Wolverine Has Outgrown the X-Men (And That’s Bad For Marvel)

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By a significant lead, Wolverine stands as the most favored X-Man among fans. The allure of this character captivated readers right from the start, and he evolved into the most intricate persona within the team. Wolverine propelled the X-Men to fame, and since then, he’s risen to become one of the most beloved superheroes in history. Although Spider-Man has been active for a longer time and is often considered the most popular Marvel character, it’s debatable whether Wolverine isn’t equally or even more popular. Thanks to shows like X-Men: The Animated Series and Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of the character in films, Wolverine has transcended comic books and achieved iconic status. The success of Deadpool/Wolverine, which grossed a billion dollars, can be attributed largely to Wolverine, given that Deadpool’s popularity is well-known, but we all know the main reason for its box office success was Wolverine.

In recent times, the X-Men were the ultimate Marvel favorites, but their peak popularity has passed. Though they continue to be admired, comic books have significantly evolved since the X-Men’s prime in the ’80s and ’90s. However, Wolverine has retained his massive appeal throughout these changes. As of now, Wolverine headlines four ongoing series and is a cast member in Uncanny X-Men. In 2024, Wolverine celebrated his 50th anniversary, gracing numerous comic books-from continuing titles to miniseries. Wolverine’s sales have consistently been high, suggesting that he has outgrown the X-Men. Yet, this isn’t advantageous for Marvel due to multiple reasons.

The X-Men Need Wolverine More than Wolverine Needs Them

Wolverine is almost flawlessly portrayed as a Marvel character when considering his background. A challenge with superhero comics is their fixed nature; superheroes are recognized for specific traits by those who don’t read them, and altering these aspects excessively can confuse new readers seeking familiar characters. However, Wolverine has evolved in multiple ways throughout the years. If you compare Wolverine from his early days with the X-Men to how he is today, you’ll notice a significant transformation. Initially, Wolverine was the rowdy troublemaker of the team, but over time, he has grown into one of the most respected X-Men. He serves as something of an older brother figure, rough around the edges yet caring deeply for his fellow X-Men.

However, his popularity, which previously boosted sales of X-Men books, now presents a dilemma. Readers either desire more Wolverine or find that he overshadows other team members if included too frequently. This predicament poses issues for the X-Men; some fans may not want to read about Wolverine, while others pick up the X-Men series in search of more Wolverine content and could cease reading if his presence is diminished.

Recently, the X-Men have been experiencing a rough patch. The “From the Ashes” reboot initially garnered attention, but sales have since plateaued. Contrastingly, Wolverine remains a fan favorite. Titles like “Ultimate Wolverine,” “Deadpool/Wolverine,” and “Spider-Man & Wolverine” are more popular than most X-Men comics, providing a preferred platform for the character over X-Men books. Readers still crave Wolverine stories, but they’re less interested in the X-Men as a whole to seek them out. Over the years, Wolverine has been featured in captivating tales, many of which have emerged from solo Wolverine comics. Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are more inclined to pick up titles like “Deadpool/Wolverine” rather than “Uncanny X-Men,” a trend that has negatively impacted the sales of the latter. In the past, Wolverine helped boost the sales of X-Men books, but now with numerous solo and team-up Wolverine comics available, readers no longer feel the need to purchase X-Men books for their Wolverine fix. While the decline in the X-Men’s popularity can’t be entirely attributed to the abundance of Wolverine titles drawing readers away from X-Men books, it’s fair to say that the availability of Wolverine stories outside of X-Men books hasn’t helped matters.

Wolverine Is Bigger Than the X-Men

For quite some time, Wolverine has served as an under-the-radar sales powerhouse for the X-Men comic series. His appearance significantly boosted sales of both X-Men and later Avengers books, with him being part of multiple teams from both franchises. However, Marvel is now providing an abundance of Wolverine content, leading readers to question whether they need to purchase X-Men comics at all. This could pose a challenge for the team in the future, as Wolverine’s popularity seems to overshadow that of the X-Men.

The popularity of the X-Men has slightly decreased compared to five years ago, but Wolverine continues to captivate audiences like never before. Marvel is brainstorming strategies to boost the X-Men’s appeal once more, and making their universe feel more interconnected with Wolverine could be a powerful step in that direction. At the same time, they aren’t planning on discontinuing successful Wolverine comics for the sole purpose of selling more X-Men titles. Instead, they might find innovative ways to blend both storylines effectively.

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2025-09-01 23:16