WOLVERINE READING ORDER: Before the X-Men

It could be argued that no mainstream comic character has an origin that's more convoluted than Wolverine's.He started out as a man of mystery who fought the Hulk, then joined the X-Men. His patchy memory kept his past a secret from himself as well as readers. Over the years we've learned more. Possibly too much. But almost everything about this 100-year-old mutant is pretty much out in the open. The only problem is putting it all together...

Before running the X-MEN READING ORDER, I thought it might be interesting to go over all the key appearances of Wolverine in order to put all the pieces of is past together. And I mean ALL. As far as I'm aware, nothing's been left out from his 1974-2015 appearances. It was a little more ambitious than I'd realised but, having completed this hefty reading order, I may even follow up with more WOLVERINE READING ORDER posts that focus solely on the most popular member of the X-Men. Let me know what you think!

As always, I'd like to thank the guys over at www.chronologyproject.com which I use as a basis and work out my own continuity. Those guys have done all the heavy lifting for me!

MCG Note - it's a little different this time:

• Issues in blue are complete stories, set at the time they're told; they may or may not be key stories, but they're generally complete stories.
• Issues in grey are flashbacks or varying length.

Origin #1 (2001) 
In the late 1800s, sickly young James Howlett grows up on the family estate in Canada alongside his friends, Rose O'Hara and Dog Logan.

Wolverine: Origin #33(p.8) (2009)
X-Men: Prelude to Schism #4(p.4) (2011)
Wolverine and the X-Men #26 (2013)
Flashbacks: Young James Howlett sees his mother's scars during DARK REIGN; James hides while his father and grandfather argue over his upbringing during SCHISM; James is warned by his nanny not to play with Dog Logan during MARVEL NOW!

Origin #2-4(pp.1-18) (2001-2002)
James Howlett unleashes his claws for the first time, killing the groundskeeper, Thomas Logan, for murdering his father, John Howlett; it's implied that Thomas Logan is James Howlett's biological father; James goes on the run with Rose O'Hara, pursued by Dog Logan; James Howlett adopts the pseudonym 'Logan'.

X-Men: Prelude to Schism #4(p.7) (2011)
Flashback: Logan starts giving in to his anger.

Origin #4(pp.19-28) (2002)
Logan falls in love with Rose O'Hara, takes down Cookie (the man at the man where he works who bullies him) and befriends a pack of wolves.

Wolverine: Bloody Choices (1991)
Flashback: Young Logan runs wild in the woods.

Origin #5-6(pp.1-9) (2002)
Logan uses his enhanced senses to save a kid from the mines, gives in to his feral side more and more, has a rematch with Cookie and learns Rose has fallen in love with someone else; hungry for revenge, Dog Logan agrees to hunt the missing James Howlett down for his grandfather.

X-Men: Prelude to Schism #4(p.10) (2011)
Flashback: Logan becomes an unbeatable cage-fighter.

Origin #6(pp.9-11) (2002)
Logan faces Cookie in a cage fight.

X-Men: Prelude to Schism #4(p.11) (2011)
Flashback: Logan defeats Cookie in a brutal bout.

Origin #6(pp.12-25) (2002)
Dog Logan tracks Logan down; Rose O'Hara is killed when she rushes in to stop Dog, impaling herself on Logan's claws; Logan leaves civilisation to be alone.

Origin II #3 (2014)
Flashback: Logan runs wild in the wilderness.

Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine #3-4 (2010)
Lost in time, Spider-Man battles young, feral Logan and his brother, Dog Logan.

Origin II #1-5 (2014)
Having become a wild man and leader of a pack of wolves, Logan continues to fight his way through life, crossing paths with Clara and Saul, siblings of Victor Creed; Dr Nathaniel Essex (the man who becomes Mister Sinister) and his Marauders capture Logan for experimentation; Logan kills Saul Creed, making his brother an eternal enemy.

