Origin (Comics) | Review

When thinking of Wolverine, we picture the grizzled loner— claws bared and a mysterious past hidden behind his gritted teeth. Well, Origin does something pretty incredible— it actually shows us Logan's past, shrouded in loss and dark secrets.

This six-issue limited series from writer Paul Jenkins (Incredible Hulk: Dogs of War, Spectacular Spider-Man: The Hunger), artists Andy Kubert (Batman Vs. Predator, Dark Knight III: The Master Race) and Richard Isanove shows us the boy before the beast.

Set in late 1800s of rural Canada, Origin introduces us to a sickly kid named James Howlett and doesn't tell you upfront that this is Logan. For most of the first issue, you're trying to figure out which kid will grow up to become Wolverine. Is it the groundskeeper's aggressive son Dog Logan or this frail rich kid with chronic illness?

Origin unfolds like a slow-burning gothic novel. James is haunted by grief, confusion and a gnawing sense of not belonging. He lives in a mansion with an emotionally detached and unloving mother, who ignores him and a distant father. The only person who shows him any kindness is this sweet red-haired girl named Rose.

Then it happens— a moment of trauma, violence and revelation that changes everything. James witnesses something traumatic that triggers his latent mutant ability and BAM, three bone claws tear through his knuckles in a burst of fear and rage.

In that very moment, the legacy of Wolverine begins— with young James screaming in pain and confusion. The story gets really heavy as James and Rose flee into the wilderness. James starts calling himself "Logan" and slowly loses pieces of who he used to be. He stops talking as much, his memories get fuzzy and he becomes more... feral.

Here, the series leans heavily into tragedy. Logan becomes a shadow of himself— not yet the berserker we all know and love, but not the boy he was either. The more he learns to survive in the wild, the more he drifts away from humanity.

Logan's mutation isn't just physical— it's spiritual. He even loses his ability to connect emotionally. What was once grief for him slowly turns into something cold and animal-like that's really heartbreaking to watch.

The final chapter lands with a devastating blow. There's no grand twist, no moral closure, no costume, no X-Men showing up, no big battle to save the world. It's just Logan— alone again— with the weight of his past, too heavy to carry and too painful to forget.

From a broader perspective, Origin took a huge risk in 2001. Wolverine's mysterious past was part of what made him cool. Instead of ruining the mystery, Origin actually makes him more compelling to fans. It showed that trauma— not heroism— is what shapes most Marvel heroes.

This isn't a superhero story in the traditional sense. It's more like a tragedy that happens to a guy who will eventually become a deadly weapon and join the X-Men. There's just a scared little boy, his claws and the unforgiving world that created him.

The artwork absolutely nails the mood of Wolverine's origin story. Kubert's drawing feels grounded and real, while Isanove's painting keeps everything muted and shadowy. Canadian wilderness looks beautiful but lonely— like it's mourning alongside Logan.

Jenkins and Kubert achieved a delicate kind of horror in Origin. Not body horror but emotional horror— the dread of watching Logan go through all the tragic events of his life. This is a story of how he was born but also the tale of how younger self died.

Jenkins never tries to over-explain or glorify the characters. Instead, Origin leaves space for mystery and in doing so, it honors the fragmented nature of Logan's identity. It showed how trauma can completely reshape a person, stripping away everything they once were.

Origin is not just a peak into Wolverine's past— it focuses on pain and explores the fine line between victimhood and monstrosity. It's one of the rare books that strips away the typical superhero spectacle and reveal the raw nerve underneath.

For longtime Wolverine fans, it adds more depth to the beloved character. For newcomers, it's a gripping standalone tale of survival and loss. Either way, Origin earns its place as one of Marvel's most emotionally devastating stories.

You can read Origin as part of the collected trade here on Amazon storefront or digitally through Marvel Unlimited. The follow-up, Origin II, continues Logan's early journey in the wild— and we'll get to that soon.