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Essential Wolverine #1 cover
Cover: Nghia Lam & Jason Rodriguez

Essential Wolverine #1

Oct 1996 · Marvel · 12.95 USD; 18.15 CAD
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“Sword Quest”
About this Collection

This volume collects the earliest solo adventures of Wolverine, reprinting the character's first self-titled limited series from 1982 and the initial issues of his ongoing series that followed in 1988. Presented in Marvel's black-and-white Essential format, it gathers key stories that helped define the clawed mutant as a solo star, including his first encounter with the villainous Silver Samurai and his journey to Japan. The collection offers a comprehensive look at Wolverine's early years outside the X-Men, showcasing the work of creators like Chris Claremont and Frank Miller.

In "Sword Quest," Wolverine finds himself at the center of a high-stakes power struggle in Madripoor, where the Prince, a surprisingly cinephile ruler, manipulates rival crime lords Tyger and General Coy to maintain control. With the Hulk posing as Mr. Fixit and a debt to settle after Wolverine disrupted a major opium shipment, tensions rise in a world where loyalty is currency and every blade has a story. Written by Chris Claremont and illustrated with gritty precision by John Buscema, with lettering by Ken Bruzenak, the issue’s cover by Nghia Lam and Jason Rodriguez captures the edge of this dangerous game.

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writer Chris Claremont · artist, inker John Buscema · letterer Ken Bruzenak · cover Nghia Lam, Jason Rodriguez

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Full credits

artist, inker John Buscema
letterer Ken Bruzenak
cover pencils Nghia Lam
cover inks Jason Rodriguez

Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers

▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers

Hulk, as Mr. Fixit, is hired to take out General Coy, who has defaulted on his shipment of opium to Fixit's employer, as a result of Wolverine destroying Coy's product . Baran, the Prince of Madripoor, turns out to be a big Lindsay McCabe movie fan. The Prince makes Tyger and Coy rival crime lords in order to lessen the chance either one becomes too powerful on their own and tries to rival his dominance.

Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).

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