Marvel's Wolverine: The First 50 Years Review — Celebrating half a century of the X-Men’s angriest Canadian

Wolverine. Logan. James Howlett. Weapon X. That guy with the metal claws who never dies (usually). Whether you know him from his half a century of comic book appearances, from the myriad of cartoons that have popped up (snik snik) over the years, or from Hugh Jackman’s almost dozen appearances as the character on the big screen, you’re undoubtedly familiar with him in some form. And now, in a new omnibus from Titan Comics, you can become more familiar with him than ever!

Compiling the character’s first 50 years in comics, the collection begins in the 70s, where a mysterious character wearing a yellow suit and wielding metal blades first appears to fight the Hulk on the last page of Incredible Hulk #180 in 1974. Created by Len Wein and John Romita Sr., the Wolverine had arrived, and neither readers nor his creators could have predicted just where time would take the clawed hero. 

Continuing on through the decades, the omnibus takes us through his incredible journey. From his switch from being a soldier for a covert Canadian agency known as Department H and joining the second incarnation of the X-Men, to his time as an Avenger and various multiverse stories that have become staples in comic book history. We see it all. Each major milestone in his journey, from his first appearance to his death and resurrection, is broken down and explored in meticulous detail, revealing both fictional history and the real-world events surrounding the character. 

Complementing these detailed breakdowns are images taken from the various comics referenced, providing a visual journey to further show how Wolverine has evolved from his first appearance, while also showcasing how comics in general have evolved. Whether it’s changing art styles from different artists, updates in the way comic book art is done, or something as simple as a new costume, it makes the decades Wolverine has spent gracing the pages of Marvel comics felt more deeply. Adding to this are the selections of comic covers displayed chronologically across a timeline for each decade, many of which are sure to be recognizable by even the most casual of comic book fans.

But the omnibus doesn’t just settle for breaking down Wolverine’s comic book tenure. After all, what is a hero without a recurring cast of supporting characters? From fellow heroes like X-23 to arch-nemesis —and maybe brother?— Sabretooth, and enemy/ally/estranged son Daken, the omnibus takes the time to delve into each of them. While not explored in nearly as much depth as our favorite angry Canadian, each receives their well-deserved moment in the spotlight, showcasing their part in Wolverine’s incredible story. 

The various writers and artists that have played a role in crafting Logan’s seemingly undying mythos are also given spots to shine across the pages of the omnibus. From creators Len Wein and John Romita to legendary comic book writer Brian Michael Bendis, each receive a section detailing not only their work with Wolverine, but other stories they’ve been able to contribute to over their storied careers. It’s a nice touch, and not one that I’ve seen featured in many other character guides I’ve read  over the years. 

Though this book takes us through the first five decades of Wolverine’s adventures, it must be noted that it only touches on his time in comics. You won’t find anything about his various cartoon or live action appearances within its pages. This isn’t an issue per se, as at the end of the day, Wolverine is ultimately a comic book character first and foremost. However, it does feel like a disservice to those mediums. After all, how many people might have been introduced to the character by seeing Hugh Jackman portray him across the last two decades? Or perhaps come to love him by watching the X-Men cartoon in the 90’s? I understand that this book wanted to focus solely on the comics, but it seems odd to me to not even have a mention of these depictions anywhere in its pages.

Additionally, I wish some of his multiversal stories had been explored in a bit more depth. It felt like the omnibus just glossed over them as if they were inconsequential to the larger mythos simply because they weren’t canon to the core timeline. Again, I understand that the book wanted to focus primarily on the main timeline history of the character, but it feels like a disservice to barely touch on timeless events like Old Man Logan or Age of Apocalypse. Even his depiction in Marvel’s Ultimate line is barely explored, as if its inclusion in the omnibus were an afterthought. 

Overall, though, this book is a great summary of Wolverine's many stories thus far. Between the artwork picked from countless books and covers over the last 50 years to the breakdowns of stories, characters, and contributors, it's a fitting tribute to one of comic's most timeless characters.

Marvel's Wolverine: The First 50 Years is available now from Titan Comics.