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The Best Wolverine Comics to Read

The Wolverine stories most often recommended, from his 1974 debut to Weapon X and Old Man Logan, with issue numbers and creators, plus Wolverine in stock.

Updated

The best Wolverine comics to read include the 1982 Wolverine series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, Barry Windsor-Smith’s Weapon X, Origin and Old Man Logan. These are the stories readers and critics recommend most, listed in the order they came out, with the issues they’re in. Wolverine first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #180 and #181 (1974), created by Len Wein, John Romita Sr. and Herb Trimpe, as an agent of the Canadian government.

The essential Wolverine stories

The first appearance (The Incredible Hulk #180–181, 1974)

Wolverine is sent by the Canadian government to stop the Hulk and the Wendigo. He appears on the last page of #180, and #181 is his first full appearance and one of the most sought-after Bronze Age keys.

Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)

Len Wein and Dave Cockrum bring Wolverine into the new X-Men alongside Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus. He stays with the team through Chris Claremont’s sixteen years on the book.

Wolverine (#1–4, 1982)

Chris Claremont and Frank Miller’s four-issue series, set in Japan, where Wolverine fights for Mariko Yashida. It’s the story that made him a solo star, and where he first says “I’m the best there is at what I do.”

Kitty Pryde and Wolverine (#1–6, 1984–85)

Chris Claremont and Al Milgrom send Kitty Pryde to Japan, where Wolverine trains her to face his old teacher, Ogun. Our Kitty Pryde and Wolverine page shows the issues in stock.

Wounded Wolf (The Uncanny X-Men #205, 1986)

Chris Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith’s single issue: Wolverine, badly hurt, protects a young girl from Lady Deathstrike in a New York winter. It’s often named among the best Wolverine single issues.

Wolverine (1988)

Chris Claremont and John Buscema launch his first ongoing series, set on the island of Madripoor, where he goes by the name Patch.

Weapon X (Marvel Comics Presents #72–84, 1991)

Barry Windsor-Smith wrote and drew the story of the secret program that bonded adamantium to Wolverine’s skeleton, told in short chapters in Marvel Comics Presents.

Fatal Attractions (X-Men #25, 1993)

Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert’s issue in which Magneto pulls the adamantium out of Wolverine’s body, showing for the first time that his claws are bone.

Origin (#1–6, 2001–2002)

Paul Jenkins and Andy Kubert finally tell his childhood, as James Howlett in 19th-century Canada. Marvel had kept his past a mystery for 27 years.

Old Man Logan (Wolverine #66–72, 2008–2009)

Mark Millar and Steve McNiven’s story of an aging Logan in a future where the villains won. It loosely inspired the film Logan (2017).

Wolverine key issues in stock

These are the Wolverine comics in stock that collectors look for as key issues: first appearances and major events. Every copy is photographed as it is, and its grade is on its listing.

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Uncanny X-Men #311, 312

1st cameo and 1st full appearance of the Phalanx

Super Hi Grade 9.6+ $12.27

Where to start collecting

Most of Wolverine’s 1980s stories are in Chris Claremont’s run, and our Uncanny X-Men page lists the issues we have in number order. The Wolverine comics page has everything else, from the solo series to X-23 and the new Ultimate line. Not sure what a grade means? See the grading guide.

Wolverine comics just listed

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