Newly released on DVD, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” illustrates the rise of Wolverine in the fourth edition of the X-Men saga. A prequel to the first three adrenaline pumping adventures, the newest chapter answers any lingering questions and even questions viewers didn’t know they had. While watching, X-Men fanatics will feel as if they are in on a secret, for everything falls into place in “X-Men Origins.”

The excitement begins sometime in the early 1800s, with young Logan (Hugh Jackman) realizing that he is different after mistakenly murdering his father. At this point, his famous razor sharp claws look more like parts of a shredded tree trunk rather than the tantalizing metal he sports in the earlier movies. But even with his twig-like claws, he becomes a soldier in every major American war from the Civil War to World War II. After being recruited by a military general named Stryker (Danny Huston) to join a special forces team that engages in inhumane acts, Logan leaves the bloody scene to lead a quieter life.

Logan’s leaving angers his brother, Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber). Creed returns years later to murder Logan’s beloved girlfriend Kayla Silverfox, (Lynn Collins) thus making the half-wolf, half-man angry. Very angry.

Logan’s moral code is now thrown aside and the remainder of the film centers on his revenge against Creed and Stryker. The story deepens when Stryker convinces the infuriated Logan to undergo a procedure in which the earth’s strongest metal will be melded onto his bone, calling Logan “Weapon X.” Instead, Logan gives himself the name “Wolverine.”

Logan and Creed then battle each other out in a dog vs. cat fashion. That is, until Logan discovers a far more treacherous threat that makes Creed go from tiger to kitten.

X-Men junkies will be tickled with seeing the younger versions of their favorite mutant men and women. Viewers will briefly encounter Cyclops (Tim Pocock - who bears an impressive resemblance to older Cyclops actor James Marsden) and of course, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart).

Unlike the previous films, “X-Men Origins” seems to focus more on the story. It still has dazzling special effects and rocking fight scenes, but also explains the personality traits and struggles of Wolverine, helping the audience to identify with him. Hey, he might a mutant half-wolf, but he still has relationship issues and sibling rivalry, just like everyone else.