Marvel’s Deadpool and Wolverine will mark the first appearance of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is also the first time this unlikely duo will appear on screen together and Wolverine will appear in a costume resembling his classic blue and yellow striped look from Marvel Comics. In addition, the film marks the first time Wolverine appears in the guise of his famous nickname Patch. The film promises to provide an in-depth exploration of Wolverine’s iconic alter-ego.
Patch, another form of Wolverine
Wolverine, better known as Logan, is a member of the X-Men who first adopted the alias Patch in 1988. He helps Jessica Drew’s best friend Lindsay McCabe when Drew is possessed by Black Blade. Wolverine uses this alias to maintain a low profile and steals Nick Fury’s gimmick by wearing a cool eyepatch, hence his nickname. However, in this story, Wolverine does not wear the same cute threads as Deadpool and Wolverine. The events of the story take place in Madripoor, where Wolverine maintains a low profile to avoid detection.
In Save the Tiger, Wolverine debuted the iconic Patch alias in Marvel Comics Presents #10, donning a James Bond-esque suit and white jacket. The story details Wolverine’s activities in the crime-ridden city of Madripoor, south of Singapore. The city is a virtual “human jungle” where anything goes and everything can be purchased. Wolverine uses the alias to operate more freely in the City of Thieves, roaming the lawless and crime-ridden landscape.
Wolverine helped the X-Men stay anonymous and secretive in the Australian Outback by using the alias Patch. He created a new alias to work around Madripoor and maintain a low profile. In Save the Tiger, Wolverine serves as a silent partner and guardian angel to Tiger Tiger, a kindhearted gangster operating outside the city. He helps Tiger Tiger defeat the regime of former top crime lord Fury, allowing Tiger Tiger to take over his territory. This enables the X-Men to stay secret and maintain their low profile.
Wolverine also works as Patch at the famous Princess Bar in Madripoor, which is run by one of Wolverine’s friends and allies, O’Donnell. Wolverine has consistently donned this pseudonym for his infrequent visits to Madripoor over the years. Granted, it’s not much of a disguise, as he simply wears an eyepatch and goes by a different name. His attitude and behavior is generally the same. Not to mention that his iconic haircut, which stands out in a crowd, is still recognizable. It’s not at all a complicated disguise like the Matches Malone identity created by Bruce Wayne, better known as Batman.
Will Deadpool and Wolverine include the patch?
In the MCU miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a city called Madripoor was first shown on film. Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes visit the Princess Bar, but do not enter it. In Deadpool & Wolverine, Wolverine is shown in the Patch disguise, possibly playing a game at the gambling tables. Deadpool can find Wolverine in another universe’s version of Madripoor and the Princess Bar. It is unclear whether the MCU version of Wolverine has already visited Madripoor and adopted the Patch alias.
Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige are planning a version of the MCU’s X-Men, with Deadpool and Wolverine making appearances as early X-Men. Marvel Studios’ miniseries, Ms. Marvel, mentions Kamala Khan possibly having the mutant X-gene. In the season finale, Kamala’s friend Bruno Carelli explains the mutation to her, and the show’s score is based on the classic theme from X-Men: The Animated Series.
The Marvels’ 2023 epilogue featured hero Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) stranded in another universe, where she appears to be receiving help from another timeline’s version of the X-Men. This team included a version of her late mother, Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), wearing the costume of Binary from Marvel Comics, as well as the X-Men’s Beast (Kelsey Grammer). So far, the MCU has only taken baby steps in terms of the X-Men and mutants. Perhaps with Deadpool and Wolverine the cork will finally be opened.
Also read: Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool gets first-ever R-rated character experience at Disneyland ahead of third film’s release; DEET