Wolverine’s Darkest Origin Story Reborn

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In the realm of Ultimate Comics, Wolverine: Ultimate Edition has surpassed other titles like Ultimate Black Panther, Ultimate X-Men, and The Ultimates, becoming one of the most sought-after books in the comic book industry. Unlike any other version of Wolverine we’ve seen before, this one is a pawn of the Eurasian Republic, serving as their Winter Soldier. Readers have been eagerly awaiting Ultimate Wolverine #4, where our protagonist finally rebels against the Russians’ control. However, for seasoned Wolverine fans, this issue might feel strikingly similar to the timeless Wolverine story, “Weapon X”, which chronicled how Wolverine obtained his adamantium and broke free from the super-soldier program that gave it to him. Essentially, Ultimate Wolverine #4 is a modern reinterpretation of this classic tale.

The storyline ‘Weapon X’ was first introduced in 1991, appearing across issues #72-84 of Marvel Comics Presents. This comic series from Marvel published multiple short stories per issue, with the main one typically featuring popular Marvel characters like Wolverine. While there are many memorable Wolverine tales in Marvel Comics Presents, ‘Weapon X’ stands out as one of the finest. This narrative is considered one of the most significant Wolverine stories and provides a better understanding when compared to Ultimate Wolverine #4.

“Weapon X” Answered a Lot of Questions About Wolverine

In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Wolverine’s enigmatic persona propelled him to fame, but this intrigue couldn’t last forever. Fans yearned for insights into Wolverine’s identity and origins, such as his adamantium skeleton. Although stories like “Wolverine” Vol. 2 #10 offered glimpses into his past, much of the character’s backstory remained shrouded in mystery. This gap was filled by the storyline “Weapon X”. Barry Windsor-Smith, a respected Marvel creator known for his work on “Conan the Barbarian”, was tasked with this project. Windsor-Smith had also contributed notable stories to “Uncanny X-Men”, including “Lifedeath”, typically providing pencils or co-plotting one or two special issues per year, often focusing on Wolverine. Windsor-Smith’s exceptional skills were showcased in the “Weapon X” storyline.

In the “Weapon X” series, the narrative takes a chilling turn from the conventional superhero genre by blending elements of horror into the storyline of Wolverine, who was subjected to a supersoldier program with a terrifying twist. The primary characters in this series are the Professor, Doctor Cornelius, and Carol Hines, the masterminds behind Weapon X. Through their perspective, we witness their subject, Wolverine, mutate into an unstoppable force due to their actions, as their fear and powerlessness intensify. The fusion of superhero comics and horror is not common, but “Weapon X” stands out by making the superhero, in this case, Wolverine, the source of the horror. This series offers two types of horror: body horror, due to the gruesome experiments performed on Logan, and monster horror. Essentially, it could be seen as a tale of a monster’s birth, connecting the audience emotionally to the monster’s torment, and inciting cheers when the monster finally breaks free and wreaks havoc. “Weapon X” holds significant importance in Wolverine and Marvel’s history, ranking among their finest stories published to date.

Ultimate Wolverine #4 Does “Weapon X” in Its Own Way

Starting with the first page of “Ultimate Wolverine” #4, the comic adopts a style reminiscent of “Weapon X”, but it takes a unique twist. Instead of directly portraying events as in the original, the narrative is presented through captions detailing Russian scientists interacting with Wolverine, similar to “Weapon X”. However, rather than visualizing confrontations, the issue employs a symbolic struggle between a wolf (representing Wolverine) and a bear (symbolizing the Russians), which adds intrigue as we wait for the actual violence. This strategy effectively heightens the anticipation, resulting in the stunning artwork from Alessandro Cappuccio and Bryan Valenza depicted above. It’s an intelligent approach to telling a story that readers have encountered numerous times before.

This issue further unfolds the tale of Ultimate Wolverine, a storyline readers have been anticipating following his fight with Kitty Pryde in the previous issue. The remnants of his past, previously hinted at in this comic, are now more prominent than ever. As the Russians possess a contingency plan for controlling Wolverine, the mind of Xavier and the comatose Jean Grey, it’s clear that the suppressed fury within him is about to be released upon those who transformed him into their weapon.

Ultimate Wolverine #4 is out now.

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2025-04-20 18:10