9 Reasons You Don’t Want Wolverine’s Powers 

Wolverine is one of the most popular superheroes ever created. Hugh Jackman made the character a household name with his portrayal in the Fox-era X-Men films and 2024’s Deadpool and Wolverine. Who didn’t dream of having Wolverine’s powers as a kid? However, would you really want them?

Having Wolverine’s powers would literally be a curse.

Wolverine’s Powers

Wolverine’s real mutant powers are his healing factor, enhanced reflexes, stamina, and senses. His retractable adamantium claws and indestructible adamantium skeleton are by-product effects of his healing factor. He was only able to survive the process of adamantium being surgically bonded to his skeleton due to his healing factor.

When you really think about it, Wolverine has some hellish powers. For example, he is constantly stabbing himself when he uses his powers. His healing factor turbo-charges his metabolism, so he should never be able to become drunk. Furthermore, his adamantium skeleton should make him weigh hundreds of pounds.

Here are nine reasons you don’t want Wolverine’s powers.

1. Always Feels Pain

Wolverine’s powers don’t prevent him from feeling pain. His healing factor accelerates his body’s healing process whenever he suffers an injury. Still, Wolverine feels the pain of every injury he has ever endured. Imagine always being able to recall the mental trauma of every stabbing, shooting, and violent physical trauma you have ever endured.

2. PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental disorder where sufferers develop a myriad of psychological and mental issues after surviving a traumatic experience. Someone with PTSD can experience depression, catatonia, insomnia, waking or sleeping flashbacks, and a number of other issues.

Wolverine’s powers don’t protect him from psychological disorders. The character is known for having serious psychological disorders, especially his “Berserker Rage.” This is a mental blackout where Wolverine loses himself in a haze of anger and all he wants to do is kill or maim people. 

Wolverine must deal with psychological trauma and damage for as long as he lives and whenever he uses his powers. His powers are based on enduring and inflicting violence consistently.

3. Constant Internal Stabbing

Due to his healing factor, Wolverine heals from any injury. However, Wolverine’s powers also mean that he feels incredible pain whenever he uses them. Think about it; Logan’s claws are embedded within the flesh of his forearms, right? When he pops his claws, the claws stab and cut through the flesh of his palms and between his knuckles.

He has now created claw-shaped cavities within his forearms that heal rapidly. So, whenever Logan retracts his claws, he stabs himself internally and slices through the flesh of his forearms to make room again for the claws.

Wolverine stabs himself and internally slices his flesh, whether he pops or retracts his claws.

4. Immortality

Logan made his debut in The Incredible Hulk #180 in 1974 in a cameo appearance in one panel. He then made his full appearance in The Incredible Hulk #181. Logan did not have a full origin story for decades, a characteristic that made the character mysterious and appealing.

In 2002, the comic Origin revealed Logan’s full origin story. Logan’s real name is James Howlett. He was born sometime in the 19th century to rich Canadian landowners. Logan might be 200 years old. (It was also in this story that Logan was retconned to have organic bone claws.)

While Wolverine might not live forever, he has the ability to outlive the lifespan of a human. So, Wolverine will outlive every human and mutant he knows who does not have similar powers of immortality.

Wolverine: Old Man Logan is a 224-page paperback that collects the full 2009 storyline. In an alternate reality, Logan has been living in exile for 50 years in a dystopian world. The X-Men and most of the world’s heroes are long dead. A blind and elderly Hawkeye enlists Old Man Logan on a mission to save his family. Buy it now for $18 at Amazon.

5. Wolverine Must Align His Forearms Before Popping Claws

Logan must align his forearms and fists in a straight line before popping his claws. It is not a given that his claws will always pop out between his knuckles. Logan must concentrate so that his claws pop out correctly.

Otherwise, his claws could pop out from his wrists either under or above his palms. 

6. Can Never Get Drunk

Wolverine’s powers of accelerated healing mean that his metabolism works very fast. While Logan can technically get drunk, he can only stay drunk for a short period of time. The moment he becomes drunk, his healing factor and metabolism make him sober up quickly.

So, Logan must drink constantly to stay drunk and stay ahead of his metabolism. Logan technically has to drink for hours to stay drunk. However, we are talking about an imaginary being from the comics. Being a drunk is a part of his characterization in the comics.

In the real world, Wolverine would never be able to get drunk.

If his body can heal from bullet wounds, burns, and stabbings within mere moments, then it should metabolize alcohol even faster. If Logan’s healing factor were real, then he should never be able to become drunk.

7. His Adamantium Skeleton Makes Him Heavy

Wolverine’s powers of healing acceleration are why he survived the surgery that bonded adamantium to his skeleton. His healing factor is also what probably keeps his body from rejecting the adamantium. Still, that much adamantium in his body should make Logan weigh hundreds of pounds, if not more.

In the comic books, adamantium is a lightweight, indestructible alloy. However, in the real world, such an alloy or metal would probably be very heavy. Logan should weigh hundreds of pounds, if not half a ton, with the amount of a durable metal required to cover his entire skeleton. 

8. Constant Olfactory Tracking

Wolverine’s powers include the ability to track people with his nose like a dog or wolf. However, Logan probably would not be able to turn off this ability. Imagine having the ability to smell people, decomposing animals, and rotting garbage in every direction at all times. The ability to smell everything at all times with extreme discernment should drive Logan crazy.

9. Failing Healing Factor

The main plot point of 2017’s Logan is that as Wolverine ages, his healing factor weakens. The very adamantium that bonds his skeleton and comprises his claws would begin to poison him in old age. As his healing factor fades, Logan might begin to age rapidly and aesthetically resemble his 200+ real age. Or, his 200+ year-old organs might begin failing. 

Logan’s true mutant power is his healing factor and enhanced senses. If his healing factor ever fades, then he might suffer a slow and agonizing death.

You Don’t Want Wolverine’s Powers – Read The Comics Instead

Wolverine is the coolest comic book character out there. The character is 50 years old and still as relevant as ever. However, think about how hellish his powers would be in real life before you wish for real-life adamantium claws.

While you may have the sense to not wish for these powers, some do not. In 2014, a 15-year-old boy injected mercury under his skin to become Wolverine. Luckily, the boy did not inject the mercury directly into his flesh or into a vein. Doctors were able to remove the toxic mercury, and the child survived.

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