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

December 1984 gave us Alpha Flight #17 with a stunning cover by John Byrne, a retelling of the classic X-Men #109, chronicling Wolverine’s first encounter with Weapon Alpha, better known as Vindicator (or the controversial Major Maple Leaf)…

First up is the breathtaking original John Byrne artwork to Alpha Flight #17 from the collection of John Bamber. This is followed by the original X-Men #109 cover by Dave Cockrum from February 1978…

Finally, we have the Arthur Adams cover to the Classic X-Men #16 reprint of X-Men #109 as well as the original artwork featuring the inimitable inking of Terry Austin from the collection of David Mandel…

Previous Classic Wolverine Cover: Marvel Tales #236 | Next: X-Men #112

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

Ultimate Fantastic Four/Ultimate X-Men Annual #1
Writer: Aron E. Coleite & Joe Pokaski
Artist: Brandon Peterson & Eric Nguyen

This Ultimate crossover had such potential.

Future X-Men bearing the shield of Captain America. Sue Richards as dictator of the world. Wolverine revealed as the Ultimate Sentinel. Past and future clashing across timelines.

Unfortunately the writing styles of Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski simply don’t work together. Coleite is polished and packs a punch, while Pokaski continues his juvenile plotting and dialogue, “Reed, I think about you every day. Every nano-day.”

Ugh.

And the dreadful art by Eric Nguyen makes Dan Panosian’s teenage art from last issue look like Alfonse Mucha.

Perhaps if Aron Coleite alone had been matched with the secondary artists of this crossover, Mark Brooks and Brandon Peterson, this would have matched the classic annuals of yore.

But alas, some things are just not meant to be.

What do YOU think? Speak out in the comments below…

From Marvel (preview): “A group of X-Men from the future come back in time to try and assassinate the Fantastic Four—attempting to prevent the events of Ultimatum from ever happening. Who are these warriors from the future and what role will they play in the shocking scenario to follow?” On sale September 24, 2008.

Wolverine: First Class #7
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Penciler: Steven Cummings; Inker: Vicente Cifuentes

With all the discussions on this site of late about second-rate retconning and disrespecting original source material, let me point to Wolverine: First Class as a series that does it the right way.

These stories are fun and effectively fill in the gaps of Wolverine and Kitty Pryde’s earliest days together.

I read the original issues when they came out, so believe me when I say that Fred Van Lente is doing an awesome job adding new adventures while respecting the original stories.

And this issue is no exception.

A fun and touching romp involving the Soviet Union and the Soviet Super Soldiers.

So all of you fellow retcon curmudgeons, what do you think of this series?

From Marvel (preview): “The SOVIET SUPER SOLDIERS have kidnapped Kitty’s flame Colossus, and she and Wolverine must brave the dangers of Russia’s irradiated Forbidden Zone to save him! ” On sale September 24, 2008.

Wolverine News
-READ IT NOW: Weapon X: First Class #1 Preview as FREE Marvel Digital Comics Exclusive
–Astonishing X-Men #27 Sneak Peek: On sale October 15.

Probable Wolverine Appearances This Week
-Cable #7 (preview): Wolverine and X-Force guest-star…
-Marvel Apes #3 (preview): Monkey-Wolverine stars….
-New Exiles #12 (preview): Wraps of Hydra-Wolverine saga….

008: Ogun is updated, covering Logan’s training with, well, Ogun.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

X-Force (Vol. 2) #7
‘Old Ghosts, Part 1’
Writer: Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost
Artist: Mike Choi

Despite being the first part of ‘Old Ghosts,’ this issue feels more like an epilogue to the last storyline and a prologue to the next.

Not a lot happens and we continue to play the game over how close to the line Cyclops can get without going over.

To my mind, wantonly turning X-Men into killers, endorsing the slaughter of thousands, and shamelessly lying and withholding critical information might be going a smidge over the line.

But that’s just me.

All in all, not a bad issue (Wolverine gets some wonderfully snide comments in), but a little slower than I’ve become accustomed to.

As always, please weigh in with your opinions in the comments below.

From Marvel (preview): “X-Force is still reeling from the aftermath of their first mission, but there’s no rest for the wicked. Mutantkind’s enemies have multiplied, but Cyclops has a new target for his black-ops team…and even X-Force doesn’t believe who they’re going after next.” On sale September 24, 2008.

