The X-Men's Big Reboot Officially Teases Marvel's Horrific New Wolverine

Published Oct 12, 2026, 11:30 PM EDT

Mark has been a comic book journalist for over 15 years and has interviewed comic book creators like Gail Simone and Caspar Wijngaard. And when he's not writing, he's working on beating his record of 1,200 comics read in a year.

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A couple of years ago, DC Comics did something bold and created the Absolute Universe. It was a universe made in Darkseid’s image, and it’s as dark and twisted as someone would think it is. It became one of the most profitable and popular ventures in comic book history, and it may have forced Marvel Comics to create something just as dark, if not more so. It’s called the Midnight Universe, and it could be scarier than the Absolute Universe.

One of the terrifying things about this world is that vampires are real. Now, up until the Blood Hunt, there were civilians who didn’t believe that vampires were real. Reed Richards has met vampires, and he still doesn't believe in them. In the Midnight Universe, there’s no doubt of their existence, and there's plenty of them. Among them are the Empyres, who are bloodsuckers who are also mutants (M-pires, instead of vampires).

Like most creatures of the night, there are specific ways to kill them. For example, vampires can be taken out by wooden stakes through the heart, but Empyres can’t. However, there are three other ways both Empyres and other vampires can be killed: decapitation, sunlight, and adamantium. The latter could be the key to bringing in the most popular mutant of all time.

Wolverine Is The Key To Defeating Vampires

When people think about adamantium, Wolverine is the first name that comes to mind. He’s been one of the most popular characters in comics for a few decades, and that notoriety doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Because Logan is so beloved, it would make sense that Marvel would find a way to tease his existence in the Midnight Universe. It’s an easy way to get people involved, especially if he’s the second coming of Van Helsing.

Wolverine is among the oldest mutants in existence. Since this is the case in most realities, there’s no reason it should change here. Because of that, it stands to reason that he’d have had interactions with vampires and Empyres in his long life. There also has to be a reason that adamantium is a well-known way to kill bloodsuckers. It’s likely because he’s been killing them for ages.

Marvel · Mutant Profile Which X-Men Character Are You? “Mutation: it is the key to our evolution.”

🐺 Wolverine The Loner

🧠 Professor X The Visionary

🧲 Magneto The Survivor

ACTIVATE CEREBRO →

01

Humans discover your mutant abilities. What do you do?

ADisappear. Go off the grid before anyone can come after me — I don’t owe them an explanation BReach out calmly and try to have a dialogue — fear comes from misunderstanding, and I can help bridge that gap CMake a show of strength — they need to understand that mutants will not be hunted or controlled, ever

NEXT →

02

Anti-mutant protesters surround a school full of young mutants. What’s your first move?

AGet between the kids and the mob. If anyone raises a hand, they answer to me BAddress the crowd telepathically or publicly — show them the children are just scared kids, not threats CEvacuate the children to safety, then make the protesters deeply regret their choices

NEXT →

03

A team of mutants needs a leader for a dangerous mission. What role do you naturally fall into?

AI work alone, but I’ll take point — someone’s gotta make sure nobody gets killed BI coordinate the team, play to each person’s strengths, and keep morale steady CI lead from the front — my vision, my plan, my responsibility if it fails

NEXT →

04

A powerful mutant threatens innocent humans. How do you respond?

APut them down fast — talk later. Innocent people don’t have time for a debate BTry to reach them mentally — understand why they’re doing this and find a peaceful resolution COffer them a place at my side — their power is wasted on chaos when it could serve a greater cause

NEXT →

05

A human politician offers to champion mutant rights — but has a shady past. What do you do?

AGive them a chance — people can change, and this alliance could mean real progress for coexistence BI don’t trust politicians. Watch them closely, and the second they betray us, I’ll be right there CUse them — let them think they’re in charge while I control the narrative from behind the scenes

NEXT →

06

What’s your biggest flaw?

AI push people away — I’d rather be alone than risk losing someone I care about BI’m too idealistic — I keep believing in people even when the evidence says I shouldn’t CMy anger — once I commit to a path, I’ll burn everything down before I admit I was wrong

NEXT →

07

Sentinels are hunting mutants in your city. What’s your move?

AHunt the hunters — tear them apart before they find anyone else BCoordinate an underground network to hide and protect every mutant in the area CSeize control of the Sentinels — turn the weapons of oppression into instruments of liberation

NEXT →

08

What do you believe about coexistence between humans and mutants?

ACoexistence is a fantasy. Humans will always fear what they can’t control — mutants must secure their own future BI don’t care about the big picture — I protect the people I care about, and everyone else can sort themselves out CIt’s possible and worth fighting for — the dream of a world where humans and mutants live in peace is everything

REVEAL MY MUTANT IDENTITY →

Cerebro Scan Complete Your X-Men Identity

🐺

Wolverine (Logan)

“I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.” You’re the fierce loner who acts first and philosophises later — but beneath that adamantium-plated exterior beats a heart that cares far more than you’d ever admit. You’ve been burned enough times to distrust the world, so you keep people at arm’s length, yet you’d throw yourself into any fight to protect the ones who slip past your defences. You don’t need a cause or a manifesto — you just need someone worth fighting for. Like Logan, your greatest strength isn’t your claws or your healing factor; it’s the stubborn refusal to let the people you love face danger alone.

Fierce Protective Resilient Untamed

🧠

Professor X (Charles Xavier)

“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” You’re the visionary who sees the best in everyone — even when the world gives you every reason not to. Your greatest power isn’t telepathy; it’s an unshakeable belief that understanding and compassion can bridge any divide. You lead not through force but through hope, building bridges where others build walls. Some call you naive, but you know that real strength lies in extending a hand to your enemy. Like Charles Xavier, you carry the weight of a dream that most consider impossible, and you refuse to let it die.

Visionary Empathetic Diplomatic Hopeful

🧲

Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr)

“Peace was never an option.” You’re the survivor who learned the hardest lesson life has to offer: the world will not protect you, so you must protect yourself. Your conviction is unbreakable and your patience is terrifying — you’ll wait years to set the right plan in motion. You don’t hate humanity; you simply refuse to let your people be victims ever again. Every action you take, no matter how ruthless, is driven by a profound love for those who share your struggle. Like Erik Lehnsherr, you are both revolutionary and tragic — a leader forged in pain who will bend the world before it bends you.

Resolute Strategic Ruthless Unyielding

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For the uninformed, Logan’s bones were coated in adamantium by Weapon X. As time went on, the lore of Weapon X became that they used mutants to hunt and sometimes kill mutants. In a world where the supernatural isn’t a myth, Weapon X could be something that’s used to protect humanity from mystical evils for generations. Wolverine being the best there is at what he does could mean killing bloodsuckers in the Midnight Universe.

There's A War Coming, And Wolverine May Be The Deadliest Weapon

Issue #1 ofMidnight X-Menhinted at Ororo (Storm) being the most dangerous of the Empyres or their leader. As powerful as she is, Storm follows the words, “the peace must hold.” It's a rule that prevents another war that kills an untold number of people. Unfortunately, it looks like peace is about to end.

Cardinal Stryker was sent to America to kill Empyres. If a war is going to break out, then non-vampires need an unkillable weapon of their own. That’s likely where Logan (and maybe Weapon X) will come in.

It’s easy to say that the Empyres and vampires are the villains of this universe, but things are never as clear as they seem when Jonathan Hickman is the writer. He has a way of making readers look at things from someone else’s perspective. That means, when Wolverine shows up with his shiny adamantium claws, it may not be a good idea to assume he’s the good guy.