WEAPON X or How a Wolverine Became a Killing Machine

Following up on my previous post, I wanted to highlight another comic book storyline that will be showcased in the upcoming X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE movie. It seems as if the people behind the movie cherry-picked the most intriguing eras from the character's colorful past and used that as elements for the plot in the film.

One of those phases in Wolverine's life happens to be the shadowy events surrounding the Weapon X program. Over the years, several writers and artists have tackled this time period and have attempted to add to the saga in their own way, but the original, definitive depiction of Logan's time in Weapon X is the one by Barry Windsor-Smith.

Windsor-Smith wrote and illustrated the entire 12-part series that run through "Marvel Comics Presents #72-84," a Marvel title that had different creators write and draw stories about various characters' adventures. Most stories found within this title are relatively forgettable and it's not a stretch to say that the Weapon X storyline is the single most important run within that long-running title, considering how it not only helped popularize Wolverine even more, but also represented an artistic and narrative high-point of the series.

Back to the content of the storyline itself, primarily it deals with the psychological and physical torture that Logan endures while undergoing the actual adamantium-bonding procedure. Through some really effective narrative devices (which I don't really want to give away), as well as the vivid artwork, Windsor-Smith manages to provide a full, painful display of Logan's treatment by the Weapon X scientists.

Beyond that, we also get to see the all-out massacre that occurs as Logan attempts to escape the lab. It's unbridled animalism as has been rarely depicted in Wolverine comics, mainly because this is the one, true moment when Logan lacks complete control. It's an important part of the Wolverine mythos, so if you're a fan, that should be enough of a draw to read this. But beyond that, it's also a great, dark read, so check it out: WEAPON X.