10 Best Wolverine Crossovers, Ranked

Wolverine has been around since 1974 and rose through the ranks of Marvel’s most popular characters. A hallmark of that popularity is appearing in multiple crossovers and events. Wolverine was known for appearing in multiple books per month, crossing over with less popular characters to give them a sales boost or crossing over with Marvel’s biggest characters to see how Wolverine plays off other characters.

Over the years, Wolverine has crossed over with many characters in his books, miniseries, specials, and other characters’ books. As with any other comic, the quality of these crossovers has varied wildly. However, some of them have proven to be far better than others. They’ve given readers epic battles and created—or destroyed—Wolverine’s relationship with other heroes. Wolverine plays well off multiple characters, and these crossovers are the cream of the crop.

Creative Team: Erik Larsen, Jeff Matsuda, Jon Sibal, Jason Wright, and Emerson Miranda

Wolverine (Vol. 2) was the ol’Canucklehead’s longest-running series and was home to multiple great crossover stories. Wolverine is the ultimate loner, which often makes the way he plays off other characters even more interesting. In 1998, writer/artist Erik Larsen took over writing duties on Wolverine (Vol. 2) and immediately threw the character into a superhero epic. It featured several crossovers with characters like Warbird, Justice, Vision, Firestar, Moon Knight, USAgent, Black Widow, Falcon, Solo, Cardiac, Speedball, Rage, Darkhawk Black Cat, and Human Torch fight the X-Man after he was possessed by an alien named Aria.

Wolverine then goes to space and clashes with his old allies, the Starjammers, fighting multiple alien enemies before facing off with Galactus himself. This story is a madcap sci-fi/superhero mash-up starring a litany of B-list heroes that Wolverine either teams up with or runs through in battle. The fact that the story ended with Wolverine and Galactus is worth the price of admission alone.

9 Wolverine (Vol. 2) #102 Is A Different Kind Of Team-Up Between Wolverine And Elektra

Creative Team: Larry Hama, Adam Kubert, Dan Green, Joe Rosas, Richard Starkings, and Comicraft

Larry Hama’s run on Wolverine (Vol. 2) lasted seven years, from 1990 to 1997, and saw Wolverine crossover with many characters. A rather unfairly maligned period of the run takes place after Wolverine (Vol. 2) #100, when Wolverine regresses into a feral state. Elektra shows up to help him rebuild his mind with martial arts training, and the two share the book’s spotlight for several issues. Issue 102 is one of the best, though it’s only technically a crossover. Elektra’s voice-over tells a story from her past juxtaposed with the wild Wolverine going to New York City to hunt.

Hama is known for his rather poetic prose, and this issue shows that off. It’s also the last issue of Adam Kubert’s first run on a Wolverine title, with the late legendary inker Dan Green embellishing the pencils, so it looks amazing. Wolverine and Elektra don’t share any scenes in the book, but how their two stories blend into each other makes this a crossover comic to remember.

Creative Team: Mark Millar, John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, Paul Mounts, and Rus Wooton

Mark Millar’s work at Marvel is very hit or miss with fans, but most agree that the writer did an amazing job with his two Wolverine stories. The first, a twelve-issue epic called Enemy Of The State/Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D., saw Wolverine killed by new villain Gorgon and resurrected by the Hand. The Hand and their new allies in Hydra used Wolverine as a weapon against S.H.I.E.L.D. before sending him after heroes like Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and the X-Men. He even killed Northstar, who the Hand would later resurrect, before being defeated and reprogrammed by S.H.I.E.L.D. Wolverine then heads out for revenge against the leaders of The Hand and Hydra.

Millar often did a good job with stories like this – tales that took multiple heroes and villains and threw them together. The battle between Wolverine and Daredevil, with Wolverine attacking the Man Without Fear alongside an army of ninjas, is incredibly intense. Seeing Wolverine face off against his friends in the X-Men is brutal and exciting. Millar and the all-star art team of John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, and Paul Mounts knocked this story out of the park and used the guest stars excellently.

