from a trivial detail and more towards a widely accepted aspect of his character. As more platforms are adopting this viewpoint, it would be wise for Insomniac to follow the trend and present Wolverine as the compact bundle of adamantium, anger, and whiskey that he truly is.

Insomniac Is All About Writing Love Letters to the Characters’ Fans

Primarily, it’s essential that Insomniac depict Wolverine as a comic-true 5’3″ since this accurately reflects the character they aim to represent. This aspect of Wolverine is often overlooked and underappreciated in adaptations, with creators usually opting for different portrayals instead of embracing this unique characteristic. For quite some time, the physique popularized by Jackman has been the standard for Logan, even though some comic artists seem to have forgotten about Wolverine’s actual height over the years.

Insomniac has consistently shown a deep affection for its superhero game series, often creating games that feel like heartfelt tributes to fans of these iconic characters. The initial two installments of Marvel’s Spider-Man games were lauded for perfectly capturing the essence of Peter Parker and Miles Morales, embodying their unique personalities and symbolism masterfully. It’s clear that Insomniac not only fulfilled its task but also has a profound understanding of the characters they are developing games around.

While Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 might have stumbled in some aspects, particularly with its debatable representation of Venom, Marvel’s Wolverine offers the studio an opportunity to reaffirm its grasp of these characters and its dedication to portraying them authentically and vividly.

Read More

2025-03-19 16:04