Revealing Wolverine’s Most Extreme Redesign in 2000s Movie Concept Art

In an exciting turn of events for comic book enthusiasts, fans have finally witnessed Wolverine don his iconic yellow X-Men costume in the much-anticipated 2024 release, Deadpool and Wolverine. This marks a significant moment, nearly 20 years after Hugh Jackman first brought the character to life on the big screen. The early X-Men films set a precedent in comic adaptations, favoring “realistic”black leather looks over bright, traditional costumes. However, looking back to 1999, a group of talented Marvel artists presented their own imaginative interpretations of how Wolverine might be reimagined for the movies, showcasing creativity that stands out even today.

Recently, WIZARDS! The Podcast Guide to Comics shared an intriguing page from Wizard’s 1999 ‘Wolverine Special’, featuring contributions from notable artists such as Dave Cockrum, Leinil Francis Yu, and John Cassaday. These artists provided their bold redesigns for the character, revealing a variety of innovative concepts that deviate significantly from the final cinematic look.

The Wizard #Wolverine special from 1999 featured new costume ideas from the likes of @JScottCampbell, @leinilyu, the late @JohnCassaday, and more. Which of these do YOU like best? pic.twitter.com/TBQ4QrD3Y1 — WIZARDS! The Podcast Guide To Comics (@WizardsComics) October 25, 2024

Among these designs, Matt Haley’s interpretation closely aligns with what Wolverine would eventually wear, featuring a “dark leather outfit.”However, it still leaned heavily into comic aesthetics with short sleeves and prominent shoulder pads. In contrast, Leinil Francis Yu’s vision presented Wolverine in a series of restraints, while John Cassaday’s extreme redesign depicted him as a character marred by scars, famously noting, “a cat that has been in one too many fights.”

Wizard’s Creative Wolverine Redesigns for the 2000s X-Men

…But That Doesn’t Diminish Their Cool Factor

First published in 1991, Wizard magazine fostered a close relationship with comic creators, allowing them to brainstorm and riff on concepts for various features. The ‘Wolverine Special’ was unique in that it not only presented redesign ideas but also showcased Wolverine battling famous pop culture icons, such as Darth Maul from Star Wars and Green Lantern from DC Comics. These unique interpretations offered fans a glimpse of the potential evolution of Wolverine’s cinematic portrayal, clearly recognizing the industry shift towards darker and more realistic designs.

wolverine fights green lantern and star wars' darth maul

Since the release of 2000’s X-Men, superhero films have gradually integrated more of the vibrant aesthetics and designs found in comic books. However, there remains ample room for growth before these adaptations fully capture the boundless creativity inherent in the original source material. Wolverine’s character, for example, is not limited to just the iconic yellow and blue suit; he frequently dons a diverse array of costumes ranging from alien-infected looks to adamantium armor designed for combat against long-time rival Sabretooth.

Although Wizard’s early redesigns may not have accurately predicted how the X-Men films would eventually portray Wolverine, their creativity remains compelling even two decades later. For many fans, seeing these visionary interpretations evolve into full-fledged stories would undoubtedly be a treat.

Source: WIZARDS! The Podcast Guide to Comics

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