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- Department H: Weapon X
Mike
Miller and Vince Russell, Wolverine #144.
©
and ™ by Marvel Characters, Inc.
As the age of superheroes blossoms in the United
States, Canada
taps James Hudson,
as head of Department H, to formulate a plan...
X-Men
#120 (Apr 1979) – “Wanted: Wolverine! Dead or Alive!”
Plotter:
Chris Claremont and John Byrne; Scripter: Chris Claremont; Penciler:
John Byrne; Inker: Terry Austin
Logan tells the X-Men of his past when he was a Canadian
government agent, “Jimmy Hudson… is head of a project to develop
a team of Canadian superheroes. He started by lookin' for mutants,
same as Professor X. He found me. I was his guinea pig… his
first big success, his only failure. Hudson gambled on me while
all the shrinks said I was uncontrollable, a psycho. In the
end, I proved 'em right.”
The
Incredible Hulk #181 (Nov 1974) - "And Now ...The Wolverine"
Writer:
Len Wein; Penciler: Herb Trimpe; Inker: Jack Abel
A high-ranking official of the Canadian military comments
about the Wolverine that “…The government has spent a great
deal of money developing that mutant's natural-born speed, strength
and savagery into skills of a professional warrior and despite
a few kinks still remaining in his psychological make-up, I
think we've done a pretty good job."
Alpha
Flight # 52 (Nov 1987) – “Specters”
Writer:
Bill Mantlo; Penciler: June Brigman; Inker: Whilce Portacio
Using an archived "raider disc" that recorded
events within Department H, Gary Cody watches an old video of
James Hudson and Logan. From the tone of the conversation, it
is obvious that Hudson
's attempt to track
down other candidates for his Canadian superhero team has failed,
and Logan
is getting tired of waiting around for progress. Using technology
to track down individuals with latent powers, Hudson
finally locates
a convicted murderer and grants him a pardon in return for experimentation
to activate the latent powers.
Wolverine
#144 (Nov 1999) – “First Cut”
Writer:
Erik Larsen & Eric Stephenson; Penciler: Mike Miller; Inker:
Vince Russell
Logan reminisces with Dum Dum Dugan of S.H.I.E.L.D.
about the beginning of his career as a superhero, specifically
when James Hudson gives him a full-fledged superhero costume
as the first Canadian superhero of Department H. Apparently,
some senior members of the military had wanted a more patriotic
approach: a Maple Leaf wrapped around the uniform, but Hudson
is able to gain approval for a yellow and blue Wolverine uniform.
Alpha
Flight (Vol. 2) #8 (Mar 1998) – “The Weapon X Files”
Writer:
Steve Seagle; Penciler: Scott Clark; Inker: Chris Carlson
Heather has a vague recollection that Logan
was code-named
“Badger” at one point.
Wolverine
#144 (Nov 1999) – “First Cut”
Writer:
Erik Larsen & Eric Stephenson; Penciler: Mike Miller; Inker:
Vince Russell
To inaugurate Wolverine as a superhero, Major Chasen,
in coordination with Department H, sets up a training mission
involving “terrorists” operating on Canadian soil. To appease
the military leadership who are worried about Wolverine's psychological
makeup and temper, Logan
agrees to treat
the test run-through as if it is real. Entering the abandoned
warehouse filled with “dangerous terrorists,” Wolverine slowly
subdues them one by one, bantering the whole time in a style
reminiscent of Spider-Man. Finally, Wolverine pops his claws
for the maximum terror effect, giving a terrorist a close shave
with one of his claws. Out on the street, the Department H monitoring
team, safely ensconced in a van, tracks Wolverine's progress
until he suddenly and mysteriously disappears into thin air.
Unbeknownst to Department H, the Leader, the arch-nemesis of
the Hulk, teleported Wolverine to his underground base in New
Mexico, rendering him unconscious in the process. When Wolverine
awakes, he finds himself manacled to a steel table in the company
of two other captives, Hercules (the Greek God turned superhero)
and Karkas (a member of the race Deviants that predated mankind
on Earth). The Leader then explains his plans to convince the
three heroes to assist him in capturing the Hulk so the Leader
can permanently turn the creature back into Bruce Banner. Before
the Leader can explain further, Wolverine reveals that he escaped
from his manacles and frees both Hercules and Karkas. While
Hercules and Karkas battle the Leader's android army, Wolverine
tracks the retreating Leader. After cutting his way past various
traps, Wolverine finally catches up to the Leader, disabling
his flying escape vehicle. In the ensuing battle, both the Leader
and his giant defense mechanoid fall into the Gamma-Negating
Bath intended for the Hulk, setting off a chain reaction that
destroys the entire base. Before long, Wolverine claws his way
through the debris and climbs to the surface, finding both Hercules
and Karkas unhurt in the hot New
Mexico sun.
