The COOLEST Wolverine comic ever! | Wolverine: Weapon X

WOLVERINE: WEAPON X is the character-defining origin of the man known only as Logan. Written and illustrated by auteur creator and master storyteller Barry Windsor-Smith, it is undeniably one of the greatest Wolverine stories ever told. After being taken hostage by an experimental Canadian military-science outfit, Logan is transformed into Weapon X, an unstoppable killing machine with an indestructible adamantium skeleton and razor-sharp claws. But Weapon X cannot be contained by his captors - and trapped in their lab with the monster they have made, they will face his feral wrath! Never miss an episode by subscribing today! bit.ly/2WYvgkt #xmen
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[@comicpop]

Buy Weapon X right here! amzn.to/3TN39pr

[@raistlinmajere5550]

I know Sal grew up with all this and does insane amounts of research before an episode but every time its amazing to me how his Library of Alexandria of a brain works, and Tiff's face on at the reveal was so perfect

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

I can't believe Boo Radley was the one behind the Weapon X Program. That's crazy.

[@cladladd]

Who is this man

[@gregsanders61]

Poor Boo Radley. We should have just left him alone.

[@TheGeorgeGraves]

@@cladladda character from To Kill A Mockingbird, I think 😅

[@tlallihouse3126]

From Westchesterton Fieldville Iowa?? 👀

[@BradyCoffeeman]

We all know it was actually RED HERRING!

[@GitShiddy]

I think Tiffany & Sal's bone claw retcons work in tandem. The original bone claws are short like cat claws, and aren't particularly sharp, assume that Logan's healing factor heals his skin back together tougher, badaboom an excuse for the bone claws of Origin to become unpoppable for decades until...adamantium. The hardest metal on the planet using those little nubs as a base to become big ass skinny knives. Then as Sal says his body becomes accustomed to big claws, also maybe hand wave 2nd Mutation, & boom 90s big bone claws. Which then explains why now the claws are drawn thinker than in the 80s/90s. Now the adamantium is over bigger bone claws.

[@venicethehedgehog4122]

I mean wolverines claws aren't shown as claws but more metal spikes likea arrow or sharpened spear

[@raymondfisheriii791]

Apparently Wolverine’s healing factor is actually because his mutation is based on adaptation: he’s not only healing, his body is trying to get accustomed to a very specific environment, and that’s why he’s able to heal from pretty much everything. So that explanation isn’t too bad.

[@OreoBrawl]

Tiffany’s reaction to the twist is priceless

[@scottskene8387]

The spider callback was gold 😂

[@IronMaestro309]

The identity of Thorton’s patron is the perfect example of “The question is more interesting than the answer”

[@thinktankstudios]

Like The Night Gwen Stacy Died and The Killing Joke, this is a great story that has been retconned into oblivion by lesser creators. It's practically unrecognizable nowadays.

[@greenberry6019]

Very true. I remember arguing with someone about retcons in comics, and they accused me of not liking worldbuilding, because adding more layers to these stories could only be a good thing. I was so dumbfounded that I had no argument. But I'm glad to find someone who can put what I feel into words

[@markshaw3711]

Grant Morrison's Weapon Plus is probably the only one worth reading after this story.

[@davidblank420]

I love Tiffany's takes on art. Very intriguing.

[@loganthomas2421]

I personally like this way more than Wolverine origin. It gives you really interesting details on Wolverine’s past while still preserving the mystery of him and not revealing too much. Great book and episode

[@architeuthis3476]

Agreed! Although I have issues with the fact that _Origin_ even exists, its not a bad story. But man, _Weapon X_ is where its at!

[@alexanderf8451]

Thorton is such a psycho in this. He decides to leave Wolverine lying in the corpses of the wolves solely because "I like the idea of him resting in his own gore".

[@Kantohammer]

I always figured the bone claws had to be there because he needs to have muscles in his forearms to extend and retract them.

[@HazmatCrowl54454]

That’s why they made them. Him just shooting them out by reflex makes no sense.

[@trmahama6447]

I loved the deep art conversation about wires, haha

[@coreymcgivney5897]

If I may way in on the defending of the bone claws. In The Wolverine movie, I always got the impression that the bone claws just regenerated like any broken bone would in his body would, without the adamantium keeping his bones safe.

[@kristian7160]

Yeah 100% this

[@adamhubert7701]

The Apocalypse connection works better, continuity-wise, with Wolverine: The Jungle Adventure. Which is awesome.

