Home Columns Classic Comic Compendium Classic Comic Compendium: X LIVES OF WOLVERINE / X DEATHS OF WOLVERINE

Classic Comic Compendium: X LIVES OF WOLVERINE / X DEATHS OF WOLVERINE

This book is two stories in one, continuing a number of ongoing story threads through the Krakoan era.

07/29/2024 2:00 pm

Come with me if you want to SNIKT.

I’m going to jump ahead, over a few decades worth of great Wolverine stories, to go back to the Krakoan era. Specifically during the weird time that served as a bridge from the two Hickman movements to the two post-Hickman movements, transitioning from Reign of X to Destiny of X. It’s somewhat fitting given the big mess of time travel shenanigans all over the X-Men titles, but also in that one of the big ones, Days of Future Past, prominently features Wolverine.

During the early days of the Krakoan era, X-Force served as a kind of backbone for some of the ongoing politics and character arcs of the franchise. It expanded further when Wolverine was added to the mix, with the two books carving out their own black ops/intelligence corner of the mutant world. They then became a pair of event books following on from Inferno to set the stage for the next steps in the overall Krakoa arc.

“There’s no end. Just endless beginnings. You have no way of stopping this.”

X Lives of Wolverine/X Deaths of Wolverine by Benjamin Percy, Joshua Cassara, Federico Vicentini, Frank Martin, Dijjo Lima, and Cory Petit is technically two stories that then fuse into one for the finale. The first following Wolverine’s journey into the past in order to stop Omega Red from killing Xavier and his lineage. And the second seeing a future Wolverine come to the present to stop Moira MacTaggert. Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff ensues.

X Lives spools out of ongoing Wolverine and X-Force story-arcs, dealing with Russia and Omega Red, weaving an intricate web of a tale sending Logan back into some important times in his life. It’s non-linear and fragmented, initially leaving you guessing as to what’s really going on. It’s an interesting tour of Wolverine’s history as he tries to save the past to keep the future. As well as a progression of the Mikhail storyline in a unique way.

Joshua Cassara and Frank Martin handle the art here. Cassara basically cemented himself as an artistic powerhouse on X-Force and X-Men during the Krakoa era and he shines here too. He has a unique style that blends bits of exaggeration with a line and shading that I’d kind of describe as furry. Particularly when it comes to the nature elements of Krakoa. Frank Martin’s colours really adding to the darker mood through many of the past segments.

“Maybe this sounds crazy, but it gives me hope.”

X Deaths is a flip to that, with a Wolverine from the future in order to stop Moira MacTaggert from implementing her nefarious plans to stop mutants. It’s basically The Terminator. But if John Connor was evil and trying to start the rise of machines. With some weird morality that muddies the water in making Moira a baddie. And some fun for the whole family as Logan’s kids join the fracas.

Federico Vicentini and Dijjo Lima tackle the latter series. Vicentini’s style isn’t too dissimilar to Cassara’s, but he shows more influence from the angular, scratchy style that recalls through Joe Madureira, Humberto Ramos, and Rafael Albuquerque. There’s a bit of a darker edge to Lima’s colour choices for this story, though there’s the familiar Phalanx sheen to both Moira’s arm and the infection in the future Wolverine.

The two books are then woven together in the final chapters as the real Wolverine returns to the present to stop the future Wolverine. I find it works well as two companion pieces that merge into one story, thematically and practically. Even though it sets up a distraction finish, vanquishing the future Wolverine while the other threats are still out there.

All of it held together with Percy’s sarcastic wit, Cory Petit’s letters, and Tom Muller’s overall design that also places it squarely within the Krakoan era.

“I suppose he is the best there is…”

X-Lives of Wolverine/X Deaths of Wolverine from Percy, Cassara, Vicentini, Martin, Lima, and Petit is two stories in one, continuing a number of ongoing story threads through the Krakoan era, and turning them into an exploration of Wolverine’s past and mutandom’s future. With some interesting twists along the way. It plays with time and destiny, leaving you wondering what’s going to come next for the Krakoan era.