Wolverine: Weapon X #10 (2010)
Marvel Comics Presents #93[1/4]-98[1/4] (1991)
Wolverine #52-53 (2007)
Wolverine: Origins #49 (2010)
Wolverine #49(p.8) (1991)
Wolverine #65 (1993)
Flashbacks: Finally coming out of the wilderness, Logan meets a girl and loses his virginity; Logan saves the Blackfoot Tribe from the demonic Uncegila; while travelling through Tokyo, Logan clashes with the Hand for the first time, leading directly into his first conflict with Victor Creed which is interrupted by Romulus during EVOLUTION; Logan meets Silver Fox; Logan and Silver Fox fall in love during WEAPON X / MUTANT GENESIS; Logan and Silver Fox build a cabin in the woods. 

X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1(pp.9-13) (2009)
Victor Creed assists Logan in a bar fight, defending Silver Fox's honour (though Logan doesn't seem to remember him).

Wolverine #47 (1991)
Wolverine #50(pp.15-16) (2007)
Wolverine: Origins #5(p.12) (2006)
Wolverine #41 (1991)
Wolverine #50(p.18) (2007)
Wolverine #41 (1991)
Wolverine #10(p.2) (1989)
Flashbacks: Logan protects Silver Fox from a rabid wolf; Victor Creed secretly observes Logan and Silver Fox in the woods near their home; Logan heads out, leaving Silver Fox alone in the cabin during ORIGINS & ENDINGS; Logan discovers Silver Fox has been murdered and her blood has been used to write 'happy birthday' on the cabin walls; Logan carries Silver Fox's body into town; Logan carries Silver Fox into the bar where Creed waits.

X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1(pp.14) (2009)
Logan as he stands in the bar, holding Silver Fox's body; Victor Creed wishes him happy birthday.

Wolverine #10(pp.3-6, 9) (1989)
Wolverine #50(pp.18-19) (2007)
Flashbacks: Victor Creed implies he killed Silver Fox because she said 'no' to him; Logan attacks Creed and their fight spills out into the street where Creed gets the upper hand; Creed utters the words 'quod sum eris'.

X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1(pp.15-16) (2009)
Victor Creed defeats Logan.

Wolverine #10(pp.12-22) (1989)
Uncanny X-Men #213 (1987)
Wolverine: Origins #5(pp.12, 9, 13-15) (2006)
Wolverine: Origins #33(p.5) (2009)
Wolverine: Origins #15(pp.8-10) (2007)
Wolverine: Origins #12(pp.10-11) (2007) 
Wolverine: Origins #15(p.13) (2007)
Wolverine: Origins #17(pp.5-8) (2007)
Wolverine #57-60 (2007-2008)
Wolverine #113 (1997)
Wolverine #62-65 (2008)
Wolverine #10(pp.6-10) (2011)
Flashbacks: Logan tries to kill both himself and Victor Creed by throwing them both off a cliff, but Creed walks away; Logan is left bleeding and unconscious in the snow during MUTANT MASSACRE; Sabretooth throws Logan into a pit and reveals he was sent to kill Silver Fox during ORIGINS & ENDINGS; by 1912, the rage-fuelled Logan becomes a hatchet man for the Hudson Bay Company during DARK REIGN; Logan is trained by Silas Burr; Silas murders Logan's friend, Janet, and takes Logan's eye; Janet was murdered to keep Logan in line; Janet's death leads to Logan giving in to his animal side, but he's brought back to the Hudson Bay Company by Victor Creed and Silas Burr; by 1915, Logan is fighting the Germans in Belgium during the First World War (has taken to wearing bayonet blades on his wrists) and has a near-death experience that leads to him fighting an angel called Lazaer to earn his right to come back to life; Logan ends up in Shanghai where comes to the aid of the Ancient One and Stick; in 1921, Logan finds himself in Mexico where he meets Raven Darkholme and is soon betrayed by her during DIVIDED WE STAND; under orders from the Hudson Bay Company, Logan kills a lead protestor in front of his own son.

Wolverine: The Amazing Immortal Man and Other Bloody Tales #1[1/3] (2008)
Logan ends up as a circus freak in Kansas.

