The Wolverine!

Art by John Romita Jr.


Chronological Wolverine facts as revealed to the reader part 19

Continuing our journey to understand the Wolverine character as was revealed to the reader issue to issue, month to month through his publication history. So from a reader's point of view here is Logan's history, who he was, and how and when we learned it!

Aug 1981
The Uncanny X-Men 148
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: David Emmet "Dave" Cockrum





Wolverine is a hunter, but that doesn't always mean killing. With the Danger Room still out of commission these X-Men have taken their training outside. Wolverine mysteriously disappears!



Wolverine surprise attacks Nightcrawler with a liver shot high to the right side of the abdomen again indicative of Logan's training in martial arts. As any professional fighter can tell you a well placed liver shot is excruciatingly painful and causes a loss of breath, momentary paralysis, and with sufficient enough shock to the Vagus nerve overloading your nervous system's response from the liver to the brain it can knock you out! The brain gets tricked into restricting blood flow to prevent blood loss from serious injury which can cause unconsciousness. Which was exactly what happened to Nightcrawler as he was stunned and fell breathless, too groggy to teleport, TKO!

So in addition to Logan's martial arts training in Judo and Karate*, we learn that Logan was trained in Ninjutsu while in Japan! Yeah, you read that right, Wolverine is a ninja!

*See Uncanny X-Men 133 and 137 in Wolverine a Reader's Perspective parts 14 and 15 -NLogan



Angel bugs out leaving the X-Men because he doesn't want to work with Wolverine, believing that he endangers the team. Storm and Professor Xavier recognize the potential in Wolverine and his progress thus far. The rest of the issue deals with Banshee meeting his daughter and Kitty being kidnapped by Caliban.

1981
King-Size Annual! The Avengers 10
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Michael Golden





A brief cameo of Wolverine helping fix the danger room still after Kitty's fight with the N'Garai demon in Uncanny X-Men 143.



Logan enjoying a swim.

Sept 1981
The Uncanny X-Men 149
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: David Emmet "Dave" Cockrum





Logan knows how to play cards and has taught Peter how to play Gin Rummy. He also knows Poker.



Wolverine discovers Kitty and easily hefts her up and holds her at arm level comfortably.



As the X-Men approach Magneto's abandoned base in Antarctica only Storm who is immune to weather because of her powers and Wolverine don't need parkas as protection against the cold. Wolverine's endurance and fast healing protect him from the weather. The team relies on Wolverine's senses to detect danger as the point man during the exploration.



Wolverine still loses his temper and he vents by destroying the remains of the robot, angry at the memory of being captured and helpless*.

*See Uncanny X-Men 113







Oct 1981
The Uncanny X-Men 150
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: David Emmet "Dave" Cockrum





Slipped into the dialog here is a major retcon for the character. Back in Uncanny X-Men 126 we learned that Wolverine's skeleton was made of adamantium*. Since then he has referred to his bones as made from adamantium, and even the story narrative has referred to him having adamantium bones. The retcon is that now his bones are not made of adamantium, but laced with that near-indestructible metal. This is the first time that exact wording is used for Wolverine in continuity becoming canon. We saw the same wording in Uncanny X-Men 141 but it dealt with a future Wolverine in an alternate timeline and could not considered canon because we had no way of knowing if the timeline of Wolverine's character would end up in the Days of Future Past or any infinite possibilities that could diverge the character's history from that future, namely Kitty Pryde going back in time to alter the events of the past to change the future as we saw happen in that book. The writer Chris Claremont had this idea, "his entire skeleton is laced with that same miracle metal, making his bones virtually unbreakable" since he described future Wolverine's skeleton that way awhile back, but it is only now that it becomes official*.

*See Uncanny X-Men 126, 137, and 140 for references to Wolverine's skeleton being made of adamantium. You'll find them in Wolverine a Reader's Perspective parts 12, 15, and 17.



Even though his skeleton laced with adamantium must weigh quite a bit, Wolverine has the stamina and strength to swim normally for miles.



Wolverine does a surprise attack amphibious assault.



Wolverine looks ridiculous with wet hair, or maybe it is just the artist. His sideburns are drawn as really long coming from ear level instead of shorter continuing down his jawline. The effect is wet tufts of hair like a rabbit's tail drooping from his ears. ugh. He is in no mood because he is worried about his friend Colossus.



Wolverine knows CPR and does it correctly, elbows locked hands overlapped and coupled with Kitty giving mouth to mouth they revive Colossus. When the immediate threat is over Wolverine is back to business.



Even while having his mutant powers neutralized, Wolverine is able to detect and almost recognize scents and is aware that his senses seem duller.



No mention is made of the loss of Wolverine's other mutant power, his fast healing ability. Nor is there mention of the wound that would be made when his claws extend through the back of his hands. Wolverine doesn't even wince.





Wolverine was able to maintain his balance across the rounded slippery horizontal support without the aid of Nightcrawler's tridactyl toes or his experience as a professional acrobat.



Wolverine places his concern for his friend's safety above his own.





Wolverine has every intention of dealing with this serious threat permanently.

1981
King-Size Annual! The Amazing Spider-Man 15
Writer: Mark Gruenwald
Pencillers: Mark Gruenwald and Bob Layton Sr.





You missed your chance to write in and tell Mark that Wolverine belongs in the medium weights by over three decades, because as we know that Wolverine can break chromalloy steel shackles and steel chains which would definitely not fall in the normal human range*.

See Uncanny X-Men 98 and 111 in Wolverine a Reader's Perspective Parts 3 and 7 -NLogan

Well troops, stay tuned for the next installment!