There is some evidence that the Wolverine relating
these events was a Skrull who had secretly taken Wolverine's
place. If that is the case, it is probable that these events
are still accurate because the Skrull would have needed to conduct
in-depth research to create such a convincing impersonation.
The
Incredible Hulk #180 (Oct 1974) - "And the Wind Howls ...Wendigo"
Writer:
Len Wein; Penciler: Herb Trimpe; Inker: Jack Abel
The Hulk arrives in the Canadian North Woods bringing
the notice of the top secret Royal Canadian Air Force Tracking
Installation. To prevent any further damage to the province
of Quebec
, the government
mobilizes Weapon X, better known as Wolverine.
Wolverine
#144 (Nov 1999) – “First Cut”
Writer:
Erik Larsen & Eric Stephenson; Penciler: Mike Miller; Inker:
Vince Russell
As the order to mobilize Weapon X is made, Hudson
and the Canadian
military argue over his sudden disappearance the night before.
Before any decisions can be made, Wolverine arrives and voices
his eagerness to face the Hulk.
The
Incredible Hulk #180 (Oct 1974) - "And the Wind Howls ...Wendigo"
Writer:
Len Wein; Penciler: Herb Trimpe; Inker: Jack Abel
In the wilds of Canada
, Marie Cartier,
a modern-day sorceress, and Georges Baptiste lure the Hulk and
the mythic Canadian beast Wendigo into a cave in an attempt
to transfer the curse of the Wendigo to the Hulk. Paul Cartier,
Marie's brother, was transformed into the Wendigo on a hiking
trip with Georges Baptiste some months before. Unfortunately,
plans go awry, and the two beasts begin to fight.
John
Byrne and Terry Austin, The X-Men#139.
©
and ™ by Marvel Characters, Inc.
X-Men
#139 (Nov 1980) – “Something Wicked This Way Comes!”
Writer:
Chris Claremont; Plotter - Penciler: John Byrne; Inker: Terry
Austin
Wolverine reminisces with James Hudson about his
first mission as Wolverine for Department H, his fight with
the Hulk and Wendigo. Specifically, he remembers approaching
the Hulk and Wendigo from behind a tree as the two creatures
clash.
The
Incredible Hulk #180 (Oct 1974) - "And the Wind Howls ...Wendigo"
Writer:
Len Wein; Penciler: Herb Trimpe; Inker: Jack Abel
The Wolverine dramatically bursts onto the scene
and confronts both the Hulk and Wendigo.
The
Incredible Hulk #181 (Nov 1974) - "And Now ...The Wolverine"
Writer:
Len Wein; Penciler: Herb Trimpe; Inker: Jack Abel
Wolverine attacks the Hulk first but soon realizes that
he is unable to cut through his tough skin, even with his diamond-sharp
adamantium claws. Quickly moving to Wendigo, the Wolverine finds
that he can cut and hurt the white-haired beast with ease. Confused
by this change in tactics, the Hulk naively decides the Wolverine
must be his friend and helps him battle Wendigo. With a two-pronged
attack, the Hulk and the Wolverine quickly knock Wendigo unconscious.
Half of his mission complete, the Wolverine turns his full fury
on the Hulk who becomes outraged at the betrayal of his “friend.”
The two begin a long cat and mouse battle but are knocked out
by Marie Cartier's spell of subjugation. When the unconscious
Hulk turns back into his human alter ego, Bruce Banner, Georges
Baptiste balks at Marie's plan. He will not be party to transferring
the curse of the Wendigo to an intelligent human being. Banner
turns back into the Hulk and wakes up, intent to resume his
battle with the Wolverine who was chained while unconscious.
