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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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 OPINION 
2

A Tough Guy for Everyone

Why Wolverine has had such lasting appeal

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(Newser) – Wolverine has endured. The character has two comic-book series, a new blockbuster movie, and his own exhibit at New York’s comic museum 35 years after being introduced as a sidekick. Why has Wolverine had such long lasting appeal? With a dark, mysterious past, and a “penchant for berserker rages, he’s a pastiche of every tough-guy cliché in pulp fiction," writes Grady Hendrix for Slate.

But pop culture’s obsession with loner badasses doesn’t fully explain Wolverine’s appeal. Writer Chris Claremont, upon commandeering the X-Men in 1975, focused on the fact that the X-Men were mutants, and used their persecution to comment on real-life racism. Claremont “made mutants a generic stand-in for all minorities,” with “Wolverine as their Malcolm X”—giving anyone who’s ever felt persecuted a stalwart defender," notes Hendrix. Snikt!

In this film publicity image released by 20th Century Fox, Hugh Jackman unleashes his adamantium claws in a scene from
In this film publicity image released by 20th Century Fox, Hugh Jackman unleashes his adamantium claws in a scene from "Wolverine."   (AP Photo/20th Century Fox, Michael Muller)
Actor Hugh Jackman holds up a special parking sign toward the crowd during festivities for the world premiere of
Actor Hugh Jackman holds up a special parking sign toward the crowd during festivities for the world premiere of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" last month in Tempe, Ariz.   (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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2 comments
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ClearSight
May 3, 09 9:22 AM CDT
Sure lets make this a politically correct issue and co op its true meaning. I believe its more about being uncompromising in a world that pushes compromise upon everyone. Wolverine sees the world in black and white, not shades of gray. He's passionate and doesn't wait for a opinion poll to justify what he knows is right. He's an individual, who doesn't bow to the collectivism surrounding him. He's what the American male use to be........ even though he's Canadian...... Reply
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saridout
May 3, 09 1:34 PM CDT
Racism? Not that mutants don't also reflect the struggle for equality between the races, but it was written with gay parallels in mind. Reply
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