010 - Landau, Luckman and Lake (version 2.2)

John Paul Leon and Shawn Martinbrough, Logan: Path of the Warlord.

© and ™  by Marvel Characters, Inc.

Logan: Path of the Warlord (Feb 1996)

Writer: Howard Mackie; Penciller: John Paul Leon; Inker: Shawn Martinbrough

     Logan notes that shortly after the War, he was hired by a man named Chang to work for Landau, Luckman and Lake, “…a real mysterious group that specializes in all kinds o' shady stuff.” This would suggest that Logan returned to freelance espionage work around 1946. Later, during a violent struggle with a mysterious individual named Kimora, Logan laments that he did not kill him in Kyoto when he had the chance. Based on this and other cryptic comments, it seems probable that Logan and Kimora had a history of opposing each other in various operations across Japan (and possibly Madripoor) from 1946 to 1949.

 Wolverine #5 (Mar 1989) – “Hunter's Moon”

Writer: Chris Claremont; Penciler: John Buscema; Inker Al Williamson

     At the Madripoor offices of Landau, Luckman and Lake in 1989, Jessica Drew notices a 19th century tintype photograph of Logan and Chang. While it is likely that the photograph was taken in the late 1940s, it is conceivable that Logan met Chang much earlier in life. But Chang would have to have been preternaturally old for the photograph to have been taken significantly earlier. It is most likely that the photograph was taken in another dimension on an unknown adventure or somewhere in the Orient where technology lagged behind the rest of the world. 

     …Though primarily an agent for Landau, Luckman and Lake, Logan periodically does work for the Canadian and U.S. intelligence services …

Untold Tales of Spider-Man #-1 (Jul 1997)

Writer: Roger Stern; Penciller: John Romita, Jr.; Inker: Al Milgrom

     While on mission along the Riviera, CIA agent Richard Parker overhears Baroness Adelicia Von Krupp being informed of the capture of the CIA's Agent Ten in Mahasashtra, India. Parker and his wife Mary are ordered to Bombay to help free this “operative of a friendly power working with the Agency.” Once there, the Parkers are captured by followers of the Supreme One and discover that Agent Ten is Logan. The Supreme One (later revealed as Baron Strucker) is impressed by Logan's “remarkably strong constitution” that allows him to endure seven days of torture (possibly as a consequence of their previous encounters). Mary Parker pretends to break under the pressure and creates enough confusion for Logan and the Parkers to escape unscathed. Later at the hospital, Logan is witness to the news that Mary is pregnant (with Peter Parker, later to become Spider-Man). The mention of the CIA and Neo-Nazis places this story no earlier than 1948, some fourteen years before the introduction of Spider-Man into the Marvel Universe. Considering that Peter Parker is a senior in high school in 1962 (and doesn't graduate high school until 1965!), we will need to employ the elasticity of Marvel Time to fit this story into any chronology, and 1948 seems to work best.

John Romita and Al Milgrom, Untold Tales of Spider-Man #-1

© and ™  by Marvel Characters, Inc.

     …In 1949, Logan finds himself on a mission in China…

Uncanny X-Men #363 (Jan 1999) – “The Hunt for Xavier, Part Three: When You're Unwanted”

Writer: Steve Seagle; Penciler: Chris Bachalo; Inker: Art Thibert & Tim Townsend

     A Chinese mystic Black Crane tells Logan, “…we last saw one another… the forming of the People's Republic, wasn't it?” This would suggest that Logan was in China in October of 1949 when Mao officially established the People's Republic of China.

Uncanny X-Men #330 (Mar 1996) – “Quest for the Crimson Dawn”
Writer: Scott Lobdell and Jeph Loeb; Penciler: Joe Maduriera; Inker Tim Townsend

     In present day, Logan mentions that he has hardly seen Gomurr the Ancient over the years. With Gomurr's Chinese and magical heritage, and Black Crane's magical ways, it is conceivable that their paths crossed in China circa 1949.

