"Jeremiah Johnson,"
the 1972 film starring Robert Redford, is based on a real-life story of a fightin’
man (1824–1900) who lived alone as a trapper in the Rocky Mountains. The Marvel
comic character Wolverine (Logan or James Howlett) has also been a solitary
mountain man associated with the Rockies before and even during his time as a
superhero. In fact, there are several interesting parallels between the two
characters that I will list here. Given the number of similarities, I found it
strange that there does not seem to be any mention of this on the internet.
When I asked ChatGPT to
search the internet for a connection between these two characters, it replied,
"There is no evidence that "Jeremiah Johnson" specifically
influenced the creation of Wolverine." However, after I started giving it
evidence that I noticed, it changed its wording and decided that the movie may
have had an "indirect influence" or there may have been "shared
inspiration." After brainstorming a little more and sharing my
observations with ChatGPT, it admitted that the two characters share a "rich
tapestry of similarities."
I want to know what you think. Please check out the list below and note your take on this in the comments.
Also, here’s a full video on YouTube that I did about the topic:
https://youtu.be/-WBSN0_ZJIg?si=_gO3yMiS4lN1CeiA
1. Timing in the Early 1970s: The movie, "Jeremiah Johnson" was released in 1972, and
Wolverine made his first appearance in 1974. This two-year difference suggests
that the film could have been fresh in the minds of Wolverine's creators.
2. Historical Setting and Archetype: Both characters are born in the 1800s and embody the
rugged mountain man archetype, thriving in the harsh, untamed environment of
the Rockies. Although neither was known to tend cattle, both dress and behave similar
to the paradigmatic cowboy of the old west.
3. Constant Hard Times:
Both are tragic characters who endure significant physical and mental
hardships, misfortunes, and tragedies. This theme of survival against the odds
and never getting a break is a recurring narrative element for both. Both
characters endure trauma and torment, demonstrating remarkable resilience
despite persistent bad luck.
4. Life in the Wilderness:
Both characters find themselves drawn to rugged, natural frontier. Particularly
snowy, mountainous, wooded areas of the northwestern portion of the North
American continent (Wolverine was born in Alberta). They were also both
trappers who caught their own food and collected pelts.
5. Escaping Violence:
In the movie, you get a strong sense that Jeremiah's army service in the
Mexican-American War exposed him to things that made him want to get away from
people and become a mountain man. The nonfictional man the movie is based on
deserted the army after striking an officer and decided to live solitarily. Similarly,
Wolverine accidentally killed his childhood companion, Rose, while fighting and
subsequently decided to live outdoors with Canadian wolves. So, both men chose
solitude after violence as almost a self-inflicted punishment.
6. Loners and Solitary Men:
Both are complex characters who prefer to live alone and be left alone. They
find solace and identity in the remote natural world, away from civilization,
in a solitary lifestyle. Interestingly, wolverines are solitary and territorial
animals.
7. Marriage to an Indigenous Woman: Jeremiah Johnson marries an indigenous woman. This
narrative arc is similar to Wolverine's story involving his native American girlfriend,
Silver Fox. They are both completely romantically committed to these women and
create a life of subsistence hunting and gathering in the wilderness with them.
They also build and live in a log cabin with these women.
8. Murder of Their Partners:
Both men's native American partners are horrifically and bloodily murdered
inside their log cabin while they were away. Wolverine's partner is killed by
his archenemy Sabertooth, whereas Jeremiah’s wife is killed by a group of
Indians after he travels through their sacred hunting ground. This becomes a
pivotal moment in both men's lives.
9. Good People Turned Violent: Both characters have a fundamentally good nature but
were driven to violence by the same traumatic event. The murder of their significant
others set them on a path of revenge and retribution. In Wolverine’s case, it
created a multidecade feud with his nemesis Sabertooth. In Jeremiah’s case it
created a vendetta against the Crow tribe.
10. Antiheroes: Both men
adhere to a firm code of personal honor and help many people selflessly. However,
they have also murdered many men and made morally ambiguous choices in pursuing
vigilante justice. Thus, both men are antiheroes because they stray from the
conventional heroic paradigm.
11. Exceptional Combat Skills and Berserk Rage: Jeremiah Johnson and Wolverine are formidable fighters
who take on multiple opponents simultaneously. Wolverine frequently enters a
near-berserk state while battling groups of men. Interestingly, Jeremiah also
does this in his movie engaging multiple men at once in a fury. This quality
makes them both fierce, fearsome, animalistic figures, capable of great
violence when pushed.
12. Use of Blades: As
you may know, Wolverine has three razor-sharp retractable adamantium claws
housed in each arm that he uses in close combat. Similarly, Jeremiah Johnson’s
weapon of choice was a large knife that he carried at his waist, which he
stabbed several men with. He also claimed to be excellent at skinning animals
and said he could skin grizzly bears as fast as his mentor could find them.
This somewhat echoes Wolverine’s skill with his claws.
13. Healing Serious Injuries: We see Jeremiah Johnson get injured several times in the movie,
including being mauled by wolves, shot, stabbed, and impaled by a spear on
different occasions. In the following scenes, he appears completely healed and
carries no injuries. This ability to survive severe injuries with minimal
long-term consequences mirrors Wolverine's iconic healing factor, his
superpower.
14. Interactions with the Blackfoot Tribe: Both characters have significant interactions with the
Blackfoot Indian tribe. Members of the Blackfoot notably ambush Jeremiah
Johnson and Wolverine's wife was Blackfoot.
15. Encounters with Wolves and Bears: Both characters have memorable, close quarters
encounters with dangerous wildlife, most notably bears and wolves. This
emphasizes their bestial nature, survival skills, and deep connection to the
wilderness.
16. Men of Little Words:
Reticent, taciturn, and abrupt, both characters tend to keep their thoughts to
themselves. They allow others to talk but often say as little as necessary.
17. Speaking Style: Both
characters speak in an old-fashioned, western way and use some of the same
idioms. Wolverine has a distinctive language and speaking style characterized
by his rough and often terse manner. He frequently uses short, clipped
sentences, contractions, and has a penchant for bluntness and
straightforwardness. His speech often includes a mix of slang and informal
language, reflecting his rugged personality and hardened, no-nonsense approach
to life. The same goes for Jeremiah.
18. Gruff and Surly:
Their personalities are strikingly similar, characterized by rough-edged individualism
and a gruff exterior. They are both upstanding and friendly underneath but tend
to act curmudgeonly and distant. These traits often make them seem
unapproachable but also add to their mystique.
19. Strong-Minded and Capable: Both Jeremiah Johnson and Wolverine are mentally tough,
self-confident, and highly experienced, able to handle whatever challenges come
their way. They demonstrate olden-day American determination and spirit.
It is worth mentioning that despite being
unsociable, Jeremiah Johnson is mentored by an old man (Chris Lapp) and this is
akin to how Wolverine is mentored by professor Charles Xavier.
20. Appearance and Stature:
They are both middle-aged white men. Neither character is particularly tall,
contrasting with the traditional image of towering heroes like John Wayne and
Rock Hudson (although the real Jeremiah Johnson was 6’2”). This makes them more
relatable and unique. Robert Redford is 5'9", and Wolverine is 5'3"
to 5’5”. They both also sport unkempt facial hair and maintain the hair on
their head around the same length. Jeremiah
Johnson smoked tobacco once in the movie and Wolverine smokes regularly, mostly
cigars.
21. Manner of Dress: Through most of the movie,
Jeremiah Johnson wears a yellowish shirt and light blue pants. He is also
wearing yellow, blue, and black on the movie poster. These were clothes he obtained
during his involvement in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). In that war,
the American Forces generally wore blue wool coats with lighter blue trousers
and gold braids and insignias. Of course, Wolverine’s most recognizable costume
is blue and yellow. Alternatively, both men are frequently seen in a tan cowboy
hat and a reddish-brown coat or poncho. It is also true that the straps that
usually cross Jeremiah’s chest form an “X” like the symbol that Wolverine
wears.
