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Daken

Daken

124 appearances · Modern Age · 2006–2026 · 1 key issues
Who is Daken?

The illegitimate son of Wolverine, Akihiro was born in Japan and, after a brutal early life shaped by the manipulative figure Romulus, emerged as a mutant inheriting his father's healing factor, superhuman senses, and bone claws — plus a unique wrist claw and pheromone manipulation abilities.

Few characters have carved out a place in Marvel's Modern Age quite like Daken, who burst onto the scene in 2006's Wolverine: Origins #5, brought to life by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon. Over nearly two decades of publishing history, he's proven himself a genuinely enduring presence — 116 catalog appearances strong — turning up across Marauders, Wolverine, and Wolverines while sharing pages with heavy hitters like Logan, Psylocke, Laura Kinney, and Ororo Munroe. With at least one key issue to his name and a run stretching all the way to 2026, Daken is no footnote — he's a character who has earned his place at Marvel's table and kept it, which is exactly the kind of staying power that makes collectors and fans pay attention.

Identity

Real name. Akihiro (originally named "Daken," a Japanese slur meaning "bastard dog," bestowed by Romulus)

Powers. Wolverine-like mutant powers: regenerative healing factor (cognitively controlled), bone claws (two per hand plus a third extending from the underside of the wrist), superhuman senses/strength/agility; signature pheromone manipulation to influence others' emotions. Later, as Hellverine, gains hellfire and mystical abilities.

Affiliations. Dark Avengers, Dark X-Men, Brotherhood of Mutants, X-Factor, Marauders, X-Force; antagonist of/connected to Wolverine and Romulus

★ First appearance
Wolverine: Origins #5
Oct 2006

Top series

Covers through the years — 2006–2026

Wolverine: Origins #5 2006
Wolverine: Origins #5
Wolverine: Origins #27 2008
Wolverine: Origins #27
Wolverine: Origins #31 2009
Wolverine: Origins #31
Daken: Dark Wolverine #16 2011
Daken: Dark Wolverine #16
Deadpool #50 2012
Deadpool #50
Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection #1 2014
Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection #1
Wolverines #4 2015
Wolverines #4
Daken: Dark Wolverine - Punishment #[nn] 2017
Daken: Dark Wolverine - Punishment #[nn]
All-New Wolverine #28 2018
All-New Wolverine #28
Return of Wolverine #5 2019
Return of Wolverine #5
Marvel's Voices: Identity #1 2021
Marvel's Voices: Identity #1
Marauders Annual #1 2022
Marauders Annual #1
Wolverine #41 2024
Wolverine #41
Iceman: Omega #1 2026
Iceman: Omega #1

Appearances

Wolverine: Origins (2006)
X-Men: Messiah Complex - Mutant Files (2007)
X-Men: Divided We Stand (2008)
X-Men: Legacy (2008)
Wolverine Origins: Dark Reign (2009)
Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man (2009)
#4
Wolverine Origins: Romulus (2009)
Incredible Hulk (2009)
Punisher (2009)
#11
Dark Wolverine (2009)
#81
Spider-Man Hors Série (2001)
#30
Marvel Heroes Extra (2010)
#2
X-Men: Curse of the Mutants Saga (2010)
#1
Siege (2010)
#1
Daken: Dark Wolverine (2010)
Origins of Marvel Comics: X-Men (2010)
#1
X-23 (2011)
#2
Daken / X-23: Collision (2011)
Daken: Dark Wolverine - Empire (2011)
Wolverine: Wolverine Goes to Hell (2011)
Daken: Dark Wolverine - Big Break (2011)
Dark Avengers (2012)
Daken: Dark Wolverine - The Pride Comes Before the Fall (2012)
Deadpool (2008)
Daken: Dark Wolverine - No More Heroes (2012)
Uncanny X-Force (2010)
Uncanny Avengers (2013)
#1
Deadpool by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection (2013)
#3
Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection (2014)
#1
Marvel 75th Anniversary Celebration (2014)
#1
Death of Wolverine: The Logan Legacy (2015)
Wolverines (2015)
Daken: Dark Wolverine - Punishment (2017)
All-New Wolverine (2016)
X-Men: Blue (2017)
#26
Return of Wolverine (2018)
Marvel fresh start (2019)
Wolverine and Deadpool (2019)
#1
Marvel Comics 1000 (2020)
Marvel's Voices (2020)
#1
X-Men by Jonathan Hickman (2020)
#2
X-Men: The Trial of Magneto (2021)
Marvel's Voices: Legacy (2021)
Black Widow (2020)
Hellions by Zeb Wells (2020)
#2
Reign of X (2021)
Marvel's Voices: Identity (2021)
Wolverine by Benjamin Percy (2020)
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022)
Marauders Annual (2022)
#1
New Mutants (2020)
Marauders (2022)
Marvel's Voices: Pride (2022)
X-Men by Gerry Duggan (2021)
#2
Spider-Punk (2022)
#3
Trials of X (2022)
Knights of X (2022)
#5
Marauders by Steve Orlando (2022)
Spider-Punk: Battle of the Banned (2023)
X-Men: Reign of X by Jonathan Hickman (2024)
#1
Hellverine (2024)
#2
Iceman: Omega (2026)
#1