Wolverine Files features every single Wolverine’s TV appearances in order, starting with…

Wolverine’s very first appearance on television came on September 25, 1982 in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. The second season episode, A Firestar Is Born, featured the X-Men with Neil Ross providing the voice of Wolverine. It was a decidedly different voice than fans had been expecting.

Take a look (and a listen) below…
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This being 1980s Saturday Morning cartoons, Wolverine couldn’t be expected to do much with his razor-sharp claws, but enjoy (if you can), the fight to close the episode.

Or as Cyclops states, “Ju-u-ugge-ernaaaut!!”
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For the completist, Wolverine did cameo ever so briefly at the end of a third season episode, “Education of a Superhero,” but failed to make the cut in the final X-Men appearance of the series in “The X-Men Adventure,” being replaced by a surprisingly spry (and presumably resurrected) Thunderbird.

Next on Wolverine TV: Pryde of the (Australian) X-Men

Astonishing X-Men #26
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Simone Bianchi

This issue certainly is an improvement over last month, but it’s still taking me some time to get used to the new creative team.

While Joss Whedon and John Cassaday expertly depicted the X-Men as a veteran team of superheroes who are the best there is at what they do, Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi seem to portray them as the best there is at talking about what they do, and what they do isn’t very impressive.

And while Ellis did warn us that he would be using Wolverine as a comedic foil, it is wearing a little thin already. Though Ellis did produce this wonderful gem after Wolverine received a rather serious injury, “Just let me regrow some organs and I’m all set.”

From Marvel (preview): “The superstar team of Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi take the X-Men to the ‘Second Stage’! ‘Messiah Complex’ pulled the X-Men team together, ‘Divided We Stand’ tore them apart. Now the X-Men are back to business — with a new look, a new base of operations, and a mystery to solve that will take them into previously uncharted territory and test them to their core. It all starts on a spaceship hovering 300 hundred feet above the twisted wreckage of Chaparanga Beach. Its sole inhabitant: the mysterious Subject X. Five minutes — just five minutes is all he needs, all he’s asking for. Can the X-Men afford to give it to him?” On sale August 13, 2008.

Secret Invasion #5
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Leinil Yu; Inker: Mark Morales

This is easily the best issue of ‘Secret Invasion’ yet.

Things happen. Lots of things.

All of which build nicely to a rousing counteroffensive by the Earth heroes.

Very well done.

Unfortunately, the strength of this issue also serves to reinforce just how overly long and bloated this event has become.

‘Secret Invasion’ should have been four issues in duration, maybe five at the most. But eight issues — eight months! — has resulted in interminable flashbacks and pointless padding that have not only sucked the life out of this series, but also out of the Marvel universe as a whole.

As for Wolverine, he cameos in the Savage Land in a subplot that is as brazenly vacuous as we feared.

Oh, and don’t waste your time on ‘Secret Invasion: X-Men’ #1. Despite the pronouncements that this issue stars “ALL THE X-MEN. YUP. ALL OF THEM,” Wolverine fails to appear.

From Marvel: “Embrace change. With these two words the Skrull Empire declares their intentions to the entire Marvel Universe. Embrace change. With these two words thousands and thousands of comic fans who have declared Secret Invasion the comic book blockbuster of the summer brace themselves for the shocking changes that are about to happen to their favorite characters and institutions. Embrace change, True Believer, because change is coming!” On sale August 13, 2008.

Wolverine: Killing Made Simple
‘Killing Wolverine Made Simple’
Writer: Christopher Yost
Penciler: Koi Turnbull; Inker: Sal Regla

‘Disturbing Consequences’
Writer: Todd Dezago
Pencils: Steve Kurth; Inks: Serge LaPointe

‘Killing Wolverine Made Simple’ isn’t a bad story. It just fails to live up to the inherent hype of the title.

The first way to kill our favorite mutant? Take away his healing ability and let him die of metal poisoning.

Metal poisoning.

Is that really how we kick off something like this?

Let’s be honest, every time Wolverine has lost his healing ability, he hasn’t exactly keeled over instantaneously.

What’s next, death by high cholesterol?

The second story, ‘Disturbing Consequences,’ isn’t bad, either. Wolverine meets John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ with a dash of zombies.

One hopes, though, that we are near the end of these interminable Wolverine one-shots for while this isn’t a dreadful collection of stories, it’s nothing spectacular either.

From Marvel (preview): “Wolverine’s hard to kill, sure—but if one guy knows how to do it…it’s WOLVERINE himself! X-FORCE co-writer Christopher Yost and superstar Koi Turnbull have all the answers as Wolverine faces down NANNY and ORPHAN-MAKER and lets former NEW X-MEN member TRANCE in on all his secrets… And in a special bonus tale, TELLOS writer Todd Dezago and NEWUNIVERSAL’s Steve Kurth send Logan to the Arctic Circle, and show us that there’s always one more way to die…” On sale August 6, 2008.

Ultimate Origins #3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Butch Guice

It’s all connected.