[@BlueScarabGuy]

I finally read Weapon X for the first time not long ago, and it's an absolute tour de force. It's great. Tiffany's right, it'd be way cooler to see a direct animated adaptation than a live-action version. Real question is, what actor would you get to voice him? Blum? McNeil? Dodd? Armitage?

[@jasethomas5198]

Oh Armitage would be great

[@BlueScarabGuy]

@jasethomas5198 much as I adore Dodd, McNeil, and Blum...Weapon X is such a grounded, gritty story that it feels like the more subdued, tired performance of Armitage might be a better fit, yeah.

[@jasethomas5198]

@@BlueScarabGuy man, I wish they'd make another season of that podcast. I really liked it

[@architeuthis3476]

Well obviously the ideal voice actor for Logan would be either Rick Moranis or Dave Thomas.

[@Ducaso]

The quintessential Wolverine story, a great book to ring in the new year.

[@a-top7090]

When I was getting into comics and was looking for Wolverine comic because I didn’t have one and also he’s one of my favorite characters. I saw weapon x on the shelf (exactly the same one you have) for 10 dollars. I looked at a couple of pages and love how it looks. After reading it I fell in love with the story and Barry Windsor smith art. It’s so 90s and bloody. I wish they adapted this story into a horror like tragic movie or animated movie because it would be so cool see it’s go exactly how the comic. Thank for talking about this awesome comic

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

Honestly, Mister Sinister retcon would woro wonderfully as you easily say that all people who died in this book actually did die but Sinister pulled clones and made fake Masterplaners just to fuck with him all the while keeping track in how he adapts on progress of his abilities.

[@roboters100]

In Origin 2 it's already established that Sinister has had dealings and interest in him.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

@@roboters100 Even better, just expand that.

[@NoahWelday]

On the discussion of the movie claws at the end, I think in The Wolverine, he painfully grows them back after they get cut off. I don't think they're just behind the adamantium ones

[@eherexx1965]

They had a chance to show the helmet on the big screen, but when they did Xmen Apocalypse ,for some reason had to make a weird visor and showed Hugh Jackmans face. As if we didn't know it was Hugh Jackman.🙄 Also, if they were going to make animated that comic, it would be awesome as a horror scenario. Make wolverine a test subject that escaped and just hides and hunts the staff.😎👍

[@takeruneverborn4740]

Weapon X the time Wolverine was experimented on to become the adatamatium laced feral man we come to admire and pretend to be when we were young🧲🧲🧲🧲

[@Stoopid_Sandwich]

I’ve even heard at one point that the dark shadowy figure that Professor Thornton was talking to is supposed to be the Red Skull, and Wolverine is supposed to be a killing machine on behalf of Hydra. Obviously these rumors started coming out around the time that Enemy of the State was being published so most readers were putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5. But still, that’s a more believable of a conclusion than Romulus.

[@Amadeo78]

This story solidified my appreciation of Wolverine.

[@batfreeze56]

Ten years of ComicPOP! That's awesome! I look forward to seeing what you do next, especially your Knightfall redux!

[@diogofaria6558]

Now Tifanny presents a Back Issues for Monsters 👀👀

[@MarvelKnight-tw9hb]

My all-time favorite wolverine comic!

[@glennprier4655]

In “The wolverine” movie, I always interpreted as his bone claws got cut off since they were inside the metal claws. But the bone claws grew back because of his healing factor. **side note: in the comics, I always thought his claws were cylindrical/ round with a pointy tip, rather than flat blades. Up to the reader’s interpretation I suppose.

[@alexanderf8451]

The comics almost always act as though the claws are blades since he uses them to cut. The bone claws are often rounder.

[@glennprier4655]

@@alexanderf8451for sure, but I’ve seen them drawn different ways. I guess that’s what’s cool about comics, since they’re art, they can be interpreted differently

[@pickedceasar1216]

@@glennprier4655 yeah but his whole thing is cutting not poking

[@soulcraft_84]

There is this old paperback kids book called Wolverine: Top Secret. I always thought it had an interesting way he gets selected for Weapon X. Creed winds up his drill sergeant in the army and, being a mutant himself, notices his stamina was considerably better than all the other soldiers.

[@joshheralal8758]

Happy New Year! No better way to start the year than with the best Wolverine comic.

