Marvel's Wolverine Spin-Off: Unleashing Insomniac's Unexpectedly Wild Tale

Highlights

Marvel's Wolverine, developed by Insomniac Games, is set to be a mature game, but little is known about it at this stage.

Wolverine has made numerous comic book appearances, including the popular 2008 release, Old Man Logan. Although the upcoming game may not fully integrate the Old Man Logan storyline, there is potential for it to be explored through DLC or a spinoff game, presenting a fresh take on the character's narrative.

Marvel's Wolverine was unveiled to the world in late 2021, with Insomniac Games, the developers behind Marvel's Spider-Man, taking the helm of the upcoming game. While it is known that Marvel's Wolverine will have a mature tone, details about the game remain scarce. However, there is a potential spinoff story that the game could explore.

Having made his debut in the 1970s, Wolverine has been a prominent figure in countless comic books. As a pivotal member of the X-Men, he is widely recognized and adored by fans. In addition to his team appearances, Wolverine has also headlined numerous solo comic book series, showcasing a range of stories of varying quality. One of the most celebrated solo adventures is the acclaimed 2008 tale, Old Man Logan.

What Is Old Man Logan?

Old Man Logan, written by Mark Millar, is a captivating arc within the larger Wolverine solo series. Set in a Post-Apocalyptic world where all the Marvel Universe's heroes were eradicated by a powerful alliance of supervillains, only a small group of survivors remain. After the villains turn on each other and divide the world among themselves, the story follows Wolverine on a non-violent road trip across the United States to earn money and repay his supervillain landlord.

Despite being a relatively new comic, Old Man Logan has had a significant impact on the character and has become culturally influential. This iteration of Wolverine took over the main Marvel universe series, replacing the younger version who died in a miniseries a few years earlier. Additionally, the storyline served as the inspiration for the highly acclaimed 2017 film Logan, which provided a fitting farewell to the character. Given its popularity and success, a video game adaptation seems like the natural progression for this compelling story.

How Marvel's Wolverine Can Incorporate the Old Man Logan Storyline

There has been previous debate regarding the similarity between Marvel's Wolverine and Old Man Logan. While certain elements may bear resemblance, it is more likely that the upcoming game will focus on a younger iteration of the character, confronting familiar adversaries. Considering the success of Insomniac Games' Marvel's Spider-Man games, the studio has demonstrated the ability to reimagine older comic book concepts with fresh and engaging twists. This does not preclude the possibility of a complete Old Man Logan narrative being explored elsewhere.

Insomniac Games has also displayed proficiency in developing DLC and spinoff titles for their games. Critically acclaimed, the City That Never Sleeps DLC captivated both gamers and reviewers with its compelling storytelling. Although some may question the decision to expand it into a full game rather than DLC, Spider-Man: Miles Morales resonated with fans due to its narrative and characters. Therefore, transforming Old Man Logan into DLC or its own standalone spinoff game would be a logical path for the developer to pursue. Such an approach would enable Insomniac to continue Wolverine's story in a manner they deem fitting, while also granting more time in the limelight to this modern classic.

Currently, not much information is available about Marvel's Wolverine. The creative team is slowly forming, and it is expected that fans will have to wait for a while before more details are revealed. It is anticipated that once Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is released, the game will shift into full development stage, and news will gradually become accessible. While the main game may not revolve around the Old Man Logan storyline, it could potentially serve as an ideal premise for a spinoff adventure. Marvel's Wolverine is currently being developed exclusively for PS5.