5 Wolverine Rip-Offs Who Became Beloved Characters In Their Own Right

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Since first appearing in 1974’s The Incredible Hulk #181, Wolverine has become a hugely popular superhero. Fans love the character, often called the “Canucklehead,” and he’s been featured in countless comic books – from team-ups and ongoing series to limited runs and standalone issues. He’s fought alongside and against many of the most iconic heroes and villains, appearing in all sorts of crossovers, even venturing into alternate universes. Logan is so prevalent in comics that some readers complain about seeing him in everything!

Despite this, many imitations of the character have appeared. Several publishers have copied elements of the clawed mutant, and even Marvel has created similar characters themselves. However, five of these imitations have become popular successes in their own right.

5) Omega Red

I’ve always thought Omega Red was Wolverine’s most dangerous enemy, even more so than Sabretooth. A lot of fans jump to Victor Creed, but Red feels like a direct copy of Logan. They have so much in common – both were mutant experiments, and those experiences shaped their whole lives. They both ended up with nearly unbreakable metal bonded to their skeletons, and were used as pawns by the people who created them. Plus, they’re both incredibly skilled, hardened fighters – relics of the Cold War still trying to force their visions onto the world. They’ve even given Arkady, Omega Red, a similar story arc about trying to make amends. Honestly, Omega Red has always been like a dark mirror of Wolverine, and it’s become more obvious over the years.

4) Laura Kinney/Wolverine II

Over the years, Marvel has introduced many different versions of Wolverine, trying to capture what fans loved about the original character. In the early 2000s, they decided to create a completely new take for the 21st century: Laura Kinney. She began as a secretive and fierce young woman, engineered to be a living weapon. Her story focused on her grappling with her past, discovering her family, and learning to manage the powerful, animalistic side she was created with. Interestingly, Laura’s journey mirrors Wolverine’s own beginnings. She’s ultimately proven herself worthy of the Wolverine name, completing her character arc and becoming a hero comparable to the one she considers her father.

3) Daken

Building on the success of Laura Kinney as a new Wolverine, Marvel revisited the idea in the 2000s, this time creating a villainous counterpart named Daken. Akihiro, the son of Wolverine (Logan) and his late wife Itsu, was raised by Logan’s enemy, Romulus, to be a weapon against his own father. He was trained as an assassin by many influential people. For years, Daken acted as an evil version of Wolverine, struggling with his troubled past – including a complicated relationship with his father. This offered a unique twist on the familiar formula, and while Daken eventually became a hero, his path was far more complex than those of Logan or Laura.

2) Ripclaw

As a huge comic book and movie fan, I always remember Marc Silvestri’s work on Wolverine – he really helped define the character’s look in both Uncanny X-Men and the second volume of Wolverine. That success let him co-found Image Comics, and he created CyberForce. Now, CyberForce definitely wore its influences on its sleeve – it felt like a team inspired by the X-Men, and Ripclaw was their answer to Wolverine: a fierce, clawed fighter. Interestingly, Ripclaw, a Native American warrior, actually became pretty popular in the ’90s and even got his own series! While he’s not the biggest name now, Ripclaw remains one of Silvestri’s most well-known creations and definitely had a good run.

1) Lobo

I’ve always been a huge fan of Keith Giffen, he was a true talent. He really hit his stride with Legion of Superheroes, and became a defining voice for DC after the Crisis. What I loved about his work was his amazing sense of humor – he wasn’t afraid to poke fun at superhero tropes. Take Lobo, for example. Seeing Wolverine become so popular, Giffen created Lobo as a playful jab at that whole archetype. Lobo took everything people loved about Wolverine – the tough, solitary guy who loves a fight and a smoke – and turned it up to eleven. It went way beyond just parody, and somehow, Lobo became incredibly popular himself! It’s so exciting to hear he’s finally getting a movie in 2026, and Jason Momoa is absolutely perfect for the role.

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2025-12-17 22:12