If you’re looking to read the best Wolverine comics, narrowing down a list can be tough given the overwhelming number of titles out there. Fortunately, we’ve put together a concise list to get you started.
One of the most popular superheroes of all time — and easily one of the most iconic X-Men —Wolverine is a character known even to those who don’t follow comics. He’s transcended comic book fandom to become a fixture in popular culture. With a compelling origin story, a strong character arc, and one of the freakiest mutant abilities out there, there’s no shortage of great stories to keep you entertained. Here are some of the best Wolverine comics as of June 2025.
(Photo Credit: Marvel Comics | Joe Quesada and Richard Isanove)
The origin story of any great character is hard to resist, and Origin doesn’t disappoint. One of the best Wolverine comics, created in 2001, Origin finally gives us the account of Logan’s mysterious early years.
Set in the 1800s, a young James Howlett is frail but lives a life of privilege on his family’s estate in Alberta, Canada.. That all changes one violent night when his father, James Howlett Sr., is killed. In a moment of rage, James’s mutant powers activate for the first time — bone claws erupt from his hands as he kills the man responsible for his father’s murder. His mother witnesses the transformation, horrified, and calls him an animal. Overcome with grief and revulsion, she disowns him. While it’s a strong start on its own, Origin also includes some major spoiler-level twists about James’ — aka Logan, aka Wolverine’s — parentage.
Along with Rose O’Hara, the Howlett estate servant and James Howlett’s first love, James flees to a mining camp in British Columbia. It’s in this escape that James gets his new name — Logan. From creators Bill Jemas, Paul Jenkins, Joe Quesada, and Andy Kubert, Origin gives us themes of grief, loss, and the ways our actions shape who we become. Sure, it’s a comic, but the emotional depth feels universally poignant — also, big shoutout to colorist Richard Isanove.
(Photo Credit: Marvel Comics | Eduardo Risso)
Published in 2008, this three-part miniseries by Brian K. Vaughan begins after Logan’s memories have returned. Set within a historical context, the story is ambitious. In a less capable writer’s hands, it might not have worked as well.
Following the events of House of M, Logan’s memories return, from his childhood to the Weapon X program. A flashback takes us to Japan in 1945, where Logan awakens as a prisoner of war alongside another soldier named Warren, who turns out to be quite the antagonist. Unsurprisingly, Logan has a score to settle.
Reviews for this series are mixed, largely because the storyline attempts to pack in a lot: the complexity of the Pacific theater in WWII, a love story with an ultimately underdeveloped character, and a hyper-romanticized hero’s journey. Still, the artwork more than makes up for any narrative gaps. Illustrated by Eduardo Risso, Logan #1–3 is striking. The violence is brutal but artfully rendered, and the moody landscapes of Japan are deeply evocative. While this is purely a personal hunch, it is possible that this work may have influenced the POW flashback sequence in The Wolverine (2013) film. It’s certainly different from Logan, but it carries a similar flavor. Even if the story is divisive, the visuals alone secure its place on our list of the best Wolverine comics.
(Photo Credit: Marvel Comics)
Jumping forward in Wolverine’s timeline (but backward in publication date – 1991), Weapon X begins with Logan’s capture and the attempt to transform him into a mindless, violent killing machine. As part of a covert government genetic research program designed to create lethal assassins, the series’ main antagonists — The Professor, Dr. Cornelius, and Ms. Hines — erase Logan’s memories and bond adamantium to his skeleton, making him nearly indestructible.
Weapon X can be difficult to read at times due to the depictions of nonconsensual experimentation, which can feel like a disturbing comparison to real-world atrocities committed by Nazi scientists. Themes of autonomy, dehumanization, and complicity in torture run throughout the story. That a comic can explore such heavy psychological territory in a way that doesn’t feel cheap or offensive is impressive in itself.
In addition to tackling this dark material, writer and artist Barry Windsor-Smith’s work has had a lasting impact on the X-Men franchise, with storyline adaptations in films and the Weapon X project showing up in multiple comics and films. It’s one of the reasons we consider this essential reading — and one of the best Wolverine comics of all time.
(Photo Credit: Marvel Entertainment)
Easily one of the best Wolverine comics, Old Man Logan began as an eight-issue storyline in Wolverine (Vol. 3) #66–72, ultimately ending with Giant-Size Wolverine Old Man Logan. Written by Mark Miller with art by Steven McNiven, Old Man Logan: Wolverine #66 starts in an alternate timeline where all the villains have won — yikes! The heroes went missing, and now Magneto, Abomination, Doctor Doom, and Red Skull have claimed ultimate power. It’s been 50 years since anyone has heard from Wolverine.
In Sacramento, now part of Hulk Land, Logan lives with his wife and children. Having turned from his old ways, Logan is a simple farmer. But when Logan can’t pay the rent to the Hulk Gang, a group of freaky inbred relations of Bruce Banner and She-Hulk, Logan has to take on a job.
What makes this story unforgettable isn’t just the twisted, villain-run version of the Marvel Universe — it’s the emotional story of a reluctant hero who realizes that staying passive won’t protect the people he loves. It’s the first time we see this older, haunted version of the character, and the themes of guilt, survival, and redemption hit hard.
(Photo Credit: Marvel Comics)
While Wolverine (1982) could rank as the best Wolverine comic based on its historical significance alone, as it was Wolverine’s first lead series. Written by Chris Claremont, with pencils by Frank Miller and inks by Joe Rubinstein, this four-issue limited series takes us from the Canadian Rockies to Japan after Logan learns that Mariko Yashida has been forced into an abusive marriage by her father, Lord Shingen, the head of a powerful crime family. The plot becomes increasingly complex from there, including a bloody and brutal but highly skilled duel between Logan and Shingen, and a complicated relationship with an assassin named Yukio, who later becomes a key character in Wolverine’s storylines.
The cultural and geographic contrast, especially given the context of when these comics were written, is especially compelling; the untamed Canadian wilderness versus the industrial, sharp-edged landscape of urban Tokyo. Without leaning too heavily into East vs. West philosophy, readers get to engage with a non-Western approach to violence. This limited series functions like a samurai story, as Wolverine battles crime in his quest to reach the woman he loves. Along the way, he must confront a deeper struggle: whether he is honorable enough to deserve her love — a classic clash between self-doubt and self-worth, set against honor and tradition.
Beyond this dialogue, Wolverine (1982) #1–4 is essential reading because it marks the moment Wolverine evolved from a standout member of the X-Men into a fully realized solo lead. The artwork in this one is incredibly detailed as well.
While picking the best Wolverine comics can be somewhat subjective, our list is based on their significance to the character’s overall development, both in terms of narrative arc and in how Wolverine evolved into a central, standalone figure. The strongest stories center on Wolverine’s inner conflict, his search for identity, and the struggle to uphold a moral code in the face of his animalistic, violent nature.
Beyond character arcs, the best Wolverine comics have defined Logan’s mythos, inspiring spin-offs, shaping future storylines, and introducing key characters to the universe. And of course, the comic medium demands top-tier art, often just as important as the story, if not more so. The art and visual style played a major role in our top picks for the best Wolverine comics.
If you’re looking to read the best Wolverine comics, narrowing down a list can be tough. Here’s where to start. Read More