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Description
A debate over at Penciljack.com on the form and function of Wolverine's claws led me to throw this together.

Ain't it great to be a comics geek?

I can accept the bone claws theory, since it was hinted at during the BWS Weapon X series. But dammit, I do hate the way some artists have drawn his bone claws. Real claws exist in nature, the result of a million years of evolution, creating a form that follows function, and you can't ignore that (at least, not if you're any kind of self-respecting conceptual designer).

I know the bone claws break and regrow, and that's fine. But real claws grow in layers, peeling and shedding as the grow. You could, in fact, have some character fun dealing with this (Logan, quit leaving your claw clippings everywhere!), but there's no reason to draw them as a jagged, rough and sparred spikes that resemble dead wood more than bone claws. If they're some natural part of his mutation, then make them look natural!

I like them sliding between the fingers, between the small bones of the hand, as opposed to along the top of the hand. But I've never seen a good explanation for how they get over the wrist bones... maybe if they existed on the inside of the forearm, in amongst the muscles, and went under the wrist and through the hand, emerging between the fingers.

And no goofy bionic channels for them to slide through. They're a more effective character element if they slice through his flesh every time he "pops" them, and the wounds heal almost immediately. Not only does it add an effective "cringe" factor, but it goes a long way towards explaining why Logan is such a hardcore bastard. As put forth in the film when asked if it hurt, the answer was and should be, "every time".

Anyhow, this is how I would handle his claws. Feel free to flaunt your own comics geek status and let me know if you dig the design or would rather bury it.

Description
A debate over at Penciljack.com on the form and function of Wolverine's claws led me to throw this together.

Ain't it great to be a comics geek?

I can accept the bone claws theory, since it was hinted at during the BWS Weapon X series. But dammit, I do hate the way some artists have drawn his bone claws. Real claws exist in nature, the result of a million years of evolution, creating a form that follows function, and you can't ignore that (at least, not if you're any kind of self-respecting conceptual designer).

I know the bone claws break and regrow, and that's fine. But real claws grow in layers, peeling and shedding as the grow. You could, in fact, have some character fun dealing with this (Logan, quit leaving your claw clippings everywhere!), but there's no reason to draw them as a jagged, rough and sparred spikes that resemble dead wood more than bone claws. If they're some natural part of his mutation, then make them look natural!

I like them sliding between the fingers, between the small bones of the hand, as opposed to along the top of the hand. But I've never seen a good explanation for how they get over the wrist bones... maybe if they existed on the inside of the forearm, in amongst the muscles, and went under the wrist and through the hand, emerging between the fingers.

And no goofy bionic channels for them to slide through. They're a more effective character element if they slice through his flesh every time he "pops" them, and the wounds heal almost immediately. Not only does it add an effective "cringe" factor, but it goes a long way towards explaining why Logan is such a hardcore bastard. As put forth in the film when asked if it hurt, the answer was and should be, "every time".

Anyhow, this is how I would handle his claws. Feel free to flaunt your own comics geek status and let me know if you dig the design or would rather bury it.