Insomniac recently revealed the release date of the upcoming Wolverine game. This will be their second Marvel video game, and after the acclaim that the Spider-Man games got, we can know for a fact that everyone’s favourite Mutant will get the same treatment.
Wolverine is the most iconic X-Men out of all of them and possibly one of the most iconic characters in all of Marvel. He has a very long history in comics, with his debut in The Incredible Hulk #181 all the way back in 1974.
These are the five comics you have to read before playing Insomniac’s Wolverine. Understanding this character will only make the game much more enjoyable.
Wolverine: The Origin
Written by Paul Jenkins, Bill Jemas & Joe Quesada
In this series, we are given a definitive backstory of who Wolverine was before officially becoming Wolverine, and it is fascinating to read. The reader is introduced to James Howlett, a sickly boy in the 19th century living on a wealthy estate in Alberta, Canada.
We are also introduced to Rose and Dog Logan (yes, his first name is Dog). Over the years, Dog becomes violent until he and his father are kicked out of the estate where his father was the groundskeeper. This causes a horrible domino of events, leading to James losing both of his parents and discovering he is a Mutant for the first time.
Years pass before Dog returns, now deadlier than ever, and is determined to kill James. Just as James is about to land the killing blow, Rose steps in to stop him, only for her to die by James’s own hands.
This causes Wolverine’s amnesia regarding his origin, and yet, it’s still only the beginning. We also discover why he takes up the name ‘Logan’ through this series.
Wolverine (Vol. 1) #1-4
Written by Chris Claremont
In this story, Logan journeys to Japan to search for his lost love, Mariko Yashida. Only for him to discover she’s in an abusive relationship, which starts a chain of events where Logan ends up being left for dead in an alley.
We are introduced to Yukio, an assassin, who actually enters a romantic relationship with Logan during all of this. Of course, she ends up being a villain, and Logan quickly tries to kill her for this. However, she gets away. This doesn’t actually stop the romantic relationship between Yukio and Logan, as they end up kissing later on.
Wolverine has to face down an army of ninjas, including Lord Shingen, the father of Mariko Yashida. Logan brutally takes them all out, especially violent with Lord Shingen.
The final moment in the comic is the X-Men reading a letter they received, a wedding invitation from Logan and Mariko in Japan.
Wolverine (Vol. 3) #1-19
Written by Greg Rucka
This is a darker, more grounded approach to Wolverine, one we don’t see often. This run follows multiple story arcs, each one just as meaningful as the last.
The first arc (Brotherhood) covers the topic of the treatment of young girls in society and the horrific dangers of cults, especially for children. The second arc (Coyote Crossing) covers a more political topic with immigration and the cruel drug lords/smugglers who take advantage of the helpless.
The third and final act (The Return of the Native) takes this darkness and focuses inward on Wolverine this time. Introducing Sabretooth to this run for the first time, he certainly makes it memorable.
It all ends with Logan holding the dead body of the woman who once carried his unborn child, bringing her to Nightcrawler and asking him to pray for her soul.
Weapon X
Written by Barry Windsor-Smith
At its heart, Weapon X is a psychological horror, but it is also integral to the character of Wolverine. This is the origin of how he ended up with an adamantium skeleton; it’s also the story of one of his biggest traumas.
Logan is tortured brutally by the Weapon X program, bonding the metal to his skeleton and transforming him into a mindless, feral ‘animal’. He was tortured in almost every way, having his memory forcefully wiped and being constantly dehumanised.
Eventually, he escaped, killing everyone in the facility, but still completely driven by an untamed rage. He leaves the massacre behind, and with no memories or any clue as to who he is other than his name, he welcomes the snowy Canadian wilderness.
Old Man Logan
Written by Mark Millar
A comic series so influential that it got made into a movie. Old Man Logan is a classic for a reason, with fascinating storytelling and introducing a new original concept for the Marvel Universe.
Fifty years have passed since heroism fell, and Logan has finally begun to age and grow weaker. He is recruited by an old, blind Hawkeye to help him navigate the country in order to deliver a mysterious package.
The story is beautifully macabre and will make you incredibly emotional as you read. But it is entirely worth it in every way; it has some of the best storytelling I’ve ever seen in a Wolverine comic, and it is iconic for a good reason.
Make sure to add all of these comics to your reading list if you’re looking forward to Insomniac’s Wolverine as much as I am – the game may even take inspiration from some of them!