Marvel just settled a decades-long debate about two of the greatest mutant icons of all time.

Wolverine: Revenge #3 finds its titular mutant antihero continuing on in his quest to cut down the remaining members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants who helped usher in a new dark age all over the world. While Magneto and Sabretooth are no longer of any concern, Omega Red, Deadpool, and Colossus are still very much problems to be dealt with. Tragically, there is simply no talking things out where any of them are concerned, and just like the rest, Colossus is no match for the other half of the original Fastball Special.

• Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
• Art by GREG CAPULLO
• Inks by TIM TOWNSEND
• Colors by FCO PLASCENCIA
• Letters by VC’s CORY PETIT
• Design by JAY BOWEN
• Main cover art by GREG CAPULLO, TIM TOWNSEND & FCO PLASCENCIA
• Variant covers by ANDREI BRESSNAN & CECI DE LA CRUZ, MARCO MASTRAZZO, and RYAN STEGMAN & GURU-eFX

The Fastball Special is an iconic maneuver in which Colossus launches Wolverine through the air, claws at the ready to shred his way through whatever or whoever they are aimed at. This move has been recreated countless times in the decades since its debut, with everyone from Juggernaut to Spider-Man taking part in their own Fastball Special at one point or another. Beyond these individual moments, the Fastball Special has left behind a legacy as one of if not the first known iteration of the concept that would come to help shape Krakoa – Mutant Technology.

Wolverine: Revenge takes place in an alternate timeline in which the downfall of Magneto proved to be the downfall of the entire world as it once stood. When Magneto’s Asteroid M was sent crashing down on Earth, the impact alone wiped out much of North America. Worse still, the electromagnetic pulse that this let out shut down nearly all electronics across the globe, kicking off an era of technological darkness that was cemented when the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants consisting of Sabretooth, Colossus, Omega Red, and Deadpool prevented the last remaining heroes from salvaging the last hope for the future.

Artist Greg Capullo recently discussed his experience on the series, proclaiming, “Given my history in comics, it’s like wearing your most comfortable pair of shoes. My first gig in comics was Gore Shriek – the title says it all… This is not new territory for this blood-drenched penciller!” Capullo said of his time working alongside writer Jonathan Hickman, “Jonathan affords me a lot of room to break things down in a way that feels right to me. Most of the dialogue is crafted after he sees the pages I’ve turned in. It’s very freeing. I feel that this is some of my best work in years as a result.”

Wolverine: Revenge #3 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics

Wolverine

Wolverine first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #180, where he battled the Jade Giant to a standstill, before joining Marvel’s X-Men in 1975. Since then, the short-tempered berserker with unbreakable claws has proven himself as one of Marvel’s most popular characters. The mutant hero was also the backbone of the X-Men film franchise, which ran from 2000 to 2020, and critics consider his solo film, Logan, one of the best superhero movies ever made.

Known as an unstoppable tank who can cut through anything, Wolverine isn’t technically one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes but he’s one of the deadliest characters on their roster. Even villains like Magneto and the Juggernaut have learned to be wary of Wolverine’s claws.