Summary
Warning! This article contains spoilers for Wolverine #37 Wolverine is easily one of the toughest heroes in the Marvel Universe, both due to the inherent healing factor his mutation offers, and the nearly unbreakable adamantium that encases his entire skeleton. That’s why one injury he suffered in the Ultimate Universe became quite controversial when it happened, as long-time fans called into question the legitimacy of such an injury, given that this Wolverine existed in a separate universe from the original Earth-616. However, after Wolverine suffered the exact same injury in the main Earth-616 continuity, Marvel fans now know – without a shadow of a doubt – that Wolverine’s most controversial injury is possible.
Throughout his Marvel Comics history, in both Earth-616 and 1610, the one person who could always hurt Wolverine the most in battle was the Hulk. This is something that’s linked all the way back to Wolverine’s origin in Marvel Comics, since he made his first appearance in Incredible Hulk #181. In that and the subsequent issue, Wolverine was tasked with finding and neutralizing the Hulk, as the Hulk was simply too dangerous to be left unchecked. While this storyline is one of the most iconic in Marvel Comics history, the Ultimate Universe did something of a retelling, showing a much more brutal initial showdown between Wolverine and the Hulk. In that limited series (titled Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk), the Hulk rips Wolverine in half. While epically gruesome, this scene caused some discord within the fandom, since many fans argued that Wolverine’s adamantium skeleton should have prevented that from happening. However, after Wolverine’s latest adventure, it seems that this injury is not only possible in Earth-616, but it can even be done by someone much weaker than the Hulk.
In Wolverine #37 by Benjamin Percy and Juan Jose Ryp, Wolverine is on a mission to find and kill the clones of himself created by Beast. On his mission, Wolverine runs into the Hulk, who eventually teams up with Logan and proves himself to be invaluable to the mission’s success. However, before he runs into the Hulk, Wolverine finds the first clone on his hit-list. Little did he know before being face-to-face with him, this clone fell under the curse of the Wendigo, making him far stronger and more ferocious than the clone would have been otherwise. Within only a few moments of the fight, the Wendigo-Wolverine took the original off-guard, and ripped him in half the same way the Hulk did in the Ultimate Universe.
This single-issue storyline was one that seemed to meld two separate Hulk/Wolverine stories together in a fascinating way. In Incredible Hulk #181-182, the ‘third villain’ in the Hulk vs Wolverine matchup was the Wendigo, which is something that’s seemingly being paid tribute in this new comic. Add to that the fact that Wolverine was torn in half the same way he was in Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk, and it seems clear that Wolverine #37 was an action-packed love-letter to Wolverine and the Hulk’s Marvel Comics’ history, in both Earth-616 and Earth-1610. However, it’s also clear that this story did much more than pay tribute to the ones that came before it, as it confirmed that Wolverine’s skeleton isn’t strong enough to keep him from being ripped in half by a creature with the strength to do it.
What’s even more interesting than the fact that the Hulk can rip Wolverine in half is that the Hulk isn’t the only one who can, since the Wendigo was shown doing it in this issue. So, fans who thought it was a stretch that someone as immensely strong as the Hulk could rip Wolverine in half, or those who argued it couldn’t be done in Earth-616, are now forced to eat their words, as Marvel Comics officially confirms Wolverine‘s most controversial injury is, in fact, possible.
Wolverine #37 by Marvel Comics is available now.
Wolverine’s most controversial injury is possible. Read More