22. Heading for Canada:
At the end of the movie, Jeremiah Johnson states that he has decided to head
for Canada, which aligns with Wolverine's Canadian origin and nationality,
which is an interesting coincidence. Jeremiah wanted to head there because, as
he said, “I’ve heard there’s land there a man has never seen,” demonstrating
his wish to be a lone, trailblazing pioneer.
23. Weight in Wolverines:
While fighting, Jeremiah Johnson's ally (Del Gue) pronounces his fighting
prowess by comparing it to that of a wolverine. He says, " I can whip my weight in wolverines." This line could
have planted a seed or contributed to the cultural milieu that influenced the
creation of Wolverine. Comic creators tend to look for fun, exciting,
powerful, or relatable plot devices, and this movie may have linked wolverines
to a fierce primal power in many people's minds at that time.
These parallels highlight the
thematic and narrative similarities between the two characters. The convergence
of these elements—reluctant violence, interactions with Indigenous cultures,
heroes overcoming immense personal tragedies in the wilderness, and their
resulting solitary, rugged lifestyles—suggests that the archetype embodied by
Jeremiah Johnson may have influenced the creation or development of Wolverine,
whether directly or indirectly. These cultural cross-pollinations are common in
creative works, where elements from various sources blend together to form new
characters and stories. However, the influences on Wolverine likely came from a
mixture of literary, cultural, and comic book sources just as they do for other
characters.
The Batman character was
influenced by a number of wealthy protagonists that led a double life fighting
crime such as Zorro, the Shadow, and the Scarlet Pimpernel. He was also
affected by the dark Gothic elements of Dracula (such as the cape and cowl) and
the detective skills of Sherlock Holmes. The creation of Superman was
influenced by exotic or alien characters with great strength, such as John
Carter of Mars, Doc Savage, and biblical figures like Sampson. Spider-Man was
influenced by characters like the Spider who wore a spider-themed outfit and
the Fly who had insect-like abilities. Wonder Woman was influenced by Greek
mythology and characters like Rosie the Riveter who was the embodiment of
strong women during World War II. The Hulk was inspired by the dual identity of
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as well as Frankenstein, a misunderstood creature with
immense strength. Iron Man seems to have been influenced by inventor and
industrialist Howard Hughes as well as James Bond. In many of these cases, the
creators divulged their inspirational sources.
There does not seem to be direct evidence in the form of creator interviews or documentation linking "Jeremiah Johnson" to Wolverine. Several people created the Wolverine we know today over decades. This includes Roy Thomas, Len Wein, John Romita Sr., Chris Claremont, Dave Cochran, John Byrne, and Frank Miller. To provide more detail, Marvel comics editor-in-chief Roy Thomas asked writer Len Wein to design a character specifically named Wolverine, who was a Canadian of small stature with a wolverine's fierce temper. John Romita Sr. designed the first costume and introduced the retractable claws. Chris Claremont (who created Silver Fox in 1989) and others flushed out the hero's backstory. Interestingly, Chris Claremont has said that his biggest inspirations for Wolverine came from Conan and the Hulk. Even if not directly acknowledged, it's plausible that the film, Jeremiah Johnson’s, portrayal of a rugged, solitary, morally complex man surviving in the wilderness resonated with Wolverine’s originators and contributed to the shaping of the character.
So, clearly, it’s not the case that this one movie heavily influenced a single creator. However, whether intentional or coincidental, conscious or unconscious, the parallels between Jeremiah Johnson and Wolverine are indeed striking and, if you will allow me to say, “uncanny.”
If you
are a Wolverine fan and have not seen the movie, I definitely recommend
watching it, especially given that 2024 is the 50-year anniversary of Wolverine’s
comic book debut.
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