Weapon X, Volume 1: The Draft

Weapon X (2002) #1

by Frank Tieri, Georges Jeanty

Of all the members of the X-Men, none has been more popular than Wolverine -- yet the origins of this mutant hero had always been tightly shrouded in mystery. Aside from a few hazy tidbits, Wolverine's past has always been little more than a blank slate. In WEAPON X, acclaimed writer/illustrator Barry Windsor-Smith peels back this veil of secrecy to reveal how Wolverine's skeleton became laced with an indestructible adamantium metal. Kidnapped and drugged, Wolverine is subjected to a series of sadistic medical experiments designed to create the perfect soldier. As he battles back against this tortuous experience, Wolverine proves himself to be a true hero long before his days as an X-Man.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, X Men, Graphic Novels

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Baba]

1. The Goodreads caption applies to another Weapon X series!

2. This series is actually about 'The Director' who uses the anti-Mutant sentiment to restart the Weapon X programme with the goal of a 'final solution' for the mutant problem!

3. This book is about how Weapon X operatives sought to draft mutants from both super hero and villain backgrounds, and is a great introduction to the Weapon X characters.

4. This gets 7 out of 12 from me :-)

[Quentin Wallace]

The director is trying to reform the Weapon X program using a bunch of outlaw or otherwise disturbed mutants. I thought this was a decent series as we get to see some underutilized characters such as Sauron and Wild Child. The art wasn't my favorite, but it was okay. Overall a decent title in the X-Men universe.

[Lillian Francis]

Honestly, I'm not even sure if this is necessary in my read through of 21st century X-men. It seems to contradict much of what Fantomex claims in Morrison's New X-Men run. 🤔
Anyway, that aside is a mixed bag.
The main run was entertaining enough, with competent artwork. The first 4 issues dealt with trying to return Sabretooth to the program, with the 5th being a tale of the the mutant concentration camp.
The Draft stories were hit and miss in both story and art. The best of these was Agent Zero (who is he?). The worst (by a long '1 star' way) was Wild Child (and I was actually looking forward to that one). It was almost like both the writer and artist had no knowledge of anything going on in the other issue. EVS drew Wild Child like a second rate Nosferatu clone, which nothing like how he appears in the main run.

[John]

After a relatively slow and traditional start; the last issue makes a startling revelation. This story starts as a sort of Wild Bunch/Suicide Squad sort of narrative, with the Weapon X program trying to capture a defector, Sabertooth.

At first, you just feel they're a dark ops for the government. But in the last issue, you find out that Neverland is actually a concentration camp for mutants. Namely, mutants that can't be corralled or useful to the Weapon X program.

[C]

Continuing the x-read of 2017...

This one wasn't bad. There were decent moments (I enjoyed the recruitment issues, particularly Marrow's.) and the overall arch wasn't bad.

Seems like some odd continuity issues considering what Fantomex was saying about the Weapon X program over in Morrison's book...

In general, it was ok but is worth a skip as well. Doesn't add a lot to the narrative.

[Ekenedilichukwu Ikegwuani]

interesting one shots about weapon x recruiting for its new program

[Adam Stone]

This is as an absolute mess of a story. A series of unlikable characters go out on missions for another unlikable character. They aren't a team, as the missions don't involve working together until over halfway through the collection.

The artists on this book deserved a better, more competent story.

I don't recommend this to anyone. I guess if you're hard up for stories about Marrow, Sauron, and Wildchild, you'll at least get to see them involved in a story again, even if it is incomprehensible.

[M]

Relaunching the Weapon X program as a mutant chop-shop and concentration camp, this book takes a hard look at what governtment policies without restraint can create. Opening with a recruitment drive, we see how Sauron, Mesmero, Kane, Marrow, Agent Zero, Wild Child, and Sabretooth became the newest branch of covert agents. A great start to a series that seemed to lose its luster after the Decimation.

[Molly]

I love everything Marvel. The storylines are incredible! They have everything you could want: action, adventure, comedy, romance, political intrigue, allegories, metaphors, etc. Some stories drag, some end too soon.

[Karl Thornton]

1st volume of Weapon X SERIES (not stand alone graphic novel, little Wolverine), print is off, cut off at edges but still readable. $2.