Wolverine: Origins Annual #1(pp.4-12) (2007)
Wolverine #126(p.6, 8) (1998)
Wolverine: Origins Annual #1(pp.13-17) (2007)
Wolverine #58(p.12) (2007)
Wolverine: Origins Annual #1(pp.18-21) (2007)
Wolverine #314-317 (2012-2013)
Flashbacks: In 1932, Logan heads to Madripoor where he first adopts his 'Patch' identity, meets Seraph and becomes her hitman; Viper saves Seraph and becomes part of Seraph's crew, fending off Victor Creed alongside Logan; Logan protects Seraph from the Hand; Logan battles Lazaer again after he almost dies; Logan admits his love for Seraph; in 1934, Logan is hired by the Covenant to assassinate the Dreaming Maiden in Morocco.

X-Men: True Friends #2-3 (1999)
Logan meets two mutants from the future - Shadowcat and Phoenix - and teams up with them against the the Nazi Geist and Baron Wolfgang von Strucker and their ally, the Shadow King.

Wolverine #103 (1996)
Wolverine #89 (1995)
Wolverine: Origins #17(p.9) (2007)
Wolverine: Origins #9(pp.3-8) (2006)
Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1(pp.15-16) (2010)
Wolverine: Origins #9(pp.9-15) (2006)
Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1(p.17) (2010)
Wolverine: Origins #9(pp.16-18) (2006)
Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants #1 (2011)
Wolverine #106 (1996)
Uncanny X-Men #268 (1990) / Wolverine Origins #16 (2007)
Wolverine: Origins #17(pp.11-22)-20 (2007-2008)
Flashbacks: Logan begins training with Ogun in Kanazawa during THE WAY OF THE WARRIORS; Ogun pushes Logan to unleash his anger, resulting in Logan attacking his sensei; Ogun's fight with Ugama Hana reveals Logan's sensei to be immortal; Logan returns to Seraph, unaware that she's working for the Nazis; Logan saves young Natasha Romanoff from armed attackers and starts working for her father-figure, Taras Romanov; Logan shares his martial arts training with Natasha; Natasha is kidnapped, so Taras sends Logan to rescue her; Logan kills the kidnapper; Logan kills Taras to complete his mission, freeing Natasha in the process; by 1941, Logan is fighting the Nazis alongside Silas Burr; Logan assassinates a Nazi leader in Paris; Logan meets Stavros; Logan meets Captain America and is reunited with Natasha Romanoff; Lagan's true mission was to kill Captain America during THE WAY OF THE WARRIORS; on a mission with Nick Fury, Logan reunites with Captain America, meets Bucky, goes after Wolfgang von Strucker's agents of Hydra and leads Cap into Baron Zemo's trap under Seraph's orders, only to get a beating from him. 

Wolverine #32 (2005)
Logan mentally tortures a Nazi general while he's held in a concentration camp in Poland.

I ♥ Marvel: My Mutant Heart #1[1/3] (2006)

Wolverine: Origins #26 (2008)

World War Hulks: Captain America vs Wolverine #1[1/2] (p.21)-2[1/2] (2010)

Wolverine #34 (1990)

Wolverine #78 (1994)

Flashbacks: In 1943, Logan is past along to the Nazi Dr Lukas Maier to be experimented on during I ♥ MARVEL; Logan takes Japanese prisoners of war for scientific experimentation, but has a change of heart and blows up the lab; Logan fights alongside Bucky Barnes during WORLD WAR HULKS; in 1944, Logan joins the Allies on a mission in Normandy; on his mission, Logan clashes with Bloodscream.

Wolverine #1000[5/5] (2011)

In the Ardennes Forest in 1944, Logan goes up against a Nazi tank with hi bone claws bared.

Wolverine #1000[1/5] (2011)

In 1945, Logan parachutes into Germany where he faces General Wolfram and a Nazi werewolf.

