Get Started In WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)

Compilations  |  1st Appearance  |  Origin Story  |  Main Publication History  |  Secondary Publication History  |  Key Storylines  |  Media Source Material  |  Key Issues

by snowbi-wan, updated Jun 2019

Out of all the big-name Marvel icons, Wolverine is one of the most successful characters that was not part of the initial 1960's boom. First appearing in 1974 in INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180/181, Wolverine's past was an ongoing mystery. Logan--as he was called then--was part of Canada's first superhero group, Alpha Flight, but was immediately recruited after his INCREDIBLE HULK appearances into the X-Men by Professor X where the anti-social outsider seemingly, finally found a pseudo-family and home. Wolverine is a nearly unbeatable opponent with his unbreakable adamantium-laced skeleton, retractable razor-sharp claws, elevated strength and agility, heightened senses like those of the most capable animals, and a miraculous mutant healing factor that also greatly extends his lifespan. Wolverine has been an ally of Alpha Flight, the X-Men, and the New Avengers. His biggest foes include Sabretooth, Omega Red and the Silver Samurai. He has gone by different aliases throughout his publishing history, including: Logan, Patch and James Howlett (but not 'Bub'). From his very beginning, Wolverine was continually haunted by repressed past traumas in a history of which even he had very little recollection. He found solace in whisky, cigars and just being "the best as what he does," that is...killing--one of a very few Marvel heroes acknowledged to handle his most vile opponents in this fashion.

Wolverine had very little depth of character to accompany his ultra-cool appearance and powers until Chris Claremont and Frank Miller's 4-issue mini-series in 1982 introduced audiences to his time in Japan, grafting a samurai-based era onto his history and imbuing him with a healthy dose of that culture's warrior code. Wolverine owes much of his modern, honorable character to the duo of Claremont and Miller.

A large part of the fan attraction to Wolverine was the ongoing mystery of his past. It was known that he was part of the Weapon X program, but Marvel didn't flesh out exactly what that program was until 1991, beginning with a story arc in MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #72-84, titled WEAPON X. This and sequel arcs detailed how Logan was forced into the Weapon X program where, in their attempt to create a compliant super soldier, they laced his skeleton with adamantium and presumably installed the retractable claws. One of the program's greatest successes, because of his mutant healing factor, Wolverine was too hard to control and escaped, He has been at odds with the mysterious, covert program ever since, albeit with very little memory of his time in the program. Over the decades, the shrouded history of the Weapon X program has been expanded even further in the Marvel Universe. Grant Morrison greatly expanded the mythos of the Weapon X program most notably in 2002 when he introduced the concept of the Weapon Plus program in NEW X-MEN [2001] #128. This issue introduced Fantomex as Weapon XII, revealing that Weapon X was a previous, "tenth" iteration (the "X" being re-interpreted as a Roman numeral). The retroactive continuity (retcon) history of the Weapon Plus program now reaches back into the origins of Captain America (Weapon I) and other Marvel superheroes. Before this surprising retcon, another assumption was dispelled in 1993 when Magneto forcibly extracted the adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton in X-MEN [1991] #25, revealing he had bone claws all along.

At the same time that Marvel was exploring the Weapon Plus program in print, with equal parts reluctance and confidence, they chose to finally publish Wolverine's true "origin," knowing this was the last bit of mystery left to the character, but perhaps aware if they didn't tell the story in print, Fox's X-Men film franchise may beat them to it. This original background goes way back to Wolverine's youth and the immergence of his mutant abilities. In WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001] #1-6 audiences are finally rewarded with some key, missing facts about the character. Wolverine was born to a weathy family in the late 19th century in Canada, and his real name is James Howlett. The series depicts the first time Wolverine popped his claws. Other nuggets in the series include where his nickname, Logan, came from and his infatuation with redheads. The first part of the 2009 film, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE was greatly inspired by THE ORIGIN. Fox's X-Men film franchise has plumbed Wolverine's source material thoroughly and--for the most part--faithfully, including an alternate future version of the character, Old Man Logan.

Wolverine ultimately regained and retained all of his missing memories. While Wolverine is an integral part of many X-Men stories, he has an equally impressive solo publishing history with stories running the complete gambit of genres and his 100+ year lifespan. He is as popular today as much as ever and still a key character in the X-Men family, often cast as the grizzled veteran in juxtaposition to young X-Men recruits.

Related GSIs: APOCALYPSECAPTAIN AMERICA (STEVE ROGERS)OLD MAN LOGANX-23 (LAURA KINNEY)X-MEN

Related Tags: ACTS OF EVIL [2019]ADAM KUBERT (CA)ALEX ROSS (CA)ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW! [2014]ART ADAMS (CA)BILL SIENKIEWICZ (CA)BRIAN K. VAUGHAN (W)BRIAN WOOD (W)CAPTAIN AMERICACAPTAIN AMERICA (STEVE ROGERS)CAT VARIANT COVERS [2019] (6)CHARLES SOULE (W)CHRIS CLAREMONT (W)CLAREMONT/BYRNE CREATIVE TEAMCROSS-PROPERTY CROSSOVERSCULLEN BUNN (W)DAREDEVIL FAMILY TITLESDARK MARVEL VARIANT COVERS [2020]DARK PHOENIX SAGA [1980]DARK REIGN [2008]DAWN OF X [2019]DEADPOOLDRAKE'S CAKES MICRO-COMICSELEKTRAFANTASTIC FOUR FAMILY TITLESFEAR ITSELF [2011]FIRESTAR (ANGELICA JONES)FRANK CHO (CA)FRANK MILLER (A)FRANK MILLER (CA)FREE COMIC BOOK DAY (FCBD)GARTH ENNIS (W)GHOST RIDERGREG LAND (CA)GREG RUCKA (W)HULKHULK (BRUCE BANNER)HULK FAMILY TITLESHUNT FOR WOLVERINE [2018]IMAGE TOP COWIRON FISTJACK KIRBY (CA)JASON AARON (W)JIM LEE (CA)KIERON GILLEN (W)LIVING VAMPIRE VARIANT COVERS [2020]LOEB/SALE CREATIVE TEAMMALIBU ULTRAVERSEMARCOS MARTIN 'GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS' VARIANT COVERS [2020]MARK MILLAR (W)MARVEL 'THE END' SERIESMARVEL 80TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIALS [2019]MARVEL BATTLEBOOKS [1998]MARVEL FACSIMILE EDITIONSMARVEL HIDDEN GEM VARIANT COVERS [2018]MARVEL KNIGHTSMARVEL LEGENDS ACTION FIGURE REPRINTS [2002-2006]MARVEL MAX [2001]MARVEL MILESTONES [2005-2006] (20)MARVEL MUST HAVES REPRINTS [2001-2005]MARVEL NOIR UNIVERSE [2009]MARVEL NOW! [2012]MARVEL SAGA PROMOTIONAL COMICSMARVEL SEASON ONE HC GRAPHIC NOVELS (10)MARVEL SKRULLS VARIANT COVERS [2019]MARVEL TRUE BELIEVERS REPRINTS [2015]MARVEL TSUNAMIMARVEL YOUNG BABY VARIANT COVERSMARVEL ZOMBIESMARVEL ZOMBIES VARIANT COVERS [2020]MISCELLANEOUS PROMOTIONAL COMIC BOOKSOFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSEOLD MAN LOGANPETER DAVID (W)POWER PACKPUNISHERRAVENCROFT [2020]RETURN OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR VARIANT COVERS [2018]RICK REMENDER (W)RODRIGUEZ 'DAYS OF FUTURE PAST' VARIANT COVERS [2020]SPIDER-MANSPIDER-MAN (PETER PARKER)SPIDER-MAN FAMILY TITLESSPIDER-WOMAN VARIANT COVERS [2020]ULTIMATE COMICS UNIVERSE REBORN [2011]ULTIMATE UNIVERSE [2000]VENOMWASTELANDS UNIVERSE (EARTH-807128)WEAPON XWHILCE PORTACIO (CA)WILDSTORM UNIVERSEWITCHBLADEWOLVERINEWOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)WOLVERINE (LAURA KINNEY)X-MENX-MEN FAMILY TITLES

