Our previous timelines have been huge hits for this site (see Spider-Man and X-Men), so it’s only natural to give the people what they want, and who would they want more than Wolverine? This character is so deserving of a simplified timeline, that we actually went out and made two them! That’s right, this one here for a listing of events as they unfold in the comics, while the other places these events in the order they occur chronologically. This list is meant to be a simplified look at Wolverine for fans new and old to get up speed on where he is at currently. I shouldn’t have to tell you, but I will anyways: the list below contains spoilers! (cue the spoiler horn). If you have any suggestions to add, remove or change to this list, leave us a comment so we can include it when get around to updating this list later on. Also, while you’re interested, check out the chronological X-Men reading order, which can be filtered for just Wolverine appearances, or check out the 25 best Wolverine stories.
The years assigned to each event is set according to today’s date, assuming Marvel’s floating timeline is in the range of 3 to 4 years for every published year. However, Wolverine is one of the few characters to have some solid markers in the sand independent of the timescale, as his healing factor and slow aging allows him to somewhat credibly maintain his presence during key events like World War II.
See the chronological version of this list >
Wolverine vs. The Hulk
Year: 10 to 13 years ago, or about 2002 (published 1974)
Wolverine first appeared in a cameo in Incredible Hulk #180 and had his first full appearance in Incredible Hulk #181. Wolverine worked as an agent of the Canadian government, and both Department H and Weapon X were mentioned in these early issues.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Incredible Hulk #180
Incredible Hulk #181
Incredible Hulk #182
Collected In:
Wolverine: The Adamantium Collection
Incredible Hulk (Marvel Essentials, Vol. 5)
Wolverine joins the X-Men
Year: 10 to 13 years ago, or about 2002 (published 1975)
Charles Xavier recruits Wolverine for his second “batch” of X-Men in order to rescue his first. He quits Department H in favor of this team. Wolverine stays on as most of the original X-Men move on. We learn that his claws are in fact real, and that his name is Logan. He develops a flirtatious relationship with Jean Grey early on.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Giant Size X-Men #1
Uncanny X-Men #95 – Claws revealed as real
Uncanny X-Men #98 – 1st “flirtation” with Jean Grey and 1st scene without his mask
Uncanny X-Men #103 – 1st mention of Logan
Collected In:
The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus Volume 1 (New Printing)
New Costume, More Backstory
Year: 8 to 11 years ago, or about 2003 (published 1980)
Wolverine dons the iconic brown costume for the first as he heads off to battle Wendigo again. He meets up with Heather Hudson, wife of Alpha Flight’s Guardian, and we learn how they helped him recover after discovering him in the woods. It’s also the first time he reveals to his teammates that his civilian name is Logan.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Uncanny X-Men #139 1st Brown costume
Uncanny X-Men #140
Alpha Flight #17 – Reprints material from Uncanny X-Men and fills in some blanks
Collected In:
Essential X-Men, Vol. 2 (Marvel Essentials)
Logan and Mariko
Year: 8 to 10 years ago, or about 2004 (published 1982)
Wolverine meets Mariko, a daughter of a Japanese Yakuza crime boss. They fall in love. In his first solo series, Wolverine kills her father. They were set to be married, though the wedding was called off.
We also get the first time we read the line:
I’m the best there is at what I do, but what I do best isn’t very nice.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Uncanny X-Men #118 1st Mariko
Uncanny X-Men #119
Wolverine Limited Series #1
Wolverine Limited Series #2
Wolverine Limited Series #3
Wolverine Limited Series #4 Wolverine kills Mariko’s father
Uncanny X-Men #172 Wedding called off
Uncanny X-Men #173
Uncanny X-Men #174
Collected In:
Wolverine: The Adamantium Collection
Essential X-Men, Vol. 4 (Marvel Essentials)
Wolverine and Ogun
Year: 7 to 9 years ago, or about 2005 (published 1984)
During his second solo minseries, which paired him with Kitty Pryde, Wolverine is revealed to have been trained in Japan by his mentor, Ogun. Ogun’s spirit takes over Kitty, though they eventually overcomes this evil.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1 BUY Ogun 1st appearance
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #2 BUY
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #3 BUY
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #4 BUY
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #5 BUY
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #6 BUY
Collected In:
Wolverine and Sabretooth
Year: 7 to 9 years ago, or about 2005 (published 1986+)
We first see Wolverine battle his eventual nemesis Sabretooth during the Mutant Massacre, where it is revealed that their history goes back much further. It is later revealed in Wolverine’s solo series that Sabretooth had killed his love, Silver Fox, on his birthday years ago (later to be revealed to occur in the 1900’s). It is said the Sabretooth attacks Wolverine on his birthday every year.
