Wolverinehas been theX-Menfranchise’s ranking badass for decades, but over time, a crop of characters have arisen who can challenge for that title. It might beLogan’s brand to be “the best there is at what he does,” but Marvel has cultivated multiple mutant warriors who arguably surpass him, either in their willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done, or straight-up battlefield ability.
In one way or another, the heroes collected on this list have shown that they embody the same qualities that have made Wolverine a fan-favorite character for generations.
Whether that is by displaying a ruthless capacity for killing on a level even surpassing the iconic clawed hero, such as in the case of Psylocke, or by embodying similar physical qualities, like with Monet in her Penance form, or the infamous Morlock Marrow, each of these characters has, at some point, exceeded Wolverine in some capacity.
11Ransom: A New Mutant Who Echoes Wolverine’s Early Character
A Natural Fighter Like Logan
Ransom is one of theX-Menfranchise’s newest characters, one who hasalready drawn comparisons to Wolverine, who has taken on a mentorship role to Ransom and the rest of his cohort of new mutants in author Gail Simone’s currentUncanny X-Menrun. While their power sets might be drastically different,many readers have noted the clear parallels between Ransom and Logan during his early years with theX-Men.
That is, the fledgling hero, who possesses a black hole where his heart should be, is eager for a fight, in the same way Wolverine is classically portrayed as being. Except the contemporary Wolverine is a character who has fought hard to control his more violent impulses, and to channel them into his heroism; it remains to be determined whether Ransom will manage to do the same.
10Monet: An Imposing Figure In X-Men Lore Who Stands Her Ground On The Battlefield
Deadly In Whatever Form She Takes
Monet, also known as Penance, or at other times simply as “M,” has a classically convolutedX-Menbackstory, tracing back to her early 1990s origins in franchise lore. In her Penance form, she possesses sharp blade-like talons, worthy of comparison to Wolverine, or perhaps more accurately, Wolverine antagonist Lady Deathstrike, one of many ofLogan’s enemies who share his adamantium-infused physiology.
As Monet, the sharpest things about her are her intellect, her ambition, and her willingness to mete out harsh justice.It is this latter quality in which she is one of theX-franchise’s characters who has surpassed Wolverine, who has grown more inclined to avoiding violence as time has progressed, rather than less.
9Frenzy: An Underrated Marvel Powerhouse Willing Do What It Takes To Get The Job Done
As Good At What She Does As Wolverine
Frenzy is approaching the fortieth anniversary of her Marvel Comics debut, having first appeared in a 1986 issue ofX-Factoras a villain. ModernX-lore has rehabilitated the character, making her a member of the X-Men, and evena romantic interest for Cyclops, and in the process turning her into one of the franchise’s most dangerous heroes.
Frenzy’s power set includes attack-resistant skin, reminiscent of Colossus, and super strength; she is also a ferocious fighter, and more than willing to take lethal measures if necessary. What Frenzy needs to perhaps truly solidify her position as a worthy successor, or at least peer, to Logan is a solo series,in which her cold-blooded, hard-hearted brand of heroism, evocative of classic 1980s and ’90s Wolverine stories, can be put on full display.
8Feral: One Of The X-Men Franchise’s Most Ferocious Animal Fighters
A Character Waiting To Be Fully Unleashed
Feral is one of the handful of Marvel characters that embodiesthe animalistic qualities of Wolverine’s character. A major part of Wolverine’s trajectory over the years has been tied to overcoming his animal instincts, and urges; at the same time, the publisher has introduced other characters who embrace their animal nature instead.
Feral is another character who has been around for decades, and carved out a presence for herself inX-Menlore, but is long overdue for more of a spotlight, in which she can truly show that she belongs on Wolverine’s level.The character’s abilities, and her appearance, make for an exciting combat style on the page; it is ultimately up to a future story to use Feral to her fullest, and more importantly, most ferocious potential as a Wolverine-style character.
7Archangel: An OG X-Men Character Who Became One Of The Franchise’s Deadliest Heroes
His Late ’80s Revitalization Bears Logan’s Influence
Archangel embodies a classicX-Mentrope: the hero who falls into villainy, and is redeemed, but comes back as a more dangerous version of themselves. This trajectory has been displayed by multiple characters acrossX-history, but Archangel is perhaps the definitive version.
