Classic Wolverine Cover: Alpha Flight #13

From 2008 to 2009, Wolverine Files highlighted, in chronological order, iconic Wolverine covers and their homages. Want to start at the beginning? Click here…

After a tremendous run of covers in 1982 and 1983, Wolverine hit a dry spell in 1984 and 1985. So I humbly present the only good Wolverine cover of 1984: Alpha Flight #13 by John Byrne (with inks possibly by Bill Sienkiewicz and/or Al Milgrom).

What’s even sadder is Wolverine’s appearance is only a dream. That said, I do enjoy how John Byrne uses elements within his artwork for editorial purposes, such as the gravestones for all the artists involved in this particular cover…

Wolverine Covers: Alpha Flight #13

Next up are two examples of the sort of love that Wolverine was receiving around this time. Note the wonderful depiction of the back of Wolverine’s head…

Uncanny X-Men #175 Uncanny X-Men Annual #7

We continue with examples of the sort of crappy covers Wolverine had to endure when artists did deign to use the front of his mask…

Daredevil #196 cover X-Men vs. Micronauts #3 cover

And when the covers weren’t crappy, Wolverine was having his lunch handed to him by Spider-Man and Firestar.

I mean, come on. Firestar?!?

Secret Wars #3 cover Firestar #2 cover

Finally, even when Wolverine did get a little love, such as in the ‘Kitty Pryde and Wolverine’ miniseries, he was saddled with a series of horrendous covers by Allen Milgrom, such as the two below.

Curse you, Allen Milgrom!

Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #5 cover Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #6 cover

Previous Classic Wolverine Cover: Uncanny X-Men #173 | Next: Uncanny X-Men #196

Want to see the Classic Wolverine Covers from the beginning? Start here…

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DiG
15 years ago

We debated that Daredevil cover for weeks. It might be the worst Wolverine cover of the 80s, if not all time.

DiG
15 years ago

Well, seven out of eight ain’t bad!

As for the Micronauts cover, it just never worked for me. Michael Golden was such a dynamite artist at the time and that cover seemed so sub-par for him.

DF
15 years ago

That cover DareDevil 196 was the first time DD and Wolverine met. The 2nd time would not be so friendly as DD, aked by the girlfriend,s killer (or his wife, I don’t remember exactly) tries to protect a killer who kills gifted mutants (gifted as musician or painter) while Wolverine tries to avoid more mutant killings. At the end DD will recognize his mistakes.

templedog09
15 years ago

Did you notice that the claws look like they are coming out of wolvie’s palm on the DD cover?

Peter
15 years ago

Okay, that Daredevil cover is AWESOME.. despite the fact that Wolverine’s boots look like they’re about to impale his crotch. Okay I’m lying.
But why don’t you like his depiction on the Micronauts cover? The mask is kind of devilish looking but I don’t think it’s bad (unlike Wolvie’s arms on Kitty Pryde # 6 –are those Puck’s arms attached to Logan’s body?)

Mephisto
14 years ago

Wolverine’s hands are palm up in the Daredevil cover. The colorist on the issue messed up and colored his thumb the same color as the ripped part of the shirt. If you look in the E of the title logo part of DEVIL you will see his thumb there but miscolored.

Gabe
14 years ago

Wow. How could I miss this?

That Daredevil cover is hysterical!!!

John Trumbull
13 years ago

I guarantee you that Bill Sienkiewicz and Al Milgrom had nothing to do with that Alpha Flight cover. It’s just John Byrne putting their names on the headstones as an in-joke.

DiG
13 years ago
Reply to  John Trumbull

Can’t really argue with you.

I think I based their inclusion on the entry from the Marvel Wikia of Alpha Flight 13 (see http://marvel.wikia.com/Comics:Alpha_Flight_Vol_1_13)

Kabe
12 years ago

Al Milgrom, such a gifted inker, such a crappy penciller. Can’t believe it took him and Marvel years to find out inking was his thing.

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