It is also revealed that Wolverine uses the identity of “Patch” in Madripoor.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Iron Fist #14 1st Sabretooth
Uncanny X-Men #212 1st published Wolverine vs Sabretooth battle
Uncanny X-Men #213
Wolverine 1st Series #1 1st Patch
Wolverine 1st Series #10 Sabretooth kills Silver Fox
Collected In:
Essential X-Men, Vol. 6 (Marvel Essentials)
X-Men: Mutant Massacre
X-Men: Mutant Massacre
Wolverine and Jean Grey
Year: 6 to 8 years ago, or about 2006 (published 1990)
The Wolverine/Jean Grey/Cyclops love triangle now seems years in the making. While it seemed like offhand flirtation at first during the brief period when both were on the same team before the arrival of the Dark Phoenix, it seem to start right up much later when they officially meet up again during Inferno, which begins with a kiss. It’s really during their time together during X-Tinction Agenda that we see the flicker of love between them.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Uncanny X-Men #242 1st kiss (Inferno)
X-Factor 1st series #61 1st kiss and insinuation of true love (X-Tinction Agenda)
Shattered Memories
Year: 5 to 7 years ago, or about 2007 (published 1991)
Things regarding Wolverine’s implanted memories get kicked up a notch with an info dump of answers and questions. First, we get the story of Weapon X, which reveals how Wolverine got his adamantium and his fractured memories. It is then followed up by a run in his solo series having the current Wolverine learn of his tampered memories, along with the reveal that the Silver Fox is alive. Over in X-Men, the reveals regarding Logan’s past continue to spill out, this time regarding his time with Team X during the 1960’s, including a teammate who was none other than Sabretooth.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Marvel Comics Presents #72 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #73 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #74 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #75 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #76 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #77 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #78 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #79 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #80 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #81 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #82 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #83 – Weapon X
Marvel Comics Presents #84 – Weapon X
Wolverine 1st Series #48 – Shiva Scenario / Dreams of Gore
Wolverine 1st Series #49 – Shiva Scenario / Dreams of Gore
Wolverine 1st Series #50 – Shiva Scenario / Dreams of Gore
X-Men #4 – Omega Red, Team X
X-Men #5 – Omega Red, Team X
X-Men #6 – Omega Red, Team X
X-Men #7 – Omega Red, Team X
Collected In:
Wolverine: The Adamantium Collection
Wolverine: Weapon X
X-Men by Chris Claremont & Jim Lee Omnibus – Volume 2
Mariko dies
Year: 5 to 7 years ago, or about 2007 (published 1992)
While their romance never really got the chance it deserved, Mariko and Wolverine continued to maintain their bond. However, it is her dealings with the Japanese underworld after picking up the pieces after her father that led to Mariko’s death. It occurs at the hands of Silver Fox, who poisons a blade used by Mariko to sacrifice a finger to pay back a debt.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Wolverine 1st Series #55
Wolverine 1st Series #56
Wolverine 1st Series #57 – Mariko dies
Wolverine Loses His Adamantium
Year: 5 to 7 years ago, or about 2007 (published 1993)
In a gruesome, jaw dropping scene, Magneto strips all of the adamantium from the bones of Wolverine, leaving him in severe shock. It is also revealed that his claws are actually made of bone.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
X-Men #25
Wolverine 1st Series #75
Collected In:
Wolverine: The Adamantium Collection
X-Men: Fatal Attractions
Wolverine goes feral
Year: 4 to 6 years ago, or about 2008 (published 1996)
Genesis (Cable’s son) attempts to bond adamantium back onto Wolverine’s bones to turn him into Apocalypse’s next Horseman of Death. The plan is foiled, though Wolverine lapses into a feral state.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Wolverine 1st Series #100
Adamantium Returns as Logan becomes Death
Year: 3 to 5 years ago, or about 2009 (published 1999)
Wolverine eventually becomes the Horseman of Death, which resulted in his regaining of an adamantium skeleton. Naturally, Wolverine breaks from the brainwashing accompanying this new position throughout the “Twelve” Crossover.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
X-Men #95 – Wolverine revealed as Death
Uncanny X-Men #376 – The Twelve
Cable 1st series #75 – The Twelve
X-Man #59 – The Twelve
X-Men #96 – The Twelve
Wolverine 1st Series #146 – The Twelve
Wolverine 1st Series #147 – The Twelve
X-Man #60 – The Twelve
Uncanny X-Men #377 – The Twelve
Cable 1st series #76 – The Twelve
X-Men #97 – The Twelve
Collected In:
X-Men vs. Apocalypse Vol. 1: The Twelve (v. 1)
Weapon X Expanded, Wolverine Kills Jean Grey
