22 Years Ago, Marvel Released The Last Wolverine Masterpiece

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I always loved Wolverine, and I think a huge part of why he resonated with so many of us was the mystery around him. When he first showed up with the X-Men, he was this total loner with a past no one knew anything about. That mystery really drove a lot of his stories in Uncanny X-Men and later on in his own comics – it just kept building and building, and we all desperately wanted to know who Logan really was. We finally got some answers in 2001 with Origin, and it was amazing because Paul Jenkins and Andy Kubert were the perfect team to tell it. Jenkins had already proven he could write incredible stories with Inhumans and The Sentry, plus his work on Peter Parker, Spider-Man, and Kubert was a huge star after his run on X-Men (Vol. 2). Origin was a massive success, and honestly, after reading it, I was hoping to see Jenkins write more Wolverine stories!

It wasn’t long before Marvel began publishing “The End” series in the early 2000s. Starting with the highly praised Hulk: The End, these books offered final, definitive stories for Marvel’s most popular heroes. In 2004, Wolverine: The End, created by Jenkins and artist Claudio Castinelli, followed. This six-part series revisited themes from Origin, showing an older Wolverine uncovering a surprising truth about his past. While the book didn’t initially gain much attention 22 years ago, a recent read reveals it to be a remarkable Wolverine story—a true masterpiece that often goes unrecognized among other underrated tales.

Wolverine: The End Used the Ideas of Origin Brilliantly

Wolverine’s long and complex backstory meant fans had strong ideas about how his story might end, and perhaps those expectations have prevented Wolverine: The End from being considered one of his best adventures. This story is directly linked to the events of Origin – you really needed to read that one first to understand what was happening. The story begins with Logan living a secluded life in Canada, receiving deliveries from a local man. He then receives news that Sabretooth has died. The strange scent at the funeral sets Logan off on a worldwide journey.

The search takes him to Japan, where he discovers his long-lost older brother, John – a man remarkably similar to himself, possessing a healing ability and retractable bone claws. John had witnessed their mother with the groundskeeper, Thomas Logan, and in a fit of rage, attacked her. Their grandfather committed him to an asylum, after which he was eventually taken into the custody of the program that would become Weapon X. He gained the power to become intangible and managed to escape. For years, John secretly observed his brother, insisting that Professor X was aware of his existence and wanted them to collaborate on a scheme to destroy the US economy and seize control of the country. This ultimately led to a confrontation where John was killed, leaving Logan to retreat back into isolation.

While initially underwhelming, Wolverine: The End now reads as a quintessential Wolverine story. It centers around the resurfacing of his troubled past and a tragic loss, a familiar theme for the character. Though it didn’t resonate with fans upon release and has largely been forgotten, revisiting the six-issue arc reveals a surprisingly effective narrative. Paul Jenkins skillfully combined established Wolverine tropes, and coupled with the exceptional artwork by Castinelli, the story rightfully deserves recognition as one of the best Wolverine stories ever told.

Looking back, this story doesn’t always get the credit it deserves when we talk about Logan’s history, but it’s surprisingly important. Even though John Howlett was out of the picture, the story laid the groundwork for Romulus, who became one of Wolverine’s biggest threats. It’s wild to think Romulus shared the same powers as Wolverine and had been secretly manipulating his life for years! They were practically designed to be connected. It’s a little strange they didn’t just reuse the John Howlett character, but it really shows how perfectly this story set up the ultimate conclusion to the tale of the best there is at what he does.

Wolverine: The End Is Unfairly Forgotten

When I first read Wolverine: The End, I thought it was decent, but nothing special. It seemed familiar and didn’t offer much new insight into Wolverine’s character. However, revisiting it now, I realize how truly excellent it is. While the story isn’t entirely original, it executes classic Wolverine themes flawlessly. Paul Jenkins perfectly balances emotion, portraying an older, lonely Logan who simply wants to connect with others. John Howlett was a fantastic villain – a perfect foil for Logan – and so well-written that creators have revisited the character in various forms. Ultimately, this story holds up as a true masterpiece.

While Wolverine: The End wasn’t a revolutionary story or what some fans expected—particularly since it wasn’t a direct continuation of Origin—it successfully delivered on its purpose. These ‘End’ stories aren’t meant to be massive, life-altering events, but rather final tales for beloved heroes. And Wolverine: The End does this exceptionally well, offering Logan a fitting conclusion: a weary immortal finally accepting that his past wasn’t a peaceful place, but a source of pain he needed to leave behind. It’s a fantastic read, and if you haven’t experienced it, you really should seek it out.

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2026-04-05 18:11