X-Men: Legacy #216
Writer: Mike Carey
Penciler: Phil Briones; Inker: Scott Hanna

Wolverine cameos in photographs and brief memories that flash through Charles Xavier’s mind as Emma Frost and Scott Summers force Xavier to confront his past.

So much like ‘Wolverine: Origins’ #28, this issue serves as a precursor to the ‘Original Sins’ storyline rolling out in October.

From Marvel (Preview): “No X-Man goes back further with Charles Xavier than Cyclops, but the trust between them has been eroded by terrible revelations. Now Xavier wants Scott Summers to hold a mirror up to his own past and present. What he sees there could destroy both of them…” On sale September 24, 2008.

Wolverine: Origins #28
“Original Sin, Prologue”
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Mike Deodato

Let’s be honest, this entire issue could have been told in only a few pages.

I get the sense that Marvel Comics told Daniel Way to stall until the next big crossover, Original Sin, is ready to begin.

Over half the issue is spent flashing back to Wolverine’s first fight with the Hulk and we only get a small chunk of new information — a dash of perplexing black ops espionage involving Romulus — and a complete retelling of Wolverine’s recruitment into the X-Men by Charles Xavier.

Of course, this retconning is exactly what bothers me about this series. I’ve been avidly reading Wolverine’s adventures for 30 years (yikes!) and these second-rate retcons feel like a slap in the face for the fans who have supported Wolverine over the years.

And truth be told, I actually enjoy when writers elegantly reveal additional layers to older stories, but ‘Wolverine: Origins’ has done this so crudely over the past three years as to insult the original stories that made Wolverine popular in the first place.

Disagree? Speak out in the comments below…

From Marvel (preview): “FEATURING ART BY NEW REGULAR PENCILER, MIKE DEODATO, JR.! Wolverine’s days in the Weapon X program, his first encounter with The Incredible Hulk, his induction into the X-Men…it’s all here in the prologue to DARK DECEPTION, next month’s WOLVERINE: ORIGINS and X-MEN: LEGACY crossover!” On sale September 24, 2008.

New Avengers #45
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Jim Cheung; Inks: John Dell & Jay Leisten

Where is Scarlet Witch when you need her?

Instead of “No More Mutants,” how about “No More Secret Invasion Flashbacks.”

New Avengers #45 delves into the impact of the House of M on the Secret (Skrull) Invasion, complete with a gratuitous Wolverine cameo.

And six months into this unending series of Secret Invasion flashbacks, I am done.

Done with flashbacks. Done with Secret Invasion. And done with Brian Michael Bendis trying to show us, month after month, just how clever he is.

No mas, no mas.

Disagree? Have you enjoyed the Secret Invasion? Speak out below!

From Marvel (preview): “If the Skrulls have infiltrated us for years preparing for the INVASION, then what happened to them during the legendary HOUSE OF M event? Find out here in another huge chapter in the Secret Invasion story packed with shocking reveals.” On sale September 24, 2008.

Wolverine Annual #2
“Roar”
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Mike Deodato

This issue has caused some confusion as it was originally solicited as Wolverine: Roar, but published as Wolverine Annual #2.

Regardless, this is a terrific issue, exactly the sort of story that I cherish.

Very well-written by Duane Swierczynski, with a most welcome brevity that smartly allows Mike Deodato’s artwork (reminiscent of Marc Silvestri at his best) to do the talking for him.

Simply a wonderful blend of story and art.

And kudos to Deodato for working the title of the story into the artwork, reminding me of the glory days of Chris Claremont and John Byrne.

Do yourself a favor and get this issue today.

Have you read this issue? Share YOUR thoughts below…

From Marvel (preview): “A self-contained, double-sized one-shot written by Duane Swierzynski (Cable) and illustrated by Mike Deodato (Wolverine: Origins)! All Logan wanted was a place to stop for a cool drink and listen to absolutely nothing for a while. Well, at least he got his second wish. Because in Roamer, New Mexico (population 342, and falling fast) there’s a savage creature with revenge in its heart, and a roar that can blow out the eardrums of any living being within a mile…except for Logan, of course, whose regenerative abilities bring his hearing back after a minute. But “a minute” is not soon enough — not when you have zero sense of balance and there’s a bloodthirsty creature that you can’t hear coming. A creature that won’t stop until Roamer is wiped off the face of the earth. A creature who wants the last thing you hear to be the sound of your own screams… ” On sale September 24, 2008.