WOLVERINE WEEK: MUST-READS

Before I get to the Must-Read list, above is another sweet Wolverine Pic I wish I had included in Monday's post. It's from the X-Men Vs Fantastic Four mini-series in the '80s. Sweet.

Ok, onto the "MUST READS"!

The below list are what I refer to as "The Wolverine Bible". While they may not include ALL of Wolverine's great stories, they are what I consider to be the essential reads that form and define the character.

Please note the lack of "Origin" on the list.

Jim's WOLVERINE MUST READ LIST:

* WOLVERINE #10 (1989)
To me, this is 'Origin'. It's Wolverine's birthday which he spends remembering years back, on his birthday, when Sabretooth brutally murdered his love, Silver Fox. This is pre-claws (pre-retcon) era set in the 1800s, and it was a first glimpse at just how old these two characters are and the rich history they share. Plus, you see how scary and overpowering Sabretooth really is. LOVE this issue!!!
(collected in Wolverine Classics Vol 1)

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* MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #72-84 (1991)
"WEAPON X" storyline! For me, this is "Origin Part II". See how Logan was turned into Weapon X (against his Will, mind you) and given his adamantium! Barry Windsor-Smith knocks it out of the park with this one.
(available in collected form and "Wolverine: Best of Vol 1 HC" & "Wolverine Omnibus Vol 1")

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* UNCANNY X-MEN #109 /ALPHA FLIGHT #17 (1984)
Alpha Flight comes gunning for the X-Men to reclaim their property: WEAPON X, ie Wolverine! It's a nice touchstone for that era of Wolverine's past before the X-Men. And ya gotta pick up the Alpah Flight issue (flashback) simply for John Byrne's homage cover to Dave Cockrum's UXM #109!

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* CLASSIC X-MEN #10 (1989)
For the back-up story "Tag, Sucker!" where Sabretooth stalks, hunts and taunts Wolverine through the city, ending with Sabretooth ripping Wolverine's throat out. Essential Wolverine/Sabretooth relationship short story.
(Collected in X-Men: Vignettes)

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* WOLVERINE (4-issue mini-series/1982)
"I'm the best there is at what I do. But what I do isn't very nice."
By Chris Claremont & Frank Miller. People always refer to Logan's "Japan Days". Well here you go. This is where Logan evolved from "jerkoff crazy berserker" to "Ronin".... (with a berserker rage).
(available in collected form and "Wolverine: Best of Vol 1 HC" & "Wolverine Omnibus Vol 1")

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*UNCANNY X-MEN #172-173 (1983)
Silver Samurai, Logan's Wedding, and a great team-up with Rogue before she was the confused cheesecake southern bell. Plus sicky-sick Paul Smith art!( Quasi-semi-partial sequel to Claremont/FMiller's series above).
(Collected in Uncanny X-Men: From The Ashes)

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* WOLVERINE/KITTY PRYDE (6-issue mini-series/1984)
This is consider to be the "sequel" to that Claremont/FMiller series. This time, Kitty Pryde gets some ninja training. People always seem to forget she's a badass fighter. Weird.
(available in collected form and "Wolverine: Best of Vol 1 HC" & "Wolverine Omnibus Vol 1")

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* UNCANNY X-MEN #132-134 (1980)
These are part of the "Dark Phoenix Saga" story, but its in these 3 issues you see Wolverine shine as he tears his way through the Hellfire Club. The classic "Sewer Moment" is in this arc.
(Collected in Uncanny X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga)

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* UNCANNY X-MEN #141-142 (1981)
"Days of Future Past", horrific possible future with a fantastic Wolverine death scene at the hands of a Sentinel! It also showed that the "loner" Wolverine was still a fighting X-MAN in the future... dig those gray temples!
(Collected in Uncanny X-Men: Days of Future Past)

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* UNCANNY X-MEN #210-213 (1986/7)
Mutant Massacre in the Morlock Tunnels. This is where Claremont really brought Sabretooth into the X-Fold. Sabretooth vs Wolverine! You'll see why Sabretooth is to be feared!
(Collected in Uncanny X-Men: Mutant Massacre)

Click HERE for additional Wolverine recommendations!

Wolverine Week:
Thursday: Other garb, bub
Wednesday: Worst Wolverine
Tuesday: No-Mask/Out-of-Costume
Monday: In Costume