In the Marvel universe, few rivalries are as fierce as that between Sabretooth and Wolverine.
Each year, Sabretooth commemorates Wolverine’s birthday in a chillingly unique way: by inflicting torment.
To read full about the storyline which this article takes inspiration from, check out “X-Men Origins – Sabretooth.”
The Origins of a Gruesome Ritual
It’s a strange and chilling fact that Victor Creed, better known as Sabretooth, has a unique way of marking the calendar: by tormenting Wolverine every single year on his birthday.
This twisted tradition has its roots in Sabretooth’s own traumatic past, a life filled with violence from a very young age.
The origins of Victor Creed’s gruesome birthday ritual are rooted deeply in his family’s dark history.
For years, Victor, later known as Sabretooth, maintained a cruel tradition of torturing his younger brother Saul every year on his birthday (you can read more in Origin II #5).
Until one time, Victor’s mutant abilities led to Luther’s death (his elder brother) over something as innocent as a birthday cake.
This act of violence shocked his family, pushing his father to an extreme.
Believing Victor to be nothing less than a devil, his father confined him to the basement, where he would regularly trim Victor’s overgrown canines and nails in a misguided attempt to control his mutant abilities.
A Birthday Escape and a Lifelong Vengeance
On one fateful birthday, Victor made a harrowing escape by chewing off his own hand, which was cuffed and held him back in the basement.
This led to the tragic and brutal killing of his parents. Ironically, after his escape, he finally got to taste his mother’s famous cake — a bittersweet moment that marked the beginning of his dark birthday ritual.
The relentless torment continued with Saul until the day Victor’s sister informed him that Saul had tragically died at the hands of a man named Logan.
Upon learning of his brother’s death, Victor’s festering rage transformed into a vengeful obsession directed at Logan, setting the stage for a lifelong enmity.
This change was not just a continuation of past cruelties; it was a redirection of his rage towards a new adversary intertwined with his brother’s (his victim’s) demise.
Every year, Victor ensures he “celebrates” Wolverine’s birthday by inflicting pain and suffering, sometimes going as far as killing Logan’s closest one – Silverfox or brutally beating him to the brink of death.
This detail mirrors events we’ve seen on screen, like in the “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” movie where Sabretooth causes the death of Silver Fox.
This act fuels Wolverine’s drive for revenge, though he ultimately fails to defeat Sabretooth.
Last Words
Sabretooth’s disturbing tradition of tormenting Wolverine reflects his inherent malevolence, a dark continuation of the cruelty he once reserved for his own brother.
After losing his original victim, Sabretooth simply redirected this brutal annual ritual toward Wolverine.
It’s a stark reminder of how deeply Sabretooth revels in his darker impulses, contrasting sharply with Wolverine’s efforts to overcome his monstrous insider in any Marvel universe we can see, even in the movie.
So, what do you think about these so-called typical siblings? Share your views in the comment section below!