Wolverine: Weapon X, Volume 1: Adamantium Men

Wolverine: Weapon X

by Jason Aaron, Ron Garney (Writer)

In the jungles of Colombia, people are turning up dead, whole villages brutally slaughtered by a team of soldiers who move through the shadows like ghosts. On the streets of San Francisco, Logan learns that the files from the old Weapon X program, the blueprints for building Adamantium-laced super soldiers like himself, have fallen into the hands of the evil corporation, Roxxon. Once again, it seems, someone is looking to build the perfect killing machine. That means it's time for Wolverine to step in, and remind them that someone already did.

Collecting: Wolverine: Weapon X 1-5 & material from Wolverine 73-74

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, X Men, Superheroes, Fiction, Comic Book

144 pages, Hardcover

First published November 25, 2009

About the author

Jason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.

Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.

In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.

Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.

In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.

In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.

After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.

Reviews

[Artemy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Aaron really gets Wolverine. This was a really solid read, even if the story of one man versus an evil rich company doesn't sound like the most inspiring choice — Aaron makes it work either way. The book is really violent and filled with awesomely crafted action sequences, the writing is crisp and straight to the point, the book reads really quickly and it ends on an intriguing cliffhanger. Jason Aaron rarely disappoints — I am definitely digging Wolverine: Weapon X.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite fun!

Aaron just hits from the word go and he has Wolverine going about his daily life when he rescues a woman named Melita from thieves but then meets Maverick who tells him about Blackguard corp who have taken the Weapon X files and they have to dig into it and Logan even involves Melita and then as it happens he is thrust into this battle where he has to fight these Weapon X soldiers in the jungle and what not and they have these laser like claws like him and they fight and its fast paced action and this mystery where everyone is trying to find out the leads, shady govt contracts and all secrets reveal for a big confrontation with Wolverine and what will happen in the end with all parties and whose the mysterious person?

I liked the fast paced storytelling and the story not holding back anything and it sets up future sequels well and also Wolverine being this violent guy and having no doubts slashing and hacking people was fun to see and you could see something going on between him and Melita and I also like Aaron not holding back from showing future events to come and good enemies and some high octane scenes. Overall pretty good and the art is just getting better with every issue.

[Gavin]

Thanks again Comixology freebies! Jason Aaron with a 2010 Series about Wolverine: Weapon X.

***DISCLAIMER*** I only have read the first issue, but I would love to read the rest.***

Jason Aaron has been writing Wolverine for a while now, but this book is about 4 years old, so early for him in his efforts. He hits the target bang on, with a tired, worn out Wolverine, who, once again, has to go look into who's stealing Weapon X tech/plans/etc. His fellow Weapon X-er, Maverick, is the one who puts him onto the scent, sending him to a facility in Washington State on the border with British Columbia. There's also a massacre in South America, someone brandishing very similar claws...
Personally, I found the intro on the Subway rather humourous, but not in such a way that it takes away from the seriousness of the character, in fact, it makes him easier to relate to in my mind.

A great start to what is probably a great first Volume according to the reliable views of Sam and Mike, who both agree on this one. Well worth checking out for newbies and seasoned veterans both!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaron's got a helluvan ear for Wolverine dialogue, and a talent for writing stories with no heroes and lots of twists & turns.

What's showing that Aaron isn't just a one-trick amateur is that he can also write good supporting characters here. Maverick is solid, the HAMMER agent is sharp. It's like a well-rounded story or something. I really look forward to more of Aaron's work in the Marvel U.

Too bad the art isn't better than "serviceable" - but it might have more to do with the inker than the pencils. Pretty good with the kinetics and the faces though, which are where most bad artists fall down. The expressions are expressive, and the characters are hard to confuse.

[Donovan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was boring. I'm definitely not a fan of Aaron's Wolverine, who's like Jack Kerouac here.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new line of super soldiers made with the same specs as Wolverine has appeared with a few new additions, mainly lightsaber-like claws, and seem intent on replacing the current US army and waging unrelenting war on the rest of the world. The only one to stop them is of course everyone's favourite hairy Canuck, Wolverine himself. Snikt.

Jason Aaron brings his blend of brutal action and fast paced storytelling to this character and captures his essence completely and perfectly. Thankfully there's no backstory so those who are familiar with the character, like me, can enjoy a new story straight from the word go. Aaron takes Wolverine into the jungles of South America and we get a sort of Predator-esque story as Logan hunts down these new super soldiers one by one.

The first book ends on a pretty good cliffhanger as the reader finds out who's behind releasing the specs for Weapon X to a new organisation and sets the stage for Vol 2 nicely.

There's also a two-shot short included which addresses Wolverine's large amount of appearances in several comics recently called "A Mile in My Moccasins" which was very funny, done in a style with a panel a day and a long conversation with Spidey in a bar.

Ron Garney's art is rough and sketchlike as his artwork always is but suits the rough-hewn character well.
It's enjoyable to read because Wolverine's in the hands of a capable writer who understands the character. All in all, a promising first volume in what's sure to be an excellent series. Looking forward to Volume 2!

