I know it’s been a long time since I’ve made any major updates to the Wolverine chronology. I also know that some folks think I need to stop with the rewrites and move ahead with the new stuff.

And I can’t say that I disagree with the sentiment.

Unfortunately, that’s not how I’m wired. I am anally retentive in a very chronological way (hence this website).

But the good news is that I did finish 009: World War II and I increased the image sizes on all the previous updates.

So give it a once over and let me know what you think.

And don’t be surprised if the next update shows up sooner than you expect.

Wolverine had only one actual appearance this week (December 17, 2008), two pseudo appearances and one cover only appearance. All in all, a pretty weak week in the comic shops…

What If Newer Fantastic Four (preview)
“New Fantastic Four”
Writer: Paul Tobin
Penciler: Patrick Scherberger
Inker: Craig Yeung

In the old days, ‘What If’ took on stories of import. Stories that we as readers genuinely cared about. What if Spider-Man had joined the Fantastic Four? What if Wolverine had killed the Hulk, What if Elektra had lived? More recently, the one shots have delved into alternate versions of Civil War, House of M and Fallen Son.

So forgive me if yet another New Fantastic Four story fails to spark my interest.

The story isn’t bad. Wolverine actually gets some pretty good treatment at the hands of Paul Tobin (even if the blue costumes are atrocious). But this is predictable fare that really didn’t need to be on the shelves this week or any week for that matter…

Uncanny X-Men #505 (preview)
Cover: Terry and Rachel Dodson

Wolverine graces the cover in classic Dodson-style, but fails to appear inside for the second straight issue…

Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #31 (preview)
“Good Things Come to Those Who Bait'”
Writer: Paul Tobin
Penciler: Ig Guara
Inker: Sandro Ribeiro

Another cover only appearance, but at least Wolverine gets referenced (for unpaid parking tickets?!?) inside…

X-Men: Legacy #219 (preview)
“Jagannatha'”
Writers: Mike Carey
Penciler: Phil Briones
Inker: Cam Smith

Wolverine cameos only as part of a Juggernaut memory flash…

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

Back in May 1998, a young artist by the name of John Cassaday exploded onto the comics scene with X-Men/Alpha Flight #1. The artwork was simply amazing and his layouts even more breathtaking, especially for an artist who was only 17 at the time…

First up are two panels by John Cassaday from X-Men/Alpha Flight #2 that perfectly capture Wolverine at his very best…

Next, we have another panel from the same issue that still blows me away to this day. The composition is utter perfection.

And remember, John Cassaday was only 17 at the time…

Bring it on, indeed…

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

The recent deluge of Wolverine announcements is forcing me to add Wolverine News Updates on a more frequent basis. So to start, MySpace launched the official trailer to X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Check it out below…

Marvel and Lionsgate debuted the latest Hulk vs Wolverine trailer (it’s really starting to look like a movie tie-in now) with the beginnings of a new website…

And finally, Marvel Comics previews for March 2009 were released (with probable/possible Wolverine appearance listed below)…

–March 4: Astonishing Tales #2; Avengers/Invaders #9; Marvel Spotlight: Wolverine; Ultimate Hulk vs. Wolverine #3 (really!); Ultimatum #4; Wolverine and the X-Men Magazine #2; Wolverine Poster Book #1; X-Men Noir #4…
–March 11: Nothing? Really?
–March 18: Uncanny X-Men #507; Wolverine #71; Wolverine: Origins #34; X-Force #13
–March 25: New Avengers #51; Wolverine: First Class #13; X-Force/Cable: Messiah War Prologue #1; X-Infernus #4

The big news of the week is that a new Wolverine series, Wolverine: Weapon X, will debut in March…
– Jason Aaron and Ron Garney reunite on ‘Wolverine: Weapon X’ from Newsarama.com…
– First look at ‘Wolverine: Weapon X’ #1 cover from Newsarama.com…
– Wolverine returns to his roots in ‘Wolverine: Weapon X’ from Marvel.com…
– Exclusive Digicomic: ‘Astonishing Tales: Wolverine/Punisher’ #1 from Marvel.com…
– Astonishing X-Men #28 First Look from Marvel.com…
– Kyle, Yost, Choi talk ‘Messiah War’ from CBR…
– ‘Messiah War’ begins in March from Marvel.com…

And let’s not forget, Comics Previews of probable Wolverine appearances this week…
– What If: Newer Fantastic Four (preview): I really hate Wolverine’s blue costume…
– X-Men #505 (preview): Wolverine makes the cover at the very least…
– Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #31 (preview): Possibly a cover only appearance…

The trailer for X-Men Origins: Wolverine (opening May 1, 2009) debuted this weekend with The Day the Earth Stood Still. Unfortunately, it keeps getting pulled down from YouTube. So if it’s not working, make sure to check the official site that just launched. The trailer will be available as of Monday morning there…

In other online Wolverine movie news…

– MTV’s Splash Page: A review of the trailer and Hugh Jackman dishes on Deadpool…
– Marvel.com: First Look at the X-Men Origins: Wolverine Video Game…
– CinemaBlend.com: Hugh Jackman in X-Men: First Class?…
– Newsarama.com: Wolverine to host the Academy Awards…

Aside from the dreadful Wolverine: Flies to a Spider one shot (see ‘Hama Meets Tieri” review), Wolverine made appearances in three other issues this week (December 10, 2008). And since we had so much fun last week with the Secret Invasion finale, I thought it might be fun to take a look at Dark Reign #1 despite Wolverine not appearing…

X-Men and Spider-Man #2 (preview)
“Last Hunts”
Writer: Christos Gage
Artist: Mario Alberti

Mario Alberti’s art is simply breathtaking in this clever tale by Christos Gage that fits effortlessly within the classic eighties stories of Mutant Massacre and Kraven’s Last Hunt.

