Wolverine’s Hardcore Feral Design Debuts Today, Bringing Back a Divisive Look
A familiar hero’s many looks
Wolverine is recognizable by his wing-tipped hair, mutton chops, stocky build and flared mask. His costumes have ranged from the blue-and-yellow uniform to John Byrne’s tan-and-brown design and the stealth-focused X-Force outfit.
His civilian wardrobe has also become distinctive, typically featuring a weathered leather jacket, flannel shirt, jeans and cowboy hat. Like other major comic characters, Logan has had redesigns that divided readers, though even unpopular versions can return.
Logan’s feral form returns
After regaining his healing factor and recovering a broken adamantium claw, Wolverine faces another crisis. Following encounters with Solem, Madame Masque and the Rose, he smells the contents of a rare wine bottle and unleashes his long-suppressed feral form.
The look first appeared in Wolverine #100 in 1996, after Magneto removed the adamantium from Logan’s skeleton. It depicts him as more animalistic, with a hunched back, flatter head and no visible nose.
A looming struggle for control
X-Men #29 offers only a preview of the new design; Wolverine #30 is set to show it in detail. Across the following three issues, Logan will struggle against his animal impulses to avoid becoming a more dangerous killer than his enemies.
The solicitation for Wolverine #31 says an unexpected ally will offer Logan a way out. Wolverine #32’s main cover shows him fighting alongside Sabretooth, his longtime enemy, though why Sabretooth steps in remains unclear.
Key points
- Wolverine’s feral redesign is teased in X-Men #29 and receives a detailed reveal in Wolverine #30.
- Logan’s animalistic form includes a hunched back, flatter head and absent nose.
- Wolverine #31 promises help from an unexpected ally.
- The main cover for Wolverine #32 depicts Wolverine and Sabretooth fighting together.