[Abby Rolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Wolverine comic I've ever read. It was very interesting. I learned a lot about Wolverine's past and the details that make his story so rich.

[Sud666 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok comic. It's not bad by any means, but it's nothing to gush over either.

Logan finds out that a mercenary crew has stolen Weapon X tech and has created a mercenary group that use the forbidden tech. Logan is hunting down and destroying all the Weapon X tech. Logan must fight this crew of mercs who have very similar weapons to his won. Though their healing factor is nanite tech and their claws are lasers, they are still formidable. Logan must use his plethora of experience and all his skills to prove that there is only one Weapon X.

Ok story and decent art combine to make a 2-star comic. "OK" is perhaps the best description of this volume.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone has stolen the Weapon X files and are attempting to mass produce super soldiers in order to secure government defense contracts. Wolverine knows that more people like him running around is the worst thing for the world, so he sets out to stop them. Maverick comes along for the ride, and things get bloody.

Really it's a pretty typical Wolverine story, but that's not a bad thing. Ron Garney's art is good and the story isn't bad either. Good read for Wolverine fans.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just an excuse to have Wolverine fight a dozen Wolverines - aka: have a big bloody violent battle for the entire comic. I mean listen, sure. People do that all the time but idk, this didn’t have much else to make it impactful for me.
1.5 stars

[El_Commutador · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because he started to be a rising star when I was cutting down my Marvel addiction, I haven't read many of Jason Aaron's works at The House of Ideas, mistake which I plan to solve thanks to Marvel Unlimited.

With solid, sometimes superb, art by Ron Garney, one of my favorite artists, this is a cool, action packed Wolverine book, with a story that goes beyond the usual chores in superhero comics.

I look forward to continue reading Aaron's run @Marvel.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Mile in My Moccasins (Wv2 #73-74). Impressively, this great story is one part humor, mocking how Wolverine appears everywhere, and one part serious, looking into the psychology of why he might do that. Another of Aaron's best. [5/5].

Adamantium Men (WX #1-5). It's great to see Melita Garner introduced, as she's been a crucial character in most of Wolverine's stories from here to his "Death". The idea of Weapon X being revisited by a modern mercenary outfit called Blackguard is also a nice pulled-from-the-headlines bit. Unfortunately, the story does hold up to that, as it's mainly an excuse for a long fight with Wolverine clones [3+/5].

[Esubalow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolverine weapon x, is about a famous x men character who has healing factors on steroids, so pretty much he can regenerate body tissue in a matter of seconds. He also has these adimentium claws that shoot out of his knuckles with his reflexes and emotions so don't get him angry, or when hes having a bad dream. This story was about how a guy was trying to recreate mutants like wolverine but for the army as solders. Wolverine has to fight these recreations of him called weapon x. He ends up killing all of them and the lab where they were being created so no more would be made. I really liked the visual art and graphics in the book, especially in the action scenes. I recommend this book to people who like action and superheros.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - I loved seeing Logan deal with Weapon X and their new soldiers!
TW for blood, violence, death, human experimentation, gore, threats of death, hints at torture.

[Luke Zwanziger · Rating 2 out of 5]

After hearing so much about Jason Aaron, reading his blogs, and so forth, I realized I had not read anything by him. This was an ebay score and boy was it disappointing. What followed in these pages was a terrible rehash of just about every wolverine cliche. I understand these "new" series and reboots are built for new readers,

(SPOILER ALERT....but not really if you have ever read any Wolverine)

...but all we got was Wolverine taking down a huge corp that has recently bought the Weapon X secrets and has created a bio-engineered army of "Weapon Xs" with laser claws and nanite healers in their blood. But wolvie takes em all down. The end. No character development on any front, no new twist in this overly worn and haggard story. Aaron throws in his staple vomits, crude gestures, and insinuated violence.

END SPOILER

In the end, I see why the Weapon X series got canceled. I haven't lost hope in Aaron as a writer. But I might steer clear of his corporate work for hire and see what his creator owned works are like (SCALPED, THE OTHER SIDE).

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Logan's son Daken taking over the Wolverine title (now called "Dark Wolverine"), Marvel started a new series featuring Logan called "Wolverine: Weapon X." This volume collects the first five issues of that series and the last two issues of "Wolverine" before Daken took the reins. In terms of storytelling, the Wolverine series meandered over the course of the past couple of years. Some of the stories were solid, some weren't. The five-issue "Adamantium Men" story is really enjoyable and well-done, so I hope the "Weapon X" series keeps up the good work.

[Sonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite on par with his incredible writing in SCALPED, but still a lot of fun. Ron Garney's excellent , tough illustrations fit well with Aaron's action packed story.

[Lanvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely done, nice to know that Wolverines Adamantium body can survive anything, even laser claws.

[Jedhua · Rating 4 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE RATING: {3.5/5 stars} (Rounded Up)

STANDARDIZED RATING: <4/5 stars>

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed something like this: mature action with a great lead character and beautiful artwork. You can't really expect too much depth from an action comic, but what it provides is a good story with plenty of fighting, cool characters, some planning and gallons of blood.

