It’s been a while since I did a comic review. Let’s do X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine. When I was going through my Wolverine’s comic box recently, I noticed that I have not read this series.
The X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine comics series is a two-part story written by Benjamin Percy and illustrated by Joshua Cassara and Federico Vicentini, respectively. The series that explores the past, present, and future of Wolverine. The story follows Logan as he travels through time to prevent the death of a key figure in mutant history. Along the way, he encounters familiar faces from his past, as well as new threats that could endanger the future of mutant kind.
The series is divided into two five-issue arcs, with X Lives of Wolverine focusing on Logan’s past lives and X Deaths of Wolverine focusing on his future deaths. The two arcs are interconnected, and they reveal new secrets about Wolverine’s history and his role in the future of mutantkind.
Here are some of the key events that happen in the series:
- Logan travels back in time to the 1880s, where he meets a young version of himself and his father, James Howlett.
- He also travels to the future, where he encounters a dystopian world ruled by Omega Red.
- He learns that he has been targeted by a mysterious figure who is trying to prevent him from fulfilling his destiny.
- He must team up with old friends and new allies to stop the figure and save the future of mutantkind.
If you love Wolverine or the X-Men, then the X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine comics series is a must-read. It is a complex and exciting story that will leave you wanting more.
Table of Contents
Before we begin, let’s look into …
X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine Reading Order
X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine are two miniseries that are best read together. The two series are complementary, each exploring a different aspect of Wolverine’s past, present, and future.
X Lives of Wolverine focuses on Logan’s past lives, while X Deaths of Wolverine focuses on his future deaths. Together, the two series reveal new secrets about Wolverine’s history and his role in the future of mutantkind.
This is the reading order proposed by Marvel, so please don’t read them separately.
- X Lives of Wolverine #1 (of 5)
- X Deaths of Wolverine #1 (of 5)
- X Lives of Wolverine #2 (of 5)
- X Deaths of Wolverine #2 (of 5)
- X Lives of Wolverine #3 (of 5)
- X Deaths of Wolverine #3 (of 5)
- X Lives of Wolverine #4 (of 5)
- X Deaths of Wolverine #4 (of 5)
- X Lives of Wolverine #5 (of 5)
- X Deaths of Wolverine #5 (of 5)
I collect the single issue version and I pre-ordered this in my pull-list. If you are also looking for the single issue version, then please connect with your local comic store accordingly. Since the last issue was out on 24th March 2022, I am not sure whether it will still be available or not.
If you prefer the compilation, you can get it here, from Amazon. You can get the Kindle (which can be read from the cheapest 10 inch tablet for reading comics), Hardcover or the Paperback version and it collects the complete set X Lives of Wolverine #1-5 and X Deaths of Wolverine #1-5.
X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine Review
I am combining the review of each issue in one blog post, but I didn’t write them all at the same time. This post was updated a few times and as at today, it is still not finish. I will continue the rest of the review later.
X Lives of Wolverine #1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Joshua Cassara
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: January 19, 2022
X Lives of Wolverine #1 is a wild ride from start to finish. The writing is sharp and engaging, and the art is stunning. Cassara has a clean style that is easy on the eyes, and his pencils are particularly impressive. He does a great job of capturing the violence and intensity of the action sequences.
The issue moves between three periods. In one, Wolverine is sent on a mission by Xavier and Jean.
In another, Omega Red finds out about what X-Force did to him upon his resurrection and goes to Russia and confronts Mikhail Rasputin.
And in most of the comic, we’re thrown into Wolverine’s past as he battles possessed characters under the spell of Omega Red. This is a tough spot for Logan. Omega Red can jump bodies and if he kills the possessed body, that person will die and not Omega Red. Anyway, he succeeds in protecting the baby, and then he is thrown forward in time to his Team X days. Which brings us back to his mission.
And it ends there.
Percy makes the initial set up interesting enough to keep the reader engaged. We want to know why Logan is going through his past lives. We want to know why Omega Red is body hopping and trying to kill Charles Xavier.
It’s an exciting, fast-paced comic. And you may need to go through it again to get your understanding right. The only real weakness of the issue is that it can be a bit confusing at times. The time travel element can be a bit hard to follow, and there are a few plot points that are left unexplained.
Here are some additional thoughts:
- I love the way that the issue jumps between different time periods. It keeps things interesting and makes you wonder how everything is going to connect.
- The art is amazing. Cassara’s pencils are detailed and dynamic, and Martin’s colors really pop.
- The story is a bit confusing at times, but it’s still really engaging. In a way it keeps the interest for the next issue.
Overall, X Lives of Wolverine #1 is a great read. It’s a must-read for any Wolverine fan, and it’s sure to leave you wanting more. I hope you enjoy the review!
