Wolverine #12
Wolverine #12 (Vol. 2) marks the first appearance of the Mesopotamian demon Ba'al-Hadad and his pseudo-vampire cult the Baalists — the primary antagonists of the six-part 'Gehenna Stone Affair,' the first major arc by Peter David on the title. The issue is also narratively significant because it is within this arc that Logan's Madripoor support network — Archie Corrigan, Jessica Drew, and others — collectively acknowledge for the first time that they have always known the eyepatch-wearing 'Patch' is Wolverine, quietly dismantling the series' running disguise conceit that had been in place since issue #1. David's debut on the book also introduced a wry, smartass voice for Logan that stood in sharp contrast to the gruff-and-laconic default of the era, influencing how later writers approached the character's inner monologue.
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Peter David took over scripting duties on Wolverine Vol. 2 beginning with issue #11, inheriting a title launched by Chris Claremont and artist John Buscema in 1988. Bob Harras edited the arc, with Tom DeFalco serving as editor-in-chief. Issue #12 was on sale May 23, 1989, carrying a September 1989 cover date. David has cited classic film noir — particularly The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca — as deliberate tonal touchstones for 'The Gehenna Stone Affair,' a framing that shaped the arc's globe-trotting, morally murky atmosphere. The cover and back-cover art for the issue were both executed by Kevin Nowlan, with Nowlan providing pencils, inks, and colors on the cover himself.
Trivia · 7 facts
- Story title: 'The Gehenna Stone Affair! Part Two of Six — Straits of San Francisco!' — the issue is the second chapter of a six-part arc running through Wolverine Vol. 2 #11–16.
- Written by Peter David; penciled by John Buscema; inked by Bill Sienkiewicz; cover art by Kevin Nowlan (pencils, inks, and colors); letters by Ken Bruzenak; colors by Glynis Oliver; edited by Bob Harras.
- First appearance of Ba'al-Hadad (cameo), the ancient Annunaki demon and arc villain, as well as the first appearance of the Baalists (Ba'al's pseudo-vampire cult) and the character Sà-Bal-Bal.
- Jessica Drew (former Spider-Woman) appears as a civilian supporting character — she had been a fixture of the series since issue #1, and this arc is the one in which Logan's Madripoor circle reveals they always knew 'Patch' was Wolverine.
- The issue is set primarily in San Francisco, where a car chase through the city streets pits Wolverine, Jessica Drew, and the Corrigan brothers against Ba'al's vampire followers seeking a fragment of the Gehenna Stone.
- Burt Corrigan — Archie's eccentric brother, who secretly possesses a shard of the Gehenna Stone — plays a key role in driving the plot; the arc implies a mysterious spiritual link between Wolverine and an ancient 'Hand of God' warrior who originally defeated Ba'al.
- Collected in Wolverine Epic Collection Vol. 1: Madripoor Nights (multiple printings, 2014–2022) and Wolverine Omnibus Vol. 2 (2021 oversize hardcover), both of which include the full Gehenna Stone Affair arc.
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Reprints
Reprinted in Serval-Wolverine #6 (1990), Essential Wolverine #1 (1996), Wolverine Epic Collection #1 (2014), Wolverine Omnibus #2 (2021), Wolverine #12
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