Wolverine One of Marvel’s top characters, but iconic as well GI Joe Author Larry Hama, whose single book sales were once so low that it was threatened with cancellation. D Joe Scribe was then tasked with taking over the title, turning around sales until it was one of Marvel’s top-selling titles.
Appearing on the “Wolverine: 50-Year Anniversary” panel at Dragon Con 2024, Larry Hama explains how he got the writing job Wolverine. “At the time I was having trouble getting writing jobs at MarvelHama said,I had a number one book GI Joe…but they said. ‘GI Joe is a fluke.’“
Surprisingly, Marvel’s brass may have been wrong about Hummer at the time GI JoeBut they were right to let him write Wolverine, Which not only cemented the author’s reputation as a comics maestro, but preserved it X– The franchise’s most iconic character from a humiliating fate.
GI Joe writer Larry Hama on how he made Wolverine a huge success for Marvel
Hama spoke at DragonCon 2024
Larry Hama broadened its scope
Wolverine
When he takes over, immediately sends the character around the world and explores previously untouched areas of his mysterious past.
According to Hama, he got the book mainly because sales figures for Logan’s solo titles had dropped:
Wolverine was on the verge of cancellation – the numbers were so low – so I guess they figured, ‘Well, Hama can’t hit it anymore (it already does).
Hama admitted that he didn’t really know who Wolverine was at the time, saying:
”
I wasn’t very aware of the character until they offered me the book.
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Larry Hama had read all of Wolverine’s comic appearances up to that point, even taking several Marvel interns to lunch to ask them what they liked about the character.As a form of what was originally “market research”. Later, Larry Hama’s first issue, Wolverine #31 – Which brings up the previous one as well The X-Men The art team of Mark Silvestri and Dan Green – marked the beginning of a change for the character.
According to us,
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Hey let me write
(Wolverine)
And they left me alone. And, a year and a half later, it was the number two best-selling book in the country.
At this time single Dr Wolverine The series went through several creative teams after the departure of original writer Chris Claremont, leaving the book with an identity crisis. Until Hama took over, Marvel’s Wolverine The book mainly focuses on Logan’s adventures as a patch in Madripur, leaving it separated from most of the events. X– Larry Hama widens the scope of the title Wolverine When he takes over, immediately sends the character around the world and explores previously untouched areas of his mysterious past.
Larry Hama revived Wolverine for the 1990s — and Marvel never looked back.
Wolverine #31 – Our first issue
Larry Hama used to write Wolverine From 1990 to 1997, that turned out to be one of the longest continuous runs with any author’s character. Some of Hummer’s other notable contributions include Wolverine’s android double Albert and companion LC D, created by The X-Men Villain Donald Pierce to kill Wolverine once and for all. Hama has also expanded Barry Windsor-Smith’s previous “Weapon X” storyline delves into Logan’s past and which memories are real and which were implanted.. Hama gets a lot of story mileage out of the idea that Weapon X planted false memories in Logan in a cruel attempt to turn him into the ultimate killing machine.
Powered by its mega-success The X-Men Headlining in the early nineties and with a superstar artist in Mark Silvestri, Wolverine Quickly return to the top of the sales chart. Hama attributes much of this success to the idea that he was left alone to do what he wanted with the book, which gave the creative team a freedom that would otherwise have been lacking in more successful titles. This is basically how Hama made it GI Joe In the franchise it is today: No one else at Marvel wanted to write a toy tie-in, so Hama took the opportunity to tell the stories he wanted to tell.
Larry Hammer’s influence on contemporary comics cannot be overstated
Medium is a legend
long time
GI Joe
The author left his mark on the character, as did Larry Hama
Wolverine
From the brink of cancellation to one of Marvel’s top-selling titles.
works on GI Joe It was about eight years when I took over WolverineWe must have had the experience of juggling several different ideas to make a story work. As a licensed property from Hasbro, GI Joe was a special case, as new toys and characters would be introduced periodically and Hama had to find a way to work them into the story. This proved to be good training for his job WolverineWe also have to work on it X– Works and incorporates other creators’ stories and ideas into his own work.
It must be surprising to think that sales have fallen so low Wolverine That Marvel was almost ready to cancel the title, But luckily Larry Hama and Marc Silvestri turned the ship around for the most iconic X-Men ever.. It’s a stark reminder that these characters are only as good as the creators telling their stories, because it’s all about finding the right story or take on a given character. long time GI Joe The author left his mark on the character, as did Larry Hama Wolverine From the brink of cancellation to one of Marvel’s top-selling titles.
Source: Larry Hama, “Wolverine: 50-Year Anniversary,” Dragon Con 2024
Wolverine
The human mutant Wolverine (aka Logan) was born James Howlett, blessed with a superhuman healing element, senses and anatomy. Subjecting himself to experiments to strengthen his skeleton and claws, Logan is as deadly as he is reckless, impulsive and short-tempered. Making him one of the most fearsome and deadly members of the X-Men and one of Marvel Comics’ biggest stars. He starred in Hugh Jackman’s Fox and Marvel movie franchises.