Compilations

In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett) comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett). The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).

Wolverine has had a very long and robust publishing history with virtually all of it collected into compilations at some point. A great many of these volumes have gone out of print or are on the verge of going out of print. Marvel seems to eventually bring most material back into print (as long as there is some perceived demand) in newly-named compilation series. Their most recent trend is to group series by the writer/scripter, so you'll often see 'by so-and-so writer' in the title. Alternatively, the EPIC COLLECTION is a series of economically-priced, black and white compilations and will presumably fill in the in-print gaps of the 1988 series as new volumes are published. However, the volumes of the EPIC COLLECTION are not being published in order. To be fair, you could easily start almost anywhere along this robust suggested reading order and do fine with whatever pre-existing knowledge (no matter how lean) you bring to the character. The Key Storyline section of this guide can give you additional clues to get started somewhere in Wolverine comics, if you're starting from zero.

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CoverRelease MonthSeries / Number / Storyline
WOLVERINE BY CLAREMONT AND MILLER Quick ViewMar 2009WOLVERINE BY CLAREMONT AND MILLER [2009-TPB]
CURRENT PRINTING
  
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WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION VOL 01: MADRIPOOR NIGHTSQuick ViewDec 2014WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION [2014-TPB] VOL 01: MADRIPOOR NIGHTS
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HAVOK AND WOLVERINE - MELTDOWN Quick ViewJul 2019HAVOK AND WOLVERINE - MELTDOWN [2019-TPB]
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WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION VOL 02: BACK TO BASICSQuick ViewMar 2019WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION [2014-TPB] VOL 02: BACK TO BASICS
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WOLVERINE: WEAPON X Quick ViewMar 2009WOLVERINE: WEAPON X [2009-TPB]
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WOLVERINE: WEAPON X Quick ViewApr 2020WOLVERINE: WEAPON X [2009-TPB]
NEW PRINTING
  
UNAVAILABLE$12.99
      
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X UNBOUND Quick ViewJan 2017WOLVERINE: WEAPON X UNBOUND [2017-TPB]
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WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION VOL 06: INNER FURYQuick ViewFeb 2020WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION [2014-TPB] VOL 06: INNER FURY
  
UNAVAILABLE$25.99
WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION VOL 08: THE DYING GAMEQuick ViewDec 2015WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION [2014-TPB] VOL 08: THE DYING GAME
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WOLVERINE: BLOOD WEDDING Quick ViewOct 2013WOLVERINE: BLOOD WEDDING [2013-TPB]
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WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION VOL 12: SHADOW OF APOCALYPSEQuick ViewFeb 2017WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION [2014-TPB] VOL 12: SHADOW OF APOCALYPSE
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WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION VOL 13: BLOOD DEBTQuick ViewMar 2018WOLVERINE EPIC COLLECTION [2014-TPB] VOL 13: BLOOD DEBT
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WOLVERINE: THE RETURN OF WEAPON X Quick ViewSep 2013WOLVERINE: THE RETURN OF WEAPON X [2013-TPB]
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WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN Quick ViewMar 2009WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2009-TPB]
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WOLVERINE: ENEMY OF THE STATE Quick ViewMar 2020WOLVERINE: ENEMY OF THE STATE [2008-TPB]
NEW PRINTING
  
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CIVIL WAR: WOLVERINE Quick ViewMar 2016CIVIL WAR: WOLVERINE [2007-TPB]
2ND EDITION, CURRENT PRINTING
  
