Wolverine first appeared in the 1970s, became incredibly popular in the 1980s, and truly cemented his status as a comic book icon in the 1990s. This was a unique period for fans of the character. Today, Marvel often resets popular characters to maintain the status quo, but back then, they took a different approach. Wolverine’s popularity was at its peak – boosted by the X-Men: The Animated Series – and Marvel decided to experiment with his story, exploring new directions and expanding the character’s potential. This willingness to take risks with Logan, affectionately known as the “Canucklehead,” led to some truly memorable moments for readers throughout the decade.
The 1990s are considered by many to be the peak of Wolverine’s comic book history, largely due to Larry Hama’s impressive seven-year writing run. This decade saw some of the most impactful and heartbreaking moments in Logan’s life, and these five moments especially stand out as the best, solidifying the ’90s as a favorite era for Wolverine fans.
5) “Not Dead Yet”
The 1990s were a fantastic era for Wolverine comics, largely thanks to writer Larry Hama who worked on the title for most of the decade. After Hama moved on, Warren Ellis took over for a four-issue run, culminating in the excellent story arc, “Not Dead Yet,” with art by Leinil Yu. This arc features Logan battling the Gweilo, an assassin from his past seeking revenge. The Gweilo mistakenly believes Logan still possesses his adamantium skeleton, so his elaborate traps are designed to stop the nearly indestructible version of the hero. It’s a thrilling, action-packed story that perfectly demonstrates why Logan is considered the best at what he does, even when he’s at a disadvantage. Many fans consider it a peak moment for the character in the ’90s.
4) Wolverine (Vol. 2) #90
The ongoing feud between Wolverine and Sabretooth is legendary in the world of comics, with Wolverine enduring countless fierce battles against his greatest enemy. While the 1990s featured several memorable clashes (especially issue #126 of Wolverine Vol. 2), the standout fight is arguably Wolverine (Vol. 2) #90, crafted by Larry Hama and Adam Kubert. The story centers on Logan returning to a deserted X-Mansion, only to find Sabretooth waiting. The majority of the issue focuses on Logan’s internal struggle to control his urge to kill his enemy, and his mostly successful attempt to resist, until Sabretooth manages to escape. What follows is an incredibly intense and brutal fight—enhanced by a fantastic fold-out page that makes the original comic a prized possession. This issue is considered one of the best Wolverine stories ever told, offering deep character development alongside an all-time great fight sequence. It also marks a pivotal moment in Wolverine’s ‘bone claw’ era, making it a crucial part of his overall history.
3) Wolverine (Vol. 2) #145
When Wolverine lost his adamantium skeleton – we’ll explain how later – it was a huge turning point for the character. For six years, from 1993 to 1999, Wolverine was vulnerable, coinciding with the peak of the X-Men’s popularity thanks to the cartoon series. Writer Erik Larsen took over the comic in 1998 and built towards a major story arc culminating in Wolverine (Vol. 2) #145, illustrated by Leinil Yu. This issue directly followed the events of the “The Twelve” storyline, revealing how Wolverine became the Horseman of Death. It featured a showdown between Wolverine and Sabretooth (who did have an adamantium skeleton at the time) to determine who Apocalypse would choose, alongside a present-day fight between Wolverine as Death and the Hulk. After six years of waiting, fans found it to be an incredible, action-filled issue that lived up to the hype.
2) “Weapon X”
Barry Windsor-Smith’s “Weapon X” finally revealed details about Wolverine’s mysterious past, something fans had long anticipated. The story showed how he gained his adamantium skeleton and exposed the terrifying nature of the Weapon X Program. It’s a gripping, dark tale where all the characters are flawed and monstrous. While more Weapon X stories followed, this initial story remains a high point for the character, considered one of the greatest Wolverine adventures ever told. Published in 1991, it signaled a significant shift in direction for Wolverine, marking a departure from his previous storylines.
1) X-Men (Vol. 2) #25
A pivotal moment in Wolverine’s history happens in X-Men (Vol. 2) #25, created by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert: the removal of the adamantium from his skeleton. This event dramatically changed the character, leading to the ‘bone claw’ era, a challenging period that truly tested him. It was a huge shift to Logan’s usual situation, and it proved to be very successful. The Wolverine (Vol. 2) comic series sold incredibly well during this time, as readers followed his development, and revisiting issues #75-100 especially, shows just how impactful this change was.
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2026-01-30 03:12