In the world of Marvel Comics, few moments are as iconic, and as brutally transformative, as the one depicted in (1993’s) X-Men #25, where Wolverine, one of the most beloved and indestructible mutants, endures the unimaginable.
During the climactic events of the "Fatal Attractions" storyline, Magneto, the master of magnetism, uses his powers to rip the adamantium from Wolverine's skeleton. This harrowing event, both painful and symbolic, strips Logan of his near-invulnerability and forces him to confront his raw humanity in ways he never has before.
This scene was brought to life with chilling reality in X-Men '97 Episode #9, reintroducing the shock and pain of Wolverine's ordeal to a new generation of fans. The animation captures the sheer agony of the moment and underscores the vulnerability of a character often seen as invincible. The episode is a testament to how deeply Wolverine’s story resonates, not just in comics but across all media.
After watching that episode of X-Men ’97 I have to admit…I sat in stunned silence for at least half an hour after. Yeah, I’d read the book many years ago, but seeing it on screen, even in animated format, was heart-stopping. Even after watching it all A SECOND TIME LOL!
So of course, as soon as I came to, I immediately started envisioning what Season II of X-Men ’97 was going to look like. Could we be reacquainted with that 6-year era from X-Men #25 to 1999's Wolverine (Vol. 2) #145 where so much content about Wolvie’s life “sans adamantium” was written? Will Marvel condense the stories, or go FULL BEZERK and run with this for years to come?
Of course, the aftermath of this brutal event is explored in Wolverine #75, where fans are introduced to the revelation that Logan possesses bone claws—a mutation that was previously masked by his adamantium skeleton. This issue marks a significant shift in Wolverine’s character, highlighting his resilience and adaptability in the face of loss. His bone claws, while less formidable than adamantium, are a stark reminder that Logan is a survivor, even when stripped of his most iconic attribute, although as many of us came to know, that certainly didn’t slow Logan down. If anything, leading to the development of his “FERAL ARC” gave us even more, very interesting things to engage.
There are a few over 2,000 universally graded, with Go Collect tracking (3) 9.9 CGC sales from 2013 to 2017 topping the $400 mark. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens if XM97 II goes a lot deeper with this narrative!
As speculation builds around the content of X-Men '97 Season 2, it’s hard to think the bone claws / feral Wolverine stories will be further explored, given their symbolic importance in Logan's journey. This anticipation sure adds an extra layer of excitement for those following the series!
In a move that added fuel this speculation, VeVe and Marvel chose to drop Wolverine #75 as a digital collectible on August 27, 2024, bringing attention to many new fans about this epic storyline. (They released X-Men #25 back in April 2022). And it isn’t going past anyone how much Wolverine content is circulating these days in local comic stores, or Marvel releasing a metal load of Wolvie titles on the new VeVe Comics website, often with same-day-as-print drops.
They’re pushing the character all right, and as my favourite mutant hero I’ve been okay gathering up quite a bit of Wolvie material. There’s always the risk they could ‘overdue it,’ but since the wait for X-Men ’97 Season II is excruciating, I’m OK with having more to choose from on comic shelves than less - even my mobile phone screen is a regular reminder, with that John Tyler Christopher Variant Cover holding down some Yellow Suit Attention!!!
I also grabbed physical & digital copies (VeVe Comics) of LIFE OF WOLVERINE (Jim Zub), Chris Claremont's new WOLVERINE, DEEP CUT #1 (Edgar Salazar artist), WOLVERINE #41 (LOVE that Crane 'Canada Wolvie' Variant), WOLVERINE BLOOD HUNT #(Skottie!), heck even Marvel & Disney: What If…? Donald Duck Became Wolverine #1, keeping the 'ol reading mind active until XM97 Season 2!
Last, if you need a bit more intel on the ‘bone claws’ aspect, check out these great informative articles: SCREENRANT / SCREENRANT / CBR or YOUTUBE of course!
Happy Collecting, and Thanks for Reading!