Logan #1-3 (2008)
Blade #5 (2007)
Wolverine #97 (1996)
Rampaging Wolverine #1[1/4] (2009)
Flashbacks: Logan escapes a Japanese prisoner of war camp with US soldier Ethan Warren who turns out to be a psychopath; Logan aids the Bloodshadows against vampires in New York during CASUALTIES OF WAR; Logan returns to Madripoor and first encounters Mr Chang of Landau, Luckman & Lake; Wolverine fights pirates in Madripoor.

Logan: Path of the Warlord #1(pp.1-9) (1996)
Logan is hired by Mr Chang of Landau, Luckman & Lake to kill the inter-dimensional warlord Kimora.

Wolverine #40(pp.2-6) (2006)
Flashback: Logan retires to Jasmine Falls where he meets Itsu during ORIGINS & ENDINGS.

Logan: Path of the Warlord #1(pp.10-49) (1996)
Logan is pulled out of retirement to finish the job on Kimora in his home dimension of Kageumbra.

Wolverine #40(pp.7-14, 16-18) (2006)
Wolverine: Origins #35 (2009)
Wolverine #38(pp.10-12) (2006)Wolverine #40(pp.19-20) (2006)
Wolverine #38(pp.13-17) (2006)
Wolverine: Origins #3(pp.12-17) (2006)
Wolverine #10(pp.14-18) (2011)
Wolverine #11(pp.2-7) (2011)
Flashbacks: Logan is tested by warriors in Jasmine Falls, finds discovers Itsu has been murdered and turns to a madman called Muramasa to help him have his revenge during ORIGINS & ENDINGS; Muramasa extracted Logan's rage and begin turning it into a sword - the Muramasa Blade - during DARK REIGN; Muramasa's men take Logan away during ORIGINS & ENDINGS; the Winter Soldier observes Muramasa's men taking the unconscious Logan away during ORIGINS & ENDINGS; the Winter Soldier kills Muramasa's men to free Logan during ORIGINS & ENDINGS; in Ohio in 1953, Logan is hired to kill Frank Simpson's parents while disguised as a cop, then takes young Frank to his employer during ORIGINS & ENDINGS; the son of the protestor Logan murdered years earlier tries to kill Logan numerous times, only to discover he's not an easy man to take down; Logan is hired to kill a man who gets too close to discovering Romulus' existence and ultimate plan, though the murder is witnessed by the man's daughter.

Wolverine: Agent of Atlas #1-3 [digital comic]

In Cuba in 1958, Logan (possibly working for the CIA) helps Jimmy Woo, Gorilla Man and the Human Robot of Department Zero take down rogue American agent Hendricks during THE DRAGON'S CORRIDOR.

Wolverine: Manifest Destiny #2-4 (2008-2009)
Flashbacks: In the late 1950s in San Fransisco's Chinatown, Logan kills Lo Shang Cho (the leader of the Black Dragon Tong), but refuses to take his place as Black Dragon which sends Chinatown into chaos.

X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1(pp.17-19) (2009)
The CIA take on Victor Creed, leading to a fight between him and Logan in their offices.

Wolverine #49(pp.6-8) (1991)
Wolverine #61(pp.12-14, 8) (1992)
Flashbacks: In 1963, Logan (under the name Emilio Garra) and Victor Creed (as El Tigre) fight Communists in Cuba during MUTANT GENESIS / WEAPON X; Logan and the rest of Team X discover a missile, Logan takes issue with Creed's murderous tendencies.

X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1(pp.20-21) (2009)
Victor Creed saves Logan's life on a mission as they earn each other's trust and their fights become more playful, as if Logan doesn't remember their history.