X-Men: Clan Destine #2 (Nov 1996) – “The Destine's Darkest Dreams”
Writer/ Penciler: Alan Davis; Inker: Mark Farmer

     During an X-Men mission, Wolverine comes across an acquaintance from his past, Adam Destine, a British immortal. As Adam states, “Logan, I thought you were dead. Chen Yu's bomb devastated the entire mountain fortress.” It is possible that Black Crane, Gomurr, Adam Destine and Logan were all involved in events with Chen Yu at this point.

Deadpool #27 (Apr 1999) – “It's a Barbarian Bunny – Busty Broad Bonanza in My Brainpan…”

Writer: Joe Kelly; Penciler:L McDaniel; Inker: McFarland

     Logan explains that he wants to settle a blood debt with Black Crane. Admittedly this is pure conjecture, but it seems possible that Black Crane was responsible for saving Logan's life during the Chen Yu adventure, explaining the blood debt and Adam Destine's surprise at Logan's survival.

     ...By 1950, Logan returns to Japan...

Wolverine/Shi: Dark Night of Judgment (2000)

Creator: William Tucci and Beau Smith; Inker: Rich Perotta

     Logan is again summoned to fight for the legendary Kage Ryu' dragon warriors against the Sohei warrior monks of Kyoto in the Quarter War of 1950. Logan is now considered to be the greatest warrior of the Kage Ryu', undoubtedly as a result of his second consecutive victory over the Sohei warrior monks. Note that since this information is from a cross-comic company storyline (Marvel and Crusade Entertainment) with characters not traditionally from Marvel continuity (Shi), we cannot confirm veracity of these events.

Logan: Path of the Warlord (Feb 1996)

Writer: Howard Mackie; Penciller: John Paul Leon; Inker: Shawn Martinbrough

    On a mission near Tokyo for Landau, Luckman and Lake in 1950, Logan is ambushed by six classically trained assassins as he attempts to rendezvous with a scientist, Dr. Carling, and his daughter, Rose. Logan loses his gun during the fight but dispatches the remaining assassins with his weapons of choice, two short knives. With Dr. Carling kidnapped, Logan locates Chang in Tokyo and learns that his old nemesis Kimora orchestrated the ambush. Before long, Logan tracks down Kimora, silently taking out two perimeter guards while Kimora tortures Dr. Carling. Kimora instantly realizes Logan is near, and the two battle while Kimora cryptically suggests that there is more to him (Kimora) than meets the eye. As the battle turns against Logan, Dr. Carling frees himself and beheads Kimora from behind. Logan retires from Landau, Luckman and Lake and heads for Jasmine Falls. 

Civil War Files (2006)
Head Writer: Anthony Flamini; Writers: Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Madison Carter, Michael Hoskin, Chris Biggs, Mark O’English, Mike Fichera

      According to Tony Stark’s dossiers for the President’s daily intelligence briefing, Wolverine, after World War II, "...was a well-paid and well feared mercenary... However, even he grew weary of violence-for-hire after a few years, and in Japan, he sought to overcome his long-fed bloodlust through study and meditation."

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) - “Origins and Endings, Part V”

Writer: Daniel Way; Breakdowns: Javier Saltares; Finishes: Mark Texeira

     Logan, having regained his memories after the events of House of M, tells the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, of going to Jasmine Falls, where he curiously wore a patch over his left eye. Logan’s former sensei, Ogun, told him to find Bando Suboro there when he was ready to seek redemption. Bando accepts him into the village of former ninjas who have learned a better way of living. Logan builds his own home, learning to create instead of destroy for the first time.
    We shall see if the existence of Logan's patch is meant to place his first encounter with Cyber (Silas Burr) just prior to this flashback. If so, then Logan trained under Silas Burr after his time with Landau, Luckman and Lake but before his journey to Jasmine Falls.

Wolverine #26 (Mid-Jul 1990) – “Memory”
Writer: Jo Duffy; Penciller: Klaus Janson; Inker: Tom Palmer

     In Japan, Logan becomes close friends with Bando Saburo and later visits him when in need of rest. According to Logan, "The home of Bando. Many years ago before my adamantium bones and claws, before Wolverine when I was Logan." In seems likely that Bando Saburo and Bando Saboro are the same person or possibly of the same family.