7 Wolverine And Captain America Clashed In Captain America Annual #8

Creative Team: Mark Gruenwald, Mike Zeck, John Beatty, Josef Rubenstein, Glynis Oliver, and Jim Novak

Nowadays, Captain America and Wolverine are rather buddy-buddy, but that wasn’t always the case. Back in the 1980s, during the beginnings of Wolverine’s mega-popularity, Captain America wasn’t a fan of Wolverine’s lethal style of heroism. Captain America has always been a do-gooder, and Wolverine’s bad-boy styling rubbed him the wrong way. Fans wondered what would happen if the two heroes faced off against each other, and Captain America Annual #8gave them the classic Marvel hero versus hero battle they wanted.

Wolverine and Captain America faced off against TESS-1—the Total Exterminator Of Super Soldiers—but the issue’s centerpiece is the fight between the two heroes, which Captain America wins. Later meetings between the two characters would be rather different, making this issue stand out as it represents a dark time in their relationship. Plus, any comic that teams up legends like Mark Gruenwald, Mike Zeck, John Beatty, Josef Rubenstein, and Glynis Oliver will be a treat for comic readers of any generation.

6 X Deaths Of Wolverine Brings Together The Wolverine Family To Insure The Future Of The Mutant Race

Creative Team: Benjamin Percy, Federico Vicentini, Dijjo Lima, Frank Martin, and Cory Petit

Wolverine has been a hit with the ladies during his long life and has several children. This has led to fights between him and his children – namely his son Daken. However, the Krakoa Era of the X-Men brought together the mutant race and the Wolverine family. Daken, Wolverine II, and Scout are all front and center in X Deaths Of Wolverine, a book that spun out of Inferno. A pod surfaces on Krakoa and a Wolverine from an alternate future- infected with Phalanx techno-organic virus- comes back to recruit his children to hunt Moira down and kill her before she dooms the mutant race.

Seeing the Wolverine family together – even if Wolverine isn’t the one readers are used to – is a treat. They work together very well, and when Phalanx Wolverine inevitably falls to his infection, the real Wolverine shows up to stop him from infecting Krakoa. This book is very important to the overall story of the Krakoa Era, a midpoint in the mutant nation’s story. It’s also a great crossover between a group of heroes that, while related, haven’t gotten to spend much time together.

5 Wolverine (Vol. 4) #37-40 Sees Wolverine Get A Little Help From His Friends

Creative Team: Benjamin Percy, Juan Jose Ryp, Ibrahim Moustafa, Frank D’Armata, and Cory Petit

Wolverine is known for his connections to other characters, but after his most recent death and return, he’s spent most of his time with his fellow X-Men on Krakoa. He’s rarely moved out of his little mutant sphere, meaning fans have few crossovers with classic Wolverine allies. That’s why Wolverine (Vol. 7) #37-40 are so refreshing. These four stories occur after Fall Of X, with Krakoa taken over by the Orchis Initiative. Wolverine goes on four missions with the Hulk, Captain America, Black Panther, and Spider-Man, which highlight his different relationships with each hero.

Wolverine and Hulk go after the final three Wolverine clones created by Beast as living murder weapons, even battling one who became a Wendigo. Wolverine and Captain America team up to attack Legacy House, a secret auction house, and stop them from selling Krakoan stolen property. Wolverine and Black Panther uneasily work together to stop Orchis from getting its hands on vibranium. Finally, Wolverine and Spider-Man team up to attack an Orchis orbital facility. These issues are delightful little character pieces that feature awesome action scenes.

4 Kitty Pryde And Wolverine Cement The Two Characters’ Relationship

Creative Team: Chris Claremont, Allen Milgrom, Glynis Wein, and Tom Orzechowski

Wolverine developed a reputation for mentoring the younger women of the X-Men. This started with the young Kitty Pryde, who joined the team when she was thirteen. Wolverine helped train Kitty and the two formed a bond. They made a great team, which led to the classic Kitty Pryde And Wolverine miniseries, a book that did a lot to bring Kitty to the next level as a superhero. The miniseries sees the two head to Japan, where Kitty begins training under Wolverine’s old master Ogun. However, things go very badly when the truth about Ogun is revealed.