Wolverine: Origins #2(pp.5-7, 12-17) (2006)
Maverick #2(p.16) (1997)
Wolverine #63 (1992)
Wolverine #87 (1994)
X-Men Unlimited #15 (1997)
Maverick #2(p.17) (1997)
Wolverine #68 (1993)
Daken: Dark Wolverine #1 (2010)
Wolverine #11(pp.11-15) (2011)
Wolverine: Origins #6-7 (2006)
X-Men #5(p.10) (1992)
Wolverine: Origins #8(p.16) (2007)
X-Men #7(p.3) (1992)
Wolverine: Origins #8(pp.17-19) (2007)
X-Men #5(pp.17-18) (1992)
Wolverine: Origins #8(p.20) (2007)
X-Men #6(pp.5-6) (1992)
X-Men #7(p.6) (1992)
Wolverine #60 (1992)
Wolverine #61(pp.9-10) (1992)
X-Men #6(p14) (1992)
Flashbacks: Logan tortures Frank Simpson in Vietnam, carves an American flag on his face and returns to the US Army during ORIGINS & ENDINGS; Christoph Nord (aka Wildcat) joins Team X alongside Logan (aka Wolverine); Aldo Ferro manipulates Team X on their missions to make them see what their bosses want them to; Victor Creed (aka Sabretooth) saves Team X when a mission goes wrong; Wildcat proves his loyalty to Team X; Wildcat risks his life for Team X; Team X abort their mission to kill Epsilon Red; Akihiro observes his drunken father, Logan, waiting for the right time to kill him during WOLVERINE GOES TO HELL; Wolverine and Sabretooth kill a man who knows too much about Team X in front of his wife and daughter; in 1963, Wolverine's bosses use Carbonadium to suppress his healing factor and shoot him dead, revive him and erase his memories before he retaliates, rediscovers his claws and heads to Berlin; Wolverine rejoins Team X in Berlin during MUTANT GENESIS; Team X go after the Carbonadium Synthesiser; Wildcat's mission is to rescue CIA mole Janice Hollenbeck during MUTANT GENESIS; Wolverine finds the Carbonadium Synthesiser and gives it to Wildcat to hide; Team X rescue Janice Hollenbeck during MUTANT GENESIS; Team X realise they've been set up; Sabretoth kills Hollenbeck and Team X narrowly escape Omega Red during MUTANT GENESIS; Wolverine pretends he's lost the Carbonadium Synthesiser during MUTANT GENESIS; Kestrel (John Wraith) covers Team X's escape from Berlin; Omega Red grabs Kestrel, but he teleports away; Wolverine and Sabretooth fight over Hollenbeck's death at the team debrief during MUTANT GENESIS.

X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1(pp.22-30) (2009)
During a bar-fight, Sabretooth reveals to Wolverine that he killed Janice Hollenbeck because it's Logan's birthday; ten years later, Wolverine initially refuses to fight Sabretooth in a bar, but he's goaded into it with a mention of Silver Fox.

Wolverine Annual #1 (2012)
Wolverine: Under The Boardwalk #1 (2010)
Classic X-Men #26[2/2] (1988)
Marvel Comics Presents #154[1/4] (1994)
Wolverine '97 Annual (1997)
Flashbacks: Logan fights a Chinese warlord called Chen Wu during MARVEL TALES; Logan upsets the Mafia in Atlantic City; Logan gets into a bar fight in Canada; Logan crosses paths with Abdul Alhazred; Logan fails a mission to kill Russian Government agent Volk.

Untold Tales of Spider-Man #-1 (1997)
Married CIA agents Richard & Mary Parker rescue Logan when he's captured by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker of Hydra; Logan reveals to the Parker's that Mary is pregnant during FLASHBACK.

Wolverine: Black Rio (1998)
World War Hulks: Captain America vs Wolverine #1-2 (2010)
Flashbacks: Logan gets into a bar fight in Rio; Logan is hired to kill Monte Boscardin in Chicago, but is captured and tortured by the Winter Soldier and Abilene during WORLD WAR HULKS.

First X-Men #1-5 (2012-2013)
Logan and Victor Creed lead a team of mutants against Virus and Bolivar Trask's Sentinels, crossing paths with Magneto and Namor the Sub-Mariner.

Excalibur #14 (2005)
Wolverine #26(pp.7-9) (1990)
Flashbacks: Logan serves alongside Charles Xavier and Carmen Pryde in the military during HOUSE OF M; Logan seeks out Bando Saburo to earn inner peace.

