Warning: This article contains spoilers for Wolverine #19!
As a basically immortal mutant with a habit of getting into scrapes wherever he goes, Wolverine has suffered his share of defeats over the years. But the latest one has proven especially painful for Logan, leaving him with lasting consequences to confront in the months to come.
Wolverine #19 briefly chronicles a fight between Wolverine and Hercules, the latter of whom has been possessed by the villain Adamantine (a sentient version of the mystical metal used by the Greek gods). After Athena shows up to restore Herc’s sanity, the two heroes embark on a quest to bring Adamantine to justice. Unfortunately, being composed of the strongest metal the world has ever seen makes Adamantine a powerful foe indeed. Wolverine learns that the hard way when he attempts to stab Adamantine and shatters the claws on his right hand.
Wolverine has now learned the hard way that even his adamantium skeleton isn’t entirely unbreakable. Going forward, it appears he’ll be going back to having bone claws on one hand, which only puts him at an even bigger disadvantage in battling Adamantine.
Obviously, the series will explore the physical and emotional fallout of this defeat going forward. The solicitation for May’s Wolverine #20 teases, “The shocking events of last issue culminate in a showdown over a century in the making. Who or what are the SAVAGE CHAMPIONS? Sharpen your claws for the fight of WOLVERINE’s life…and a twist that’ll have ramifications for Wolverine books going forward!”
It’s also worth pointing out that this twist comes shortly before the debut of X-Men ’97 Season 2, which will also feature Wolverine dealing with the loss of his adamantium. Season 1 adapted elements of 1993’s “Fatal Attractions” crossover, showing an enraged Magneto ripping the adamantium from Logan’s bones.
Look for this dramatic storyline to continue in Wolverine #20, which hits stores on May 13. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.
As for X-Men ’97, we don’t have a release date just yet. However, we do know that Season 2 will get its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival in June, suggesting a Summer 2026 release is likely. Marvel will also release the prequel comic X-Men ’97: Season Two in June.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
