The fans at the Bendis Board are wondering it’s time to finally admit that short, hairy Canadians can have their day:
“Is Wolverine iconic yet? I define ‘Iconic’ to mean several things. But in this case I mean, can the general public identify them by sight? Can they describe their powers and idea accurately in one or two sentences? Then the character in question is iconic… [I]n the eyes of the general public, does Wolverine stand with Spidey, Cap, and the Hulk yet? Is he an Icon? I’m thinking he is.”
Considering his appearance in three blockbuster movies, as well as cartoons and all manner of merchandise, it’s a surprising question if only because it seemed such an obvious yes. But not everyone agrees:
“Right now I basically consider the mainstream comic icons to be those my parents and older generations can instantly recognize as easily as youthier groups. Those would be: Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and the Hulk. Flash and Aquaman are definitely in there more than anyone else, but probably aren’t as much so as the first list. Wolverine will without a doubt be on that first list in a few generations. Older generations don’t know him as well, and I don’t think they ever will, just because they’re old and they suck. But, they’re gonna die, sooner than the rest of us. With younger groups Wolverine is as recognizable as any other comic character, period.”
(Youthier?)
“DC supporting characters like Lois Lane, Alfred, and possibly even Jimmy Olsen are more iconic than anyone from Marvel except for possibly Spider-Man and maybe the Hulk. Wolverine will probably never quite read that stage. Because he isn’t even really ‘iconic’ in any way.”
“‘Iconic’ and ‘popular’ seem like two different things in my head. Might be just me, though.”
March 24th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
If there are more people wearing tattoos of a character than regularly reading his books, then he counts as iconic. The mask the same shape as the hair, the claws, those are the standout identifiers. Shame about the yellow and the blue… makes him look like a tart.
March 24th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
He’s iconic, period. 3 X-Men movies, a solo one coming up. Countless cartoons, commercialized merchandise. To deny him of his place in pop culture is to bury one’s head in the sand.
March 24th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I think the point about the older generations is a good one. Almost everyone my age is likely to know who he is. I can pretty much guarantee that at least one of my older sisters doesn’t, though. I’d be amazed if either of my parents knew, though they both know who Jimmy Olsen is.
The upcoming movie has the name “Wolverine” in the title. The commercials for that will probably make it so that even people who don’t see the movie will know the name. That’s an important thing, there are plenty of people who’ve never read a Stephen King book or seen one of his movies, but they know who he is and what he does.
I think Wolverine will reach the same status as Wonder Woman, Hulk, and such when the second round of movies hits. Long after Hugh Jackman, 20 or so years from now when someone decides to revive the franchise with a new cast. Then people who never read comics will see him as a character who has stuck around for a long time.
March 24th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Despite Wolverine’s iconic status in comics culture, I think it’s still a long way off before he becomes iconic to the general public. If we go for the definition of “iconic,” Wolverine has to be an icon for something, a concept, that is idealized.
Superman is about “Truth Justice and the American Way.” Superman owns that concept.
Wonder Woman became identified with strong female representation in a patriarchal world. No other superheroine can claim this.
Batman is identified with “dark justice.”
If the Wolverine solo movie hits on both critical and commercial fronts and is reinforced by successful sequels, then Wolvie can achieve true iconic status…worldwide!!
March 24th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I think Captain America should have been on your list. The older gen would know him.
March 25th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Agreed, Hatcher. How on earth does Captain America not make this list? I would say he’s more iconic than The Hulk, despite Hulk’s old tv series.
March 25th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Nah, he’s not iconic. Crazy popular, but not iconic. The Comics Creator has the right idea — to be iconic, the character needs to embody an idea. Lois Lane (“superhero girlfriend”) and Perry White/J.Jonah Jameson (“superhero’s secret I.D. boss”) are more iconic than Wolverine.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I don’t think at the moment that Wolverine is iconic at the moment.
It’ll tell me how iconic he is later on when he’s not at the forefront of movies and TV shows and people still remember who he is and all about him.