#marcus smith

Happy Sunday Claws & Thunder Family!

I've been seeing a lot of discussion online surrounding comments reportedly made by Marvel's Wolverine creative director Marcus Smith regarding the game's continuity.

According to comments currently making the rounds, Marvel's Wolverine may be set in a world where the X-Men don't exist.

Now before anyone grabs their pitchforks, let's remember that we're still working with limited information. Context matters, and there's always the possibility that parts of this discussion are being taken out of context or blown out of proportion.

That said... I will admit that this is the first thing I've heard about the game that gives me pause.

Not because I think Wolverine needs the X-Men watching his six. Quite the opposite, actually. One of the reasons Logan works so well as a character is because he's constantly going off on his own. Some of his best stories are solo adventures.

But that's exactly why I'm a little confused.

If Logan is already capable of carrying an entire game by himself, why remove the X-Men from his world altogether?

Based on what we've seen so far, Jean Grey appears to exist. Sabretooth exists. Omega Red exists. Mystique exists. The game is clearly drawing from Wolverine's larger corner of Marvel lore.

So if Jean Grey is already part of Logan's story, it naturally raises questions about the wider mutant world. Jean and the X-Men are so interconnected in Marvel lore that separating one from the other isn't impossible, but it is an interesting creative choice... a choice that I hope the game answers in a satisfying way.

I've also got to admit that the RoLo fan in me immediately started asking questions.

If the X-Men don't exist in this universe, what does that mean for Ororo?

Does Logan know Storm?

Does their friendship exist?

Does their history exist?

For decades, Storm has been one of Logan's closest friends and confidantes. Their relationship has always been defined by the trust, respect, and bond they built through years of shared experiences. Whether you see them as friends, partners, teammates, or the powerhouse couple like I do, their deep connection is rooted in a long and complicated history. If the X-Men's history is different in this universe, it's only natural for fans to wonder how characters like Ororo fit into that picture.

Now, to be clear, I'm not saying Storm has to appear in the game. Plenty of great Wolverine stories don't involve Ororo at all. But as a RoLo fan, it's hard not to wonder what this decision might mean for one of the most important relationships in Logan's life.

From a fan perspective, it feels like the X-Men could exist in the background without taking anything away from Logan's story. Wolverine has spent decades balancing solo adventures with his connections to the X-Men. The two ideas aren't mutually exclusive.

And if I'm being completely honest, I'm not entirely sure what either Marvel or the X-Men brand gains by making this distinction. Logan's connection to the X-Men has been a fundamental part of the character for over fifty years. Acknowledging that history doesn't mean the X-Men need to appear in the game or overshadow the story. It simply means that part of Logan's world exists.

Of course, all of this could end up being much ado about nothing. We still know very little about the full story, and we all know that speculation has a way of snowballing online.

So am I suddenly less excited for the game?

Not even close.

The trailers still look phenomenal. Wolverine looks and sounds like Wolverine. And September 15 remains one of my most anticipated gaming releases in years.

Will I still be buying it?

Hell yeah.

But I'll also be paying attention to see whether this is simply an unusual creative choice... or whether it points to something larger.

For now, I'm keeping an open mind and remaining cautiously optimistic.

From Venomverse Reborn #003

“Five Questions: Part 3”, by Al Ewing (W), Danilo S. Beyruth and Ceci de la Cruz (A)

“Beyond the Void”, by Steve Foxe (W), Kei Zama and Antonio Fabela (A)

“Cannibalism Comix”, by Ryan North (W) and Matthew Waite (A)