The latest look at Deadpool & Wolverine gave fans a lot to chew on with plenty of cameos and Easter eggs. One of the most prominent, of course, was the head of some Multiversal Variant Giant-Man which seems to serve as the base for Cassandra Nova’s Void wasteland warriors. It’s a visually stunning set piece and, as many have already pointed out, reminiscent of a concept used in Mark Millar and Steve McNiven’s Old Man Logan limited series. While it could be the case that it’s just a really great Easter egg inspired by a beloved comic series, it could be possible that there’s more to it than that. Could Deadpool & Wolverine have taken a little more inspiration from Old Man Logan than just a dead Giant-Man?
What Is Old Man Logan All About?
In the dystopian future of the Marvel Universe, the aged Wolverine, also known as Old Man Logan, emerges as a weathered and battle-hardened hero. This seasoned mutant, once known as Logan, has endured unimaginable hardships, bearing the scars of countless battles and the weight of a tragic past. In this alternate reality, the X-Men have fallen, and Logan wanders a world overrun by villains, haunted by memories of his past failures.
Old Man Logan’s journey is one of survival and redemption. Despite the world-weary burden he carries, he confronts the challenges of this desolate landscape with a resilience born from years of experience. From facing off against the remnants of his former allies to battling ruthless adversaries like the Hulk and the Red Skull, Logan fights not just for his own survival but for a chance to reclaim his sense of purpose.
Accompanied by an unlikely ally, Hawkeye, Old Man Logan embarks on a perilous adventure across this ravaged landscape. Together, they traverse the dangerous territories of this broken world, encountering both friend and foe along the way. Through their encounters with entities like Emma Frost, Maestro, and the enigmatic Mysterio, they uncover the grim realities of a society teetering on the brink of collapse.
In this alternate future universe depicted in the comics, supervillains have taken control of the United States, dividing the country among themselves after a coordinated attack led by a group of villains, including Mysterio.
Mysterio’s role in “Old Man Logan” is particularly dark and impactful. He uses his skills as a master illusionist and manipulator to trick Wolverine, the story’s protagonist, into believing that the X-Men and other superheroes are attacking the X-Mansion. In his manipulated state, Wolverine unleashes his claws and goes on a brutal rampage, only to realize too late that he has actually slaughtered his fellow mutants, including his X-Men teammates. This traumatic event leads Wolverine to swear off violence and retreat into a reclusive life as a farmer. Though Mysterio himself meets a grim fate at the hands of Wolverine later in the story, his actions leave a lasting impact on both the character of Wolverine and the world he inhabits.
Despite his advanced age, Old Man Logan proves that age is no barrier to heroism. His grizzled determination and seasoned skills make him a formidable force against the forces of evil that seek to dominate this apocalyptic world. With each battle he fights and every obstacle he overcomes, Logan reaffirms his status as a legendary figure in the Marvel Universe.
The tale of Old Man Logan is not just one of action and adventure, but also of introspection and redemption. Through his struggles and triumphs, Logan grapples with his own inner demons, seeking to find peace amidst the chaos of a shattered world. His journey serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of the X-Men and the timeless legacy of one of Marvel’s most iconic characters, Wolverine.
How Could Deadpool & Wolverine Adapt Old Man Logan?
2018’s Logan was, ostensibly, inspired by Old Man Logan; however, it certainly was not a direct adaptation. Other than involving a Logan who was an old man and the majority of the X-Men being dead, the world inhabited by Logan, Charles and Laura was vastly different than the one in Millar and McNiven’s work. Perhaps the biggest change was that their world wasn’t a wasteland controlled by supervillains. But it looks like that’s exactly what’s happening in Deadpool & Wolverine.
The new trailer makes it clear that while Alioth is still a fearsome force in the Void, Cassandra Nova and her collection of villainous Variants are in charge whenever Alioth isn’t out and about. Whatever Wade and Logan hope to accomplish in the film, it looks like they’ll have to go through Emma Corrin’s Nova to make it happen but it also looks like it’ll first take a little convincing to get Logan on board. That idea also parallels the events of Old Man Logan in which Logan had promised never to pop his claws again, a promise he kept for 50 years.
Of course, the biggest similarity between Old Man Logan‘s Logan and the Logan Variant seen in Deadpool & Wolverine is that they have both been destroyed and are haunted by some trauma experienced in their home worlds. In Old Man Logan, Wolverine murdered his X-Men teammates; in Deadpool & Wolverine, Wolverine “let his entire world down,” according to Matthew Macfadyen‘s TVA Agent Paradox. While fans shouldn’t expect to see Logan slaughtering his teammates in Deadpool & Wolverine, the trauma he experienced on his Earth (which as I understand it is not the one from the Logan timeline nor the one from which Corrin‘s Cassandra Nova was pruned) has certainly taken the piss out of Weapon X.
It also seems clear that, at least in part, Deadpool & Wolverine‘s creative team took some inspiration from Steve McNiven‘s glorious artwork in Old Man Logan in fleshing out the Void. And why not? The Void can contain just about anything anyone can imagine, including not just the head of a Giant-Man but the entire body: indeed the Void seems to have its very own Pym Falls, whether it’s called that in the film or not. Who knows what other wonders await in the Wasteland…er Void.
And, of course, at its core, Old Man Logan is a buddy movie where Logan and an old, beat up and blind Clint Barton set out across the Wasteland on a dangerous journey and encounter all sorts of danger and chaos along the way while finding out they’re still the heroes they’d always been. That seems to be, at least in part, a core theme of Deadpool & Wolverine, though it might end up drowned in blood and dick jokes.
With only two trailers–neither of which was particularly revealing–to go on, it’s impossible to say just how much of Old Man Logan was adapted into Deadpool & Wolverine; however, it certainly seems like we’ve seen enough to conclude that Millar and McNiven’s masterpiece made an impact on the writers, directors and production designers of the film.
Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters in the U.S. on July 26th.
