Codename: Wolverine
Real Name: James Howlett (birth name), currently known as Logan
Age: approximately 120
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 295 lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Distinguishing Features: Despite his age, Wolverine does not appear more than
perhaps 35 years old.
Known Relatives: None
Powers: Wolverine is blessed with animal-keen senses that enable him to track
people and objects with an impressive degree of success. In addition, his
accelerated healing factor allows him to survive wounds that would prove fatal
to most humans and mutants. Wolverine's skeleton has been bonded with the
indestructible metal adamantium. Also, he possesses adamantium-laced,
retractable claws housed in his forearms. At will, he can release them through
the skin on the back of each hand. Skills/Talents: Although prone to the occasional berserker rage in battle, Wolverine is trained in a number of martial arts. He is proficient in several languages including German and Japanese and has extensive military and covert operations training. |
History:
James Howlett, the mutant now known as Wolverine, was born into privilege in
Alberta, Canada, during the late 19th century, the second son of John and
Elizabeth Howlett. Young James' mother was distant and remote due to the
untimely death of her first son. Growing up, the sickly James was close
friends with the red-headed Rose, his companion and tutor, and "Dog," the
son of the Howlett’s cruel groundskeeper Thomas Logan.
Dog’s growing obsession with Rose finally prompted him to attack her --
forcing James’ father to fire Thomas, and evict him and Dog from their home
on the Howlett estate. The groundskeeper and his son stole into the mansion
the next night and attempted to convince Mrs. Howlett to leave with them.
Apparently, Thomas and Elizabeth Howlett had been engaged in an ongoing
affair. When John Howlett interrupted their discussion, Thomas shot and
killed his former employer. At the shock of seeing his father murdered,
James manifested his latent mutant abilities, and bone claws jutted from the
back of each hand. The beast within the boy unleashed at last, James
attacked and killed Thomas, and slashed Dog’s face. Completely unhinged by
the violence, Elizabeth took her own life.
James suffered a severe breakdown; his mutant abilities "healed" his mind as
well as his body, blocking all memories of his last months at the Howlett
estate. Because Rose and James were blamed for the deaths at the mansion,
she spirited him away to a British Columbia mining colony. Rose gave James
the name "Logan," so that his real identity would remain unknown.
The frail "Logan" grew into a strapping young man at the mine and became
known for his strength and ferocity. He spent a great deal of time among the
wolves in the nearby wilderness, discovering he had more in common with the
wild beasts than his fellow man. Bullied incessantly, Logan acquired the
nickname "Wolverine" thanks to his tenacity and refusal to back down from a
challenge.
Logan’s happiness at the camp came to an end when Dog tracked him down.
Finally remembering the night of his father’s death, Logan fought Dog
savagely. During the struggle, Logan accidentally impaled Rose on his claws,
killing her. Wracked by grief over the death of the woman he truly loved, he
fled into the woods. Logan was not seen again for many years, but the legend
of the man called Wolverine had begun.
The rest of Logan’s life is shrouded in mystery, peppered with half-truths
and anecdotal reports of unconfirmed sightings. His healing factor seems to
act against the effects of aging -- which would explain why, as a man of
more than 120 years, he appears to be in his mid-30s.
In the latter half of the 20th century, the Canadian government subjected
Logan to a bizarre battery of experiments intended to forge the ultimate
killing machine. Weapon X scientists grafted the indestructible metal
adamantium to Logan's skeleton and bone claws, and introduced memory
implants that shaped his past to suit their ends. Combined with the earlier
effects of his healing factor, these false memories have made it impossible
for Logan to discern fact from fiction when recalling his former life. He
now knows little of his past, save that it was fraught with pain and loss.
Wolverine was working as an operative for the Canadian government when he
accepted Magneto’s offer to join the X-Men.
Personality: Serving with the X-Men has given Logan what he had been missing for so long: a cause worth fighting for. Still somewhat uncontrollable and unpredictable in battle, and prone to an occasional berserker rage, Wolverine has proven to be a tremendous asset to the team; he continues to make his home in Magneto’s castle. Beneath his brutish exterior, Wolverine will always be the scared, insecure boy who lashed out at the world all those years ago, doomed never to make peace with his troubled past. Haunted by half-forgotten demons, he fights for those who can't fight for themselves -- kindred spirits, victims all. |