A few weeks back I was interviewed by Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star newspaper about the upcoming ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ movie. I didn’t want to say anything earlier so as not to jinx myself or, frankly, in the event I was made out to look like a complete loser.

But lo and behold, the article was published on January 4th, titled 2009: Year of the Wolverine.
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My sincerest thanks to Raju.

The best part (with all apologies to the rest of your article, Raju), are quoted below…

“Wolverine was a character whose origin was never revealed,” explains Joel DiGiacomo, a writer and web developer from Maryland who started to collect all of the disparate information about his favourite hero and created a website, The Wolverine Files.

“(With) most superheroes,” says DiGiacomo, “the first issue is the origin story and that’s it. He was different. You didn’t know how he got his claws, how old he was or how he even got his powers. Every couple of years, there was a little hint about this background.”

That changed in 2001, when Marvel Comics decided it was going to build an event around revealing Wolverine’s origin. Despite readers’ anticipation, for the most part, the series and origin story were panned.

“I don’t know anyone who liked that origin,” says DiGiacomo. “He’s not Logan (the default name Wolverine used as an amnesiac) anymore. He’s James Howlett, and he was a spoiled rich kid. That’s not who Wolverine was. He was supposed to be the wild kid in the wilderness and I think a lot of that was lost in that series.”

Is that cool or what?

And if I had to pick a nit (something I am quite good at), let me observe that I am a writer and web consultant more than a web developer.

Damn Canadians.

In other, much less important Wolverine news…
–Marvel Digital Comics offers a free exclusive look at ‘Wolverine: Agent of Atlas’…
–Comic Book Resources interviews Jason Aaron about ‘Wolverine: Weapon X’…
–Entertainment Weekly gives ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ an exclusive look with new photo…

And of course, Comics Previews of probable Wolverine appearances this week…
– Wolverine: Switchback (preview): Artwork by Das Pastoras looks most interesting…
– Wolverine and Power Pack #3 (preview): Time-traveling to meet a young James Howlett…
– X-Men Noir #2 (preview): Will Wolverine appear?

Aside from Wolverine #70 (see Review and Open Thread), Wolverine appeared in five other titles this past week (January 2, 2009)…

Wolverine: Manifest Destiny #3 (preview)
“Once Upon a Time in Chinatown”
Writer: Jason Aaron
Pencilers: Stephen Segovia & Paco Diaz Luque
Inkers: Noah Salonga & Paco Diaz Luque

Not quite as good as the previous two issues with Jason Aaron going for comedy over believability. And unfortunately the final six pages of art by Paco Diaz Luque simply do not hold up to Stephen Segovia’s brilliant artwork from the rest of the series…

X-Force #10 (preview)
“Old Ghosts, Part 4”
Writer: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Art: Mike Choi

This is becoming a most uneven series. I didn’t even realize that this was part 4 of 4 until I started writing this post. The story finales aren’t really finales and the story arcs have a tendency to meander all over the place…

Fantastic Four #562 (preview)
“Requiem”
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: Bryan Hitch
Inks: Cam Smith & Andrew Currie

While Wolverine only really cameos in one panel, it is pretty funny…

Avengers/Invaders #7 (preview)
“Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot”
Plot: Alex Ross & Jim Krueger
Script: Jim Krueger
Pencils: Steve Sadowksi & Patrick Berkenkotter

Once again, Wolverine barely makes an appearance…

What If? Secret Wars (preview)
“What If… Doctor Doom Kept the Beyonder’s Powers”
Writer: Karl Bollers
Artist: Jorge Molina

Not much of a cameo for Wolverine, but a really good What If story if you are a fan of Dr. Doom…

And finally, Wolverine did not appear at all in the surprisingly sub-par Ultimatum X-Men #99…

Wolverine #70
“Old Man Logan, Part 5”
Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Steve McNiven
Inks: Dexter Vines with Mark Morales

This is it.

The big reveal.

Was it good enough? Was it shocking enough?

Well, I will let share my spoiler-filled thoughts with you after the jump and let you be the final judge in the Open Thread comments that follow

And as always, “Spoiler warning, Will Robinson, spoiler warning!”

From Marvel (preview): “Fifty years ago the heroes of the Marvel Universe were massacred and as far as Old Man Logan is concerned, WOLVERINE died with them. During that final battle, something happened to Logan…something so traumatic that he hasn’t popped his claws since. Now Logan lives out his days a shell of a man, his warrior spirit long since crushed by the horrible weight of the secret he carries with him. What happened? Finally, the darkest chapter in Logan’s history can be told! ” On sale January 2, 2009.

Read more…

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 1982, Chris Claremont embarked on a then unheard of year-long ‘Uncanny X-Men’ saga involving the insidious Brood, parasitic aliens that laid eggs inside of their hosts. Not surprisingly, Wolverine was infected and his mutant healing ability pushed to the limit in Uncanny X-Men #162, the midpoint of the saga.

The cover to that issue was by long-time X-Men artist Dave Cockrum (with inks by Bob Wiacek) near the end of his second legendary run (Paul Smith would pick up art duties in a few issues, wrapping up the Brood storyline)…

Mike Mignola of Hellboy fame supplied the reprint covers for X-Men Classic and seemed to enjoy focusing on Wolverine more so than Dave Cockrum had on the original covers. First up are X-Men Classic #59 and #60…

Followed by X-Men Classic #66 and #67…

And finally, we have the original cover art to X-Men Classic #67 from the collection of Francesco Bazzana…

Previous Classic Wolverine Cover: Marvel Team-Up #117 | Next: Uncanny X-Men #167

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

I’m on fire! Another Wolverine Chronology update is finished.

