Marvel Knights: Wolverine Origin is one of the two recent motion comics from Shout Factory, focusing on one of Marvel’s most popular character. Here we get the six issue limited series from a decade ago that looks at the literal origin of Wolverine, a character so shrouded in mystery even the character himself has little recollection of his own story.
What I found interesting in this story was how Logan is a bit of a “red herring” as far as the origin is concerned. It’s pretty obvious given a little thought as to who would eventually become Wolverine.
Set in the 19th century and in Canada, we see a number of unsavory characters shaping the character that would eventually become Wolverine. The wealthy John Howlett lives in a big mansion with John’s son and father. The father is a horrible man, a cantankerous creature with no patience and much disregard for the servants.
Then there is Thomas Logan, groundskeeper, who looks a bit like the man Wolverine would become. He is a surly alcoholic of a man, often beating his own son who isn’t particularly nice himself. Then there is Rose, the Irish lass who serves as the reader’s introduction as she joins the staff of the house at the beginning of the story.
A third of the way though the story things change. A bit of crisis, and a change of location, then the young man who would be Wolverine and Rose find themselves in a work camp, and a transformation begins to take place.
As with all the other motion comics the full credits play at the beginning and end of each episode. This really does interrupt the flow of the storytelling as well as just being annoying. As for the motion itself, the technology has come a long way and we get a nearly fully animated representation of the six issue comic mini-series. The voice acting is decent ant it is what is done to the original comic panels that is the main attraction here.
Fans of the character would do well to check this release out. Two featurettes look at the making of Wolverine Origin and are obviously one feature split into two. One half looks at the story and one looks at the art. At least there is a Play All option to see them both together.
Marvel Knights: Wolverine Origin is an interesting look at one of the more intriguing characters of the Marvel universe.