The Adventures of Captain Otter

Wolverine was the only superhero to have a movie this summer, and he did a decent job of carrying the torch.  And after making 70 million dollars in a single weekend, Fox decided he’s far from done.  A sequel was quickly greenlit, and we can expect more from Wolvy in the near future.  Hugh Jackman has frequently talked about setting the sequel in Japan, although nothing solid on the script was ever given.  Until now that is.  At some kind of teen choice award thingee, Jackman confirmed that Wolverine will be going to Japan.  I can only assume he’s going there because killing ninjas sounds like a great challenge.  Jackman has always talked about how much he loved the Japan storyline, and the idea of such an unruly berzerker living alongside all these strict samurai.  It sounds a bit like the Odd Couple (or just about any sitcom), but because it has Wolverine and samurai is also sounds completely awesome.

The big question is who the villain will be.  Sadly I havn’t read the actual storyline, which is supposed to be a classic.  I know it involved Wolverine falling in love with a woman and learning martial arts.  It is possible that they could tell a good story without having a superpowered villain of some kind.  Ninjas alone make great enemies, and I think Fox might own the rights to the Hand after all that Elektra nonsense.  Still, I can’t imagine them not using some kind of epic battle.  Wolverine has a respectable rogues gallery, and we might see someone like the Silver Samurai pop up.  I have a special fondness for Omega Red, with all those crazy tentacles, but I don’t know how to make him fit into the Japan storyline.  He’s a product of Russian experimentation, which would be tricky to include.  If they want to include the ninja army of the Hand, the Gorgon might make a fun enemy.  After reading Secret Warriors I’ve started to like this guy, who is a downright ruthless monster.

And will we be seeing Sabertooth again?  Wolverine’s archnemesis just never seems to go away, and won’t let him be alone.  That being said, after the first movie I think it would make more sense if he took a break.  Even though Liev Schriber did an amazing job, I don’t think he would be right for the story.  What else can they have him do?  They explored the love/hate relationship between the two, and after Sabertooth saved Wolverine I think they should end it on that note.  We’ve seen the length Sabertooth will go to in order to save his brother, and also that he’s willing to lend him a hand.  By bringing him back to cause more carnage, I think they just recover past ground.  And when Sabertooth comes back, how do they deal with the amnesia?  I think it would be too difficult and confusing to work out.  I guess Wolverine will just have to settle for fighting ninjas.  Poor Logan…