Wolverine has been through countless battles, which have left lasting mental scars, and Marvel just made the bold decision to address the long-lasting issue of the adamantium-clawed hero’s mental health – yet sadly, it seems the publisher is making a promise it simply can’t keep. Wolverine’s healing arc ultimately sets up the X-Men for even greater disappointment and sends a mixed message to readers.
Uncanny X-Men #6 – written by Gail Simone, with art by Javier Garrón – features Rogue pushing Wolverine to accept his PTSD, setting up an arc of healing and recovery. Addressing Wolverine’s mental health would be a new direction for the hero; however, it goes without saying that Marvel will not allow its most iconic X-Men superhero to go through a permanent drastic shift in character.
One of Wolverine’s defining traits is his hardened attitude, stemming from countless hardships, and Marvel can’t help but continue to put Wolverine through the ringer, which is why this latest arc is destined for tragedy.
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Uncanny X-Men #6 – Written By Gail Simone; Art By David Marquez; Color By Matt Wilson; Lettering By Clayton Cowles
While Wolverine has one of the best healing factors in the Marvel Universe and is essentially immortal, these superpowers only seem to be an additional source of strife for Logan as they are an integral part of his many misfortunes. An example of this can be seen in Uncanny X-Force #3, written by Rick Remender, when Apocalypse’s Horseman of Death gives Wolverine every disease, knowing his healing factor would keep him alive to perpetually experience the pain. Because of Wolverine’s indestructible nature, stories often go to great lengths, such as this, to make Wolverine’s situation appear high-stakes.
While the discussion of mental health is important, it seems peculiar that Wolverine would go through this arc, when Marvel knows it will continue to put Wolverine in horrifying situations.
Wolverine’s attitude towards the world, and his brutal battles, are an ingrained part of his character, and it’s difficult to see this aspect of him changing for very long. While the discussion of mental health is important, it seems peculiar that Wolverine would go through this arc, when Marvel knows it will continue to put Wolverine in horrifying situations. Logan’s most prominent stories always feature some part of Wolverine’s powers becoming his living nightmare, and the same can be said for his relationship with the mutant plight that reflects real-world social issues.
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Wolverine is a prominent superhero, but he is also a mutant, representing a group of marginalized people who are constantly subjected to discrimination. It would be difficult for Marvel to produce a definitive and clean-cut answer to the mutant plight; as comic book history has shown, the struggle for equality is not a clean and simple solution when oppressive forces continue to rise. The X-franchise’s Krakoan Era, and the ongoing “From the Ashes” Era are good indicators of how the X-Men and the mutants’ battle for acceptance have never had a true conclusion.
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Marvel has put itself in a difficult situation by setting up an arc that it knows will ultimately be undone or ignored, as Wolverine continues into new stories that will resume putting him through situations of monumental torture. This sentiment is furthered when considering that the loss of Krakoa was an arc that left Wolverine with a great deal of hurt and trauma. Wolverine’s PTSD could potentially help clarify Wolverine’s stance on such a catastrophic loss, but on a long-term scale, Marvel realistically won’t allow Logan to change as a character so drastically.
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Addressing Wolverine’s PTSD is a poignant arc for him to go down as “From the Ashes” is about uncertainty but also healing and growing from great tragedy, though like the Krakoa Era, “From the Ashes” will inevitably end. Wolverine is iconically known for his berserker rage and extremely violent battles, and the continuation of Wolverine’s character means that any progress he has with his mental health will be backtracked once this era is over. While highlighting mental health within heroes is a progressive step, the inevitability of Wolverine having to continue experiencing a turbulent life sends a questionable message.
It remains to be determined if Wolverine’s PTSD arc will be given the space he needs to grow as a character while still retaining his iconic qualities.
Superheroes like Wolverine experience traumatic fights and world-shattering events all the time, and the acknowledgment that heroes experience mental health crises such as PTSD is a step in the right direction. However, as the X-Men face another detrimental battle with Graymalkin prison and Professor X, it remains to be determined if Wolverine’s PTSD arc will be given the space he needs to grow as a character while still retaining his iconic qualities. Usually, Marvel treads a fine line between keeping Wolverine’s character consistent while still allowing for important, lasting growth.
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Will Wolverine’s Character Change For Real?
Rogue addressing Wolverine’s PTSD is a new and interesting direction for Logan, but due to the nature of both comics and X-Men stories, this arc runs the risk of being forced to stay open-ended or overlooked. Marvel will undoubtedly continue to put Wolverine through torturous situations and extreme battles as long as he appears in the X-Men franchise. Many superhero arcs do become long-lasting parts of Marvel lore, and it is still to be seen if Wolverine will continue to overcome his PTSD, but the consistent hero and mutant struggle makes a hopeful future for Wolverine difficult to uphold.
Uncanny X-Men #6 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Wolverine
The human mutant Wolverine (a.k.a. Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing factor, senses, and physiology. Subjecting himself to experimentation to augment his skeleton and claws with adamantium, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive, and short-tempered. Making him the X-Men’s wildest and deadliest member, and one of Marvel Comics’ biggest stars. He’s played in Fox and Marvel’s movie franchises by Hugh Jackman.
