Wolverine: Origins #5
Wolverine: Origins #5 is the capstone of the 'Born in Blood' opening arc and carries one of the most consequential reveals in Wolverine's post-House of M continuity: via Emma Frost's telepathic probe, readers learn that Logan has a living son — Akihiro, later known as Daken — who has been conditioned to hate his own father. That single disclosure planted the seed for a character who would headline his own ongoing series, serve as Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers Wolverine, and remain a fixture of the X-Men corner of the Marvel Universe well into the Krakoa era. The issue also resolves the extended Nuke confrontation by bringing Captain America and a squad of X-Men into direct conflict with Wolverine, demonstrating that Daniel Way's run would engage the broader Marvel sandbox rather than keep Logan isolated, and closing a five-issue arc that reoriented the entire premise of the character's solo publishing line.
In "Born in Blood Conclusion," Wolverine faces a brutal reckoning as he battles Captain America and the X-Men, uncovering the shocking truth that his long-lost son is alive—and being held by those who've twisted his past. With the weight of his history pressing down, Wolverine makes a desperate choice, entrusting Cyclops with the only weapon capable of stopping him. Written by Daniel Way and illustrated by Steve Dillon, with colors by Dan Kemp and letters by VC's Randy Gentile, this pivotal issue sees the cover by Joe Quesada and Danny Miki capturing the intensity of a man pushed to his limits.
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The series launched directly out of the consequences of House of M and the 'Origins and Endings' storyline in Wolverine vol. 3 #36–40, both of which restored Logan's full memories and set him on a revenge trajectory. Writer Daniel Way and artist Steve Dillon — Dillon having already built his reputation on gritty, dialogue-heavy crime books — were the creative team from issue one through issue twenty-five; editor Axel Alonso shepherded the arc with Joe Quesada serving as both cover artist for the 'Born in Blood' issues and Marvel's Editor-in-Chief. The cover on issue #5 carries a Joe Quesada painted image, with colorist Richard Isanove contributing to the cover finish, a deliberate prestige presentation for what Marvel clearly intended as a marquee launch.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance (cameo) of Akihiro/Daken — the mutant son of Wolverine and Itsu — who would go on to his first full appearance in Wolverine: Origins #10 and eventually headline his own solo series, Daken: Dark Wolverine.
- Written by Daniel Way with interior art by Steve Dillon (pencils) and colors by Dan Kemp; cover painted by Joe Quesada with color finishes by Richard Isanove.
- Final chapter (Part 5 of 5) of the 'Born in Blood' opening arc, which began in Wolverine: Origins #1 (April/June 2006).
- The revelation that Logan has a living son is delivered by Emma Frost through a telepathic probe of Wolverine's mind during the standoff — a plot beat that reframed the entire direction of the fifty-issue series.
- The arc reintroduces Frank Simpson (Nuke), a character previously associated with Frank Miller's Daredevil run, and retcons his origin to include a direct connection to Wolverine's own covert past.
- Wolverine hands the Muramasa Blade — the one weapon capable of permanently killing him — over to the X-Men (specifically Cyclops) for safekeeping at the conclusion of this issue.
- The issue and its arc are collected in Wolverine: Origins Vol. 1 — Born in Blood (trade paperback, 2007, ISBN 9780785122876), and later in Wolverine by Daniel Way: The Complete Collection Vol. 1.
- Joe Quesada served as Editor-in-Chief at Marvel during publication; Axel Alonso was the series editor.
Cast · 17 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
During a battle with Captain America and the X-Men, Wolverine learns that his son is alive and is in the hands of the people who have manipulated his past. Wolverine gives the only weapon that can stop him for good to Cyclops for safekeeping.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).