Logan: Shadow Society #1 (1997)
Logan and an old ally of his - Carol Danvers of Air Force Intelligence - investigate a murder that leads them on the trail of Victor Creed and the Hellfire Club.

Marvel Comics Presents #72[1/4] (1991)

Logan wallows at the Prophecy refuge during WEAPON X.

Weapon X #23(pp.5-8) (2004) 

The Professor expresses concern over Abraham Cornelius' assistant, John Sublime; the Professor explains to Cornelius that Logan is a mutant and will be Weapon Ten (contradicting pre-established events) during X-MEN RELOAD.

Marvel Comics Presents #73[1/4] (pp.1-2) (1991)

Logan is attacked by the Professor's men during WEAPON X.

Wolverine #48(pp.8-9) (1991)

Flashback: Logan is violently beaten and taken prisoner during WEAPON X.

Marvel Comics Presents #73[1/4] (pp.3-4) (1991)

Logan is taken to the Experiment X Facility and shaved during WEAPON X.

Bug#1 (1997) 

Bug's tiny time-jumping battle with Annihilus passes through the Experiment X labs during the adamantium infusion process, unnoticed by all involved.

Marvel Comics Presents #73[1/4] (pp.4-8)-74[1/4] (1991) 

Abraham Cornelius and the Professor realise there's something different about Logan'; the Professor contacts his mystery benefactor to confirm if he knew Logan was a mutant during WEAPON X.

Wolverine #54 (2007) 

Flashback: Logan floats unconscious in the isolation tank while the Professor shows him to Sabretooth and Romulus.

Marvel Comics Presents #74[1/4]-78[1/4] (pp.1-3) (1991) 

Logan wakes up after the adamantium has been bonded to his skeleton; further experiments continue; Logan is attached to mind-control equipment and batteries during WEAPON X.

New X-Men #130 (2002)

Wolverine #58(p.12) (2007)

Flashbacks: Cables are attached to Logan; Logan battles Lazaer in Purgatory.

Marvel Comics Presents #78[1/4] (pp.4-8) (1991) 

The Professor struggles to control Logan during WEAPON X. 

Marvel Comics Presents #79[1/4] (pp.1-2) (1991)

Logan is tested against a bear during WEAPON X.

Wolverine #49(pp.17-18) (1991) 

Flashback: Logan's mind sees the fight with the bear differently during WEAPON X / MUTANT GENESIS.

Marvel Comics Presents #79[1/4] (pp.3-6) (1991)

After defeating the bear, Logan is returned to the lab during WEAPON X.

Weapon X #24-25 (2004)

Flashbacks: Logan's pliability is tested when he's sent to kill everyone in the town of Roanoke during X-MEN RELOAD.

Marvel Comics Presents #79[1/4] (pp.6-8)-80[1/4] (pp.1-3) (1991) 

The Professor suggests testing Logan against capable human opponents; thanks to the mystery benefactor, Logan breaks loose and begins his hunt for the Professor during WEAPON X.

Wolverine #49(pp.2-4) (1991) 

Flashback: Logan kills a number of Experiment X guards, arriving at the door to the adamantium reactor during WEAPON X / MUTANT GENESIS.

Marvel Comics Presents #80[1/4] (pp.5-8) (1991) / Wolverine #48(pp.2-13) (1991)

Logan cuts off the Professor's hand and flees, allowing the Professor, Hines and Cornelius escape to the adamantium reactor during WEAPON X; Logan pursues the Professor during MUTANT GENESIS / WEAPON X.

Marvel Comics Presents #81-84[1/2] (pp.1-19) (1991)

Logan kills Cornelius and the Professor, then regains his senses; the escape is revealed to be a simulated scenario, allowing the Professor and the others to assess Logan's responses; Logan breaks free again during WEAPON X.

X-23 #1 (2005)

Logan kills lab tech Dale Rice as he makes his escape, making he drop his stolen notes (which are later found by Martin Sutter).