First appearing in 1963 as Angel,as one of the original X-Men, his Archangel persona came as a much-needed revamp twenty-five years into the character’s history, which coincided with the peak of Wolverine’s popularity as anX-Menhero in the late 1980s.Wolverine’s influence on Archangel is clear, particularly in the razor-sharp blades that replaced the character’s physical angel wingsfollowing his transformation.
6Thunderbird: A Hero Whose Parallels With Wolverine Have Been Evident From The Start
To Thunderbird’s Detriment, At Least At First
Thunderbird and Wolverine actually joined theX-Menat the same time, in the series-revitalizing one-shotGiant-Size X-Men#1, published in 1975. However, Thunderbird was quickly killed off soon afterward, in what remains one of theX-Menfranchise’s most shocking deaths, given how unexpected it was at the time.
The behind-the-scenes reason Thunderbird was dispatched? He was apparently considered too similar to Wolverine, and the decision was made to nix one of the characters in order to shock the readers of the revivedX-Mencomic series. Thunderbird has since made his return toX-Menlore, now that there ismuch more openness in Marvel Comics for more than one Wolverine-like character, and has repeatedly demonstrated that he possesses many of Logan’s most memorable characteristics.
5Deathlok: An Underrated Marvel Gem With 50 Years Of History To His Name
A Ruthless Anti-Hero In The Vein Of Classic Wolverine
Even devoted Marvel readers might be surprised to find outDeathlok was introduced to Marvel lore several months before Wolverine, and while he has never achieved the same heights of fame as Logan, different versions of the characters have at times proved to be more brutal, and more bloodthirsty, than their clawed competitor.
A Frankenstein-esque character,Deathlok is one of Marvel’s most underrated badass characters in action, but more importantly, in design. The greatest Deathlok story has arguably yet to be penned at Marvel, but when it finally is, the character’s similarities to Wolverine will invariably be part of fans' and critics' talking points.
4Psylocke: Every X-Men Reader’s Favorite Ninja Assassin
A Character Who Continues To Climb The Ranks Of Marvel’s Most Ruthless
Psylocke is one of Marvel’s deadliest assassins, boasting a body count on par with Wolverine’s and the characters have had similar arcs over the years, though arguably with one key difference. Logan’s arc has featured him becoming a less violent character over the years, whilePsylocke has gone in the other direction, becoming much more of a combat-centered character as theX-franchise has embraced her full potential.
Like Wolverine, Psylocke has become a fan-favorite; following an infamous interval in which she was killed off, and herplanned resurrection was delayed by an editorial edict at Marvel, she has remained a core part of the franchise more or less ever since. If a book needs a ruthless killer, and Wolverine isn’t available, Psylocke is often next on the list.
3Marrow: The Mutant Whose Painful Power Set Is An Escalation Of Wolverine’s
The Former Morlock’s Bone Growths Are Logan’s Claws And Then Some
Marrow’s visceral power is evocative of one of the most hardcore aspects of Wolverine’s character design: the popping of his claws. Violence is more than just something Wolverine does to other people, it is an inherent part of his mutant biology, as his bone claws gruesomely erupt from his flesh with every “snikt,” relying on his complimentary healing factor to mend the fresh wounds this produces every time.
In every way,Marrow takes this to the next level, with her mutation allowing her to manipulate her skeletal structure, producing bone growths that burst through her skin, which she then uses as blades and spears, in her capacity as an expert short-range combatant. Truly,Marrow is one of the most underrated Wolverine “replacements"Marvel has.
2Magik: Wolverine’s Struggle Against His Own Darkness Is Mirrored By Illyana’s Arc
Both Heroes Have Demons To Overcome
Magik has rightly risen to prominence asone of theX-Menfranchise’s most powerful heroesover the last several years, and in that time she has also developed a reputation for being willing to go to the kind of dark place only select heroes can tread. This has always been one of the hallmarks of Wolverine’s character, and considering Magik’s demonic backstory, she is by nature a child of the darkness in a way that not even Logan can lay claim to.
What defines Magik, and makes her Wolverine-like, is more than just her battlefield prowess, or her badass persona;it is the fact that she struggles against the darkness within constantly, making each heroic deed that much more of a triumph.Wolverine’s struggle has made him a compelling protagonist for decades, and Magik has demonstrated the same quality in herX-Menappearances.