The Hulk smashes the Wolverine into the ground, shattering his
chains, and the two continue their epic fight. But Marie's scream
breaks the Wolverine's concentration, allowing the Hulk to land
one monstrous shot, knocking the Wolverine out cold. It seems
that Georges completed the transfer of the curse from Marie's
brother Paul to himself out of his unrequited love for Marie.
The
Incredible Hulk #182 (Dec 1974) - "Between Hammer and Anvil"
Writer:
Len Wein; Artist: Herb Trimpe
The Wolverine tries to resume his battle with the Hulk
but is interrupted by a Canadian transport helicopter. The Wolverine's
six hours for defeating the Hulk have elapsed, bringing the
fight to a close. The Wolverine reluctantly enters a pod from
the helicopter while Canadian troops are dispatched to deal
with the Hulk.
X-Men
#139 (Nov 1980) – “Something Wicked This Way Comes!”
Writer:
Chris Claremont; Plotter - Penciler: John Byrne; Inker: Terry
Austin
Wolverine reminisces with James Hudson about his
first mission as Wolverine for Department H, his fight with
the Hulk and Wendigo, classifying the mission as his only failure.
X-Men #140 (Dec 1980) - “Rage!”
Writer:
Chris Claremont; Plotter - Penciler: John Byrne; Inker: Terry
Austin
Wolverine tells James Hudson that he researched
Wendigo after his mission.
Wolverine
#9 (Jul 1989) – “Promises to Keep”
Writer:
Peter David; Artist: Gene Colan
Logan
vividly remembers when, five years after the commando raid in
Baghdad
(1972), he tracks down the mercenaries responsible not only
for the death of the Canadian nun, but also for the destruction
of her faith. Slowly over the course of several days and hundreds
of miles, Wolverine kills ten of the mercenaries, one by one.
Finally, he confronts the leader, Malone, in the woods to explain
the reason for his anger, but Malone kills himself to cheat
Wolverine of his revenge.
Uncanny
X-Men #261 (May1990) – “Harriers Hunt”
Writer:
Chris Claremont; Penciler: March Silvestri; Inker: Dan Green
Sgt-Major Harry ‘Hardcase' Malone, retired from the Royal
Marine Commandos tells Wolverine it's been an age since they've
seen each other. Considering Hardcase calls him Wolverine, one
can assume they knew each other and possibly worked together
while Harry was a Royal Marine Commando, probably during this
time period.
Wolverine
#139 (Jun 1999) – “The Freaks Come Out at Night”
Writer:
Erik Larsen; Penciler: Leinil Francis Yu; Inker: Dexter Vines
Based on the conversation between Logan and Harry “Hardcase”
Malone, it seems that Logan
knew him as Sgt.-Major and as a mercenary. It is possible that
Logan , as Wolverine,
knew Harry during the transition.
Wolverine/Cable
#1 (Oct 1999) – “Guts and Glory”
Writer:
Joe Casey; Penciler: Stephen Platt; Inker: Batt, Lary Stucker,
Bob Wiacek, Mark Pennington, Johnny Greene, Scott Koblish, Rod
Ramos
In the wilds of Northern
Canada, Logan
relaxes in a log
cabin when his solitude is interrupted by a priority transmission
from James Hudson concerning a disturbance in Moose
Jaw, Canada.
Before long, Wolverine, in his original uniform, reaches Moose
Jaw by military
helicopter and confronts a hulking futuristic warrior. Wolverine
quickly subdues the brute by flipping him onto a set of electrical
wires. Later at Department H labs, technicians discover the
warrior is a technological marvel with advanced weaponry. Within
a week, the warrior is retrofitted by Department H in hopes
of transforming him into a Canadian superhero. During the night,
the warrior awakes and with the aid of VTOL rockets attached
by Department H, escapes into American airspace. Wolverine pursues
in a military helicopter to New
York City, where
the futuristic warrior is attacking a white-haired cyborg named
Nathan Dayspring (later known as Cable). As Wolverine enters
the battle, he takes a blast to midsection. His healing factor
kicking in, Wolverine ambushes the warrior from behind, decapitating
him with the help of Dayspring. As the authorities clean up,
Dayspring and Wolverine snipe at each other, promising to finish
things when next they meet.
Stephen
Platt, Batt, Lary Stucker, Bob Wiacek,
Mark Pennington,
Johnny
Greene, Scott Koblish and Rod Ramos, Wolverine/Cable
#1.
©
and ™ by Marvel Characters, Inc.
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