Unleashing Wolverine's Vigilante Legacy: From Gotham to Marvel's Next Epic Sequel

Highlights

Insomniac Games, known for its success with Marvel's Spider-Man, is working on Marvel's Wolverine, indicating the potential for another high-quality superhero game.

The prequel storyline of Marvel's Wolverine, like Batman: Arkham Origins, presents an intriguing opportunity, with the iconic Weapon X narrative serving as ideal source material.

Although the specifics of the gameplay remain undisclosed, it is anticipated that Marvel's Wolverine will emphasize the protagonist's thrilling exploits rather than his origin story, providing players with the chance to immerse themselves in the hero's prime moments.

Insomniac Games is not satisfied with just having games featuring one beloved Marvel character in their roster. Currently, they are diligently working on Marvel's Wolverine. Although details about the game are scarce beyond what was revealed in the initial trailer, Insomniac's impressive track record with Marvel's Spider-Man assures fans that the studio can deliver a high-quality game centered around Wolverine himself. Additionally, drawing from their success with Marvel's Spider-Man, it is reasonable to assume that Marvel's Wolverine holds potential for a monumental sequel, especially considering the available iconic storyline it can be based on.

Following the example set by the Batman: Arkham series, it is possible that the potential sequel to Marvel's Wolverine could explore a prequel storyline instead. Similar to how Arkham Origins followed the groundbreaking title Arkham City, rather than being an immediate sequel, it provided fans with a captivating narrative that showcased a younger and less experienced Batman. Drawing inspiration from Batman: Year One and Legends of the Dark Knight, it offered a fresh take on the Caped Crusader. Applying this approach to the next Wolverine game would not only be a brilliant move, but it also has the perfect source material in Barry Windsor Smith's renowned Weapon X storyline.

Weapon X Makes Perfect Sense for a Marvel's Wolverine Prequel

Wolverine's involvement in the Weapon X program can be traced back to his debut in The Incredible Hulk #180. Speculation among fans and hints from influential X-Men writer Chris Claremont built anticipation, leading to the creation of the Weapon X comic miniseries in 1991 by artist Barry Windsor Smith. Spanning 13 issues in Marvel Comics Presents, Smith unveils shocking revelations about Wolverine's grim past and the sinister government program that aimed to transform him into a savage creature. This marked the first time readers were exposed to official canon information about Wolverine's history.

Similar to how Batman: Year One inspired Arkham Origins, Weapon X holds great potential as a source for either a second standalone Wolverine game or an expansive DLC expansion following the release of Marvel's Wolverine. Not only is it one of the most significant and impactful storylines featuring the character, but Weapon X also delves deep into the psychological contrast between Logan and The Wolverine. Considering Insomniac's talent in exploring Marvel characters, adapting Weapon X into the medium of video games has the potential to deliver one of the most emotionally powerful narratives the developer has crafted.

In terms of gameplay, it is unlikely that Marvel's Wolverine will explore Wolverine's origins in the Weapon X program. Although not much is known about the actual gameplay of Marvel's Wolverine at this stage, it is likely that the studio will immerse players directly into the action, rather than having Logan slowly adapt to his existence as a deadly weapon. Similar to Marvel's Spider-Man, which skips over Peter Parker's transformation into Spider-Man and the loss of Uncle Ben, Wolverine will probably begin the game as a fully empowered hero.

However, the potential for a prequel game, substantial downloadable content, or an extended flashback sequence in a sequel is evident in Marvel's Wolverine even before its first gameplay trailer is released. Wolverine holds a significant place in comic history as one of the most iconic and important characters, serving as the face of the X-Men and successfully carrying a solo title for decades. With the impressive adaptations of characters like Batman in the Arkham series and Spider-Man in previous titles, Insomniac has a valuable opportunity to maintain this trend with Wolverine.

Marvel's Wolverine is currently is development for PlayStation 5.