It had to happen! Merry Marvel mutant Wolverine publishes his 400th issue in April!
This April, Wolverine #8 will also be numbered Wolverine #400 in an oversized issue with tales from series creators Saladin Ahmed and Martin Cóccolo. Two of those stories will be “packed with several key appearances and revelations that will define Logan’s adventure moving forward,” according to a news release from Marvel. It will be “the fight of his life,” they say.
Also, Daniel Warren Johnson, who recently won Eisners for his work on Transformers, will contribute a story as well!
Here’s the description of the issue from the House of Ideas:
“Wolverine’s latest run placed him the crosshairs of an existential new threat known as THE ADAMANTINE! As the mythical force hunting for the unbreakable metal that coats Wolverine’s claws and skeleton, this lore-shattering new archenemy at last stands fully revealed in its golden glory to reclaim and purify its legacy! Plus, a surprise return from Logan’s past that no reader will see coming and a special celebratory bonus story written and drawn by Daniel Warren Johnson, who will also contribute a stunning variant cover! A massive issue you cannot afford to miss! Wolverine faces off with the Adamantine! The Wendigo is pulled into a deadly trap as a specter from Wolverine’s past emerges – and the Wolverine story you never thought you’d see begins here!”
“A big anniversary issue is always a great excuse to go crazy with reveals and unveilings, and we’ve taken that to heart here!” said scripter Ahmed. “In this oversized issue an old enemy drives Logan’s new pupil the Wendigo to the brink, Logan finally comes face to face with the cryptic entity known as the Adamantine, and a stunning new family revelation plants the seeds for the next chaotic chapter of Logan’s life.”
The main cover for the book will be by Cóccolo, with variant covers from Andy Kubert and Jermone Opena.
Even the most rabid mutant fan who is a friend of mine admits that Logan’s popularity among Marvel enthusiasts isn’t what it used to be. It’s normal for character’s popularity to rise and fall over time. For the last few years, Wolverine isn’t quite the draw he used to be.
However, compared to other mutants in the various X-teams, he still seems to be—at the very least—among the most popular. He also sells a lot of comics even today!
So, what’s the House of Ideas to do but continue to put the spotlight on the one X-Man who appears in more comics than any other? They give him as many comics as he wants, Bub!
Recently, Logan appeared on the big screen with Deadpool, and the two are appearing in their own team-up mini-series, so they must be on to something here!
Whether he’s wearing the original blue and yellow costume or the more recent brown and yellow outfit, he’s still the most recognizable of the mutants from the X-Men. So, if there is any mutant who deserves a celebration, it’s this guy!
One of the problems I have as a long-time comics fan is that I can remember when Wolverine first appeared on the scene. He was shorter than the other mutants around him, and other X-Men would recoil because of his bad body odor.
Of course, Wolverine hacked and slashed his way up on the popularity ladder among fans, and as that happened, he became noticeably taller and apparently bathed more often. Fewer and fewer X-Men held their noses when he entered the room. He also says the word “Bub” much less often—if at all these days—than he used to.
In some cases, like an anime from several years back, he also became younger. He seemed to be MUCH taller and younger in that series, so different that I barely recognized him.
At times, he’s been in charge of various teams. He’s also appeared in so many titles, often more than one a month, and I was often wondering if he ever got the chance to eat or sleep! Maybe all that healing factor keeps him from getting tired or needing sleep!
The one mutant who often fought Wolverine was Sabretooth, who was taller and possibly stronger than Logan. However, I think writers have had Wolverine beat Sabretooth so many times that, like the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the excitement about the two clashing has diminished over time.
Of course, I remember when Adamantium was all the rage, although the notion of having one’s bones replaced by it still makes me shudder. Now, apparently, we also have Adamantine, which is an extremely durable metallic ore commonly used by the Olympian god Hephaestus, according to Marvel.fandom.com.
In a recent issue of Wolverine, Logan said, “Adamantine?” The response? “Like what’s on your claw. Only godlier.”
To find out more about this new menace, we just have to buy the book, of course!
As several fans online have pointed out, Wolverine’s impact on Marvel is more than just the 400 issues of his comic. He’s been in X-Men, X-Force, Avengers, and many other comics over the years! Fans aplenty are planning to support Logan for the next 400 issues and beyond!
What do you think? Is Wolverine still the most popular of the mutants? Can he return to his lofty place in the Marvel Universe? What will Wolverine look like in the years ahead? Will he continue to evolve? Whatever your opinion, feel free to share it in the space below!
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