009: Wax On, Wax Off, Master Ogun

Version 4.00, last updated on March 22, 2011

Ogun
Dan Fraga and Norm Raplund, Wolverine #169

Logan returns to Japan and takes Ogun up on his offer to train…

Uncanny X-Men #148 (Aug 1981) – “Cry, Mutant”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Artist: Dave Cockrum & Josef Rubinstein
In an outdoor training session, Wolverine seemingly disappears from sight as Nightcrawler looks on. Wolverine later explains, “It’s an old ninja trick – standin’ in plain sight without bein’ seen – I learned in Japan.”

Wolverine (Limited Series) #2 (Oct 1982) – “Debts and Obligations”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Penciler: Frank Miller; Finisher: Josef Rubinstein
As Wolverine covertly watches a kabuki play, he notes, “I know this play: Chushingura, The 47 Ronin… the performance is superb – this is one of the finest kabuki troupes I’ve ever seen.” It is likely that Logan becoming well versed in Japanese culture during this trip to Japan…

Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #4 (Feb 1984) – “Rebirth”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Artist: Allen Milgrom
Logan tells Kitty Pryde that Ogun was his sensei, “Man taught me everything I know.” He also relates a story that suggests Ogun met and was the equal of Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary 17th century samurai, raising the possibility of Ogun’s immortality.

Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #5 (Mar 1985) – “Courage”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Artist: Allen Milgrom
Logan reveals to Yukio that Ogun taught him everything. “If there’s a man alive I’d have chosen to be father, brother, best friend, it was him.”

Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #6 (Apr 1985) – “Honor”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Artist: Allen Milgrom
Ogun confirms that Logan was once his pupil, and Logan admits that long ago, Ogun was once his friend. Logan admits to Kitty Pryde, “I couldn’t beat Ogun when we first met.”

Uncanny X-Men #251 (Early Nov 1989) – “Fever Dream”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Artists: Marc Silvestri & Dan Green
Delirious, Wolverine “talks” to an Ogun-Sabretooth hybrid in his mind who tells him, “Japanese Demon-Face, worn by ninjas to scare their adversaries. Belonged to your old teacher, Ogun. He was your friend, Logan.”

Wolverine #89 (Jan 1995) – “The Mask of Ogun”
Writer: Larry Hama; Pencils: Fabio Laguna; Inks: Joe Rubinstein
Logan remembers training with Ogun in a bamboo grove on a Japanese mountainside. Ogun drops his boken and challenges Logan to attack. With the bamboo limiting Logan’s sword strokes, Ogun responds to each miss with a slap to Logan ‘s face. Logan finally snaps, overcome by a berserker rage, and pummels his sensei. Ogun, however, seems more concerned with Logan’s state of mind during the attack, asking, “Was it the man or the beast that won? We all have two natures constantly in conflict with each other. The true master has them in perfectly balanced opposition, permitting neither to gain the upper hand — this is what is called ‘walking the sword’s edge between heaven and hell.'”

Wolverine #103 (Jul 1996) – “Top of the World, Ma!”
Writer: Larry Hama; Penciler: Leinil Val Semeiks; Inker: Chad Hunt
Logan remembers Ogun teaching him about the samurai arts, ideograms and Sun Tzu.

Wolverine #169 (Dec 2001) – “Blood Sport, 3 of 3”
Writer: Frank Tieri; Penciler: Dan Fraga; Inker: Norm Rapmund
Logan recalls meditating with Ogun one night in Kanazawa shortly after becoming his pupil. A large group of ninjas descend upon them, led by a Japanese crimelord, Lord Ugama Hana, who accuses Ogun of committing an ancient wrong that demands satisfaction. As it is a blood feud, Logan is ordered to stand down. Ogun quickly slaughters the legion of ninjas, and then turns to Lord Hana. The two battle evenly for what seems an eternity, until Ogun finally drops his sword and is impaled by Lord Hana. Ogun laughs, removes the sword from his midsection, and slays Lord Hana. That evening, Ogun boasts to Logan that he has learned how to beat death.

Wolverine #176 (Jul 2002) – “The Logan Files, Epilogue”
Writer: Frank Tieri; Penciler: Sean Chen; Inker: Norm Rapmund
In a near-death experience, Logan remembers his desire for a family environment when he trained with Ogun.

Witchblade/Wolverine #1 (Jun 2004) – “Blood Wedding”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Penciler: Eric Basaldua
Inker: Matt “Batt” Banning, Rick Basaldua, Sal Regia and Jay Leisten

During an inner monologue, Logan reminds himself, “I’m a born fighter. I learned from the very best.” This is probably a reference to his training with Ogun, but since this is a cross-company venture (Marvel-Top Cow), we cannot confirm this story took place.

Uncanny X-Men #455 (Apr 2005) – “Not Dead Yet?!”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Penciler: Alan Davis; Inker: Mark Farmer
While training the X-Men, Logan mentions that he heard the story of Musashi meeting his match “…from a guy who met Musashi. Fella name of Ogun.”

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) – “Origins & Endings, Part Five”
Writer: Daniel Way; Breakdowns: Javier Saltares; Finishes: Mark Texeira
When Logan first arrives in Jasmine Falls after World War II, he tells the leader Bando Suboro that he is seeking redemption and that it was Ogun who told him to seek out Bando when he was ready. That Bando knows Logan’s name and welcomes him to a village of former ninjas trying to learn a better way suggests that Bando was acquainted with Ogun and knew of his one-time pupil, Logan.

Logan leaves Ogun under mysterious circumstances, but we do have a few clues…

Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #2 (Dec 1983) – “Terror”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Artist: Allen Milgrom
Through mystical workings, Ogun trains Kitty Pryde as an expert ninja in only one week’s time by recreating her existence on a mystical plane. Later as Ogun gazes at an old photograph of himself and Logan together, he comments that he had had the same plans for Logan.

Logan and Ogun
Allen Milgrom, Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #2

Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #4 (Feb 1984) – “Rebirth”
Writer: Chris Claremont; Artist: Allen Milgrom
After Kitty is psychically trained by Ogun, Logan explains Ogun’s technique, “Magic — or some form of psi-powers. He imprinted his psyche onto yours, created a sort of psychic clone of himself inside your skull, eventually it will overwhelm your personality entirely… This process is forbidden knowledge. Only the most gifted – or cursed – of ninja masters were reputed capable of such things.” Later he adds that Kitty must break from Ogun’s influence on her own or suffer life-long consequences. “Ogun will have broken your spirit – crippled the fundamental you – in a way that will never heal.” When Kitty states that it sounds as if he is speaking from experience, Logan responds, “An’ I got the scars to prove it.”

Previous: The Thirties <<< Wolverine Chronology >>> Next: World War II

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Cat
15 years ago

all things are possible (especially at the moment).

15 years ago

Is it possible that he went to Jasmine Falls twice in his life time? Maybe when he got his memory back, he decided to return permanently . Then that’s why they killed his wife and took his son. As punishment and as a replacement for the disobedience of the father.

Also check out the action figure I found of Daken

Cat
15 years ago

That’s what was originally implied.
However later issues state that it was before the second World war (despite the appearance of Bucky, but please don’t get me started on that).
It would fit with the established Chronology better in 1950’s/very early 70’s, but…that’s the current writers/plotters.

15 years ago

In Origins, doesn’t Logan go to Jasmine Falls after he breaks free from his Team X brainwashing ?

Anonymous
6 years ago

What does “Ogun” Mean anyway? ive always wondered where they got that name from… sort of like how frank miller got “Agat” for the demon in Ronin as well..

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