Does ‘Wolverine’ Die in the Comics? Exploring His Fate in Marvel’s Storylines

In the world of comic books, especially in the Marvel and DC universes, it’s rare for characters to die and stay dead. This rule particularly applies to Wolverine, whose mutant healing factor makes him nearly invincible. Over the years, he’s survived extreme situations, including a nuclear explosion and having Adamantium ripped from his bones. 

However, the 2017 film ‘Logan’ broke this tradition by portraying an ageing Wolverine with a weakened healing factor, ultimately leading to his death—a poignant end to Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of the character (until his return in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’).

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But ‘Logan’ wasn’t the first time Wolverine faced death. In 2014, Marvel released the ‘Death of Wolverine’ miniseries, written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Steve McNiven, where Wolverine’s mortality was tested after he contracted a virus in the Microverse that “burned out” his healing factor. With his newfound vulnerability, a bounty was placed on his head, leading to battles with foes like Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike. Eventually, Wolverine sacrificed himself to stop Dr. Cornelius from replicating the Weapon X process, dying after being encased in molten Adamantium—a poetic end given the metal’s role in his life.

After his death, Wolverine’s body was taken to a cabin in Canada, but it was later discovered to be empty. This sparked a quest led by Kitty Pryde, Iron Man, and Daredevil to find him. It was revealed that a group called Soteira had resurrected him, intending to use him as a weapon. Wolverine regained his memories and thwarted their plans, discovering a new ability to superheat his claws, which made him even more vulnerable.

Wolverine’s death has been explored in other universes, such as ‘Days of Future Past’ and ‘Old Man Logan’, but ‘Death of Wolverine’ and ‘Logan’ remain two of the most impactful instances where the character was truly killed off.

–Farheen Ali