*This review is for long-time comic fans and references for them.
The movie begins in the middle of the action, similar to Deadpool 1, and we learn the literal definition of desecrating a grave. And there’s a snazzy dance number!!(Dancer Nick Pauley gets a credit). We are then reminded of the TVA (Time Variance Authority, first appearance Thor #372-maybe get that one slabbed), which was originally designed as a satirical jab at Marvel’s increasingly corporate environment in the late 1980s. The TVA then proceeds to tell DP “He’s got to save a timeline” (DP assumes it’s HIS timeline) and is given a fresh new costume, a slightly redder version with Adamantium swords no less!! (I feel this is glossed over, Wolverines claws would have gone clean through conventional weapons) and yet another little dance. When told he has to find a Wolverine, his first response is “The guy with FORKS for hands?”
He starts looking for a replacement wolverine through the various timelines and comes across NINE! Here’s a guide:
- Logan (2017)’s Logan in some flashbacks.
- Henry Cavill’s Wolverine in full of muscles and cigar.
- Wolverine from Age of Apocalypse (one-handed, hairy in a black suit in an alley on fire).
- In brown suit, paying tribute to his author John Byrne.
- In white suit with eye-patch, from the Save the Tiger storyline, when he worked as vigilante in Madripoor.
- Accurate comic version with 5’3″ height, 300 lbs, not shown in costume.
- Crucified Wolverine as he appeared in the comic Uncanny X-Men #251 (1981).
- Mark Millar and Steven McNiven’s Old Man Logan, set in the Wild West.
- Wolverine from the comic Wolverine #1 (1988).
And finally, the so-called Worst Wolverine, who is, of course, picked by Deadpool to help him.As the worst Wolverine is uncooperative, they end up in the Void, established in Loki as the end of time, or the trash pile (You may notice a comic accurate Thor helmet, and and OG Captain America shield, and maybe even a copy of Secret Wars lying around…).
Now here’s where the comic book geeks start to go WHUH?!!? Because there’s this fight between Sabretooth and Wolverine, and anticipation is built, only to end anti-climatically. “Too easy!! cries the comic people and well they should as Sabretooth has EASILY beaten wolverine MANY times in the past (https://www.cbr.com/sabretooth-more-dangerous-wolverine/), but then remember…this is where the TRASH versions end up….shitty Sabretooth.
The Pyro/Human torch standoff was also too quick, as I feel one could argue that the Human Torch would win, because A. He can GENERATE flames, and control them, has even made ‘flame doubles’ of himself, and more importantly B. He is Immune to fire. He could generate A LOT of fire and even go Nova!. But again, shittiest Johnny.
We then meet Cassandra Nova, Charles Xaviers twin, who died in the womb. If she’s his twin, why is she so young? STILL, she’s as evil and powerful as her comic self (who IS older).
And finally the BIGGEST ‘too easy’ HAS to be the X-23/Juggernaut fight. First of all, Juggernaut (NOT a mutant, BTW) Charles Xavier’s brother in the comics, gets his powers from a gem belonging to the deity Cyttorak, becoming a literal human juggernaut. His powers are NEAR GODLIKE, but specifically, the Juggernaut Is Impervious To Adamantium (Uncanny X-Men #102), and also has a healing factor superior to ALL OTHERS (Wolverine #48). As far as Juggernaut goes, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, but he’s an X-man now, so no worries.
There are a TON of Easter Eggs to spot and plenty of articles to list them, but I wanted to address the things that bugged ME, a comic guy, who had to get all this straight in his head. I hope you enjoyed this rant!!
