Wolverine’s Old Enemies Keep Proving That They’ll Never Learn The Most Important Lesson

Wolverine's most persistent enemies still haven't figured out that taking him down simply isn't an option.

Wolverine #9 finds the titular mutant antihero about to get back into his truck and hit the road once more in search of his own long-lost mother who recently reached out for his help. Unfortunately, before he can get anywhere, Wolverine calls out an attempted ambush carried out by numerous armed Department H agents. Of course, this isn't all that unfortunate for Wolverine, as he will be just fine. But the hit squad Just doesn't seem to understand that a fight with Logan is one they will never win.

Wolverine #9

• Written by SALADIN AHMED
• Art by JAVIER PINA
• Colors by BRYAN VALENZA
• Letters by VC's CORY PETIT
• Design by JAY BOWEN
• Main cover art by MARTÍN CÓCCOLO & BRYAN VALENZA
• Variant covers by ROD REIS and CORY SMITH & EDGAR DELGADO

Introduced in the pages of X-Men #109 by Chris Claremont and John Byrne back in 1977, Department H is the branch of the Canadian government created specifically to monitor and oversee all superhuman activity in the country. While Department H is the official oversight board for sanctioned superheroes in Canada, it was ultimately responsible for creating and maintaining super teams such as Alpha Flight. That being said, Department H hasn't always been welcoming to other heroes, nor even their own homegrown champions, depending on the climate of any given era.

When Department H made its debut, it did so through its then-primary representative, James Hudson, then better known as Weapon Alpha (currently Guardian). He was sent to hunt down and bring back Wolverine as "government property." Over the years, Department H has launched numerous attacks on various heroes and other super teams, all while Alpha Flight and its members' core mission drifted further and further from what their government handlers had laid out for them. This came to a head during Fall of X, when the Canadian government attempted to align the team with the anti-mutant organization Orchis, whom Alpha Flight fought against at every possible turn.

The return of Wolverine's mother, Elizabeth Howlett (formerly Hudson) was teased during the oversized Wolverine #8 (#400 by Marvel Comics' legacy numbering system). After confronting numerous villains ranging from the ancient Romulus to the gleefully murderous Arcade, Wolverine finally found himself with the time for some much-needed respite. This was interrupted with the arrival of a mysterious letter apparently penned by Elizabeth, who seemingly took her own life back in 2001's Wolverine: Origin #3 by Paul Jenkins, Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada, and Andy Kubert. Since then, some minor revelations regarding the Hudson family tree have been made, but none that ever indicated Elizabeth had somehow survived into the modern day.

Wolverine #9 will be available May 14 from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics