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It was bound to happen sooner or later.

YouTube has removed a slew of unauthorized videos using Marvel Comics characters, apparently at Marvel’s behest. So far, most of the videos I have posted on Wolverine TV are no longer available (though the original X-Men pilot and Wolverine’s guest appearance on ‘Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends’ still seem to be working).

So until Marvel officially posts these early X-Men cartoons with embeddable code, Wolverine TV will have to go on hiatus.

One hopes, however, that the complete series will be released soon on DVD. I know I would buy a copy.

As for comics previews, there appears to be only one Wolverine appearances for the coming week…

-Wolverine #69 (preview): Old Man Logan, Part IV…

Aside from Weapon X: First Class #1 (see review), Wolverine appeared in FIVE more issues this week (November 6, 2008). That makes 12 appearances in two weeks!

Wolverine: Chop Shop (preview)
Writer: Mike Benson
Artist: Roland Boschi

Wolverine gets his organs harvested, involuntarily. Then he gets his revenge. Fun issue if you are into that sort of thing. I know I am.

Ultimatum #1 (preview)
Writers: Jeph Loeb
Penciler: David Finch; Inker: Danny Miki

Melodramatic tripe. Why Jeph Loeb is allowed to call the shots in the Ultimate Universe is beyond me.

Ms. Marvel Storyteller (preview)
Writer: Brian Reed
Pencils: Guiseppe Camuncoli; Inks: Lorenzo Ruggiero

A psychic manifestation of Wolverine cameos in this vaguely amusing Ms. Marvel diversion.

Wolverine and Power Pack #1 (preview)
Writer: Marc Sumerak
Art: GuriHuri

A fun all ages story if you don’t mind Power Pack. And the Mini Marvels strip with Wolverine and Hawkeye is pretty funny, to boot.

X-Men: Manifest Destiny #3 (preview)
“Uncheerable”
Writer: Chris Yost
Penciler: Humberto Ramos; Inker: Carlos Cuevas

The third short story of the issue is a humorous collection of calamities as Wolverine spearheads a plan to to cheer up Colossus who is still mourning the loss of Kitty Pryde.

Weapon X: First Class #1
“Don’t Look Back in Anger”
Writer: Marc Sumerak
Artist: Mark Robinson; Inker: Robert Campanella

“The Recruit”
Writer: Marc Sumerak
Artist: Tim Seeley

I must admit that I read this issue with some trepidation. Was the Weapon X storyline going to be dumbed down for the sake of an all ages audience? Would continuity (as confusing as it is) be ignored for the sake of fresh revelations?

Well, I am happy to report that Marc Sumerak very deftly (and respectfully) delves into Wolverine’s past, using Professor Xavier to peer into Logan’s maze of confusing memories around the time Kitty Pryde first joined the X-Men.

All in all, a very strong first issue that leaves me wanting more. Can’t really ask for more than that.

Thoughts? Share them in the comments below!

From Marvel (preview): “Long before his memories were restored, the X-Man known as Wolverine spent years seeking to unlock the mysteries of his past. Some of those memories were best left forgotten. Join Charles Xavier as he journeys deep into Wolverine’s mind on a quest for answers that will shed new light on one of the darkest periods of Logan’s life — his days in the Weapon X program! It’s a brand-new look at the horrifying history of Marvel’s most prominent mutant!

PLUS: Each issue features a 10-page back-up story featuring an important player from Wolverine’s past! First up, an untold tale of Wolvie’s arch-nemesis, the mutant madman known as Sabretooth! ” On sale November 5, 2008.

Wolverine Files features every Wolverine’s TV appearances in order, continuing with #12…

Come the Apocalypse, the tenth episode of the X-Men animated series, aired on February 27, 1993, continuing the season-long storyline, this time focusing on Apocalypse, Archangel and the rest of the Four Horsemen.

Best Wolverine line comes in response to Cyclops’ admonition about not hurting civilians, “Sure Cyke, I’ll try not to bruise’em while I’m saving their lives.”

So enjoy the entire episode in two parts, courtesy of YouTube…
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Part two after the jump…

Read more…

Every week, Wolverine Files highlights, in chronological order, another iconic Wolverine cover. Want to start at the beginning? Click here…

John Byrne and Terry Austin provided the legendary cover art for X-Men #133, depicting Wolverine’s counterattack against the Hellfire Club from May 1980…

After the jump is the original artwork, a few reprint covers AND my single favorite Wolverine panel of all time (from the last page of the previous issue, setting the stage for this cover)…

Read more…

Not much in the way of Wolverine News this week, so I thought I would show a little love to X-Men Origins: Wolverine scheduled for release on May 1, 2009, a scant six months from now. Marvel has released a few promotional photos here, here and here.

And you can’t talk about a summer movie without a clip of some kind, so here is the best teaser trailer I could dig up on YouTube…

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And as always, previews of probable Wolverine appearances for the coming week…

-Ultimatum #1 (preview): Finally!
-Weapon X: First Class #1 (preview): Looks interesting…
-Wolverine: Chop Shop (preview): You know the urban myths where someone takes your liver? Well, it comes true for Wolverine…
-Wolverine and Power Pack #1 (preview): More juvenile hijinks with our favorite mutant…