With the new Wolverine movie coming out this month, I thought I’d make a quick list of semi recent comics for people who feel like they want to see more from the character. I’ve gotten some flack in the past from my lists, so let me just reiterate for those who may get butthurt, this is my opinion so if you feel like I’m missing anything, leave a comment. Also, check out one of the more extensive trailers before the list!
5. Logan (2008)
Writer – Brian K. Vaughan
Artist – Eduardo Risso
This story takes part shortly after the events of House of M, and sees the return of Wolverine’s memories. While Logan shows Wolverine return to Japan, we get a taste of some of the recently remembered memories in the form of WWII flashbacks. Not only do we get a great story from Vaughan and excellent art from Risso, but we also get to see an atomic bomb dropped on Wolverine in Hiroshima.
4. Origin (2001-02)
Writer – Paul Jenkins
Artist – Andy Kubert
This was the book that answered a ton of questions that fans have been asking since Wolverine’s first appearance. We find out that Wolverine’s real name isn’t Logan, but instead it’s James Howlett. We also see the early years of Wolverine and find out that he was actually very sick as a child, until his healing factor and other mutations come into play. We’re also introduced to a childhood rivalry with a character named Dog, who bares an uncanny (pun!) resemblance to Sabretooth. Jenkins and Kubert’s story is a must have for anyone interested in Wolverine’s origin.
3. Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk (2005-09)
Writer – Damon Lindelof
Artist – Leinil Yu
With the story arc only consisting of six issues and taking roughly 4 years to fully publish, we should all start taking it easy on Mark Millar for taking forever to release his work. With that one tiny issue set aside, this book illustrates one of my all time favorite Wolverine battles, and it’s against none other than the Incredible Hulk. Leinil Yu is one of my favorite comic artists, which would usually be enough to sell me on buying this book, but with Lindelof writing the story, it’s a no-brainer. Not only is this one of my favorite Wolverine books, but it’s easily one of my favorite Hulk books as well.
2. Wolverine Noir (2009)
Writer – Stuart Moore
Artist – C.P. Smith
A couple years ago, Marvel did a pretty interesting thing and took some of their major characters and reworked them for a couple different Noir tales. Spider-Man, Punisher, Iron Man, Daredevil, and even the entire X-Men team got their own Noir book, as well as a couple others. Wolverine’s tells the story of Jim Logan Howlett and Dog Logan, who is the alleged brother of Jim, as they look into a crime in New York’s Bowery in 1937. While it’s not exactly the Wolverine we all know and love (no popping of the claws or healing factor), we do get to see a mortal version that uses a three-bladed, modified knife instead of his claws and is prone to a little of that trademarked berserker rage, which left me wanting more of this series, even though a lot of the supporting cast gets killed.
1. Old Man Logan
Writer – Mark Millar
Artist – Steve McNiven
Far into the future, Wolverine is a non-violent farmer living on land controlled by the incestuous, hillbilly offspring of the Hulk. There hasn’t been a superhero seen since all the super villains of the Marvel Universe got together and took down all the good guys. The United States is now divided by some of the baddest super villains, even though the Hulk kept most of the West Coast to himself. Doctor Doom, Red Skull, and the Kingpin hold the rest of the US. When Wolverine falls behind on his payments to the Hulk Family, he is approached by a blind Hawkeye who requests his help in delivering a package to the other side of the country. Along the way, they run into a lot of the remaining Marvel Universe, including Peter Parker’s grand daughter, the Moloids, Black Bolt, Emma Frost, the Venom Symbiote, and the fallen body of Hank Pym. We also see why Wolverine became a pascifist, and the only thing more heartbreaking than that is the ending of the series, which wraps up in a giant sized 8th issue. Plans for a sequel have been talked about, but Millar and Marvel haven’t officially confirmed anything yet.
