John Frank Hamann (born November 27, 1962), better known as the Milverine, is an American man known for his resemblance of the comic book and film character Wolverine while walking shirtless in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The name Milverine is a portmanteau of "Milwaukee" and "Wolverine."
Milverine | |
|---|---|
 Milverine for Unfinished Legacy, 2024 | |
| Born | John Frank Hamann November 27, 1962 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Occupation | Construction worker |
| Known for | Resemblance of Wolverine |
Life
editHamann was born in Milwaukee.[1] He grew up in Milwaukee's South Side and attended Pulaski High School.[1] As of 2018[update], he is a part-time construction worker and former aspiring cage fighter.[2] He is a fan of opera music.[3][4]
Hamann began taking daily two-to-three-hour speed walks in Milwaukee around the early 2000s, going shirtless in weather above 60 °F (16 °C).[1][2][4] He attracted notice for his muscles and hairy chest—making him resemble Wolverine portrayer Hugh Jackman of the X-Men film series—but was unaware of his celebrity until others made pages about him on social media.[1][4] Around 2010, a Milwaukee resident who dubbed Hamann the "Milverine" started a Facebook page featuring photos of Hamann on his walks.[1][4] Fan pages also appeared on Yelp, Twitter, and Tumblr, and by 2011 Hamann was described as a "Milwaukee legend".[1]
Hamann has participated in local events and been the subject of songs, internet memes, and other media.[2][5] He appeared at a meet-and-greet in December 2011 where Milverine T-shirts were sold for his benefit.[1] The Milwaukee Film Festival featured him in a promotional video in 2013.[2] In 2017, he disappeared from public view when his mother died and he tore his meniscus, but he returned to his routine after eight months of recovering from meniscus surgery.[2]
In November 2018, the Walker's Point brewery MobCraft Beer produced a milk stout called "Moo-Waukee" emblazoned with Hamann's image.[6] Vice Media released a nine-minute documentary about Hamann, "Wisconsin Legend 'Milverine' Has Never Left Milwaukee", in February 2020.[5][7] The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee made a bobblehead figurine of Hamann for Milwaukee Day on April 14, 2020.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Meier, Michelle (December 30, 2011). "Milverine is a Milwaukee Legend". Media Milwaukee. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Seyler, Lainey (August 20, 2018). "The Milverine is a local legend, but he seemed to disappear for a while; here's what happened". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Groh, James (October 11, 2023). "The untold story of the Milverine: Dating, boxing, and opera". TMJ4. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Antlfinger, Carrie (October 8, 2011). "Construction worker draws cult following as 'Milverine'". The Daily Reporter. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Wild, Matt (February 15, 2020). "Watch Vice talk to Milverine about how Milwaukee is the 'height of civilization'". Milwaukee Record. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Byrne, Kristin (November 10, 2018). "MobCraft brewery now brewing stout in honor shirtless 'Milverine'". TMJ4. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Marshall, Julia (February 16, 2020). "Milwaukee's 'Milverine' stars in Vice documentary". TMJ4. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Marshall, Julia (April 14, 2020). "National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum releases Milverine bobblehead on 414 Day". TMJ4. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
Further reading
edit- "Wisconsin Legend "Milverine" Has Never Left Milwaukee" (video). Vice Media. February 2020.