Logan has been on the opposite end of a lot of villains’ wrath. The first names that probably come to mind are Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, or Cyber. But long before any of them even knew who Logan was, in fact, back when Wolverine was James Howlett, there was Romulus.
Romulus claims to have been around and ruled since before humans were in charge, and the lupine beast walked like humans (read Wolverine by Jeph Loeb for this story). Whether it’s true or not remains to be seen. What is accurate is that he’s been manipulating and molding Logan into a weapon since birth. Thankfully, Romulus lost his grip over him after one of his plans went wrong (Wolverine Origins/X-Men Legacy: Original Sin by Daniel Way and Mike Carey).
Later, in Saladin Ahmed’s Wolverine, Romulus returns, and he’s possessed by someone older than he claims to be. It’s an elder being and god-like entity that’s offended by the existence of the man-made metal, adamantium. Romulus thinks this will give him the power and control he once had, but all it got him was a brutal death.
Wolverine No. 18 creative team
- Writer: Saladin Ahmed
- Artist: Martín Cóccolo
- Colors: Jesus Aburtov
In the current storyline of Saladin Ahmed’s Wolverine, Logan and Silver Sable have been training a new group of Morlocks to protect themselves and build a community. Just when things seemed to be going well, Wolverine picks up Romulus’s scent. He and Silver Sable track him down, and Logan’s oldest enemy and nightmare is dead. He’s almost ripped in half, and the footprints they used to track him weren't his. Because, in front of him is the killer, and it’s Hercules…sort of.
The same entity that turned Lady Deathstrike, Cyber, and Constrictor’s adamantium into Adamantine to control them now has its grasp on Hercules. And as much as Logan knows that he shouldn’t be fighting the Lion of Olympus, he can’t stop himself. But there’s one person who can, and it’s Hercules’ sibling, the Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare, Athena. Because, at the end of the issue, she shows up and stops the two modern-day titans from killing each other and further destroying the New Morlocks' community.
It was announced that in Wolverine No. 22, Logan’s adamantium claws will be broken. And, according to Marvel, in order to survive, Logan will have to fight a “gauntlet of enemies.” Has Logan lost his healing factor, and had his claws been broken before? He certainly has. He even lost his healing ability for a bit recently. However, this time, I think this ends with Logan getting an upgrade.
"SNAPT! WOLVERINE has been beaten down to the bone - literally! His adamantium claws SHATTERED, their bones SNAPPED down to nubs, this is Wolverine at his most brutalized, most beat-up…but when an animal is backed into a corner, they can be at their most dangerous! Wolverine must fight his way through a gauntlet of enemies for his very survival! Villainous plots turn, and you don't want to miss the ultimate trial…for even if Wolverine can reach his enemies, will he remain a MUTANT?"Marvel.com
Logan getting into a war with the Gods of Olympus wasn’t something I had on my 2026 bingo card, but it should have been. Hercules’ mace is made out of Adamantine, and it’s also what forged Perseus’ sword. So, not only does this all connect to Greek and Marvel Comics' lore, but it also shows how much research writer Saladin Ahmed did when starting this series. Bravo, good sir.
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