Maverick brings Wolverine proof that Blackguard, a private military contractor, has aquired the documentation from the Weapon X program that created Wolverine. The latter intends to shut them down single-handedly. Upon reaching Colombia, he is attacked by Strikeforce X, a team of fighters with similar abilities to his. He is forced to run away from the first encounter and resorts to guerilla tactics, but the team is ultimately too strong to defeat.

Meanwhile a reporter named Melita Gardner is directed by an anonymous source to look into Blackguard. She is given proof that the members of Strikeforce X were dishonorably discharged soldiers and their dealings in South America are inhumane. The team's background must not become public as a multi-billion dollar government contract is about to be signed by Blackguard. She publishes articles that reveal this information and Blackguard begins to get rid of the executives that might have caused the leak and also sends someone to kill Melita. Maverick saves her, then joins Wolverine against the leader of Blackguard and Strikeforce X.

Wolverine manages to kill only one member of Strikeforce X, but Blackguard is ultimately brought down by Melita's articles. The company fails to get the government contract and risks bankruptcy. The battle isn't over, though. Wolverine wants to know where the Weapon X files come from.

[Krzysztof Grabowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaron wreszcie zaskoczył? Tak, udało się 1choć nie obyło się przy tym bez paru zgrzytów. Przede wszystkim były momenty nieco przeciągnięte, a i średnio logiczne. Bo jak wytłumaczyć fakt, iż u innych czynnik gojący może się łatwo przeciążyć i umierają, a Wolverine wychodzi praktycznie bez szwanku w momencie gdy skóra odeszła mu od kości...

Do Logana zgłasza się Maverick, który informuje starego kumpla o tym, iż ktoś posiada wyniki programu broni X, a co więcej podzielił się tymi zapiskami z firmą czerpiąca szemrane zyski. Mamy w tle Roxxon, Blackguards albo i szpony, które świecą na zielono. I ten ferelny czynnik gojący, który autor szafuje jak chce. Torturowany w jaskini najemnik przeżywa całą serię tortur, ale już podczas walki inny ginie od ran, które były błahostką w porównaniu z tym co pokazali wcześniej.

Podobała mi się sama akcja. Jak na Wolverine'a przystało dzieje się dużo, szybko i soczyście. Rosomak też wydaje się tu nieco inteligentniejszy niż zwykle. Potrafi się wycofać, przygotować zasadzki. Czyli wreszcie znalazł się ktoś, kto potrafi wykorzystać tego bohatera w inny sposób. Z drugiej zaś strony pojawia się kilka innych charakterów, jak dziennikarka, która węszy we wszystkim niezły temat i pakuję się swoim artykułem w nieźle kłopoty.

Jest jeszcze najemniczka z armii Osborna, była Mavericka, która próbuje być w porządku, choć to czasami wiąże się z niedogodnościami. Ładnie widać, jak Aaron z każdym zeszytem się rozkręca, a wiem że się rozkręci. W końcu miałem przyjemność czytać serię Thor czy Wolverine and the X-men spod jego pióra. A czekają jeszcze chociażby Star Wars... Rysunki? Te są naprawdę niezłe. Sam Logan wygląda świetnie, zresztą inne postacie też. Dlatego też eksperyment z bronią X uznaje za udany. Mocne 4/5. To akcyjniak z dużą dozą szaleńczej walki i jako taki się sprawdza.

[Matt Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have the advantage of not having read a lot of Wolverine stories, yet knowing enough about his backstory to appreciate this narrative. There’s a mostly effective thread about wanting to make amends for a past that seems hell-bent on repeating itself, and there’s potential for something deeper and darker, but everything resets into set-up for narratives going on in other comics. Oh, well. What we’re left with at least includes sending an uninteresting villain off in a sadly poignant way, so I can’t complain too much.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Logan is intense, focused, and not at all happy that Weapon X tech has gotten into the black market and used. Who can take them down? Answer is obvious. It is a tight story. I liked the character development. I thought most of the characters were reacting to their situations in "realistic" ways.
I enjoyed the read and immediately wanted to get to the next volume.

[Conor Pickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Seems like every few months, somebody else is setting up labs to build the perfect killing machine. That's usually when I show up and remind them they already did."

A reporter looks into Wolverine as he works to put down a dozen assassins augmented with comparable abilities and weaponry. No-nonsense.

[Buddy Scalera · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Wolverine story runs. Action, adventure, humor, and some sadness. Excellent writing and powerful art.

It contains some stories that appear to tie into other X-universe titles. I haven't read all of those issues, but I still enjoyed the Wolverine stories.

[Ambuz Basak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extended story, which explains the phenomenon after the 'weapon-X' program. Nice. :)

[Joel Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good sorry, great art

I enjoyed the art and story of this coming. It was fun to see Logan square off against such formidable enemies!

[Meltem · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like it. It's so boring. I hope it will good....

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing the great x-read of 2017/18...

sigh. You have to love when you write a review for something and goodreads eats it...

In short, character writing good, plot stale. A decent read.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good story about Wolverine and the Blackguard that has tried to copy Weapon X. Good graphic and compelling story