Kitty receives ninja training in this story, and it’s a perfect snapshot of the first half of the Claremont run on the X-Men family of books. It’s an extremely important book to the history of both characters, bringing their friendship to the next level. Kitty becomes a more formidable hero than ever, mastering the ninja arts in record time. Meanwhile, Ogun became a recurring enemy of Wolverine, appearing multiple times over the years and using his dark demon ninja magic to torment his former student.

3 Havok And Wolverine: Meltdown Is A Forgotten Classic

Creative Team: Walt Simonson, Louise Simonson, Jon J. Muth, Kent Williams, Sherilyn Van Valkenburgh, and Bill Oakley

The late ’80s saw Marvel still trying to compete with DC regarding prestige comics, something that would end as the ’90s dawned. They published these books through their Epic Comics line, and Havok And Wolverine: Meltdown is a perfect example of how great these books were. This book uses the collapse of the Soviet Union as a backdrop, as Russian operatives attack the vacationing Havok and Wolverine. Dr. Neutron and Meltdown are trying to cause a nuclear meltdown to power up Meltdown and conquer the former Soviet Union. The two mutants are captured and manipulated by the Russians from the start, culminating in a tense battle at a nuclear power plant.

Walt and Louise Simonson are at the height of their powers, so it’s entertaining from the first page to the last. They have a tremendous grasp of the characters and the events, moving the pieces along to get to the big ending. The art is fantastic, as Jon J. Muth and Kent Williams give readers gorgeous painted art, with each artist drawing a different character’s adventures – Williams for Wolverine and Muth for Havok. The two heroes make an amazing team, each complimenting the other in bizarre ways. This isn’t just peak Wolverine; it’s peak Marvel.

2 The Incredible Hulk (Vol. 1) #340 Gives Readers The Most Brutal Wolverine And Hulk Battle

Creative Team: Peter David, Todd McFarlane, Petra Scotese, and Rick Parker

Wolverine and Hulk’s rivalry stretches back to the beginning of Wolverine’s existence. The two heroes have had some amazing battles, but none are as praised or as brutal as the one in The Incredible Hulk #340, where the two heroes rip at each other. The two enemies are brought together when the Hulk accidentally downs an airliner, and Wolverine hunts this wild version of the grey Hulk while the X-Men save the passengers. They engage in a bloody battle that sees Wolverine go full berserker rage and tear into the Hulk like never before. Of course, that was just round one.

Peter David and Todd McFarlane gave readers an amazing brawl like no other. Wolverine and Hulk have had many fights over the years, but none has surpassed this one. It’s a brilliant mixture of art and prose, giving readers the full effect of what an expertly created comic can do for action scenes. Overall, this is the Wolverine/Hulk fight that every fan of both characters must read.

1 The Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine Is A Brilliant Crossover Of Marvel’s Most Popular Characters

Creative Team: Jason Aaron, Adam Kubert, Mark Morales, Dexter Vines, Justin Ponsor, and Rob Steen

Spider-Man and Wolverine are now great friends, but it wasn’t always that way. Wolverine and Spider-Man clashed in their early crossovers before joining the New Avengers. They started to warm up to each other but they weren’t exactly friends yet. That would begin in The Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine, a six-issue miniseries that takes the two heroes on a ride through space and time, chasing down villains while their odd couple relationship caused them to clash. They even experience each other’s early lives and learn the secret pains that molded them into who they are.

Aaron and Kubert knock it out of the park. This is Jason Aaron at the height of his powers, throwing the two heroes into insane situations and perfectly playing them off each other. Adam Kubert’s art is gorgeous throughout this book, and it stands out as his best Marvel work and possibly his best work ever, which is saying something. Some unbelievably huge pages have to use massive fold-put pages to capture the epic scale of the events. It’s the perfect Wolverine crossover comic because of the amazing characters, brilliantly entertaining interactions, breathtaking action, and beautiful art.