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WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 01Quick ViewJan 2017WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2017-TPB] VOL 01
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WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 02Quick ViewAug 2017WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2017-TPB] VOL 02
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WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 03Quick ViewDec 2017WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2017-TPB] VOL 03
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WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 04Quick ViewMay 2018WOLVERINE BY DANIEL WAY: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2017-TPB] VOL 04
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WOLVERINE: GET MYSTIQUE Quick ViewAug 2008WOLVERINE: GET MYSTIQUE [2008-TPB]
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WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN Quick ViewSep 2010WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN [2010-TPB]
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WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 01Quick ViewDec 2013WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2013-TPB] VOL 01
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WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 02Quick ViewMar 2014WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2013-TPB] VOL 02
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WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 03Quick ViewJul 2014WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2013-TPB] VOL 03
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WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION VOL 04Quick ViewNov 2014WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2013-TPB] VOL 04
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WOLVERINE: WEAPON X VOL 01: ADAMANTIUM MENQuick ViewApr 2010WOLVERINE: WEAPON X [2009-TPB] VOL 01: ADAMANTIUM MEN
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WOLVERINE: WEAPON X VOL 02: INSANE IN THE BRAINQuick ViewJul 2010WOLVERINE: WEAPON X [2009-TPB] VOL 02: INSANE IN THE BRAIN
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WOLVERINE: WEAPON X VOL 03: TOMORROW DIES TODAYQuick ViewMar 2011WOLVERINE: WEAPON X [2009-TPB] VOL 03: TOMORROW DIES TODAY
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 01Quick ViewOct 2012WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011-TPB] VOL 01
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN: ALPHA AND OMEGA Quick ViewJan 2013WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN: ALPHA AND OMEGA [2012-TPB]
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 02Quick ViewFeb 2013WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011-TPB] VOL 02
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 03Quick ViewMar 2013WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011-TPB] VOL 03
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 04Quick ViewMay 2013WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011-TPB] VOL 04
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 05Quick ViewJun 2013WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011-TPB] VOL 05
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 06Quick ViewSep 2013WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011-TPB] VOL 06
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 07Quick ViewOct 2013WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011-TPB] VOL 07
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 08Quick ViewApr 2014WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011-TPB] VOL 08
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WOLVERINE: ROT Quick ViewMar 2013WOLVERINE: ROT [2013-TPB]
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WOLVERINE: COVENANT Quick ViewApr 2013WOLVERINE: COVENANT [2013-TPB]
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WOLVERINE MAX VOL 01: PERMANENT RAGEQuick ViewJul 2013WOLVERINE MAX [2012-TPB] VOL 01: PERMANENT RAGE
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WOLVERINE MAX VOL 02: ESCAPE TO L.A.Quick ViewOct 2013WOLVERINE MAX [2012-TPB] VOL 02: ESCAPE TO L.A.
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WOLVERINE MAX VOL 03: VEGASQuick ViewMar 2014WOLVERINE MAX [2012-TPB] VOL 03: VEGAS
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SAVAGE WOLVERINE VOL 01: KILL ISLANDQuick ViewApr 2014SAVAGE WOLVERINE [2013-TPB] VOL 01: KILL ISLAND
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SAVAGE WOLVERINE VOL 02: HANDS ON A DEAD BODYQuick ViewOct 2014SAVAGE WOLVERINE [2013-TPB] VOL 02: HANDS ON A DEAD BODY
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SAVAGE WOLVERINE VOL 03: WRATHQuick ViewFeb 2015SAVAGE WOLVERINE [2013-TPB] VOL 03: WRATH
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SAVAGE WOLVERINE VOL 04: THE BEST THERE ISQuick ViewJul 2015SAVAGE WOLVERINE [2013-TPB] VOL 04: THE BEST THERE IS
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WOLVERINE VOL 01: HUNTING SEASONQuick ViewAug 2013WOLVERINE [2013-TPB] VOL 01: HUNTING SEASON
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WOLVERINE VOL 02: KILLABLEQuick ViewMar 2014WOLVERINE [2013-TPB] VOL 02: KILLABLE
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WOLVERINE: THREE MONTHS TO DIE BOOK 01Quick ViewJul 2014WOLVERINE: THREE MONTHS TO DIE [2014-TPB] BOOK 01
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WOLVERINE: THREE MONTHS TO DIE BOOK 02Quick ViewNov 2014WOLVERINE: THREE MONTHS TO DIE [2014-TPB] BOOK 02
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 01: TOMORROW NEVER LEARNSQuick ViewOct 2014WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2014-TPB] VOL 01: TOMORROW NEVER LEARNS
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WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN VOL 02: DEATH OF WOLVERINEQuick ViewJan 2015WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2014-TPB] VOL 02: DEATH OF WOLVERINE
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DEATH OF WOLVERINE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION Quick ViewMay 2018DEATH OF WOLVERINE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION [2018-TPB]
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HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: MYSTERY IN MADRIPOOR Quick ViewDec 2018HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: MYSTERY IN MADRIPOOR [2018-TPB]
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HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: THE ADAMANTIUM AGENDA Quick ViewDec 2018HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: THE ADAMANTIUM AGENDA [2018-TPB]
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HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: THE CLAWS OF A KILLER Quick ViewDec 2018HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: THE CLAWS OF A KILLER [2018-TPB]
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HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: WEAPON LOST Quick ViewDec 2018HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: WEAPON LOST [2018-TPB]
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RETURN OF WOLVERINE Quick ViewMar 2019RETURN OF WOLVERINE [2018-TPB]
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WOLVERINE: THE DAUGHTER OF WOLVERINE Quick ViewFeb 2020WOLVERINE: THE DAUGHTER OF WOLVERINE [2020-TPB]
  
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WOLVERINE: THE LONG NIGHT Quick ViewJul 2019WOLVERINE: THE LONG NIGHT [2019-TPB]
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WOLVERINE: INFINITY WATCH Quick ViewAug 2019WOLVERINE: INFINITY WATCH [2019-TPB]
  
UNAVAILABLE$10.39

1st Appearance

The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett), if it's within your budget. A facsimile edition of INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #181 was published in 2019, as the original edition is out-of-reach for most casual collectors.

  • INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180  (1st cameo appearance of Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett))
  • INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #181  (1st full appearance of Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett))
  • THOR [1966] #229  (1st appearance (in an ad) of Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett))

Origin Story

The original presentation of an origin story or a retelling/recounting of it can be a good place to get started with a character or subject. Very little was known of Wolverine's origin for the first few decades of his publishing history before Marvel began publishing bits and pieces of his backstory. The 'origin' of a superhero is typically the event or circumstances surrounding how they gained their powers and/or began fighting crime. For Wolverine, there isn't a single 'turning point' that identifies this transformation, but rather a few points along the character's evolution. The two biggest points are the two earliest points in his publishing history. Fifteen years after his introduction, MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #72-84 gave the first details of the Weapon X program--the program that gave him his adamantium skeleton. Subsequent story arcs in MCP and in his own self-titled series would add more details. A decade later, the WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001] mini-series detailed the early history of Wolverine and the emergence of his mutant powers. Although published second, THE ORIGIN has risen to define Wolverine's 'origin story,' even though the WEAPON X story arc in MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS is equally substantive to creating the character we know. Over time, and throughout many other series, more and more details of Wolverine's backstory would be published, adding layers and fine detail to his origin. Wolverine's origin hasn't so much 'changed' over the years, as it has been enriched with additional resolution. Following the main two entries, the list below contains a few other highlights of this intricate (and sometimes convoluted) publishing journey that you may find interesting.

  • MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #72-84   (first details of Weapon X program)
  • WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001] #1-6   (early boyhood history of Wolverine, emergence of mutant powers)

  • OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE: WOLVERINE 2004 [2004]    (10-page character profile of Wolverine)
  • WEAPON X: FIRST CLASS [2009] #1-3   (explores new material concerning what Professor X knew of Wolverine's origin)
  • WOLVERINE: WEAPON X FILES [2009]    (6-page character profile on Wolverine)
  • WOLVERINE: ORIGINS [2006] #33   (Fury reveals information about the Howlett family tree/decendants)
  • WOLVERINE: ORIGIN OF AN X-MAN [2009]    (adds a story leading into 1st appearance in INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180/181)
  • WOLVERINE: SEASON ONE [2013-HC]    (a contemporary retelling of Wolverine's formative years)

Main Publication History

Here is the Main Publication History for Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett) comic books. The list below is limited to the main, ongoing series where Wolverine is the feature character and to the few mini-series/one-shots which have significant impact on his character's ongoing story or on his character development through the decades. Any one of these could be a great place to get started in Wolverine comic books. See the Secondary Publishing History for many other series which don't quite fit our subjective definition for this section, but could easily be equally or even more entertaining as stories.

  • WOLVERINE [2020] #1-   (DAWN OF X relaunch)
  • WOLVERINE [1982] #1-4   (first solo mini-series)
  • MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #1-10, 38-142, 150-155   (anthology series)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #1-102, 102.5, 103-114, -1, 115-118, 1/2, 119-189   (first ongoing solo series)
  • WOLVERINE '95 [1995] #1   
  • WOLVERINE '96 [1996]    
  • WOLVERINE '97 [1997]    
  • WOLVERINE 1999 [1999]    
  • WOLVERINE 2000 [2000]    
  • WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001] #1-6   (early boyhood history of Wolverine)
  • WOLVERINE 2001 [2001]    
  • WOLVERINE [2003] #1-74   (second ongoing solo series; numbering continued in DARK WOLVERINE [2009] #75)
  • WEAPON X [2002] #23-25   (Wolverine is featured in one arc of this series that focuses on the re-immergence of the program)
  • WOLVERINE: ORIGINS [2006] #1-50   (contemporary adventures as Wolverine sorts through his recently re-gained memories; lots of origins and flashback scenes)
  • GIANT-SIZE WOLVERINE [2006] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: ORIGINS ANNUAL [2007] #1   
  • WOLVERINE ANNUAL [2007] #1-2   
  • WOLVERINE: FIRST CLASS [2008] #1-21   (out-of-continuity tales from the X-Men's history)
  • WOLVERINE: WEAPON X [2009] #1-16   (disconnected--but not necessarily out-of-continuity--Wolverine tales)
  • WOLVERINE [2010A] #900   (inexplicably numbered, stand-alone anthology issue)
  • WOLVERINE [2010B] #1-20, 300-317   (third ongoing solo series; returns to legacy numbering before a relaunch)
  • WOLVERINE [2011] #1000   (another inexplicably numbered, stand-alone anthology issue)
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2011] #1-27, 27AU, 28-42   (Wolverine heads the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning on the site of the old Xavier Institute; continued in relaunched 2014 series of the same name)
  • WOLVERINE ANNUAL [2012] #1   
  • WOLVERINE MAX [2012] #1-15   (Marvel MAX imprint stories contain explicit content)
  • SAVAGE WOLVERINE [2013] #1-23   (rotating creative teams on each new story arc)
  • WOLVERINE [2013] #1-13   (fourth ongoing solo series; MARVEL NOW! relaunch)
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN ANNUAL [2014] #1   
  • ORIGIN II [2014] #1-5   (sequel to WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001]; Wolverine meets Sabretooth for the first time)
  • WOLVERINE [2014] #1-12   (ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW! relaunch; same creative team as previous series)
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN [2014] #1-12   (ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW! relaunch; continues in SPIDER-MAN AND THE X-MEN [2015] after the death of Wolverine)
  • WOLVERINE ANNUAL [2014] #1   
  • DEATH OF WOLVERINE [2014] #1-4   (this is sure to last)
  • HUNT FOR WOLVERINE [2018] #1   
  • RETURN OF WOLVERINE [2018] #1-5   (aaaannd...he's back, bub)
  • MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [2019] #1-9   (anthology series with WOLVERINE stories)
  • WOLVERINE: INFINITY WATCH [2019] #1-5   (story continues from RETURN OF WOLVERINE [2018] mini-series)
  • WOLVERINE ANNUAL [2019] #1   (ACTS OF EVIL tie-in)
  • WOLVERINE VS. SABRETOOTH 3D [2020] #1   (reprints WOLVERINE [1988] #10)
  • WOLVERINE [2020] #1-   (DAWN OF X relaunch)

Secondary Publication History

If you've already enjoyed some of the series listed in the Main Publication History above, series from this secondary publication list are very good places to further your exploration. Wolverine has starred in many other series, mini-series, and one-shots besides those listed in the Main Publication History. The mysterious nature of his past--even to himself--lends itself beautifully to telling self-contained stories in any setting or teaming up with nearly any other character from Marvel (or other publishers), without having to conform to a strict chronological character timeline.