[@architeuthis3476]

Man, I thought y'all had already done all of the classic superhero comic stories. Its nice to know there's still more to cover! _Weapon X_ is amazing and this review is great! Keep 'em coming!

[@josephdelpolito7017]

If anyone remembers the Marvel animated movie Hulk VS. They make references to this comic book when they show Wolverine’s past in a flashback scene. It’s not in depth as this book but they have helmet and bear scene down.

[@jayconant3816]

Also a episode in the 90s x men animated series

[@thespacecowboyYT]

"So anyway I just started slashing..."

[@cherch222]

first episode of the year and its Weapon X! So excited

[@roxtechs]

The quintessential Wolverine story. I feel Tiffany on wanting to have this story animated one day!

[@Cull_Obsidian]

I love how Tiffany does a perfect impression of her Whatnot Muppet behind her at 1:09:30 😂 Amazing video as ever guys, haven’t watched in a couple months. Glad I clicked! Gonna watch through my Back Issues backlog now!

[@spork27]

I pretty much exclusively read Valiant comics in the early/mid 90's, so the name Barry Windsor-Smith immediately rang a bell in my head.

[@GTMQ8]

I own a bunch of the single issue comics from this story. Purchased them online about 6-7 years ago. I don’t think I have the full run of the Weapon X story line though. I’m glad you tackled this story I really needed to know more about it and how it was made.

[@TheKingOfDudes1]

Wolverine was revealed to have bone claws not long after this story when Magneto removed his adamantuim which pre dated origin.

[@ricardorios2355]

I hope you will cover Barry Windsor-Smith’s Monsters. Interesting history to that book since it was originally a Hulk story that Marvel wouldn’t let him do but then did it anyway with Bill Mantlo after refusing to do a different story. It was my favorite book that year. It was a haunting book.

[@THEJOE-tm7vp]

In the old trading cards the retraction was surgically implemented after the claws manifested. There was a cut sheet of how they worked on the back.

[@bZman]

The art in this comic is SO GOOD. One of the best Wolverine stories out there

[@ryanmiller6103]

Tiffany's reaction to Logans name reveal is perfect.

[@bensneb360]

What an X-cellent, X-treme, and X-citing story to start the year… Plus I love 90’s comic technology, it’s so I it’s so bulky with with multi colored wires and circuit boards, it’s awesome

[@curtisc2581]

So happy i got this in gallery edition, the art is so good.

[@noahgambriel6556]

Monster is amazing

[@jonfedien8637]

My thoughts on the claws is that they would grow to larger degrees but the adamantium sheath that surrounds them as they grow moulds, morphs and shapes them into its form.

[@PhoenixHavenGarage]

I loved this story back in the 90s. I saved up my $ and purchased the 1st hard cover collection of all the parts around '94. Still have it!

[@BoyNamedSue4]

For me this is where they should have stopped with his origin. We got just enough but still had plenty of mystery. Knowing every detail about his pass just isn’t as much fun.

[@flywheelshyster]

Man you gotta love that art you chose for the green screen, i remember having that weapon x toy when it came out

[@THE_Dodge_Morningstar]

Oh wow, The Director isn't actually seen in the original Weapon X story? 😅I learn something new almost every episode.

[@treyurbach2550]

Interesting fact: Barry Windsor Smith co-created Adamantium with Roy Thomas in Avengers 66 back in 1969. It was one of his first stories for Marvel.

[@zackvannarsdall6186]

"his ribs are leaving his body"

[@jakegittes1864]

Excellent job on the story Sal! It’s such a great story and I feel like it’s often overlooked and not talked about in discussions for all time great Marvel books. I personally really like the bone claws. I just think it makes the most sense for why he has adamantium claws and feels less convoluted/more streamlined explanation, but otherwise, amazing story and origin! Happy New Year to everyone at ComicPop!

[@TheArtofKAS]

Definitely starting the year off strong! Been a while since I've read this story so I'm probably gonna be resurprised again 😂

[@fatsfazoul]

Has Windsor-Smith ever talked about Katsuhiro Otomo? I always thought the pipes/wires motif, and the scientists were evocative of Otomo’s style, and Akira in particular.

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

BESERKER BARRAGE!!!!! Thanks for continuously introducing me to awesome comics that would've never cared about otherwise.

[@fcm3d]

I thought this was the coolest thing as a kid.

[@draakisback]

This seems like a really cool book, it's a shame that they added so many retcons after the fact. I kept thinking about X-Men 3 and wolverine origins where they tried to explain it with "Stryker". They should have just adapted this, it would have been a really compelling movie about control and lack of control. That being said, I do kind of like the idea that a lot of different organizations attempted to recreate the Captain America formula, but weapon x never really made much sense in that context. How does pumping a man full of adamantium make them into a super soldier like Captain America? Maybe you're making a Terminator, but not a Captain America clone.

[@DanV900]

X2 was an adaptation of God Loves, Man Kills with Stryker where those movies centered around Wolverine. Stryker wasn’t a priest like that story though. It was streamlined with Stryker being the guy to do it from X2. Wolverine Origins isn’t good, but stuck with the X2 story.

[@Joeuphonium_mk._2]

Time to add "treatise" to the list of words that Sal says that I never hear elsewhere

[@shadowanderson2004]

Hulk Vs. Wolverine (an animated short film by Marvel and Lionsgate in 09) actually does a really good job at adapting parts of this book.

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

This makes me think of ‘I have no mouth and I must scream’

[@willknight685]

In regards to The Wolverine movie I always took it as they sliced his claws off (both adamantium and bone) and the bone ones regenerate for the fight

[@Sicod79]

Marvel Comic Presents added a lot to Wolverine lore. I got a random comic from a grab bag which had Wolverine facing off against Cyber (who had adamantium skin and could inject chemicals that affected even Wolverine...and Wolverine was actually afraid of him).

[@WhelmedButReady]

Happy New Year to Comic Pop and the whole POPulation. Cant believe its year 10 for you guys on YT. I myself have been watching since 2016 and im forever grateful for how much you've expanded my knowledge and love for the medium. Here's to another great year!🥳

[@oldkingcole4354]

I kind of want to wolverine horror movie now

[@daelen.cclark]

You had me at “leprechaun”, bub!

[@501strookie]

On the discussion of bone claws, I think what is interesting to note is that on animals, claws and horns are made of a bone core, that is covered by a keratin sheath that can be significantly longer and take on a different shape from the core, sometimes even up to doubling the length of the core. So perhaps the adamantium could have functioned in a similar way.

[@kanborne]

really loved the level of context and analysis Sal brought to the book. Gotta get this volume for myself now

[@biglou6799]

Omg Sal. Your idea about Wolverine's bone claws was my idea back then when the book came out after he lost the metal claws. That's literally what I thought happened til they explained it. And I agree with you. That should have been the explanation. HIS body grew new claws to compensate for the lost of his metal ones. Great minds think alike

[@architeuthis3476]

Speaking of Barry Windsor-Smith: I was never a big fan of Valiant Comics, but a few years ago I found a copy of _Solar, Man of the Atom: Alpha & Omega_ in a free library, and when I saw that it was illustrated by Windsor-Smith, I decided to give it a try. It was basically _Weapon X_ (and not just because Windsor-Smith illustrated it) meets the origin of Doctor Manhattan, so not especially original but it was still kind of cool. The big thing is that I totally didn't see the ending coming (especially because _Alpha & Omega_ is the character's origin story)

[@dageekynerd2898]

I always liked Claremont's idea that it was Apocalypse behind the Weapon X program. I do find the idea of En Sabah Nur calling an underling on a phone hilarious tho lol.

[@arw1985]

"HELLO, DOMINO'S PIZZA. THIS IS APOCALYPSE, THE ROCKS UPON THE ETERNAL SHORE. YOU WILL DELIVER ME THE XXL EXXTRAVAGANZA TONIGHT, OR THERE SHALL BE RUIN ON YOUR YELP ACCOUNT. ALSO, ADD SOME EXTRA GARLIC BITES."

[@dageekynerd2898]

@@arw1985 "Please hold"

[@greenberry6019]

Oh, no. I really don't like that, I think it's terrible. It further ruins Apocalypse by making him even more of the guy behind everything that ever happened in mutant history, and debases hum by making him involved in a random slapdash genetics program run by nobodies in Canada. He wouldn't get his hands dirty to this extent or care about something so small. And it ruins Weapon X by having it be connected to astral magic and ancient Egypt instead of a more grounded beaurocratic sci-fi. It's supposed to be a story about how pathetic and cruel regular people are to each other. Maybe Sinister could work though. But why does it have to be any costume wearing clown behind stuff like this? Can the world not exist outside of the X Men? Claremont basically made the X Men, but he also just couldn't help taking a good thing and mucking about with it until it broke. If I remember correctly, he was responsible for 3 of the time travelling Summers children?

