Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988–2003): Marvel's Berserker Gets His Own Monthly
Wolverine Vol. 2 (1988–2003): Marvel's Berserker Gets His Own Monthly
189 issues of claws, secrets and bad tempers. Here is our guide to the first Wolverine ongoing series of the 1988 era.
By the late 1980s Wolverine was the most popular X-Man by a wide margin, and it was only a matter of time before he got a monthly comic of his own. In November 1988 he did. Wolverine Vol. 2 turned out to be one of the great workhorses of Marvel's 90s, running for 189 issues and giving Logan room to be a spy, a samurai, a drifter and a wounded man trying to make sense of his past.
We have a good amount of this run at Siomic Comics, particularly from the early 90s, so here is our guide to the series: the creators, the stories that mattered and the issues collectors still go looking for.
Wolverine Vol. 2 at a glance
- Publisher: Marvel Comics
- Run: 189 issues, November 1988 to June 2003 (plus annuals, a #1/2 and a #-1)
- Launch team: Chris Claremont and John Buscema
- Longest-serving writer: Larry Hama, who wrote most of the run from #31 to #118
- Other writers: Archie Goodwin, Jo Duffy, Peter David, Erik Larsen, Frank Tieri, Daniel Way
- Notable artists: John Buscema, John Byrne, Marc Silvestri, Adam Kubert, Leinil Francis Yu, Sean Chen, Barry Windsor-Smith
- Famous covers: John Buscema, John Byrne (#17), Jim Lee (#27), Marc Silvestri, Adam Kubert
- What came next: Wolverine Vol. 3, relaunched with a new #1 in 2003
How Wolverine got his own series
Wolverine had a four-issue miniseries in 1982 by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, and had been a fixture of Uncanny X-Men since the mid-70s. By 1988 the demand was obvious. Marvel launched the ongoing series with Chris Claremont, the writer who had defined the character, and veteran artist John Buscema, whose big, muscular style gave Logan a different look from the X-Men books.
#1 (November 1988) is titled Sword Quest and marks the first appearance of Patch, the eyepatch-wearing persona Logan uses in the Pacific city of Madripoor. In #2 comes the debut of the Muramasa Blade, a sword that would keep coming back in Wolverine stories. From the start the series set itself apart as a more globe-trotting, spy-flavoured book than the X-Men comics.
The big runs, in order
| Issues | Writer | Pencils / covers | What the era feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1–8 | Chris Claremont | John Buscema | Madripoor, the Patch persona, and a Wolverine very different from the team player |
| #9–16 | Peter David and others | John Buscema, Kevin Nowlan covers | Short, character-led stories |
| #17–23 | Archie Goodwin | John Byrne | A short, much-admired run, with a classic Byrne cover on #17 |
| #25–30 | Jo Duffy | Various | A brief run that leads into the Silvestri era, including the Jim Lee-covered #27 |
| #31–118 | Larry Hama (most issues) | Marc Silvestri, then Adam Kubert and others | The long middle: Sabretooth, Mariko, Cylla and the 90s Wolverine |
| #119–149 | Various, including Erik Larsen (#133–149) | Leinil Francis Yu | A leaner, harder-hitting look for the late 90s |
| #159–189 | Frank Tieri, Matt Nixon and Daniel Way | Sean Chen, Esad Ribić covers | The closing years before the 2003 relaunch |
The Larry Hama years
If the series has one defining voice, it is Larry Hama. He began writing it around #31 and wrote most of the issues up to #118, several years of monthly stories. Hama was given a lot of freedom, and his Wolverine is part spy, part soldier and part wounded animal. He is a big reason the 90s Wolverine feels so different from the one in the X-Men books.
Hama's early stretch is paired with Marc Silvestri, who pencilled much of #31 to #57 and gave the book a gritty, detailed look. #31 introduces General Coy and Dr. Malheur in Killing Zone, #37 and #38 bring in Albert and Elsie Dee, and #50 introduces Shiva. #55 has the debut of Cylla's Skullbuster armor, and #57 shows the death of Mariko, one of the emotional turning points of the run.
The Sabretooth saga and #75
In #41 and #42 Sabretooth claims to be Wolverine's father, and then is proven not to be. The longer Sabretooth story that runs through issues #69 to #75 leads up to #75 (November 1993), which has long been one of the best-known issues of the whole series: it is the one that shows the debut of Wolverine's bone claws. If you are looking for a single issue to represent the era, this is probably it.
