Dog Logan
Encyclopedia
Dog Logan is a fictional character
from Marvel Comics
that appeared in the limited series Origin
(co-written by Bill Jemas
, Paul Jenkins
and Joe Quesada
, drawn by Andy Kubert
). The series explored the early years and background of Wolverine
, and was published from November, 2001 to July, 2002.
Dog Logan is a servant on the Howlett estate in the late 19th century, located in Alberta
, Canada
. His father, Thomas Logan
, also works as groundskeeper of the Howlett estate. As an adolescent, Dog is the playmate of James Howlett
, a sickly boy and the family's youngest son, and Rose, an orphan brought to the estate to look after James. The three children are good friends, and at one point, Dog saves James from drowning in a river. However, Thomas, an abusive alcoholic, frequently beats Dog and berates him for spending time with members of the upper class. Eventually, Thomas' abusive treatment of Dog causes Dog to behave in abusive and sadistic ways.
As a young teenager, Dog is cruel, sadistic, and brash, going so far as to make unwanted sexual advances toward Rose. James, witnessing and foiling a later attempt by Dog to assault Rose sexually, reports the incident to his father. In retaliation, Dog kills James's dog, resulting in Dog and Thomas's expulsion from the estate. Enraged, Thomas returns to the Howlett estate later that night with Dog and forces his way into the room of Elizabeth—James's mother and a mentally disturbed recluse. Thomas tells Elizabeth that he was leaving and that he plans to take her with him. Thomas and Dog, however, are soon discovered by John Howlett, Jr. as he comes into the bedroom. The two men quickly engage in a heated verbal exchange that culminates with Thomas shooting John Howlett in the head with the shotgun he's carrying. Just when Thomas pulls the trigger, James walks into the room and witnesses his father's death. The trauma of the event triggers James's mutant powers, particularly his bone claws, and he uses them against Thomas and Dog, resulting in Thomas's death and Dog being slashed severely across his face, leaving three large scars. Elizabeth loses her fragile hold on her sanity and screams insults at James, who runs crying from the room and house with Rose pursuing him. Elizabeth kills herself in front of Dog moments later using Thomas's gun. As the only survivor left at the scene when the police arrived, Dog reports that Rose is responsible.
Years later, Dog is hired by James's dying grandfather, John Howlett, Sr. to track James. Dog accepted, but with the intention of killing James rather than return him to his grandfather. Now fully grown, Dog is large and powerfully built with lightly colored hair.
He eventually tracks James to the mining town where he and Rose have been staying since they ran from the Howlett estate. Dog spends some time in the town, learning James's habits and watches as James and Smitty, the foreman of the camp and James's close friend, in a cage fight. James, despite being enraged over Smitty's relationship with Rose, allows Smitty to win the fight. After the fight, Dog suddenly attacks James. During the fight, Dog claims that he is responsible for John Howlett's death, even though Dog's father Thomas is actually the one responsible. James manages to defeat Dog and extracts his bone claws, preparing to kill him. However, Rose suddenly arrives. As James prepares to strike, Rose runs into his claws and is fatally wounded. Grief stricken, James runs from the camp and into the forest, leaving Dog behind.
Later, in the Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine mini series, Dog encounters Spider-Man, who had been travelling through time. Dog enters a mine containing the glowing diamonds responsible for Spider-Man's time travel. The diamonds send him to the present day.
, the question of Dog being Sabretooth
is brought up. Jenkins responded by saying "Who knows? In my mind, Dog is not intended to be Sabretooth, but he could be. It doesn’t matter. As long as the next writer respects the character and writes a simple story, anything could happen."
In April 2009, Marvel Comics
released a one-shot specialty comic entitled X-Men Origins: Sabretooth which was part of a series of origin stories for a number of other X-Men characters. The comic chronicled some of Sabretooth's earliest childhood experiences. Within the comic, it's revealed that Sabretooth's childhood and early life, with the exception of being in an abusive family, differs distinctly from the life of Dog Logan as shown in the Origin mini-series.
, aspects of the "Dog Logan" character are attached to Sabretooth
. These include him and Wolverine
having the same father
and the pair having been friends before the fraternal link was revealed.
In the video game X-Men Origins: Wolverine
, a trivia caption on the loading screens says Sabretooth's nickname as a boy was "Dog".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
that appeared in the limited series Origin
Origin (comics)
Origin is a six-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics from November 2001 to March 2002, written by Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada and Paul Jenkins, and illustrated by Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove ....
(co-written by Bill Jemas
Bill Jemas
Bill Jemas is an American media entrepreneur, writer and editor. He is a former vice president of Marvel Comics, and a founding partner at 360ep, a media management firm.-Early life:...
, Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins (writer)
Paul Jenkins is a British comic book writer and Gary Gygax's stepson. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.-Life and career:Paul Jenkins...
and Joe Quesada
Joe Quesada
Joseph "Joe" Quesada is an American comic book editor, writer and artist. He became known in the 1990s for his work on various Valiant Comics books, such as Ninjak and Solar, Man of the Atom...
, drawn by Andy Kubert
Andy Kubert
Andrew "Andy" Kubert is an American comic book artist, son of Joe Kubert, and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists...
). The series explored the early years and background of Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, and was published from November, 2001 to July, 2002.
Fictional character biography
Dog Logan is a servant on the Howlett estate in the late 19th century, located in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His father, Thomas Logan
Thomas Logan
Thomas Logan is a fictional character of Marvel Comics. He was created by Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada, and Paul Jenkins. He was featured in the limited series Origin, which detailed the formative years of Wolverine of the X-Men and was published from November, 2001 to July, 2002.-Character...
, also works as groundskeeper of the Howlett estate. As an adolescent, Dog is the playmate of James Howlett
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, a sickly boy and the family's youngest son, and Rose, an orphan brought to the estate to look after James. The three children are good friends, and at one point, Dog saves James from drowning in a river. However, Thomas, an abusive alcoholic, frequently beats Dog and berates him for spending time with members of the upper class. Eventually, Thomas' abusive treatment of Dog causes Dog to behave in abusive and sadistic ways.
As a young teenager, Dog is cruel, sadistic, and brash, going so far as to make unwanted sexual advances toward Rose. James, witnessing and foiling a later attempt by Dog to assault Rose sexually, reports the incident to his father. In retaliation, Dog kills James's dog, resulting in Dog and Thomas's expulsion from the estate. Enraged, Thomas returns to the Howlett estate later that night with Dog and forces his way into the room of Elizabeth—James's mother and a mentally disturbed recluse. Thomas tells Elizabeth that he was leaving and that he plans to take her with him. Thomas and Dog, however, are soon discovered by John Howlett, Jr. as he comes into the bedroom. The two men quickly engage in a heated verbal exchange that culminates with Thomas shooting John Howlett in the head with the shotgun he's carrying. Just when Thomas pulls the trigger, James walks into the room and witnesses his father's death. The trauma of the event triggers James's mutant powers, particularly his bone claws, and he uses them against Thomas and Dog, resulting in Thomas's death and Dog being slashed severely across his face, leaving three large scars. Elizabeth loses her fragile hold on her sanity and screams insults at James, who runs crying from the room and house with Rose pursuing him. Elizabeth kills herself in front of Dog moments later using Thomas's gun. As the only survivor left at the scene when the police arrived, Dog reports that Rose is responsible.
Years later, Dog is hired by James's dying grandfather, John Howlett, Sr. to track James. Dog accepted, but with the intention of killing James rather than return him to his grandfather. Now fully grown, Dog is large and powerfully built with lightly colored hair.
He eventually tracks James to the mining town where he and Rose have been staying since they ran from the Howlett estate. Dog spends some time in the town, learning James's habits and watches as James and Smitty, the foreman of the camp and James's close friend, in a cage fight. James, despite being enraged over Smitty's relationship with Rose, allows Smitty to win the fight. After the fight, Dog suddenly attacks James. During the fight, Dog claims that he is responsible for John Howlett's death, even though Dog's father Thomas is actually the one responsible. James manages to defeat Dog and extracts his bone claws, preparing to kill him. However, Rose suddenly arrives. As James prepares to strike, Rose runs into his claws and is fatally wounded. Grief stricken, James runs from the camp and into the forest, leaving Dog behind.
Later, in the Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine mini series, Dog encounters Spider-Man, who had been travelling through time. Dog enters a mine containing the glowing diamonds responsible for Spider-Man's time travel. The diamonds send him to the present day.
Sabretooth connection
In an interview with writer Paul JenkinsPaul Jenkins (writer)
Paul Jenkins is a British comic book writer and Gary Gygax's stepson. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.-Life and career:Paul Jenkins...
, the question of Dog being Sabretooth
Sabretooth (comics)
Sabretooth is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne. The character first appeared in Iron Fist #14...
is brought up. Jenkins responded by saying "Who knows? In my mind, Dog is not intended to be Sabretooth, but he could be. It doesn’t matter. As long as the next writer respects the character and writes a simple story, anything could happen."
In April 2009, Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
released a one-shot specialty comic entitled X-Men Origins: Sabretooth which was part of a series of origin stories for a number of other X-Men characters. The comic chronicled some of Sabretooth's earliest childhood experiences. Within the comic, it's revealed that Sabretooth's childhood and early life, with the exception of being in an abusive family, differs distinctly from the life of Dog Logan as shown in the Origin mini-series.
Powers and abilities
Much about Dog remains unrevealed, due to so few appearances. Dog is tall and powerfully built and demonstrates impressive tracking abilities, though it remains unrevealed precisely how he locates James and Rose. Dog also shows himself to be a formidable combatant during his fight with James. Later in the series, Dog had leaf shaped ears, fangs, and his fingernails resembled claws.What If
What if Wolverine was Public Enemy No. 1 posits that after the events of Wolverine: Origin, Dog moved to Chicago where he became a crime lord known as Scarface, and had Logan's wife and son killed, prompting him to become the Punisher in the 1920s.Other media
In the feature film X-Men Origins: WolverineX-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a 2009 American action film based on the Marvel Comics' fictional character Wolverine. The fourth installment in the X-Men film series, it was released worldwide on May 1, 2009...
, aspects of the "Dog Logan" character are attached to Sabretooth
Sabretooth (comics)
Sabretooth is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne. The character first appeared in Iron Fist #14...
. These include him and Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
having the same father
Thomas Logan
Thomas Logan is a fictional character of Marvel Comics. He was created by Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada, and Paul Jenkins. He was featured in the limited series Origin, which detailed the formative years of Wolverine of the X-Men and was published from November, 2001 to July, 2002.-Character...
and the pair having been friends before the fraternal link was revealed.
In the video game X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (video game)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a 2009 action-adventure game loosely based on the film of the same name. The game release coincided with the release of the film on May 1, 2009 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Wii, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable. The game was developed...
, a trivia caption on the loading screens says Sabretooth's nickname as a boy was "Dog".
External links
- Dog bio from the Appendix to the Marvel Universe