The Beginning of the Monster They Tried to Build
Some books aren’t just keys — they’re turning points.
Marvel Comics Presents #72 is one of them.
This issue marks the first chapter of Barry Windsor-Smith’s masterpiece, Weapon X, the definitive account of how Logan became Wolverine as we know him: tortured, altered, reborn in metal and rage.
📰 Publication Details
-
Title: Marvel Comics Presents #72
-
Publisher: Marvel Comics
-
Release Year: 1991
-
Format: Anthology series kickoff issue (Part 1 of Weapon X)
-
Writer/Artist/Colorist: Barry Windsor-Smith (BWS)
-
Story Arc: Weapon X — Parts 1–10 initially (later expanded to 13 in trade)
-
Cover Price: $1.25 US
🔑 Collector Significance
This issue is a Major Bronze/Modern-Era Key because:
-
It is the First Appearance of the Weapon X Program in story form
-
It is the first chapter of the Weapon X origin
-
It is considered the definitive canonical origin of Wolverine’s adamantium bonding
-
It features Barry Windsor-Smith’s full creative control (writing, pencils, inks, colors) — a rarity and a masterpiece
-
The cover is one of the most iconic Wolverine images ever produced
Although Logan had existed for decades, this was the moment readers first saw the truth:
Wolverine didn’t volunteer.
He was made.
💥 Weapon X — Why It Matters
Weapon X is raw, disturbing, and brilliant.
It abandons superhero tropes for clinical horror and psychological breakdown.
Readers witness:
-
Logan’s kidnapping
-
His forced experimentation
-
His adamantium bonding
-
His berserk escape
-
The cold, scientific cruelty behind the X-Men’s most famous member
No other origin has impacted Wolverine’s mythology like this one.
🧾 Collector’s Index
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Marvel Comics Presents #72 |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| Year | 1991 |
| Key Status | Major Key Issue |
| Key Significance | First chapter of Weapon X; origin of Wolverine’s adamantium bonding |
| Writer/Artist | Barry Windsor-Smith |
| Rarity Tier | 🟡 Widely printed but high-grade copies are increasingly in demand |
| Market Range (CBCS 9.0–9.6) | ~$70–$150 depending on grade, newsstand vs direct |
| Collector Appeal | Essential for any Wolverine or X-Men key set; cornerstone of Logan’s lore |
🎨 Cover & Art
Barry Windsor-Smith’s cover is visceral:
Wolverine, naked, wired to machinery, silhouette framed in flames and metal.
There’s no heroism here — only trauma and transformation.
It set the tone for a story that reshaped mutant history.
The BWS signature (bottom left) has become synonymous with gritty, cerebral, high-art storytelling in mainstream comics.
🐺 Legacy
Marvel Comics Presents #72 isn’t just collectible — it’s necessary.
Without Weapon X, there is no Logan as we understand him today.
This is the issue where mythology meets nightmare and a hero is carved out of suffering.
For Wolverine fans, this is a must-own cornerstone — a defining chapter of mutant history.
Stay nerdy,
Randell
No comments:
Post a Comment