012: Team X – Logan, Creed and North.

Check it out and let me know what you think…

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this product description for a book called ‘The Wolverine Files’ on Amazon.com…

Wolverine made his debut in the Marvel Comics world on the last page of Incredible Hulk #180 in 1974. In the stories that followed, the mystery of the mutant’s seemingly contradictory past intrigued and tantalised fans, as glimpses of his back story were revealed over three decades by a rotating cast of writers and artists. One thing was beyond doubt, however: with his animal-keen senses, retractable claws and sarcastic tongue the enigmatic hero rapidly became one of Marvel’s most popular creations. Now, The Wolverine Files presents the complete story of the character as never before, in files assembled by intelligence officers at Marvel’s Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division. The meticulous research of S.H.I.E.L.D. shines through on every page of this magnificent chronicle, fully illustrated with rare Marvel artwork and bound in an eye-catching slipcase bearing the trademark three-pronged slash of Wolverine’s claws. Also included is a special top-secret string-bound envelope which holds pull-out original sketches and concept art by the Marvel masters who guided the character’s evolution. Authoritative and visually stunning, The Wolverine Files contains the full unexpurgated must-have saga of one of the comic world’s most fascinating creations.

Now take a look at what I wrote in the introduction of my Wolverine Files (reprinted below),  then reread the first few sentences of the product description (above). It’s okay. I’ll wait…

In late 1974, Wolverine made his first appearance in the Marvel Comics universe, debuting in the pages of The Incredible Hulk. In the stories that followed, the mystery of Wolverine’s seemingly contradictory past intrigued and infuriated fans alike, especially when tantalizing nuggets of his previous escapades were revealed over the course of 30 some years.

Don’t get me wrong. I am honored to have promotional text for a Wolverine publication be so similar to mine.

Really.

But as a friend of mine once said, “If I’m good enough to be copied, then I’m good enough to be published.”

Sigh…

Finally, Comics Previews of probable Wolverine appearances this week (coming out on Friday, January 2)…
– Wolverine #70 (preview): The secret of ‘Old Man Logan’ revealed…
– Wolverine: Manifest Destiny #3 (preview): More fun from Jason Aaron…
– Avengers/Invaders #7 (preview): Will Wolverine get to do something in this series?
– Ultimate X-Men #99 (preview): Penultimate issue…
– X-Force #10 (preview): Ghost Rider? Do we really need a Ghost Rider guest star?

Aside from Wolverine: Origins #31 (see review), Wolverine appeared in two other titles this past week (December 24, 2008). I also missed an appearance from last week courtesy of Comusiv’s keen eye…

Wolverine: First Class #10 (preview)
“The Pack, Part 1”
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Francis Portela

Regular readers of this site know that I really like this series and Fred Van Lente’s writing in particular.

But this issue just does not work for me.

It’s not bad.

It’s just not nearly as good or as witty as previous issues have been.

It’s based on a single premise — a very cool premise — but that premise is not enough to carry the issue.

And since this is a two-parter, my guess is that it won’t carry next issue either.

New Avengers #48 (preview)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Billy Tan
Inks Matt Banning

The first half of this issue is Brian Bendis at this best.

Very quiet. Very personal. Very effective.

But he throws in a twist that to my mind is unnecessary and smells of deus ex machina.

As a result the powerful ending feels rather manipulated. Which is a shame, for it would have been even more powerful without the twist.

Mighty Avengers #20 (preview)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils: Lee Weeks, Jim Cheung & Carlo Pagulayan
Inks: Lee Weeks, Jim Cheung & Jeffrey Huet

Missed from last week, eagle-eye Wolverine Files reader Comusiv caught the barely noticeable background flashback Wolverine cameo. Took me two full reads to find it myself!

And finally, Wolverine did not appear at all, thankfully, in the truly dreadful Ultimatum #2…

Wolverine: Origins #31
“Family Business, Part 1”
Writer: Daniel Way
Penciler: Yanick Paquette
Inks: Serge La Pointe & Michel Lacombe

The first thing I noticed about this issue is how pedestrian the art is.

Where have you gone, Mike Deodato?

The story, unfortunately, isn’t much better.

Wolverine: Origins is becoming more and more about Daken and less and less about Wolverine.

No offense, but I don’t really care for Daken.

And if Daniel Way’s recent interviews are any indication, we should expect more of the same.

As for Mike Deodato, his farewell present seems to be the awesome cover…

Disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

From Marvel (preview): “After the stunning revelations of last issue, Daken now knows that he is merely a pawn and that his hatred of his father, Wolverine, is based upon a lie. Now, Daken and Wolverine—father and son—unite to track down the most fearsome being Daken has ever known. But they’re not the only ones looking for him…” On sale December 24, 2008.

What a wonderful treat for Christmas — the Hulk beating the living tar out of Wolverine in the latest clip from Hulk vs. Wolverine…

More Wolverine News…
– From Newsarama.com, Daniel Way talks ‘Wolverine: Origins’.
– From ComicBookResources.com, Daniel Way expounds even more on ‘Origins’…

As a Christmas Eve treat, I figured I would reveal yet another Wolverine Chronology update with 011: Team X Beginnings.

I’ve also renumbered the later chapters (due to the condensing of the two Canadian Intelligence chapters into one) to avoid any further confusion.

My goal is to get the chronology updated through Days of Future Past in time for the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie.

Not sure if I will make it, but that’s the goal.

In the meantime, I will have a Wolverine News update on Christmas Day, a review of Wolverine: Origins #31 up on Friday, and a Week-in-Review live over the weekend.

So to all the Wolverine fans out there, Merry Christmas!

DiG…