Wolverine is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics starring the X-Men character Wolverine. As of, 323 issues and 11 annuals have been published. It is the original flagship title created for the character.
Publication history
Volume 1
The first Wolverine was a four issue limited series (the company's second-ever limited series), written by Chris Claremont with pencils by Frank Miller, inks by Joe Rubinstein, letters by Tom Orzechowski, and colors by Glynis Wein. Marvel Comics published the series in 1982, cover dated from September to December. Highlighting Wolverine's time in Japan, this story arc covers his battle with the yakuza, The Hand ninja organization, and his engagement to Mariko Yashida.
Volume 2
An ongoing series started publication in 1988 and lasted until 2003 when it was relaunched after issue #189. The original creative team consisted of writer Chris Claremont and penciler John Buscema. Claremont described the series as "high adventure rather than super heroics, sort of a combination of Conan meets Terry and the Pirates."[1] As a visual manifestation of the series' break from the traditional superhero genre, throughout Claremont's run, Wolverine wears either civilian clothes or a mask-less, all-black outfit instead of his superhero costume. Costumed characters in general were few and far between.[2]
Nearly half of the volume's run was written by Larry Hama. Hama exerted an oversized influence on Wolverine's depiction through the 1990s, since he was generally given free rein on the series and, in his own words, "I considered the Chris Claremont, Frank Miller, and Barry Windsor-Smith [Wolverine] stories to be canon, and I pretty much ignored everything else."[3] Other writers on the series included Peter David, Archie Goodwin, Jo Duffy, Warren Ellis, Todd Dezago, Erik Larsen, Steve Skroce, Rob Liefeld, Frank Tieri, Matt Nixon and Daniel Way. Marc Silvestri penciled Wolverine from 1990 to 1992. Hama recalled, "It was like magic. I would hand in a script and [Silvestri's] visualization of it was always better than what I saw. He would expand on the ideas. He's just a brilliant draftsman and storyteller, and I was really lucky to get to work with him."[3]
Volume 3
Volume 3 shares large ties to the "House of M", "Decimation", and "Civil War" story arcs, which made a large impact to the Marvel universe. "X-Men: Divided We Stand" and the alternate timeline "Old Man Logan" story arcs are also prominent in the third volume as well. Volume 3 is also notable for beginning of the Wolverine: Origins story, which introduces Wolverine's son, Daken. And as part of the "Dark Reign" storyline, the series was renamed Dark Wolverine in 2009 with issue #75 giving more focus on Daken. The third volume began in July 2003, and ended in August 2009 with issue #90. Volume 3 featured arcs written by Greg Rucka, Mark Millar, Daniel Way, Marc Guggenheim, Jeph Loeb, and Jason Aaron. Wolverine: Origins and Dark Wolverine (Vol. 3 #75-90) were also by Way.
Volume 4
A fourth volume was launched in September 2010 with a new #1. Consisting of the "Wolverine Goes to Hell" and "Goodbye Chinatown" story arcs, the fourth volume also carries ties into the X-Men: Regenesis story arc as well.
The fourth volume ended after issue #20, and the series returned to its original ongoing numbering as issue #300. How Marvel reached issue #300 is like this: Volume 2 (#1-189), Volume 3 (#1-90/#190-279), and Volume 4 (#1-20/#280-299), with Volume 4's issue #21 ending up as #300.
The fourth volume was primarily written by Jason Aaron, and was concluded with issue #317 in December 2012 in the wake of the Marvel NOW! initiative.[4]
Volume 5
As part of the Marvel NOW! relaunch, Wolverine Vol. 4 was cancelled as of issue #317 and a fifth volume was launched in March 2013, with the creative team of Paul Cornell and Alan Davis.[5] The fifth volume consists of the "Hunting Season" and "Killable" story arcs of Wolverine's life, with a brief run of 13 issues. Volume 5 serves as one of the preludes to the "Death of Wolverine" story arc.
An additional series titled Savage Wolverine debuted in January 2013. The title features team-ups between Wolverine and Shanna the She-Devil, as they try to survive The Savage Land, and various encounters with other Marvel characters.[6]
Volume 6
A sixth volume of Wolverine by Paul Cornell and Ryan Stegman was launched as part of All-New Marvel NOW! initiative in February 2014, featuring a changed Wolverine, who has joined a group of minor supervillains as an attempt to simplify his life.[7] Consisting of the "12 Months to Die" story arc, the sixth volume ran for thirteen issues, and also served as the second prelude to the "Death of Wolverine" story arc.
Volume 7
The seventh volume of Wolverine was released as part of the Dawn of X, Reign of X, and Destiny of X relaunches. The first two relaunches took place in the year of 2020, being overseen by Jonathan Hickman. The volume is written by Benjamin Percy and illustrated by Adam Kubert.[8] The sixth and seventh issues are the tie-ins to the "X of Swords" crossover storyline of Dawn of X, while issues #8–19 are connected to the "Hellfire Gala" crossover storyline in the Reign of X relaunch. Issue #20 ties into the "X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine" story event, along with the Destiny of X relaunch that will follows the event. Issues #24-25 tie into the "Judgement Day" crossover event. Issues #41-50 consist of the "Sabretooth War" story arc, and a connection to the Fall of X relaunch. The overall seventh volume concludes with issue #50.
Prints
Prints
Volume 8
Volume 8 of the definitive Wolverine title began in mid-to-late months of 2024, as part of the X-Men: From the Ashes relaunch. Following the tragic end of the Krakoan Era, Wolverine returns to a solitary life among wolves in the snowy Canadian Wilderness. However, the solitude is short-lived when he finds himself being hunted by old foes again.
Contributors
Vol. 1 (1982)
Writers
Pencilers
Writers
Pencilers
Vol. 2 (1988–2003)
Writers
Pencilers
Writers
Pencilers
In other media
Television
- The story arc from Volume 1 has been adapted into the plot of the Japanese series Wolverine, a part of the Marvel Anime anthology miniseries.
- Some of the details regarding the story arc detailing Logan’s Japanese adventure in Volume 1 have been adapted into an episode of Wolverine and the X-Men.
Film
- The story arc from Volume 1 concerning Logan's exploits in Japan has been loosely adapted into the 2013 live-action film, The Wolverine, directed by James Mangold and starring Hugh Jackman as Logan, with Tao Okamoto, Hiroyuki Sanada and Rila Fukushima,[12]
Reception
IGN gave the trade paperback collection of the first Wolverine series a "Must Have" rating.[14]
Collected editions
Marvel Essentials
Marvel Essential editions reprint material in black and white.