X Deaths of Wolverine #1
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Federico Vicentini
Colorist: Dijjo Lima and Frank Martin
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: January 26, 2022
This is also another wild ride from start to finish. The issue picks up right where Inferno left off, with Moira MacTaggert escaping the collapse of the No Place with Mystique hot on her heels. But Moira’s troubles are just beginning. She’s diagnosed with stage four cancer, and the CIA is now on her tail.
At the same time, Xavier and Jean are continuing their efforts to push Wolverine’s mind through the timestream. But when Jean senses Logan’s presence on present-day Krakoa, despite his body lying before them, she realizes that something is very wrong.
I loved this issue. Benjamin Percy does a great job of juggling multiple storylines and keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The artwork by Federico Vicentini is also top-notch.
I know some people were skeptical about the prospect of a Wolverine-centric event, but I think Percy has done a great job of making this story feel fresh and exciting. He’s not just playing to the character’s popularity, he’s actually telling a solid story with real stakes
Here are some additional thoughts that I had about the issue:
- I love the way that Percy is using Moira’s story to explore the themes of fate and free will.
- I’m also intrigued by the mystery of the second Logan that Jean senses on Krakoa. Who is he? And what does he want?
- The artwork by Vicentini is truly stunning. The action sequences are dynamic and the character work is expressive.
Another great one by Percy. I am excited to see where Percy takes the story next.
X Lives of Wolverine #2
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Joshua Cassara
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: February 2nd, 2022
Wolverine is back, and he’s in more trouble than ever. In X Lives of Wolverine #2, writer Benjamin Percy and artist Joshua Cassara take the character on a wild journey through his past and present.
This sets off a chain of events that takes Wolverine to different points in his life, including the Cold War-era Colombia (I think) and the recent past. In each time period, Wolverine is faced with a different challenge, and he must use all of his skills and abilities to survive.
The issue opens with Wolverine in 1900 Canada, where he’s fighting a bear. But before he can finish the beast off, the present Wolverine is transferred to that body. The young Logan must now race to the frozen seas of northern Canada to rescue a Captain Xavier from a mutinous crew that Omega Red possessed.
The funny thing about this issue is when he is back in the past, at Jasmine Falls in Japan. He is making love to his wife, Itsu, while Jean is watching and he asked for another minute from Jean. That part is ok, but as we move to the next page we can see that Omega Red took over Itsu’s body. I wonder at which point Omega Red moved in.
During orgasm? Gross.
Anyway, as the two square off while Omega Red inhabits the body of Wolverine’s wife, the fate of his unborn son Daken hangs in balance.
Another scene takes place during Wolverine’s time with Team X, a dark period in his life when he was forced to commit atrocities. Hundreds of villagers were mowed down without mercy. At this point Wolverine turns on Team X in an act of atonement, deviating from the proper flow of time.
The issue also reveals that Omega Red has been drawn in by Mikhail Rasputin, who reveals Krakoa’s manipulations and deceptions. I think is the part that lead Omega Red to return to his Russian allegiances.
With so many different timelines and subplots in play, it’s difficult to keep track of what’s happening and what to expect next. However, the issue is still entertaining and thought-provoking, and it provides some interesting insights into Wolverine’s past.
The time-jumping structure of the story is both engaging and disorienting. Percy does a great job of weaving together the different time periods, and Cassara’s art is stunning, capturing the beauty and brutality of Wolverine’s world.
X Lives and X Deaths of Wolverine
The hardcover of X Lives and X Deaths of Wolverine which collect all issues, is out now. It’s packed with action, suspense, and revelations about Wolverine’s past, present, and future.
X Deaths of Wolverine #2
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Federico Vicentini
Colorist: Dijjo Lima
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: February 09, 2022
X Lives of Wolverine #3
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Joshua Cassara
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: February 16, 2022
X Deaths of Wolverine #3
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Federico Vicentini
Colorist: Dijjo Lima
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: February 23, 2022
X Lives of Wolverine #4
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Joshua Cassara, Federico Vicentini
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: March 09, 2022
X Deaths of Wolverine #4
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Federico Vicentini
Colorist: Dijjo Lima
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: March 09, 2022
X Lives of Wolverine #5
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Joshua Cassara
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: March 16, 2022
X Deaths of Wolverine #5
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Federico Vicentini
Colorist: Dijjo Lima
Letterer: Cory Petit
Published: March 23, 2022
Where To Buy?
It may not be possible to get the single issue anymore other than at your local comic store, eBay, or from other collectors, but the compilation is readily available.
Get it here, from Amazon. You have the choice of Kindle, Hardcover or the Paperback version and it collects the complete set X Lives of Wolverine #1-5 and X Deaths of Wolverine #1-5.