Issues where key character concepts debuted
Superman did not originally fly but could leap 1/8th of a mile due to the earth's lighter gravity. Batman used to kill criminals early on before adopting his code to never kill, which is why the Joker is still running around. Many of the ideas we are accustomed to were developed over time, and the specific issue where a certain concept was first introduced can be sought after for that reason. I am thinking of for example,
- Action Comics 11 - Superman's first use of X-Ray vision.
- Superman 61 - where Kryptonite was first introduced, (originally colored red, colored green from Action Comics 161 on).
- Batman 12 - where the Batcave first debuted.
- Detective Comics 60 - the first appearance of the Bat-Signal.
There are many others but you get the idea. Given Wolverine's popularity, it might warrant seeking out these important milestones in the character's publication history. Here are some of the comics where key concepts for Wolverine were introduced.
Avengers 66 - first mention of the metal, "Adamantium".
In this story, the Avengers are trying to test the metal, a new alloy that Dr. Myron Maclain created. The military wants to know if the Avengers can damage it, but no one, not even Thor can put a dent in it. While this is going on, a malicious program is activated in the Vision's head. After the testing is finished and the metal is stored away, Vision goes about infiltrating the security measures used to guard the Adamantium, and then uses it to construct a body for Ultron-6. The Avengers battle it out with Ultron in an indestructible body for the next two issues.
X-Men 98 - Wolverine's claws are part of his body.
X-Men 98 reveals that Wolverine's claws are not from his gloves (as Len Wein initially intended), but protrude from his body. Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Banshee (in civilian clothes) are kidnapped by Sentinels and brought back to Dr. Lang where they are restrained in "unbreakable" Chromalloy shackles. Jean Grey provokes Dr. Lang through taunting and Lang slaps her. This enrages Wolverine who breaks out of the shackles with claws extended from of his bare hands (no gloves), and tears up the guards and a Sentinel. After the skirmish, Banshee remarks on how they had no idea the claws were "part of you".
More to come
This was a little taste of some of the concepts that contributed to the Wolverine we know. If you are still with me, stay tuned for the second part to this article. I will be covering the issues that originated the ideas for Wolverine's alias, "Weapon X", the mystery man's real name, "Logan", and his famous healing factor.