  • KITTY PRYDE AND WOLVERINE [1984] #1-4   
  • INCREDIBLE HULK AND WOLVERINE [1986] #1   (reprints INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180/181)
  • SPIDER-MAN VS. WOLVERINE [1987] #1   
  • TRUE BELIEVERS: WOLVERINE--SAVE THE TIGER [2017] #1   (reprints material from MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #1-3)
  • HAVOK AND WOLVERINE - MELTDOWN [1989] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE SAGA [1989] #1-4   (narrative history with reprint clip art of many and varied issues featuring Wolverine)
  • WOLVERINE BATTLES THE INCREDIBLE HULK [1989] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: THE JUNGLE ADVENTURE [1989-SC]    
  • SPIDER-MAN VS. WOLVERINE [1990]    
  • WOLVERINE: BLOODLUST [1990-SC]    
  • TRUE BELIEVERS: WOLVERINE--WEAPON X [2017] #1   (reprints material from MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #72-74)
  • WOLVERINE: BLOODY CHOICES [1991-GN]    
  • WOLVERINE: RAHNE OF TERRA [1991-SC]    
  • GHOST RIDER; WOLVERINE; PUNISHER: HEARTS OF DARKNESS [1991-SC]    
  • WOLVERINE: SAVE THE TIGER [1992] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: INNER FURY [1992-SC]    
  • WOLVERINE: KILLING [1993-SC]    
  • WOLVERINE AND THE PUNISHER: DAMAGING EVIDENCE [1993] #1-3   
  • WOLVERINE: BLOODY CHOICES [1993-SC]    
  • WOLVERINE: BLOOD HUNGRY [1993-SC]    
  • WOLVERINE: GLOBAL JEOPARDY [1993] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: DANGER ON THE DOCKS [1993-MICRO] #2   
  • WOLVERINE: EVILUTION [1994-SC]    
  • GHOST RIDER, WOLVERINE, PUNISHER: THE DARK DESIGN [1994-SC]    
  • WOLVERINE: NUKE HUNTERS [1994-MICRO] #4   
  • WOLVERINE VS. SPIDER-MAN [1995]    
  • WOLVERINE: KNIGHT OF TERRA [1995-SC]    
  • NIGHT MAN VS. WOLVERINE [1995] #0   
  • WOLVERINE/GAMBIT: VICTIMS [1995] #1-4   
  • LOGAN: PATH OF THE WARLORD [1996]    
  • DEATHBLOW/WOLVERINE [1996] #1-2   
  • WOLVERINE ENCYCLOPEDIA [1996-SC] #1-2   
  • LOGAN: SHADOW SOCIETY [1996]    
  • BALLISTIC/WOLVERINE [1997] #1   
  • WOLVERINE/WITCHBLADE [1997] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: DOOMBRINGER [1997-SC]    
  • WOLVERINE: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST [1997] #1-3   
  • WOLVERINE: BLACK RIO [1998-SC]    
  • WOLVERINE BATTLEBOOK [1998]    
  • WOLVERINE/PUNISHER: REVELATION [1999] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE/CABLE [1999] #1   
  • BEFORE THE FANTASTIC FOUR: BEN GRIMM AND LOGAN [2000] #1-3   
  • IRON FIST/WOLVERINE [2000] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE/SHI: DARK NIGHT OF JUDGMENT [2000]    
  • WOLVERINE/SHI: JUDGMENT NIGHT [2000]    
  • WOLVERINE: SON OF CANADA [2001]    
  • ELEKTRA AND WOLVERINE: THE REDEEMER [2002-SC] #1-3   
  • WOLVERINE/HULK [2002] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE: NETSUKE [2002] #1-4   
  • HULK/WOLVERINE: SIX HOURS [2003] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE: XISLE [2003] #1-5   
  • WOLVERINE/DOOP [2003] #1-2   
  • WOLVERINE: SNIKT! [2003] #1-5   
  • SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE [2003] #1-4   
  • MARVEL MUST HAVES: WOLVERINE #1-3 [2003]    
  • WOLVERINE: THE END [2004] #1-6   (future death of Wolverine in an alternate reality)
  • WOLVERINE/CAPTAIN AMERICA [2004] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE/PUNISHER [2004] #1-5   
  • WITCHBLADE/WOLVERINE [2004] #1   
  • OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE: WOLVERINE 2004 [2004]    
  • MARVEL MUST HAVES: WOLVERINE #20-22 [2004]    
  • WOLVERINE: SOULTAKER [2005] #1-5   
  • MARVEL MILESTONES: WOLVERINE, X-MEN AND TUK: CAVEBOY [2005]    
  • WEAPON X: DAYS OF FUTURE NOW [2005] #1-5   
  • ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK [2006] #1-6   
  • WHAT IF: WOLVERINE [2006] #1   
  • DARKNESS/WOLVERINE [2006]    
  • WHAT IF? WOLVERINE ENEMY OF THE STATE [2007] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: FIREBREAK [2008] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: FLIES TO A SPIDER [2009] #1   
  • WHAT IF? SPIDER-MAN VS. WOLVERINE [2008] #1   
  • LOGAN [2008] #1-3   (Marvel Knights imprint)
  • WOLVERINE: THE AMAZING IMMORTAL MAN AND OTHER BLOODY TALES [2008] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: DANGEROUS GAMES [2008] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: SAUDADE [2008] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: KILLING MADE SIMPLE [2008] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: MANIFEST DESTINY [2008] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE AND POWER PACK [2009] #1-4   
  • WEAPON X: FIRST CLASS [2009] #1-3   
  • WOLVERINE: CHOP SHOP [2009] #1   
  • WOLVERINE SAGA [2009]    
  • WOLVERINE: SWITCHBACK [2009] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: WEAPON X FILES [2009]    
  • WOLVERINE: ORIGIN OF AN X-MAN [2009]    
  • X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE [2009]    
  • RAMPAGING WOLVERINE [2009] #1   
  • WOLVERINE NOIR [2009] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE: THE ANNIVERSARY [2009] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: WEAPON X [2009] #1-16   
  • WOLVERINE: REVOLVER [2009] #1   
  • DARK REIGN: THE LIST--WOLVERINE [2009] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: UNDER THE BOARDWALK [2010] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: WENDIGO! [2010] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: SAVAGE [2010] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: MR. X [2010] #1   
  • ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN AND WOLVERINE [2010] #1-6   
  • ALL-NEW WOLVERINE SAGA [2010]    
  • WOLVERINE: THE ROAD TO HELL [2010] #1   
  • UNCANNY X-FORCE [2010] #1-35   (team member)
  • WOLVERINE: THE BEST THERE IS [2011] #1-12   (graphic stories for an older audience)
  • WHAT IF? WOLVERINE: FATHER [2011] #1   
  • WOLVERINE AND JUBILEE [2011] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE/HERCULES: MYTHS, MONSTERS AND MUTANTS [2011] #1-4   
  • WOLVERINE AND BLACK CAT: CLAWS 2 [2011] #1-3   
  • FEAR ITSELF: WOLVERINE [2011] #1-3   
  • WOLVERINE/DEADPOOL: THE DECOY [2011] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: DEBT OF DEATH [2011] #1   
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN: ALPHA AND OMEGA [2012] #1-5   
  • ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE [2013] #1-4   
  • GENERATIONS: WOLVERINE AND ALL-NEW WOLVERINE [2017] #1   
  • HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: MYSTERY IN MADRIPOOR [2018] #1-4   
  • HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: THE ADAMANTIUM AGENDA [2018] #1-4   
  • HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: THE CLAWS OF A KILLER [2018] #1-4   
  • HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: WEAPON LOST [2018] #1-4   
  • HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: DEAD ENDS [2018] #1   
  • WOLVERINE: THE LONG NIGHT [2019] #1-5   (mini-series adapts the scripted podcast: WOLVERINE: THE LONG NIGHT)
  • HULKVERINES [2019] #1-3   (Wolverine and Hulk vs. Weapon H)