It’s really all connected.

‘Ultimate Origins’ #3 reveals more details of the Weapon X program. More details that actually make sense.

In other words, this is Brian Bendis at his best (or more perhaps at his better), showing once and for all how weak ‘Secret invasion’ is by comparison.

Oh, and Ultimate Wolverine likes Cap’n Crunch.

Or is that Ultimate Cap’n Crunch?

From Marvel (preview): “Wolverine… Nick Fury… Captain America… Magneto & Professor X… how are they all connected? Witness the first meeting between Charles Xavier, leader of the X-Men, and Eric Lehnsherr, the mutant who will come to be known as Magneto! From the muddy battle fields of World War II to the steaming shadows of the Savage Land, Brian Michael Bendis (Secret Invasion) and Butch Guice (Captain America) continue the shocking story that finally reveals the buried truths of the Ultimate Universe!” On sale August 6, 2008.

Avengers/Invaders #4
“Book Four: Hell on the Helicarrier”
Plot: Alex Ross & Jim Krueger; Script: Jim Krueger
Pencils: Steve Sadowski

At long last, Wolverine makes more than just a cameo appearance — though only barely.

And our cranky mutant finally gets some decent dialogue, “What’re you? The God of borin’ me ta death?!”

I’m not sure exactly where this series is going as the story, unfortunately, fails to match the brilliant covers by Alex Ross.

Eight more issues to see if this is a buildup to something spectacular or just another superhero slugfest.

From Marvel (preview): “Act One of this 12-part event concludes with a four-way battle royale among both teams of Avengers, the Invaders and the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – all above the landmarks of Washington D.C. Plus, Doctor Strange discovers the secret of the time-lost Invaders, all while trying to keep all of history from rewriting itself…and the Avengers out of reality.” On sale August 6, 2008.

X-Men: Odd Men Out #1
“Odd Men Out”
Writer: Roger Stern
Penciler: Dave Cockrum; Inker: Joe Rubenstein

This Dave Cockrum tribute issue features two unpublished stories by the late artist, the first boasts a smoking (!) Wolverine, the second deals exclusively with the New Mutants.

“Odd Men Out” is very similar to ‘Uncanny X-Men’ #138, but instead of a funeral, we witness the retelling of the history of the X-Men in the guise of a conversation between Professor Xavier and former FBI agent Frederick Amos Duncan.

A most unremarkable story, I must admit, but it is nice to see the first artist of the original New X-Men (and the first to render Logan’s face) one final time.

From Marvel (preview): “Featuring two never-before-seen stories illustrated by the late, legendary Dave Cockrum. First up, relive the history of the X-Men, as recounted by Professor X and his old friend, former FBI Agent Fred Duncan. Then, the New Mutants – Rictor, Boom Boom, Cannonball, Rusty, Skids, Sunspot and Wolvesbane – face off against the Mad Thinker.” On sale July 30, 2008.

Wolverine: Origins #27
“Son of X, Conclusion”
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Stephen Segovia

Enough with the flashbacks!

Did Marvel decree that every single freakin’ comic I read be accompanied by at least 14 pages of flashback?

To make matters worse, we are forced to endure 13 of those pages as Daken’s ‘origin,’ one of the least compelling characters created in recent memory.

While I’m ranting, I am equally tired of villains who are the epitome of the undefeatable opponent one issue, and easily dispatched within a page the next.

And the final-page surprise only promises more melodrama for the next story arc.

From Marvel (preview): “The origin of Daken, the son of Wolverine! Following in his father’s footsteps, Daken is inducted into a secret society of killers and trained by the master himself—the mysterious being known as Romulus. But now that Daken has been freed from his master’s grasp by his father, Wolverine, has his training ended…or has it just begun?” On sale July 30, 2008.

Wolverine #67
‘Old Man Logan, Part 2’
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Steve McNiven; Inker: Dexter Vines

I’m still a little underwhelmed a quarter of the way into this ‘epic’ tale.

But I’m equally willing to give Millar the benefit of the doubt. The book has a gorgeous look to it thanks to Steve McNiven and promises big things in the next six issues.

But as of right now, there really isn’t much meat on the bones, more like ‘My Fellow Americans’ meets a Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road picture.

And there is a little voice in the back of my head warning me that Millar is merely using this story as an excuse to indulge in a road trip through a cool future he came up with.

Here’s hoping that little voice is wrong.

From Marvel (preview): “‘Logan owes the Hulk Gang. He owes them big, and they’re not the kind to let a debt slide, even for the guy who—50 years ago—called himself Wolverine. So Logan’s agreed to a crazy ride across America with the blind archer, Hawkeye, to deliver a package to the East Coast. First stop: San Francisco…but only if Logan and Hawkeye can make it past—the GHOST RIDERS. MARK MILLAR and STEVE MCNIVEN—the best-selling creative team of the 21st century—continue the biggest Wolverine story the future has ever seen! Part 2 (of 8)” On sale July 30, 2008.