A mini-series revealing the origins of a popular fictional character has fans flocking to a local comic book store to be greeted by a lengthy waiting list.

Graham Crackers Comics has been at 901 Lucinda Ave., Apt. C, right next to Subway, for more than two years, but rarely has seen this type of demand for comics.

The reason for the demand can be found in one word that strikes fear into the hearts of villains and excitement into comic book fanatics.

“Wolverine,” said Matt Pearson, a freshman mechanical engineering major, who got his comic the first day it came out. “He is the end-all, be-all of comic book heroes and it is exhilarating to finally learn where he came from.”

Wolverine is the angry, adamantium-clawed member of the X-Men.

Wolverine, better known to some fans as Logan, has been one of the most enigmatic and popular characters since he first appeared in comics nearly 30 years ago. He was portrayed by Australian actor Hugh Jackman in the 2000 film “X-Men.”

Despite those 30 years of appearances, no light has ever been shed on his past; hence the excitement over the appropriately named “Origin” mini-series, written by X-Men veteran Paul Jenkins and drawn by Andy Kubert.

“Everyone and their mother wants to read about Wolverine’s origins. The first issue was sold out before it even hit the racks,” GCC Manager Rick Berg said. “He is the coolest. He is the best. Kids for some strange reason identify with someone who can rip people to shreds.”

Marvel, the publishers of “Origin” and all other X-Men comics, expected this response.

“This is a story that we’ve been told for years couldn’t be told because it would just have to be too big, too expansive and would never live up to people’s expectations,” said Joe Quesada, editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, in a statement on cinescape.com. “It has gotten people discussing comics and that’s always great!”

Each chapter of the six-issue mini-series is 32 pages and is available for $3.50. Despite the retail price, Berg has heard reports of some copies going for as high as $25 on Ebay.com.

Issues one and two have already hit stores, with the third tentatively due Oct. 31.