Logan: Path of the Warlord (Feb 1996)

Writer: Howard Mackie; Penciller: John Paul Leon; Inker: Shawn Martinbrough

     At Jasmine Falls, Logan becomes pupil to a sensei in hopes of controlling his animal nature. Despite five years of training there, Logan is still governed by his anger, seriously injuring his friend, Miyaga, during sparring practice. Logan's sensei berates him, replacing his katana with a wooden bokken. Chang arrives during Logan's humiliation and convinces Logan to return to Landau, Luckman and Lake. Kimora, it seems, is an immortal from another plane of existence. Having recovered from his beheading, Kimora kidnapped Dr. Carling and took him back to Kimora's own dimension to build a large-scale version of Dr. Carling's invention, a trans-dimensional gateway that Kimora can use to invade other dimensions. Using Dr. Carling's original trans-dimensional gateway, Logan and Chang are transported to Kimora's world where the foreign environs wreak havoc on Logan's animal-like senses. Logan is attacked and wounded by two shadow creatures but is rescued by Rose Carling, the scientist's daughter and now a warrior. The wounds nearly kill Logan, but his rapid healing saves his life. The threesome then approach Kimora's stronghold and bluff their way through Kimora's army. Once inside, Logan and Rose dispense with Kimora's elite guard, but Rose is kidnapped by the remaining shadow creature. After a brief confrontation with Kimora, Logan realizes the shadow creature intends to kill Rose. Logan goes berserk, savagely knocking the shadow creature unconscious and freeing Rose. Logan then pursues Kimora, tearing through a host of castle guards. Still defiant, Kimora kills Dr. Carling and partially opens the trans-dimensional gateway. Logan again goes berserk and shoves Kimora through the gateway. As Logan regains his senses (and his humanity), he shatters the trans-dimensional power supply, condemning Kimora to live for eternity (as an immortal) stuck between dimensions. Three days later in Japan, Rose agrees to join Landau, Luckman, and Lake. Logan, however, declines further employment and presumably returns to Jasmine Falls.
     The juxtaposition of Path of the Warlord and Daniel Way's various Origins storylines makes for an interesting blend of events at Jasmine Falls. On the one hand, we have Logan seeking and failing to achieve peace over the course of five years in this story from 1996. But in the subsequent chronological entries, we will see that Daniel Way shows a naive Logan who sports an eyepatch over the same five year period and finds, through a series of surprising revelations, that his fall from grace was orchestrated from without instead of within.

Javier Saltares and Mark Texeira , Wolverine (Vol. 3) #40

© and ™  by Marvel Characters, Inc.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) - “Origins and Endings, Part V”
Writer: Daniel Way; Breakdowns: Javier Saltares; Finishes: Mark Texeira

     At Jasmine Falls, Logan meets and marries a beautiful village woman, Itsu, and in the fourth year of his training, she becomes pregnant with his child. In an elaborate ceremony to celebrate their impending child, Logan faces off against the former ninjas in a test of worthiness, strength and honor. Logan avoids each attack in an elegant dance, but an explosion rocks a nearby mountain and Logan pops his claws by accident, injuring several of his attackers. Everyone departs for Logan has failed his test. Suboro explains that the explosion was caused by Muramasa, an immortal “…who uses men’s souls to create greater and more terrible weapons, capable of only destruction.” Suboro cryptically warns that Logan will meet him one day for a final test. Dishonored, Logan prepares to leave Jasmine Falls, but discovers that Itsu has been murdered. Logan later learns that Bucky Barnes was responsible for her death in order draw Logan out of hiding and back to Madripoor. But instead, Logan disappears and finds Muramasa who promises to turn Logan into “…a mighty blade, greater than any the world has ever seen and against which no man or beast that walks on the earth can stand.”
     That Logan is capable of popping his claws is quite shocking, and no one, including Logan, seems surprised at their appearance. It is my belief that his claws are still of bone (even though they look metallic) and that he rediscovered their existence during his years training at Jasmine Falls (or in some previously undocumented adventure from this era). The reference to Madripoor suggests that Logan worked out of Madripoor to a more significant degree after World War II than previously noted. Since it is later revealed that Logan's memory of these events were erased, it is possible that Path of the Warlord represents Logan's memories of this era instead of the actual events, thereby explaining away the appearance and disappearance of Logan's eyepatch.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #39 (April 2006) - “Origins and Endings, Part IV”
Writer: Daniel Way; Breakdowns: Javier Saltares; Finishes: Mark Texeira

     When Logan first began his search for the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, he claims, “He an’ I go way back. Used to be Captain America’s partner ‘til he got mind-wiped an’ reprogrammed by the Reds an’ turned into a hatchet man.”