Key issues and first appearances
| Issue | Cover date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | November 1988 | First issue, and the first appearance of Patch |
| #2 | December 1988 | Debut of the Muramasa Blade |
| #4 | February 1989 | First appearances of Bloodscream and Roughhouse |
| #10 | August 1989 | First appearance of Silver Fox |
| #17 | November 1989 | Classic John Byrne cover |
| #27 | July 1990 | Classic Jim Lee cover |
| #31 | September 1990 | First appearances of General Coy and Dr. Malheur |
| #37–38 | 1991 | First appearance of Albert, and the first full appearance of Elsie Dee |
| #50 | January 1992 | First appearance of Shiva |
| #57 | July 1992 | Death of Mariko |
| #75 | November 1993 | Debut of Wolverine's bone claws |
| #88 | December 1994 | The first Wolverine vs Deadpool battle |
| #100 | April 1996 | 100th issue |
| #145 | December 1999 | Wolverine gets his adamantium back |
Wolverine meets Deadpool
One of the quirks of the series is how many characters have become more famous elsewhere. #88, called It's D-D-Deadpool Folks!, is the first time Wolverine and Deadpool fight, in a comic from December 1994. Given how closely the two characters are tied together in the movies, it is a fun piece of history.
The creators behind the comic
Chris Claremont & John Buscema
The launch team, bringing the character's longtime writer together with a legendary Marvel artist.
Archie Goodwin & John Byrne
A short run on #17 to #23 that fans still rate highly.
Larry Hama
The writer who shaped the series for most of a decade, and who treated the earlier Claremont, Miller and Windsor-Smith stories as canon.
Marc Silvestri
Penciller of much of #31 to #57 and cover artist on many of them, whose style defined the early 90s book.
Adam Kubert & Leinil Francis Yu
Two of the leading artists of the later run, with Kubert on covers from #86 to #114 and Yu on art from #119.
Barry Windsor-Smith
Drew #166 in 2001, a nice nod to the artist behind the Weapon X story.
Curiosities collectors should know
Fractional and negative issues
Besides the 189 regular issues, the series includes a #-1 and a #1/2, which are fun to track down.
Cover legends
The run is full of famous cover artists, including John Buscema, John Byrne, Jim Lee and Marc Silvestri.
A recalled issue
Issue #131 was recalled, which makes it an interesting piece for collectors.
Silvestri covers
Marc Silvestri provided covers for a long stretch, roughly #33 to #57, giving that part of the run a very consistent look.
Annuals and specials
The series has six annuals, which add extra stories around the main run.
A long run for a single writer
Larry Hama's stretch of close to ninety issues is unusually long for a Marvel monthly.
Wolverine beyond this series
This run is not directly adapted on screen, but it shaped the way readers and creators think about Logan. The idea of Wolverine as a spy, a loner and a man with a long, complicated past runs through the 90s Marvel animated series, video games and, later, the live-action films. Marvel followed this run with Wolverine Vol. 3 in 2003, which began with a new #1.
Where to start reading Wolverine Vol. 2
- #1 to #8 for Claremont and Buscema's launch and Patch.
- #17 to #23 for Archie Goodwin and John Byrne.
- #31 to #57 for the first big Hama and Silvestri stretch, ending with the death of Mariko.
- #69 to #75 for the Sabretooth saga and the bone claws.
- #88 for the first Deadpool fight.
Wolverine Vol. 2 covers through the years
A look at some of the covers from the run. Tap a cover to see our copy if it's in stock.
#2
#8
#17
#27
#31
#38
#50
#57
#75
#88
#100
#145Browse our Wolverine Vol. 2 back issues
These are some of the issues we currently have on the shelf. Every copy is photographed so you can check its condition before buying.
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#55
Wolverine #55: Thirty Slashes Over Tokyo
The debut of Cylla's Skullbuster armor, in the middle of the Hama and Silvestri era.
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#76
Wolverine #76: Northern Dreams
The issue right after the landmark #75, in the aftermath of the bone claws story.
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#86
Wolverine #86: Claws Along the Mohawk
From the stretch of the series with Adam Kubert on covers.
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#89
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#99
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#101
Wolverine #101: The Helix of an Age Foretold
The issue straight after the 100th-issue milestone.
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#166
Wolverine #166: Conclusion
The closing chapter of an arc drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith, one of the great names in Wolverine's history.
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We also have these issues of the series in stock:
You can also search all our Wolverine comics.
Frequently asked questions about Wolverine Vol. 2
When did Wolverine Vol. 2 start?
The first issue is cover-dated November 1988, written by Chris Claremont and drawn by John Buscema.
How many issues are in Wolverine Vol. 2?
The series ran for 189 issues, from November 1988 to June 2003, plus annuals, a #1/2 and a #-1.
Who wrote Wolverine for the longest?
Larry Hama wrote most of the issues from #31 to #118, a stretch of several years.
What is the key issue of Wolverine Vol. 2?
Many collectors point to #1 for the start of the series and #75 for the debut of Wolverine's bone claws.
When did Wolverine first fight Deadpool?
The first Wolverine vs Deadpool battle is in Wolverine #88, cover-dated December 1994.
What happened to Wolverine after #189?
The series was followed by Wolverine Vol. 3 in 2003, which began with a new #1.
Where should I start reading Wolverine Vol. 2?
Start with #1 for the origin of the series, or jump to #31 to join the Larry Hama and Marc Silvestri era.
Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Wolverine comics of your own? See how to sell your comics to Siomic Comics. Wolverine and all related characters are trademarks of Marvel. Cover images are shown for reference.