[@BlueScarabGuy]

That description of it definitely gives off strong vibes of "Darkseid sitting in a Lazy Boy recliner" energy.

[@LittleRunt]

I like the idea of the knives being like nails on the tips of the bone claws. Needed this retcon my whole life lol

[@formerly_escapebyday2423]

fantastic episode. i really love when you guys get deeper into the metaphor and symbolism comics can employ. really shows the potential of the art. happy new year 🎉

[@HaussmannComics]

Was that a lephrachun or the Elf with a Gun haha?

[@daelen.cclark]

They’re distant cousins.

[@ronsexton3891]

I was about ten when Fatal Attraction happened and Wolverine lost his Adamantium. When they first showed his bone claws I thought something similar, that his body had grown the bone claws to replace the Adamantium ones that his body had become accustomed to.

[@benhramiak8781]

forgot it was wednesday. saw the upload and had a little chuckle. love this channel

[@MrShadowRage]

Happy New Year!! I'm happy & excited to start the new year with my favorite KZbin channel.. I look forward to another year with you all:) love you Sal, Tiffany, Ben, and Ethan!! You helped me get through the year 🙃👍

[@bconwe6420]

Thanks for doing this book!

[@DBAWFUL]

Its not clear WHEN this happened because Hines, Thornton, and Cornelius aren't visibly older when they pop up again later. but Wolverine has had the adamantium for decades in-story

[@Depthcharge2030]

The first time I read this we had some bad weather and I was sick with the flu. Reading the intro while blitzed out on all kinds of cold remedies was a tripy experience

[@captaincomics3626]

This was sooo awesome. I bought this when you recommended it.

[@ninja1man4u]

Adamantium rage!!

[@daelen.cclark]

Nice!

[@douglascaldwell3622]

Thanks for doing one of my favourite stories of all time. I find there are so many tidbits to uncover with this story. In regards to the infused Adamantium, I love BWS’ interpretation, with the Adamantium not being smooth on the skeleton, but rather the shards on his skeleton, most likely from the bonding process, and so Logan lives forever with this metal skeleton of barbs, forever in pain and torment as the spikes on his skeleton pierce his body from the inside.

[@bigoistin9125]

I wasn't onboard with sal's bone claws retcon until I remembered a real life parrallel, tattoos.

[@brucewayne_666]

This is my favorite comic of Wolverine. Read it so many times, it never gets old. Love the art so much.

[@trevorghalt1881]

This story is fantastic and the twist near the end that most of the beginning was all dream, I used to read word up magazine also I remember Romulus now... anyways

[@spideyfan6296]

I honestly think the way that you make bone claws Wolverine work is you make the claws thin boney knives like how the adamantium claws are. To me that magically fixes Logan's claws, because it makes no sense why his bone claws are round and bulky like spikes but then his adamantium claws are thin and sharp like knives and really sharp on both sides.

[@Hulkzilla0]

Happy New Year! What better way to start than with the origin of our favorite Canadian murder machine!

[@SPKRFCKR1]

Great book, and another great episode of Back Issues!

[@DementedDistraction]

This is where Wolverine's origin should've started and ended, it gives you just enough insight into what made him who he is, but leaves the theater of the mind intact, which for the longest time was a crucial aspect of his appeal.

[@Ultimate.OrgProductions]

The Hulk vs. Wolverine animated film may be the closest we get to the motion comic idea, and it's a great film and exploration of the Wolverine mythos

[@brandon1942]

I been waiting for this one. It’s my second favorite wolverine story

[@daelen.cclark]

What’s your first favourite?

[@extremeanimationstudios1118]

Great episode!

[@MrEnKaye]

Nice Jack Nicholson reference near the end 😅

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

great idea at the end about claws

[@NoahWelday]

Amazing ep!

[@AshtonRogers-se1zj]

Dude! Are the original single issues of Marvel Comics Presents that feature a section of the Weapon X story really THAT valuable!? I was able to pick up five or six of the twelve issues for about $10 to $15 a pop about five years ago. It FELT like it was in the right price range at the time.

[@wybub]

I remember I had a pitch once that every time Wolvie pops the bone claws instead of retracting they should actually fall off and he had to regenerate them back to pop them again

[@argobronwynzygor1954]

I love when tiffany get's to talk about X-men