Wolverine: Origins #5 (Oct 2006) – “Born in Blood, Part Five”
Writer: Daniel Way; Artist: Steve Dillon

     Logan learns from telepath Emma Frost that his son survived Itsu's brutal slaying, having inherited Logan’s healing factor. He was delivered and taken by a mysterious person who we are led to believe may be Sabretooth but more probably is the same individual who spoke to Logan after the death of Silver Fox.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) - “Origins and Endings, Part V”

Writer: Daniel Way; Breakdowns: Javier Saltares; Finishes: Mark Texeira

     Bucky Barnes explains that Logan disappeared for over a month after the murder of Itsu.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #38 (March 2006) - “Origins and Endings, Part III”
Writer: Daniel Way; Breakdowns: Javier Saltares; Finishes: Mark Texeira
     Wolverine remembers being suspended from a tree as Master Muramasa and a group of samurai discuss a mysterious process that Logan has begun. Muramasa cuts Logan down and the samurai remove Logan from the area. When Logan next awakes, he is on the ground next to a dead samurai, as the remaining samurai defend themselves against an unknown assailant. When Logan tries to join in, the mysterious figures expertly manhandles him. The figure then kills the remaining samurai, disappearing into the night. It is interesting to note that Logan does not wear or need an eyepatch, suggesting that his eye may have been healed earlier than we realized.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) - “Origins and Endings, Part V”

Writer: Daniel Way; Breakdowns: Javier Saltares; Finishes: Mark Texeira

     Bucky Barnes admits the he was responsible for killing Muramasa’s men. Logan was then extracted eight hours later by an unknown entity for parts unknown.

     It seems that Logan was then deployed as an agent for this unknown entity across several varied locales...

Wolverine: Origins #9 (Feb 2007) – “Savior, Part Four ”

Writer: Daniel Way; Artist: Steve Dillon

    Logan explains that his mind was wiped clean of the events at Jasmine Falls including that of Itsu's fate, and that he was sent on his first mission for this mysterious group. Presumably in the Soviet Union, Logan protects a young Natalia Romanov as their train comes under attack. The bloody ambush was planned by Natalia's father, Taras Romanov, an agent provocateur, as a ploy to convince the world that Natalia and Logan were in fact dead. For the next two years, Logan learns the spycraft under Taras' expert tutelage and teaches Natalia how to fight. Finally, one night, the web of deceit that entangles everyone comes to an end. Natalia is revealed not to be Taras' daughter, Logan was not sent simply to learn from Taras, and Tara knew more of Logan's employers than he let on. The result is the death of Taras at Logan's hands, the escape of Natalia to parts unknown and the return of Logan to his mysterious employers.
    Logan is shown to heavily rely upon his mutant animal-like senses, noting that Taras' heartrate increased almost imperceptibly when he lied and that Taras and Natalia were not related based on their smell. There is also no reference to Logan having saved her life before World War II despite the use of "Little Uncle" in both stories. Again, we may need to wait for Daniel Way's run on Wolverine: Origins to finish before we fully understand the relevance of this flashbacks.

