Wolverine Co-Creator Roy Thomas on His ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Credit: “My Name Should Have Come First”

As a seasoned gamer with decades of comic book history under my belt, I must say that the recent recognition given to Roy Thomas as a co-creator of Wolverine has brought a smile to my face wider than Gambit’s card tricks. The wait for this credit was long, but it was worth every moment, just like waiting for that perfect roll in a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

Roy Thomas, who was employed by Stan Lee in 1965 as a staff writer, assumed the role of Marvel’s editor-in-chief from Lee in 1972 when Lee shifted to becoming the publisher. He is renowned for his collaboration in creating several well-known characters such as Vision, Carol Danvers, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. However, until recently, he had not been recognized officially as a co-creator of Wolverine, a position he had long advocated to Marvel. This new acknowledgment has sparked controversy among certain sections of the internet and the creative community due to his role as an editor during Wolverine’s creation in 1974, a role not typically credited with co-creation. The dissatisfaction deepened after Christine Valada, the widow of late Wolverine co-creator Len Wein, expressed her disapproval publicly. Thomas claims that this credit simply confirms what he has been saying for years—that he was instrumental in the character’s inception and contributed significantly to its defining features—and he has old newspaper articles to support his claim. Below, he discusses his thoughts on the movie and being credited alongside Wein, John Romita Sr., and Herb Trimpe, stating, “The four of us made a great team on that project, with me, as editor-in-chief, happy to delegate tasks to Len, John, and Herb once I provided them with general instructions.”

Various obstacles kept me from watching the movie “Deadpool & Wolverine” before 10:30 this morning, regrettably. These issues included computer and airline troubles last week, followed by my commitment to kick off a baseball game at “Marvel night” in Columbia, South Carolina. However, it was worth the delay. I’ve never been particularly fond of the “Deadpool” series (I still haven’t watched “Deadpool 2“, an exception among Marvel-related films), and I often struggle to take a story seriously once it breaks the fourth wall; yet, I’m thrilled that over the weekend, nearly half a billion dollars’ worth of viewers found the film enjoyable enough to watch.

As a lifelong Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fan, I truly hope that the upcoming movies help revitalize the franchise, which seems to have hit a bit of a snag lately. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no such thing as “superhero film fatigue” – it’s merely impatience with subpar films that don’t stay true to their source material.

I’m thankful to Marvel Entertainment for eventually acknowledging my suggestion from several months ago. They recognized that Len Wein, John Romita, and I should be officially credited as co-creators of Deadpool & Wolverine, similar to the original Deadpool creators who have been enjoying this recognition. While I wished to be listed first rather than last in the Wolverine grouping since it was my idea that they expanded upon, I understand that many famous names like Oliver Hardy, Lou Costello, Jerry Lewis, Paul McCartney, and even Jack Kirby were also not always given the top credit, yet they still achieved great success.

I’m thrilled that Marvel followed my repeated requests (which they may have done for their own reasons, not necessarily mine) by including Herb Trimpe in the project. Just like Len Wein who brought the first story to life based on my initial ideas and added elements such as the “Weapon X” complex, Wolverine being a mutant, and his adamantium claws, Trimpe transformed John Romita’s two-figure sketch into a 20-page story and superhero battle in The Incredible Hulk No. 181, a contribution as significant as Wein’s original work.

As a gamer, let me share my recent experience working on a project that felt like an epic quest. In this adventure, we were a well-coordinated team of four: I was the guild leader, delegating tasks and providing overall strategy after setting our objectives. Len, John, and Herb took charge of the specifics, and we all worked harmoniously to conquer challenges together.

I’d also like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to my friend and media representative, John Cimino. For over a decade, he’s been a strong supporter of the small Wolverine co-creditor idea, and through thick and thin, we’ve weathered the ups and downs together, just like two warriors facing adversity side by side.

As a long-time fan of Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the news that he is reprising his role yet again. Having grown up watching X-Men films, I have fond memories of Jackman’s performance as Logan, and I must admit that I was initially concerned when I heard about his age. However, after reflecting on my own life experiences, I realized that nobody’s perfect, not even Hugh Jackman.

Wolverine Co-Creator Roy Thomas on His ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Credit: “My Name Should Have Come First”

2024-07-31 03:26

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