Wolverine #166(pp.5 - 8) (2001)
Wolverine #175[1/2] (2002)
Wolverine #166(p.9) (2001)

Flashbacks: Logan genuinely escapes the Experiment X Facility, brutally focus his rage one guard in particular during RETURN TO WEAPON X; the guard - Malcolm Colcord - has his face hacked to pieces during RETURN TO WEAPON X; Logan leaves the guard to die and wanders off into the wilderness during RETURN TO WEAPON X.

Marvel Comics Presents #84[1/2](pp.20-24) (1991) 

Truly free, this time, Logan wanders the snow-covered wilderness of Alberta, believing his captors to be dead during WEAPON X.

Wolverine #900[8/8] (2010) 

The animalistic Logan protects a family from hungry wolves.

Wolverine #118(p.8) (1997)

Wolverine #34(pp.5, 18, 5) (1990)

Alpha Flight #33(pp.14) (1986)

Wolverine #92 (1995)

Alpha Flight #33(p.14-19) (1986)

Alpha Flight: In The Beginning #-1(p.11) (1997)
Flashbacks: Logan prowls the wilderness like a wild animal during OPERATION: ZERO TOLERANCE; Logan is shot by hunters and battles the Hunter in Darkness who he later frees from a bear trap; Logan stalks James MacDonald Hudson and Heather McNeil; Hudson and McNeil see Logan's claws; Hudson and McNeil shoot Logan, but take him back to their cabin to nurse him back to health with Heather McNeil comforting him when he comes to his senses and sees his metal claws; James Hudson puts their wedding on hold to look into Logan's condition, upsetting Heather during FLASHBACK / BURY YOUR DEAD.

Alpha Flight #3[2/2] (1983)

Working for Department H, James MacDonald Hudson considers giving Logan a spot on a new Canadian super-team.

Wolverine #-1 (1997)

Logan meets pilot Ben Grimm and teams up with Nick Fury and Carol Danvers in Washington when Sabretooth comes to town; Logan returns to the Hudson isn Canada during FLASHBACK.

Uncanny X-Men #147 (1981)

X-Men #140 (1980)

Flashbacks: Logan loses his temper, almost killing James Hudson; Logan becomes increasingly angry over the adamantium on his bones.

Alpha Flight: In The Beginning #-1 (1997) 

Logan attends James Hudson and Heather McNeil's wedding; Hudson trains Logan to be Weapon X and battles Chinook during FLASHBACK / BURY YOUR DEAD.

Free Comic Book Day: Wolverine #1(pp.1-21) (2009)
James Hudson presents Weapon X to Department H, sends him on a mission to rescue a mutant and offers him a place on Alpha Flight with the codename Wolverine.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine #1(pp.1-16) (2009)
Wolverine recalls what he can of his origins and struggles to contain his rage.

Before The Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm & Logan #1-3 (2000)
Logan and Ben Grimm meet again and become reluctant allies, helping Carol Danvers stop a KGB plot by Russian agent Natalia Shostakova (aka Natasha Romanov).

Wolverine #13 (2011)
Wolverine #119(pp.19-20) (1997)
Wolverine #120 (1998)
Wolverine #121(pp.1-3) (1998)
Wolverine #119(pp.1-14) (1997)
Wolverine #121(pp.9-12) (1998)
Spider-Man & Wolverine #2(pp.1-3) (2003)
Flashbacks: A trainee ninja watches as his father his killed by Logan; the hitman Roddy McLeish tells Logan he knows about his abilities; McLeigh tries to lure Logan into his social circle and Logan tells McLeigh about his berserker rage; McLeish brags about those he's killed; McLeish kills Logan's girlfriend's father, so Logan breaks his back, blwos up his boat and leaves him for dead; Logan's girlfriend, Ai-Chia, breaks up with him; Wolverine is sent on a mission to kill drug lord Takeshi Kishimoto.

Wolverine/Cable: Guts and Glory #1 (1999)
Wolverine meets the soldier of fortune called Cable for the first time; they manage to put their differences aside long enough to defeat the mutant D'Von Kray from Cable's future timeline.