Selected Key Storylines

This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett), any one of which can be a good place to get started. There's so much good stuff to choose from, but highlights include major developments in Wolverine's "story" and battles with other major Marvel characters. Wolverine has had many noteworthy single issues as well. You can find some of those in the Key Issues section later in this guide.

Key Storyline cover 1 for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)Key Storyline cover 2 for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)Key Storyline cover 3 for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)Key Storyline cover 4 for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)
1979X-MEN [1963] #120-121   (WANTED: WOLVERINE! DEAD OR ALIVE!; the 1st appearance of Alpha Flight gives us the first glimpses of Wolvie's mysterious past)
1981DAYS OF FUTURE PAST storyline   (one of the most notable Claremont X-Men story arcs)
1982WOLVERINE [1982] #1-4   (Claremont and Miller's classic reconstruction of Wolverine as a samurai-archetype)
1983UNCANNY X-MEN [1981] #172-174   (Claremont continues Wolverine's Japanese storyline from WOLVERINE [1982] #1-4)
1984KITTY PRYDE AND WOLVERINE [1984] #1-4   (Claremont and Milgrom pioneer the grizzled veteran Wolverine mentoring a young X-Man...plus, there's more samurai)
1988WOLVERINE [1988] #1-6   (historic introduction of Wolverine's "Patch" identity and his adventures in Madripoor)
1990WOLVERINE [1988] #31-37   (start of Larry Hama and Marc Silvestri's epic, character-defining run)
1991MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #72-84   (WEAPON X; first details of Weapon X program with legendary Barry Windsor-Smith art)
1991WOLVERINE [1988] #48-50   (DREAMS OF GORE!; the sequel story arc to WEAPON X)
1992MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #117-122   (CLAWS AND WEBS; Wolverine vs. Venom)
1993FATAL ATTRACTIONS storyline   (Fabian Nicieza and Scott Lobdell's X-title crossover featuring the mind-blowing extraction of Wolverine's adamantium skeleton by Magneto; adorned with extravagant 90's-era hologram covers)
1996VENOM: TOOTH AND CLAW [1996] #1-3   (Larry Hama scripts Wolverine vs. Venom)
1997WOLVERINE [1988] #119-122   (NOT DEAD YET; strong Warren Ellis story in the post-Hama era)
1999WOLVERINE [1988] #133-138   (THE GREAT ESCAPE; Erik Larsen writes a story of an alien-possessed Wolverine going up against half the Marvel Universe...including Galactus)
2000WOLVERINE [1988] #150-153   (BLOOD DEBT; Wolverine has his adamantium back and dives back into some exciting samurai action with old and new characters)
2001WOLVERINE [1988] #159-161   (THE BEST THERE IS; Frank Tieri's run kicks off with the dangerous Mister X laying physical and legal claims to the title...)
2001WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001] #1-6   (early boyhood history of Wolverine, emergence of mutant powers)
2002PUNISHER [2001] #16-17   (VERTICAL CHALLENGE / AIM LOW; Garth Ennis' Marvel Knights-style Punisher serves Wolverine a smackdown with a shotgun to the face and a steamroller)
WOLVERINE [1988] #186   (SEE YA ROUND, FRANKIE; continued from PUNISHER [2001] #16-17, Wolverine gives Punisher some payback)
2003WOLVERINE [2003] #1-6   (BROTHERHOOD; Greg Rucka's run starts strong with a Wolverine detective story)
2004WOLVERINE [2003] #20-31   (ENEMY OF THE STATE; a must-read Mark Millar story where Hydra brainwashes Wolverine into an unhinged killing machine)
2006WOLVERINE [2003] #36-40   (ORIGINS AND ENDINGS; Daniel Way scripts another chapter from Wolverine's time in the Weapon X program)
2006ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK [2006] #1-6   (knock-down Hulk rematch in the Ultimate Universe)
2007WOLVERINE: ORIGINS [2006] #16-20   (OUR WAR; Daniel Way reveals Wolverine's WWII history with Captain America...in Madripoor)
2008WOLVERINE: ORIGINS [2006] #21-25   (DEEP END; another strong Daniel Way arc with Woverine versus...Deadpool)
2008WOLVERINE [2003] #62-65   (GET MYSTIQUE; Jason Aaron and Ron Garney's fantastic story of Wolverine hunting Mystique following the Messiah Complex event)
2008LOGAN [2008] #1-3   (Brian K. Vaughn's stand-out story takes the memory-restored Wolverine back to Japan to contront old demons)
2008WOLVERINE: ORIGINS [2006] #26-30   (SON OF X / ORIGINAL SIN; two more stellar arcs from Daniel Way with the origin of Daken as well as what secrets Professor X knew of Wolverine from the beginning (and you should really just read all the rest of Way's stuff to issue #50 in this series))
2008WOLVERINE [2003] #66-72   (OLD MAN LOGAN, definitive 'backstory' by Millar and McNiven of the 'near' future version of Wolverine)
WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN GIANT-SIZE [2009] #1   (OLD MAN LOGAN conclusion)
2010UNCANNY X-FORCE [2010] #1-4   (THE APOCALYPSE SOLUTION; Rick Remender's first, outstanding arc of this series where Wolverine and Archangel put a ruthless team together to kill Apocalypse by any means (this whole 35-issue series is great))
2011WOLVERINE AND JUBILEE [2011] #1-4   (Wolverine re-bonds with a newly vampiric Jubilee)
2013SAVAGE WOLVERINE [2013] #6-8   (Joe Madureira's epic tale of ninjas, blades and sweet revenge guest stars Spidey and Elektra)
2013WOLVERINE [2013] #8-13   (KILLABLE; jam-packed, adrenaline ride with Wolverine's healing factor neutralized by a nano-virus)
2014DEATH OF WOLVERINE [2014] #1-4   ("they should kill off Wolverine," said no comic book fan ever...but they all still read it anyway)

Media Source Material

If you've enjoyed non-comic media for Wolverine, this section describes the comic book source material for some of the most popular non-comic media. WARNING: This section may contain spoilers!

