Marvel’s Wolverine is one of those characters who has been everywhere and done everything. Over the years he has lived through wars, traveled the globe several times, and encountered almost every notable character in the Marvel universe. With the announcement of Insomniac Games developing a brand new Wolverine game, fans were delighted to catch a glimpse of the canuck in the brief teaser trailer; however, in typical Marvel fashion, keen-eyed fans will notice a few clues and Easter eggs about the game’s possible story and setting.
Insomniac Games is the studio that developed Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. On the same night as Wolverine’s reveal, it was also announced Insomniac is working on Spider-Man 2. The studio later confirmed that these games will exist in a shared universe, potentially setting up a multi-game narrative similar to that of the MCU.
The teaser trailer for Wolverine clocks in at around 45 seconds but there are a few hints and Easter eggs hidden within to imply just what Wolverine might be up. It’s his first solo outing since 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine tie-in video game, and there’s a lot of potential for the game’s story. Most of these clues in the trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine game are visible behind the bar at the 20-second mark.
Marvel’s Wolverine Could Be Headed To Madripoor To Face A Drug Cartel
Due to the nature of Wolverine’s healing powers, he has lived for a very long time. His adventures span the globe with several years spent in a variety of locations with different teams, but there are clues that might help narrow down just what Marvel’s Wolverine will be about. To begin, the most obvious clue is Wolverine’s claws themselves. Enjoying a quiet drink after a scuffle in a bar, a man attempts to attack him with a knife to which Wolverine’s claws extend. These are his iconic adamantium claws which he received at the hands of the Weapon X program, meaning the game will take place in a more modern era.
Fans also noticed the Quebec license plate behind the bar which reads “HLK 181,” a clear reference to The Incredible Hulk issue #181 which was the first appearance of Wolverine, released in 1974. While this may just be a clever nod to Wolverine’s origins, it could also hint that players may encounter the Hulk in the game, if only briefly. Hulk and Wolverine have a long-running history both as teammates and as wild adversaries, often fighting for hours to a standstill. Hulk’s potential appearance as a supporting character would be an effective means of drawing him into an Insomniac Games Marvel Universe for future appearances.
However, the most telling clues come from behind the bar itself. Above Logan’s hat is a partially obscured poster for Madripoor, and on the chalkboard above the drinks list in bold letters, it plainly says “The Princess Bar.” Originally appearing in Marvel Comics in 1988, The Princess Bar is located in the Lowtown district of Madripoor (the radio station sticker on the fridge is labeled Radio Lowtown). Originally owned by the Mauraders, the Morlocks celebrated a victory over the Reavers here and gave the bar its name. This is also the place where Wolverine first portrayed his alter ego, Patch.
It was here that Logan, as Patch, helped defeat Razor Fist (recently seen in the MCU’s Shang Chi film) and overthrow a local crime lord. He would go on to destabilize a drug cartel and continue helping the people, all of which centered around The Princess Bar. Insomniac has since stated the game will carry a mature tone which would be in line with these events. Marvel’s Wolverine may explore a modern telling of this story and could introduce Lady Deathstrike as a key antagonist, given her long history with Logan, the Reavers, and Madripoor – not to mention Marvel’s penchant for putting similarly-powered characters against one another. These clues are hidden within Marvel Wolverine‘s trailer and point players in a new direction away from Wolverine’s origin story into something rich, dark, and fresh that can offer the mature tone a Wolverine story deserves.
