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We’re bringing grody back.

Published 1991

It’s nutty to me that some of the most important stories in comic books are just listed under “Generic Title #69-420.” This is the weakest element of American comics, especially when you compare it to manga. Marvel Comics Presents #72-84 is the first appearance of Weapon X. The first explanation of Wolverine’s adamantium skeleton. And, back then, it was the origin of why he even had claws at all.

This was, at the time of publishing, the very first time Wolverine’s claws were popped in his life. Why then, is he already clearly pretty old? Because this is moments after they were grafted onto him. Logan used to be just a guy who healed quick and could smell vaguely well.
Before it was retconned in Origin, for better or worse.

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Writing

The thing is, at the time, it was perfectly normal for comics to go this dark and gritty. In fact you could say that’s the direction most of the 90s went – thanks, largely, to Watchmen. But this comic really aimed for a specific vibe, it wasn’t just nonsense swearing. The writing is just clearly for an older crowd.

Really strikes a tone, yeah? Our writer, Barry, keeps this up throughout the entire story. Some might call that over-the-top, but I think – at this point – the character of Wolverine had earned this level of esotericism.

The only problem with that – and to a lesser extent, the art – was that this arc was coming out in a book that carried several stories. So occasionally where Weapon X would end and the next story would start… Let’s just call it tonal dissonance:

Now, this is a pretty deadly-serious affair, but there is one running gag. “All-in-One Barry,” as I like to call him, decided that the man running Weapon X has no idea how computers work. It gets played as a gag a few times, but also ends up being the trigger for several plot advancements. Its definitely the thing I least expected when going into this.

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Art

You remember X2? The movie? They go to the Weapon X facility and its all grimy and grody, there are wires everywhere, blood on every surface. Remember that? If you’re like me, you figured that was due to rust and deterioration over years, possibly decades since Logan’s procedure.
This comic confirms that – No – it always looked like that.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was one of two movies I had on my iPod Nano for long car rides, so it holds a soft spot in my heart. But I will never forgive it for taking this aesthetic of Weapon X away from us.

Alongside this type of over-the-top mechanical parts, we also get to see plenty of inner-turmoil translated into art during this tale.

A lot of… thorns and spines. It works very well thematically, obviously, for the new claws he now has, making him a little less cuddly. But it also represents his fear of being a mutant due to his underdeveloped understanding that they cause pain and suffering to “normal” people.

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This one is definitely worth checking out, really dives into the psychological weapons that were used to control Logan and that eventually led to his patchy memory. Even if the claw-installation isn’t canon anymore, it’s still an impressive tragedy starring our favorite mutant. And you’ll know you’re in good hands from the very first two panels: