Every Animated Version of Wolverine, Ranked

Wolverine is easily one of the most popular comic book characters. He first appeared over 40 years ago in *The Incredible Hulk* and has since become a major Marvel hero, extending his popularity beyond comics. Many fans especially love Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine in live-action movies, but he truly excels in animated form. The X-Man has appeared in numerous animated projects, delighting fans for years.

With a character as popular as Wolverine, some adaptations are bound to be better than others, whether on TV or in movies. Each version offers a unique take, but not all of them are memorable. Here’s a ranking of every animated appearance of Wolverine.

15) The Super Hero Squad Show

Premiering in 2009, *The Super Hero Squad Show* was inspired by Hasbro’s Marvel Super Hero Squad toys. The show featured heroes from the Avengers, X-Men, and other Marvel teams battling villains with the usual goal of world domination. Designed for younger viewers, all the characters, including Wolverine, have a cute, simplified design. However, this kid-friendly approach feels a bit odd when it comes to Wolverine, who is normally a much darker and more aggressive character. Seeing him as cheerful and friendly can be surprising for longtime fans, especially since he’s constantly using his claws.

14) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload

We’re big fans of LEGO animation, and *LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload* delivers a lot of fun. The story follows the Avengers as they’re transporting captured villains when Loki unexpectedly appears and sets them all free, leading to total chaos. It’s a genuinely enjoyable and humorous series. Wolverine stands out as a particular highlight, now an Avenger who seems to really enjoy taking down bad guys. The only reason it doesn’t rank higher is that there are even better animated versions of Wolverine out there, and he doesn’t play a central role in this series.

13) Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends

“Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends” is a beloved classic cartoon geared towards kids. The show features Peter Parker teaming up with his friends, Bobby Drake and Angelica Jones, to fight crime. It’s also fun because many other Marvel heroes make appearances, like Wolverine. The series is lighthearted and often hilarious-there’s even an episode where Wolverine gets into a fight with Juggernaut at an X-Men gathering, accidentally slicing up a bunch of cakes with his claws!

12) Pryde of the X-Men

One of the earliest and most famous animated appearances of Wolverine is in *X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men*, an ‘80s series that centers on Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) joining the X-Men and learning to use her powers. The team quickly faces a challenge from Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. This version of Wolverine is similar to his appearance in *Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends*, offering exciting action scenes, but his unusual accent makes it a somewhat uneven portrayal – classic, but a little strange.

11) LEGO Marvel Avengers: Code Red

I just finished watching the new LEGO Marvel adventure, and it was a fun ride! It all starts with the Red Guardian going missing, and we quickly find out The Collector has been snatching up LEGO superheroes. That’s when the Avengers realize they need some extra help, so they bring in Wolverine! I really loved how the characters looked – they’re designed to match the live-action Marvel movies, which is awesome. Honestly, though, Wolverine didn’t have a ton to *do* in this one. There were some cool nods to the comics, but his part felt a little small compared to others.

10) Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

Have you ever thought about what a superhero reality show would be like? *Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.* is probably the closest we’ve gotten. The show follows Hulk and a team of other heroes with gamma-based powers as they participate in a reality series designed to improve their public image. During their adventures, they encounter Wolverine, who happens to be on vacation in Canada. However, he’s not thrilled to see them – this version of Wolverine is portrayed as a bit of a grumpy and quick-tempered character, which is a refreshing change of pace.

9) Marvel DISK Wars: The Avengers

Think of Marvel superheroes reimagined as Pokémon trainers and you’ll have a good idea of what *Marvel DISK Wars: The Avengers* is like. It’s actually a lot of fun! The game features many characters from across the Marvel Universe, including Wolverine. While his role isn’t huge, he’s portrayed well as one of the more intelligent and questioning heroes. Plus, seeing him beat Sabretooth is a definite highlight.

8) Black Panther

The *Black Panther* animated series is brief and doesn’t have as much action as some other shows, but it does include great Marvel characters like Wolverine. He appears with other X-Men to help T’Challa when he faces challenges to his claim to the Wakandan throne after his father’s death, and a power grab led by Klaw and others. Though Wolverine isn’t central to the story, his appearance is well done, especially because he supports both T’Challa and Storm.

7) Anime

As a huge anime and Marvel fan, I stumbled upon these older anime adaptations of X-Men, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Blade, and they’re surprisingly cool! What really stood out to me was the *Wolverine* series – they actually delved into his backstory in Japan, which was a really fresh take on his usual comic book origins. It’s that unique angle, combined with just how good it looked, that makes it one of my favorites. It’s a different spin, but a really well-executed one.

6) Ultimate Spider-Man

The *Ultimate Spider-Man* animated series features a fantastic take on Wolverine, with some of his best lines and most memorable moments. A standout episode involves a hilarious body swap between Peter Parker and Logan. This version of Wolverine is so well-done, it earns this series a spot on the list, even though it shares continuity with *Hulk: Agents of S.M.A.S.H*. It’s simply a superior portrayal of the character.

5) Hulk Vs. Wolverine

I’ll admit it, I’m a big fan of this Wolverine story, which is why it’s one of my top five favorites. *Hulk vs. Wolverine* is pretty straightforward: Logan finds out the Hulk has lost control and leveled a town, and a fight breaks out. They also have to contend with the threat of Weapon X. This one delivers on both incredible action and good writing. And let’s be real, can you get more iconic than “I’m the best there is at what I do, but I do isn’t very nice”? I don’t think so. It’s also great that the story doesn’t definitively say who wins the fight.

4) X-Men: Evolution

As a huge X-Men fan, I always found *X-Men: Evolution* really interesting. It took a fun approach by making the X-Men high school students, but thankfully, they didn’t age Logan! Wolverine is the only adult in the group, and honestly, that’s a big part of why I think it’s one of the best animated versions of him. The series is genuinely well-made. My only real issue with it – and it’s why I wouldn’t put it in my top three – is that because everyone’s so young, you don’t get the same classic Wolverine relationships you see in the comics. Still, it does a great job of staying true to Wolverine’s comic book storylines, and I really appreciate that.

3) The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

As a fan, I always loved how *The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes* gave us two different Wolverines! They showed us a flashback to World War II, with a young James Howlett fighting alongside Captain America and the Howling Commandos – it was amazing to see his origins! Then, we got the Wolverine we all know and love, working with the Avengers as an X-Man. What really makes this series special is seeing both sides of the character. It’s rare to get that kind of depth with Wolverine, and honestly, it was brilliantly executed.

2) Wolverine and the X-Men

If you’re interested in learning about Wolverine’s past and his connections to the X-Men, *Wolverine and the X-Men* is a top choice. The show features Logan leading the team after a major event and delves into his personal history. It successfully blends character development with a compelling storyline, and it stays true to the comic books in many ways, making it a well-loved series. It’s fantastic, but just falls short of being the absolute best.

1) X-Men: The Animated Series (and X-Men: ’97)

No other version of Wolverine comes close to being the best. The ’90s *X-Men: The Animated Series* created a nearly flawless portrayal of the character, adapting classic comic book stories with fantastic visuals directly inspired by the source material. It truly gave fans everything they wanted. And when the show returned as *X-Men: ’97*, it continued to deliver perfectly. This Wolverine feels genuinely human, making him incredibly relatable, and the series explores him – and all the characters – with remarkable skill. Ultimately, this version excels at what matters most: getting the characters right.

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2025-09-20 21:35