5 Great Wolverine Moments That Defined The ‘00s

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Wolverine became incredibly popular in the 1980s, and the 1990s cemented his success. Despite his widespread popularity, Marvel made a significant change to his comic book storyline, removing his adamantium skeleton from 1993 to 1999. He continued to thrive as the new millennium began, and for many longtime fans, the 2000s were when Wolverine truly became a top-tier Marvel hero. Already a consistently bestselling character, he reached a new level of recognition in the broader superhero world, benefiting from the work of some of the decade’s most talented creators.

Wolverine remained a hugely popular character throughout the 2000s, and it was largely the last decade where he truly shined—Marvel began to focus less on mutants after the start of the 21st century. While there were many great Wolverine stories during that time, here are five of the most memorable and impactful.

5) The Introduction of Laura Kinney

Laura Kinney is a true Wolverine, first appearing in NYX #3. While her origin story as a child involved difficult circumstances due to the Weapon X program, her impact on the character’s history is undeniable. She eventually took on the Wolverine mantle from her father, even defeating him when she joined Uncanny X-Men. She’s become one of Marvel’s most popular next-generation heroes, and despite some early missteps, starred in many compelling stories.

4) The Marvel Knights Wolverine Series Debut

The second volume of Wolverine did well for a long time, but when Marvel launched its more mature-themed Marvel Knights line, Wolverine felt like a natural fit. This led to a new series, Wolverine (Vol. 3), by Greg Rucka and Darick Robertson. This version of Logan was darker and more realistic, and it quickly became popular. In fact, Wolverine (Vol. 3) became known for featuring some of the best Wolverine stories of the 2000s. A fantastic array of creators, including Mark Millar, John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, Steve McNiven, Daniel Way, Jeph Loeb, Adam Kubert, Howard Chaykin, Jason Aaron, Simone Bianchi, and Ron Garney, all contributed, delivering consistently high-quality stories about the best there is at what he does.

3) “Old Man Logan”

“Old Man Logan” is a hugely popular Marvel story that has become well-known in pop culture. Originally published in Wolverine (Vol. 3) #66-72 and Wolverine: Giant-Size Old Man Logan #1 by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven, it presents a future where villains have defeated the heroes. The story follows Logan, now a peaceful farmer with a family, who owes a debt to the Hulk. When Hawkeye offers him a job for money, Logan embarks on a dangerous road trip through a bleak and violent future. Praised for its stunning artwork by McNiven and immersive world-building by Millar, “Old Man Logan” is considered one of the best stories of its time and a favorite among Wolverine fans.

2) Wolverine Becomes Leader of X-Force

I really saw Wolverine come into his own in the 2000s. He was everywhere – I think he was on six different team books at one point! But for a long time, he was always the strong guy, never the leader. That all changed with the new X-Force series. This version was Cyclops’ special ops team, dedicated to protecting the last remaining mutants. Finally, Wolverine was in charge, leading missions to take out threats before they escalated – they fought against enemies like Bastion, the Purifiers, and even Apocalypse. It just felt right seeing him lead, and it led to some incredible team stories over the next few years.

1) Wolverine Joining the Avengers

The Avengers started the 2000s strong, but things quickly changed. Marvel then looked for ways to revitalize the team, and writer Mark Millar suggested following the Justice League’s example – bringing in its most popular characters, just as they did when the Avengers were first created. Spider-Man and Wolverine were added to the roster, with Wolverine officially joining in New Avengers #5. This was a major turning point for the mutant character. Previously, Captain America had told Wolverine he’d never be an Avenger, but he not only joined the team, he became a key member. Becoming an Avenger was the biggest development for Wolverine in years.

What are some of your most memorable Wolverine moments from the 2000s? Share them in the comments below and discuss with other fans on the ComicBook Forums!

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2026-02-11 03:10