Steve Dillon , Wolverine: Origins#9

© and ™  by Marvel Characters, Inc

Wolverine: Origins #3 (Aug 2006) – “Born in Blood, Part Three”

Writer: Daniel Way; Artist: Steve Dillon

     In Dayton, Ohio, 1953. young Frank Simpson is terrorized by his domineering mother. After his parents go out for the evening, Betsy, the babysitter, convinces Frank to kill his mother by pushing her down the stairs. Later, Charles, Frank’s father, drives Betsy home, but is pulled over by a police officer. The officer, revealed as Logan, shoots and kills Betsy with what turns out to be Frank’s gun. Convincing Charles that it looks bad for him, Logan gives Charles his gun with one bullet. Charles complies with the unspoken request and commits suicide in the car. Logan reports in; it’s clearly a black ops mission to orphan Frank Simpson. Arriving at the Simpson’s residence, Logan finds that Frank has killed his mother as planned and drives off with young Frank in his police car.
     Logan clearly has some discomfort with this mission (as does this reader) and it seems that he had no memory of these events until he recovered his memories in the aftermath of House of M. This would suggest that Logan was brainwashed after these events as he was after Jasmine Falls.

Wolverine: Origins #2 (Jul 2006) – “Born in Blood, Part Two”

Writer: Daniel Way; Artist: Steve Dillon

    Logan acknowledges, “I wasn’t in control of my own mind most of the time.”

     While it is unclear what happened after the events involving Frank Simpson, it seems Logan extricated himself from this mysterious organization and travels the world, starting with Rio de Janeiro …

Wolverine: Black Rio (Nov 1998)

Writer: Joe Casey; Penciler: Oscar Jimenez; Inker: Eduardo Alpuente
     Logan and Detective Antonio Vargas of the Rio de Janeiro Police Department reminisce about a time long ago when Logan was a bouncer at the Devil's Grill in Rio. Logan notes, “I spent a year here… back before I started keepin' track of what year it was… back before folks began calling me Wolverine.”

Uncanny X-Men #455 (April 2005) – “Not Dead Yet?!”

Writer: Chris Claremont; Penciler: Alan Davis; Inker: Mark Farmer

     When visiting Mary McKenna at the Royal Tyrrell Institute in Drumheller, Alberta, Canada, Logan sees an old photo of himself, a young Mary McKenna and an older man with an eyepatch, possibly Mary’s grandfather. In the photo, the three are holding a prehistoric stone head with jeweled eyes at the Royal Tyrrell Institute. Mary McKenna’s cryptic comments suggest they fought some unknown menace in the mid-1950s, possibly a race of intelligence beings descended from dinosaurs known as Hauk’ka. There was a massacre, but Logan and Mary were able to stop them, possibly making a deal to stop the violence. Along the way, Logan fell in love with Mary. 

Uncanny X-Men #257 (Jan 1990) – “I Am Lady Mandarin”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Penciler: Jim Lee; Inker: Josef Rubinstein

     In 1990 Logan contacts Rose Carling through the Landau, Luckman and Lake office in Hong Kong. There, Jubilee sees a photograph of a young Rose and Logan against the backdrop of a futuristic cityscape. It is possible that Logan visited Rose and spent some time with her in another dimension.

Wolverine #97 (Jan 1996) – “…Bump in the Night”
Scripter: Larry Hama; Penciler: Adam Kubert; Inker: Dan Green

     Wolverine remembers fighting a horde of goons in lowtown Madripoor to enter the offices of Landau, Luckman and Lake. Logan then instructs Chang to retrieve a package he had left earlier and $50,000 in hundreds. Chang enters a door marked “W.C” and returns 30 seconds later with the items, sporting a two-day stubble on his chin, different clothes and a different weapon. It is probable that after his time with Landau, Luckman and Lake, Logan became a client.

Ballistic/Wolverine #1 (Feb 1997) – “When the Ball Drops”
Writer: Larry Hama; Plotter: Larry Hama and Joe Benitez; Penciler: Joe Benitez; Inker: Aaron Sowd

     Logan notes, “Landau, Luckman & Lake’s been handling my finances for a dog’s age and so far they’ve done pretty good by me.” As he approaches a door marked, ‘W.C.’, he remembers, “Last time I stepped through one o’ these doors in an LL&L office, I ended up on the far side o’ reality.” Later he explains that, “…in an LL&L office, ‘W.C.’ stands for Warp Chamber.” That last trip may have been with Chang or Rose. Thanks goes to Ken Arromdee for finding this obscure Landau, Luckman and Lake reference.

John Paul Leon and Shawn Martinbrough, Logan: Path of the Warlord.

© and ™  by Marvel Characters, Inc.

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