10 Best Wolverine Runs of All Time

Wolverine is now one of the most beloved superheroes of all time. He debuted in The Incredible Hulk #181 and later joined the X-Men in Giant-Size X-Men #1, which significantly boosted his popularity. However, he truly became a major star when he got his own comic book series in 1982. Since then, this popular Canadian hero has sold countless comics and become a cultural icon. While he’s best known for his team adventures, his solo series are actually excellent, consistently benefiting from talented writers and artists over the years.

Legendary writers have crafted Wolverine’s most memorable stories. Their work has often made his books top sellers, and these ten storylines are the very best, solidifying his place as a truly iconic character – as strong and enduring as his famous skeleton.

10) Frank Tieri

As a longtime Wolverine fan, I always feel like Frank Tieri doesn’t get enough recognition. He took over the book in 2000, right after what I consider the ’90s golden age for Wolverine’s solo series – talk about a tough act to follow! But he really delivered. I remember digging his run – issues #154 through #186 of Wolverine (Vol. 2). What’s cool is he was the last writer on that original volume, and he ended it perfectly. Seriously, if you’re a Marvel fan, especially a Wolverine fan, you absolutely need to check out his work. It’s a great run that deserves more love.

9) Barry Windsor-Smith

Barry Windsor-Smith is considered one of the most talented writer-artists in the world of comics. While he never had a long run specifically on a Wolverine title (though he did collaborate with Chris Claremont on some Wolverine stories in Uncanny X-Men), he created one of the best Wolverine stories ever told. This story, “Weapon X,” ran in Marvel Comics Presents issues #72-84 and detailed how Logan received his adamantium skeleton. It was a particularly brutal and horrifying story, showing the terrible treatment Logan endured and his violent quest for revenge. This unique take on Wolverine has become a classic and is still highly regarded today.

8) Mark Millar

Mark Millar is a well-known comic book writer who has often sparked debate. While he was hugely popular in the 2000s, some of his work hasn’t aged well. However, his runs on Wolverine remain highly regarded by fans. He penned two significant stories: “Enemy of the State/Agent of SHIELD” (issues #20-32 of Wolverine Vol. 3, with artist John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, and Kaare Andrews) and “Old Man Logan” (issues #66-72 of Wolverine Vol. 3 and the Giant-Size Wolverine: Old Man Logan #1, with artist Steve McNiven). Both stories are packed with action and capture the attitude fans expect from the character, even if Millar didn’t deeply explore Wolverine’s inner life.

7) Jeff Lemire

Old Man Logan quickly became a fan favorite, and after the storyline Death of Wolverine concluded, the character was brought into Marvel’s main universe (616) during the Secret Wars event in 2015, leading to the creation of the critically acclaimed Old Man Logan (Vol. 2) series. Written by Jeff Lemire, with stunning artwork by frequent collaborator Andrea Sorrentino (and supplemented by artists Eric Nguyen and Filipe Andrade), the 24-issue run explored an older version of Wolverine adjusting to life in a new world. Lemire delved deep into Logan’s character, focusing on his remorse over past actions and the loss of his loved ones, sending him on a path to find himself. Old Man Logan (Vol. 2) is considered a high point in Marvel comics and remains surprisingly overlooked.

6) Benjamin Percy

As a huge Wolverine fan, it felt like forever after his death in 2014 when he finally got a proper solo series again in 2020! That series, Wolverine (Vol. 7), really defined his story during the Krakoa era, and Benjamin Percy wrote the whole 50-issue run. He collaborated with some amazing artists – Adam Kubert, a true Wolverine legend, was a standout, but Joshua Cassara, Federico Vicentini, and Geoff Shaw all contributed fantastic work. What really impressed me was how Percy got Wolverine. He captured that raw, violent energy and the deep emotions beneath the surface – it reminded me of the classic stories Larry Hama wrote. Honestly, I think it was a brilliant run and one of the best books to come out of the Krakoa era.

5) Erik Larsen

Erik Larsen rose to prominence with his work on Spider-Man and was a founding member of Image Comics. Later, in the late 1990s, he returned to Marvel and was given their top-selling solo series. He wrote issues #133-149 of Wolverine (Vol. 2), ending the decade on a high note. His first story sent Wolverine into space, and the series continued with thrilling adventures against powerful enemies. Larsen crafted the story of Wolverine regaining his adamantium skeleton, delivering exciting, action-filled issues alongside artists like Leinil Yu and Jeff Matsuda. Many fans overlook Larsen’s run, but he was the ideal creator to cap off the ’90s for the character.

4) Greg Rucka

The Marvel Knights line gained huge popularity in the late 1990s by focusing on more realistic and gritty superhero tales. Wolverine fit this style perfectly, and his solo series moved to the imprint in 2003 with a new run written by Greg Rucka, featuring art by Darick Robertson and Leandro Fernandez. Rucka, known for his crime and espionage comics, brought a similar down-to-earth feel to the character, focusing on intense, violent stories that highlighted Wolverine’s skills in a dangerous world – without the typical superhero costumes.

3) Jason Aaron

Jason Aaron became a major comic book writer thanks to his acclaimed work on Wolverine. He co-created issues of Wolverine: Weapon X with several artists, including Ron Garney and Yanick Paquette, and then launched a new Wolverine series, writing the first nineteen issues. After a numbering reset, he continued the series with issues #300-304. (Don’t miss his excellent Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine run too!) Aaron’s take on Wolverine was a standout, featuring intense battles with powerful enemies, journeys into Hell, and a compelling new love interest. Starting almost twenty years ago, his run is still considered superior to many modern Wolverine comics, including the current series.

2) Chris Claremont

Chris Claremont is famous for revitalizing the X-Men and turning Wolverine into a major character, particularly through his work on Uncanny X-Men. He collaborated with Frank Miller on Wolverine’s first limited series in 1982 and later launched Wolverine’s ongoing comic book series in 1989. Claremont wrote the first eight and tenth issues of Wolverine (Vol. 2), alongside the renowned artist John Buscema (returning later for issues #125-128 with Leinil Yu). These issues fleshed out Wolverine’s life in Madripoor, introduced the Murasama sword, and featured the first appearances of villains like Bloodscream and Roughhouse. They also revealed the story of Wolverine’s initial battle with Sabretooth. Claremont and Buscema, with Bill Sienkiewicz’s inking on issue #10, created a definitive version of Wolverine and launched his solo series with great success.

1) Larry Hama

Larry Hama is a legendary comic book creator, and his work on Wolverine cemented his place in history. Best known as the creator of the modern G.I. Joe universe, Hama began writing Wolverine (Vol. 2) with issue #31 in the 1990s. Over a long run spanning issues #31-43, #45-57, #60-109, and #111-118, he expertly handled the consequences of major storylines like “Weapon X” and “Fatal Attractions,” while also introducing his own compelling narratives. Hama developed Logan into a complex character – a wandering warrior with a poetic soul – delivering thrilling action sequences alongside deep explorations of the hero’s personality. Many fans consider his run on the bone-claw Wolverine to be one of the greatest eras for the character, delivering some of the best superhero comics ever featuring the iconic Canadian hero.

2026-05-19 17:15