Not to mention Wolverine gets to cut loose in his battle with Sabretooth and the rest of the Marauders.

A most enjoyable diversion marred only by Spider-Man’s dreadful reference to Wolverine’s “adamantium tuchus.”

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Astonishing X-Men: Ghost Boxes #2 (preview)
“4”
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Kaare Andrews

For me, this is Warren Ellis at his best.

A smart and wry take on established characters in an apocalyptic future.

And you gotta love the art by Kaare Andrews.

What If? Fallen Son (preview)
“What If… Iron Man Had Died'”
Writers: Marc Sumerak
Artist: Trevor Goring

This round of What If tales has been especially weak, and unfortunately for me, Wolverine camoes yet again.

And while Wolverine doesn’t appear in Dark Reign #1 by Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev, we had enough reaction last week in our Secret Invasion #8 Open Thread, that I thought we might want to try it again…

The story itself seems pretty intriguing, with Norman Osborn giving the keys to the kingdom to Dr. Doom, Namor, Emma Frost, a very feminine Loki (when did that happen?!?) and the Hood (which one of these doesn’t belong?). But as mentioned elsewhere, the artwork by Alex Maleev is simply dreadful. Namor looks like a balding, out-of-shape gigolo complete with five o’clock shadow (not to mention his bizarre dialogue). Loki looks like an aging,  flabby and eyebrow-less drag queen. Even Norman Osborn is unrecognizeable if not for the dialogue.

So while the issue itself is pretty strong, the artwork is so jarring that I can’t help but think it was done on purpose.

So like last week, please join in on the fun!

Wolverine: Flies to a Spider
Writer: Gregg Hurwitz
Penciler: Jerome Opena
Inker: Jerome Opena & John Lucas

Larry Hama meets Frank Tieri.

And I don’t mean that in a good way.

This dreadful one-shot is a throwback to the old days of mindless Wolverine stories.

Wolverine walks into a sadistic biker bar, starts a fight, and eviscerates the entire gang over the death of an innocent. An innocent whose name the evil bikers can’t even remember because they are so evil.

Man, I thought we were finished with these stories when Frank Tieri left.

That said, great Doc Savage style cover by Tim Bradstreet.

Disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

From Marvel (preview): “It’s New Year’s Eve, and tonight, like every night, they’ve gathered at the road stop saloon called the ‘Rat Trap.’ The Road Dawgs. The meanest, nastiest, most jacked-up biker gang you ever could meet. But tonight there’s a stranger sitting on the stool at the end of the bar. Someone who’s come here to pick a fight. Someone who’s hunting far bigger game than these roughnecks, and knows exactly how to get its attention. Before the stroke of midnight, he’ll get his wish. It’s Wolverine at his fiercest, courtesy of Gregg Hurwitz (PUNISHER) and future star Jerome Opena (Fear Agent).” On sale December 11, 2008.

I have been updating Classic Wolverine Covers for the past few weeks, adding some incredible new bonus features to many of the early installments — such as this unbelievable recreation on the left by Arthur Adams from the collection of J. Michael Jackson. I’m not done updating all the covers yet, but I did want to give everyone a heads up to peruse some of the older covers (you can start here at the beginning).

I also realized that I missed a genuinely classic cover, Classic X-Men #30 (see the post directly below this one). As a result, I’ve had to insert that writeup between two earlier posts to maintain my anal-retentive continuity. So while it might look a little wonky right now, it should sort itself out in the long run.

Please let me know what you think of these updates and a special thanks to all the generous (and lucky!) original art owners who have kindly allowed me to display their beautiful pieces in the Classic Wolverine Covers series.

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

In October 1988, Kerry Gammill and Terry Austin created one of the most memorable of the reprint covers for Classic X-Men #26, reprinting X-Men #120 and Wolverine’s first face off with the full Alpha Flight team and in this particular cover moment, Sasquatch…

First up is a rejected preliminary cover for this issue by Kerry Gammill from the collection of Michael Steenbergen. Next is the color guide to the final cover in gorgeous watercolor from the collection of Doc Conners…

The back cover by John Bolton is an intriguing piece juxtaposing a smoking Wolverine with the yarn he is spinning. On the right is the original artwork from the collection of John Bamber…

Finally, we have the two-part frontispiece from Classic X-Men #27 by Kieron Dwyer and Terry Austin. Gotta love that polaroid!

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