Fury #1 (1994)
Alpha Flight #52(pp.7-9) (1987)
Flashbacks: Logan assists Nick Fury on a mission to thwart a Hydra campaign; James Hudson reveals to Logan that he plans to add reformed villains to Alpha Flight, starting with Bedlam the Brain Blast.

Alpha Flight Special #1 (1992)
Wolverine leads Alpha Flight on their first mission, battling the Egghead's Emissaries of Evil.

Marvel Comics Presents #51[1/4] (1990)
Alpha Flight #127[2/2] (1993)
Wolverine #9(pp.6-7) (1989)
Marvel Graphic Novel #50 - Wolverine/Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection (1989)
Uncanny X-Men #228 (1988)
Flashbacks: Wolverine trains with Wild Child at Department H; Wolverine almost kills Wild Child in a training session and recommends he be put down during THE INFINITY CRUSADE; Wolverine hunts hunters; Logan tracks an assassin to Australia; Logan tussles with KGB wetwork specialist Vladimir Semyanovitch Zaitsev during THE SWORD IS DRAWN.

Alpha Flight #9[2/2] (1984)
Wolverine recruits Aurora to Alpha Flight.

Wolverine #144 (1999)
Flashback: Wolverine and Hercules join forces to stop the Leader during GRUDGE MATCH.

Free Comic Book Day: Wolverine #1(p.22) (2009)
Wolverine is summoned for a mission to tackle the Hulk.

Wolverine Origins #28(p.8-10) (2008)
Marvel Comics Presents #59[1/4] (1990)
X-Men #139 (1980)
Flashbacks: Wolverine is sent into battle against the Hulk during ORIGINAL SIN; Wolverine observes the Hulk; Wolverine realises he'll have to tackle the Hulk and the Wendigo during RAGE!

Incredible Hulk #180-182 (1974) / Wolverine: Origins #28(pp.11-19) (2008)
Wolverine launches himself into battle against the Hulk and Wendigo, but is soundly defeated by the Hulk during SECOND GENESIS; Wolverine is sent to fight the Hulk (with the battle told from his perspective) to attract the attention of Professor X of the X-Men during ORIGINAL SIN.

Spider-Man Versus Wolverine #1 (1987)
Alpha Flight #1 (1997)
Wolverine: Origins #28(p.20) (2008)
Flashbacks: Wolverine and Charlemagne go up against a horde of KGB agents during THE HOBGOBLIN REVEALED; Wolverine and Vindicator (James Hudson) fight Bedlam the Brain Blast when he goes rogue; Wolverine stabs Vindicator in a training session during BURY THE DEAD; Professor X offers Wolverine a place on the X-Men during ORIGINAL SIN.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine #1(p.17) (2009)
Department H take issue with Professor X trying to poach one of their agents.

Wolverine: Origin - The Complete Collection
Collects Origin #1-6 and Origin II #1-5.

Wolverine: Prehistory
Collects Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm and Logan #1-3, First X-Men #1-5, Logan: Path of the Warlord #1, Logan: Shadow Society #1, Marvel Comics Presents #93-98, Wolverine (1998) #-1, Wolverine (2003) #32, Wolverine (2011) #1000, Wolverine: Agent of Atlas #1-3, Wolverine/Cable: Guts & Glory #1, Wolverine: Hunger #1 and Wolverine: The Amazing Immortal Man and Other Bloody Tales #1. 

Wolverine: Weapon X
Collects Marvel Comics Presents #72-84.

X-Men Origins - The Complete Collection
Includes X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1 and X-Men Origins: Wolverine #1.

Wolverine by Daniel Way - The Complete Collection vol.1-4
Collection includes I ♥ Marvel: My Mutant Heart #1, Wolverine #36-40, 50-55, Wolverine: Origins #1-50 and Wolverine: Origins Annual #1. 

X-Men Epic Collection vol.4: It's Always Darkest Before The Dawn
Includes Incredible Hulk #180-182.

[X-MEN READING ORDER: Before the X-Men]