Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman has paid tribute to the comic book character’s co-creator Len Wein, who died on Sunday (10Sep17).
Wein began his career at DC Comics before moving to rival publisher Marvel, where he helped revive the X-Men franchise by introducing Wolverine, a mutant with regenerative healing powers.
He passed away aged 69. Wein previously experienced heart trouble and underwent quintuple bypass heart surgery in 2015.
Jackman, who has played Wolverine in nine films, led the tributes to Len by writing on Twitter, “Blessed to have known Len Wein. I first met him in 2008. I told him – from his heart, mind & hands came the greatest character in comics.”
Blessed to have known Len Wein. I first met him in 2008. I told him – from his heart, mind & hands came the greatest character in comics. pic.twitter.com/cFqL1uy0JV
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) September 11, 2017
The Avengers director Joss Whedon tweeted his own tribute which read, “Co-created Wolverine and the New X-Men. Co-kickstarted (sic) the modern comic book era with its most powerful metaphor. And more. RIP Len Wein.”
Others who paid tribute to Wein included author and screenwriter Neil Gaiman and Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Axel Alonso.
At Marvel in the 1970s, Wein introduced a number of key X-Men characters, including Wolverine, who first appeared in 1974, and Nightcrawler, who debuted the following year.
At the end of the ‘70s he rejoined DC Comics where he edited Alan Moore’s influential comic book series Watchmen. He also co-created the DC character Swamp Thing.
In a statement announcing Wein’s death, Diane Nelson, the president of DC Entertainment, told Variety: “Len Wein was one of the most welcoming people and legends in comics from the moment I joined DC eight years ago. He wrote or edited almost every major DC character – there’s hardly a facet of DC’s world that Len didn’t touch. I, DC, and the industry will miss him and his talent very much.”
He is survived by his wife Christine Valada.