The Wolverine Solo Movies of the X-Men Film Franchise

Wolverine is one of Marvel's most popular characters. He has had three solo films starring Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, but has made an appearance in nearly all of the X-Men films to date. Wolverine has also made countless appearances in animated films, television series and video games. This section focuses on his solo films and their comic book source material.

Media source material cover for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)

The 2009 movie, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, was written by David Benioff and Skip Woods, directed by Gavin Hood, and starred Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. 20th Century Fox purchased the film rights from Marvel to the X-Men family of characters in 1994--before Marvel formed their own film studio and well before Disney acquired Marvel--and has maintained that license to produce X-Men films...to much financial success. X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE was the fourth installment in Fox's X-Men film franchise, and it was the first spin-off film, focusing solely on Wolverine as a prequel to the existing X-Men films. Drawing from several iconic comic book storylines, the early childhood history of James 'Logan' Howlett portrayed in the movie pulls heavily from the historic WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001] #1-6, although a few details are slightly modified for the film. This comic book mini-series was published 25 years after the character's introduction and finally detailed the immergence of Wolverine's mutant powers. The film places Victor Creed (Sabretooth) as a character in Wolverine's early childhood, but Creed does not appear in WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001]. After a century of fighting in wars, William Stryker recruits Wolverine and Sabretooth into Team X, a CIA black-ops team of mutants. Stryker appeared in the previous X-Men film, but this film shows him in his younger years. William Stryker first appeared in the source graphic novel, X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS [1982], but he was a religious fanatic with a military history (which may have involved Team X and/or the Weapon X project, but was never explicitly stated). The first appearance of Team X in comics is X-MEN [1991] #5. This is also the first appearance of Maverick (David North) who was called Agent Zero in the film and has gone by that moniker in comics more recently as well. The other members of Team X all have comic origins as well. Wade Wilson would become the infamous Deadpool. His first appearance in comics is NEW MUTANTS [1983] #98. This film gives a radically different origin for this character when compared with the comics and his own later solo film. John Wraith's first appearance is WOLVERINE [1988] #60. Fred Dukes' alter-ego is the Blob, and his first appearance is X-MEN [1963] #3. The film places him on Team X, but in comics he was not associated with Team X or the Weapon Plus program. Bolt (Chris Bradley) first appeared in comics in X-MEN UNLIMITED [1993] #8. In the film, he is a teammate of Maverick's, but, in comics, Maverick mentored the young mutant. When Wolverine leaves Team X, he shacks up with Kayla Silverfox. In comics, Silver Fox is one of Wolverine's former lovers. Her first appearance is WOLVERINE [1988] #10, but the comic book version has different powers than the film version. She apparently dies in this issue, just as she apparantly dies at the beginning of the film. Her real death is in WOLVERINE [1988] #64. In the movie, Wolverine volunteers to undergo the adamantium bonding process to stop Sabretooth. This is counter to the comic book source material, in which Logan was kidnapped and forced into the process. The first details of the Weapon X program were published in MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #72-84. A direct sequel arc is contained in WOLVERINE [1988] #48-50. Wolverine fights a Remy 'Gambit' LeBeau on his path of revenge. Gambit's first full appearance in comics is UNCANNY X-MEN [1981] #266. While X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE as a whole was financially successful, many fans consider it a mangled mess of comic source material, particularly the handling of Deadpool.

Media source material cover for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)

The 2013 movie, WOLVERINE, was written by Mark Bomback and Scott Frank and directed by James Mangold with Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine. The second solo Wolverine film (6th installment in Fox's X-Men film franchise) pulls heavily from the story elements of Wolverine's first comic book solo series, WOLVERINE [1982] #1-4 from Chris Claremont and Frank Miller. During WWII, Wolverine saves a man from the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. This plot detail is unique to the film franchise, but the man's son turns out to be Shingen Yashida. Better known as Lord Shingen in comics, his first appearance is WOLVERINE [1982] #1, and he is one of Wolverine's arch-villains. In present day, Yukio finds Logan and brings him to the man he saved all those years ago, as the man is dying. Yukio's first appearance is also WOLVERINE [1982] #1, but the film makes significant changes to the character. In comics, she is a skilled martial artist, but in the film she is also a mutant who can foresee people's deaths. Also, the film joins her to the Yashida Clan by adoption but in her comic book history she is just a hired assassin. The film introduces Mariko, the daughter of Lord Shingen. Her first comic book appearance is X-MEN [1963] #118 where she is a love interest of Wolverine, as in this film. The film depicts Kenuichio Harada as the old man's bodyguard. In comics, Harada is the illegitimate son of Lord Shingen and is alternately known as the Silver Samurai. The Silver Samurai's first appearance is DAREDEVIL [1964] #111. In comics, during his villainous years, he would become the bodyguard of another villain, Viper. The film depicts Viper as the old man's physician. Her first appearance is CAPTAIN AMERICA [1968] #110, as she is most often portrayed as one of Captain America's supervillains but has had significant interaction with Wolverine as well. Wolverine and Viper married in WOLVERINE [1988] #126 but were soon divorced. In comics, the Silver Samurai wears a lightweight steel alloy body armor, modeled after traditional samurai armor, but made of more modern materials. In the final battle of the film, Wolverine must face off against a massive adamantium-enhanced electromechanical suit of samurai armor nearly identical to the comic book version of Silver Samurai's armor.