Year: 2 to 3 years ago, or about 2010 (published 2004)
During Grant Morrison’s blockbuster run on the retitled New X-Men, we discover that Weapon X is in fact just one among a series of experiments under the umbrella of Weapon Plus. His run culminates in the return of the Phoenix, in which Wolverine must take the life of the woman he loves (but can have), Jean Grey.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
New X-Men #142 Assault on Weapon Plus
New X-Men #143 Assault on Weapon Plus
New X-Men #144 Assault on Weapon Plus
New X-Men #145 Assault on Weapon Plus
New X-Men #146 Planet X
New X-Men #147 Planet X
New X-Men #148 Planet X
New X-Men #149 Planet X
New X-Men #150 Planet X – Wolverine kills Jean Grey
Collected In:
New X-Men, Vol. 3
X-23
Year: 2 to 3 years ago, or about 2010 (published 2004)
Another milestone during Wolverine’s 50th anniversary celebrations, X-23 is introduced to Wolverine and the X-Men. X-23 is a female clone of Wolverine, which is detailed in her own mini-series.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Uncanny X-Men #450 X-23 meets Wolverine
Uncanny X-Men #451
X23 #1
X23 #2
X23 #3
X23 #4
X23 #5
X23 #6
Collected In:
Uncanny X-Men – The New Age Vol. 2: The Cruelest Cut
X-23, Vol. 1: The Killing Dream
Wolverine Joins the Avengers
Year: 2 years ago, or about 2011 (published 2005)
While it may have seemed like a cash grab at the time, Wolverine fit right in with the Avengers. He originally joined after the original Avengers disbanded, and Captain America assemble a different crew after a breakout at the superprison the Raft.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
New Avengers #1
New Avengers #2
New Avengers #3
New Avengers #4
New Avengers #5 Wolverine appears
New Avengers #6 Wolverine joins
Collected In:
New Avengers, Vol. 1: Breakout
New Avengers Omnibus, Vol. 1
“I Remember All Of It”
Year: 2 years ago, or about 2011 (published 2005)
The status-quo disrupting event “House of M”, in which the Scarlet Witch creates an alternate universe in which her family is happy and mutants rule. When it comes crumbling apart, as it usually does, she choses to get rid of all mutants, which leaves only 198 mutants left. THis event also leads to Wolverine remembering everything about his life.
This includes naturally his early life, which was detailed in the Origin mini-series a few years earlier, which describes how James Howlett, a sickly young boy in the 1880’s, became the nomadic man called Logan.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Wolverine The Origin #1
Wolverine The Origin #2
Wolverine The Origin #3
Wolverine The Origin #4
Wolverine The Origin #5
Wolverine The Origin #6
House of M #1
House of M #2
House of M #3
House of M #4
House of M #5
House of M #6
House of M #7
House of M #8 – Wolverine Remembers
Collected In:
Wolverine: Origin
Wolverine: Origin HC
House of M
Sabretooth Dies
Year: a year or 2 ago, or about 2011 (published 2007)
Wolverine and Sabretooth enter their final battle, which leaves Creed lying dead on the ground.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Wolverine 2nd Series #50
Wolverine 2nd Series #51
Wolverine 2nd Series #52
Wolverine 2nd Series #53
Wolverine 2nd Series #54
Wolverine 2nd Series #55 Sabretooth dies
Collected In:
Wolverine: Evolution
Romulus and Daken
Year: a year ago, or about 2012 (published 2009)
Romulus becomes Wolverine’s latest nemesis, and one who has been with him all along: he is the one responsible for his fractured memories, his involvement in Weapon X, as well as killing his wife, Itsu, in the 1940’s.
Itsu was pregnant at the time of her death, and having healing factor in the baby’s genes allowed him to survive. That child was raised by Romulus as Daken, who replaced Wolverine on Norman Osborn’s “Dark” Avengers.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
Wolverine Origins #5 – Daken is born
Wolverine Origins #33 – Daken is revealed
Wolverine Origins #34
Wolverine Origins #35
Wolverine Origins #36
Wolverine Origins #37
Wolverine Origins #38
Wolverine Origins #39 1st full appearance of Romulus
Wolverine Origins #40
Collected In:
Wolverine Origins: Romulus
Wolverine and the X-Men
Year: Recently (published 2011)
Cyclops and Wolverine’s rivalry comes to a head as the X-Men split into two factions: one lead by Cyclops on Utopia, and the other by Wolverine, who becomes headmaster at the renamed Jean Grey School in Westchester.
Essential Wolverine Issues:
X-Men – Schism #1
X-Men – Schism #2
X-Men – Schism #3
X-Men – Schism #4
X-Men – Schism #5
X-Men Regenesis #1
Wolverine And The X-Men #1
Wolverine and the X-Men #2
Wolverine and the X-Men #3
Collected In:
Wolverine: The Adamantium Collection
X-Men: Schism
Wolverine & the X-Men, Vol. 1
i would like a detailed list of all wolverine comics in order to finish my collection please and thank you eric
See our X-Men reading order
I noticed that you noted for Uncanny X-Men #95 that it is revealed that Wolverine’s claws are revealed as real. This isn’t true. The message bubble saying that “My claws are real” is coming from the enemy Wolverine is fighting. He is mocking Wolverine by implying that his aren’t real.