Media source material cover for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)

Wolverine's third solo movie, LOGAN was written by Scott Frank, James Mangold and Michael Green and directed again by James Mangold. Hugh Jackman reprised his role as Wolverine for the last time with this tenth installment in the Fox X-Men film franchise. The Wolverine character in the 2017 movie, LOGAN, is not precisely the comic book character, Old Man Logan, but the movie character is certainly influenced by the comic book character from the modern day classic OLD MAN LOGAN storyline in WOLVERINE [2003] #66-72 and WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN GIANT-SIZE [2009] #1 from Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. Both are future tales: the movie is set about 13 years in the future, whereas the comic book is set further in the future. Both are post-superhero worlds: the movie depicts a world where new mutants have stopped appearing, whereas the comic book world is a post-apocalyptic one where the supervillains have defeated all the superheroes. Both involve a road trip: the movie charges Logan with delivering his clone daughter, Laura (X-23), to safety, while the package to be delivered in the comic book is a briefcase full of super-soldier serum. Both also involve an embittered man, but the guilt of past deeds for comic book Old Man Logan is far greater than the guilt that movie Logan bears. An aged and sick Wolverine with a broken and tortured soul is the major influence comic book Old Man Logan brings to the tone of the movie. While the setting and the circumstances are slightly different, fans are used to shifts in movie adaptations. The resemblance in persona alone is enough to demonstrate the influence the comic book character has made on the cinematic version of Wolverine.

Key Issues

A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett), but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags.

Key Issue cover 1 for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)Key Issue cover 2 for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)Key Issue cover 3 for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)Key Issue cover 4 for WOLVERINE (JAMES 'LOGAN' HOWLETT)

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  • DAREDEVIL [1964] #111   (1st appearance of Silver Samurai)
  • INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180   (cameo appearance of Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett))
  • INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #181   (1st full appearance of Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett))
  • THOR [1966] #229   (1st appearance (in an ad) of Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett))
  • GIANT-SIZE X-MEN [1975] #1   (1st appearance of the new X-Men team, 1st appearances of Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Thunderbird)
  • X-MEN [1963] #94   (new X-Men team begins in this series, 1st Chris Claremont script in X-Men)
  • IRON FIST [1975] #14   (1st appearance of Sabretooth)
  • X-MEN [1963] #120   (1st cameo appearance of Alpha Flight)
  • X-MEN [1963] #121   (1st full appearance of Alpha Flight)
  • X-MEN [1963] #129   (1st appearance of Donald Pierce)
  • X-MEN [1963] #133   (Wolverine takes on the Hellfire Club...all alone)
  • WOLVERINE [1982] #1   (1st appearances of Yukio, Lord Shingen)
  • DAREDEVIL [1964] #197   (1st appearance of Lady Deathstrike)
  • UNCANNY X-MEN [1981] #181   (1st appearance of Amiko Kobayashi (Wolverine's surrogate daughter))
  • UNCANNY X-MEN [1981] #205   (precursor story to Weapon X)
  • INCREDIBLE HULK AND WOLVERINE [1986] #1   (reprints INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180/181)
  • SPIDER-MAN VS. WOLVERINE [1987] #1   (Spider-Man/Wolverine team-up; Peter and MJ realize they are more than friends)
  • INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #340   (Wolverine vs. Gray Hulk; iconic cover)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #1   (1st issue of this series)
  • UNCANNY X-MEN [1981] #244   (1st appearance of Jubilee)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #10   (1st appearance of Silver Fox; Wolverine's earliest battle with Sabretooth predates Weapon X program; Wolverine presumably has no claws)
  • WOLVERINE BATTLES THE INCREDIBLE HULK [1989] #1   (reprints INCREDIBLE HULK [1968] #180/181)
  • SPIDER-MAN VS. WOLVERINE [1990] #1   (square-bound edition of the 1987 saddle-stitched one-shot)
  • MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #72   (1st details of the Weapon X program)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #37   (1st cameo appearance of Albert (robotic Wolverine replica)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #38   (1st full appearance of Albert (robotic Wolverine replica)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #41   (Wolverine vs. Sabretooth; Sabretooth claims to be Wolverine's father)
  • MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS [1988] #85   (1st appearance of Cyber)
  • X-MEN [1991] #4   (1st appearance of Omega Red)
  • X-MEN [1991] #5   (1st appearances of Maverick (David North), Team X)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #57   (death of Mariko)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #60   (1st appearance of John Wraith)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #64   (death of Silver Fox)
  • X-MEN [1991] #25   (FATAL ATTRACTIONS, Part 4 of 6; Magneto extracts the adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton, revealing he has bone claws)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #75   (FATAL ATTRACTIONS, Part 5 of 6; immediate aftermath of Wolverine's adamantium extraction)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #80   (dubious '1st appearance' of X-23...as a test tube labeled 'LOGAN X' and '#23')
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #88   (1st Deadpool/Wolverine battle)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] -1   (appearances of James Hudson, Nick Fury, Sabretooth, Carol Danvers; flashback story of Logan's time as a Canadian agent)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #126   (marriage of Wolverine and Viper)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #145   (Wolverine regains his adamantium)
  • WOLVERINE 1999 [1999]    (Wolverine vs. Deadpool)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #154   (ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER, Part 1 of 2; Deadpool/Wolverine team-up by Rob Liefeld)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #155   (ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER, Part 2 of 2; Deadpool/Wolverine team-up by Rob Liefeld)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #156   (appearance of Spider-Man)
  • WOLVERINE [1988] #166   (prelude to THE ORIGIN; 5-page sequence w/guest artist Barry Windsor-Smith that takes place during the MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS WEAPON X story arc)
  • WOLVERINE: THE ORIGIN [2001] #1   (origin of Wolverine (James 'Logan' Howlett); 1st issue of this series)
  • NEW X-MEN [2001] #128   (1st appearance of Fantomex, a Weapon Plus subject)
  • NYX [2003] #3   (1st appearance of X-23 (Wolverine's clone daughter))
  • WEAPON X [2002] #1   (appearance of Wolverine)
  • WOLVERINE [2003] #37   (1st appearance of Itsu (Wolverine's wife, Daken's mother))
  • WOLVERINE [2003] #40   (death of Itsu (in flashback))
  • WOLVERINE: ORIGINS [2006] #10   (1st appearance of Daken (unnamed); death of Dum Dum Dugan)
  • WOLVERINE [2003] #66   (1st appearance of a character referred to as Old Man Logan (published June 2008))
  • ULTIMATE X [2010] #1   (1st appearance of Jimmy Hudson (Ultimate Wolverine/Heather Hudson's son))
  • WHAT IF? WOLVERINE: FATHER [2011] #1   (contains 6-page WHAT IF THE VENOM SYMBIOTE POSSESSED DEADPOOL, Part 2 of 4)
  • WOLVERINE/DEADPOOL: THE DECOY [2011] #1   (appearance of Deadpool)
  • AVENGERS ARENA [2013] #14   (popular cover (homage to WOLVERINE [1982] #1))