After More Than 10 Years, Wolverine's Most Underrated Nemesis Is Back - This Time, Get Him Right!
Warning: contains spoilers for Wolverine #6One of Wolverine's most controversial, and potentially underrated, supervillains has finally made his return to comics, as the ancient being known as Romulus re-enters Logan's life at a pivotal time. As Wolverine continues to unearth secrets about the violent and mysterious Adamantine, a sentient godlike metal who is attempting to destroy all adamantium on Earth, Romulus is revealed to be the Adamantine's latest agent in Wolverine #6.
Much of Romulus' potential as an epic Wolverine villain was squandered when his complex, lore-shifting plans didn't pan out, leaving Romulus to rot in the Raft prison since Wolverine #313 in 2010.
While Romulus was briefly seen during Logan's time-traveling adventure in X Lives of Wolverine, Wolverine #6 - from writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Martin Coccolo - is the first time Romulus has been seen in the current Marvel timeline since his imprisonment in the raft nearly 15 years ago.
The Anticipation Of Romulus' Schemes Did Not Live Up To Reality
Hopefully, Marvel can get the ancient supervillian right this time
The shadowy manipulator known as Romulus was first shown a year before his formal debut in 2007's Wolverine #55, increasing the fan anticipation for the villian's eventual reveal. Romulus, who has never been identified as a mutant but possesses a healing factor and other superhuman abilities, fills a standard supervillain trope, one that is used often in Wolverine comics. The villain was revealed to be a master puppeteer, centuries old and responsible for major world events like the founding of Rome, who eventually took an interest in Wolverine's bloodline. Apparently, Romulus carefully planned Logan's birth over decades, and was also one of the main people behind the creation of the Weapon X Project.
Not only was Romulus involved in wiping Logan's memory and bonding adamantium to his bones, but he was also responsible for sending the Winter Soldier to kill Wolverine's wife Itsu, and he stole her unborn child, revealed to be Daken. He helped raise and train Daken, turning him into a horrific killer, eventually leading to Logan needing to murder his own son. All of this, of course, makes Romulus seem like a monstrous villain... but the truth is, his actual "plans" were never really explained and never made sense. None of the reveals about Romulus' apparent involvement in any part of Wolverine's long life ever paid off, and it certainly didn't deepen Logan's lore, instead just adding another layer of manipulation behind his already tragic life.
Romulus May Just Be A Meat Puppet For The Adamantine
Has the puppeteer become the puppet?
Romulus is literally meant to be the man from "Romulus and Remus," the founders of Rome, and fans are meant to believe that he has just spent the last several years hanging out in the Raft? As a Screen Rant colleague said, for all Romulus' bluster and machinations, it has always seemed like he's been "playing 4D chess with no endgame." Now is the time for Marvel to get Romulus right, proving that his centuries-long plans did have a legitimate goal beyond just ruining Wolverine's life. Romulus has real potential as a Wolverine villain, and it would be great for Wolverine to have an active villain who is a strategist, instead of enemies who are all action, like Sabretooth or Omega Red.
- Created By
- Roy Thomas, Len Wein, John Romita Sr.
- Cast
- Hugh Jackman
- First Appearance
- The Incredible Hulk (2023)
- Alias
- James "Logan" Howlett
Unfortunately for Romulus, it appears that the real puppeteer of Logan's most recent crisis is the "god metal" known as Adamantine, who has begun possessing Marvel character's with adamantine like Lady Deathstrike, Cyber, and Constrictor. Romulus' appearance in Wolverine #6 doesn't show him with the glowing yellow eyes of the Adamantine-possessed villains, but it is clear that the villain is working as an agent for the ancient force. Romulus may have returned only to lose all his agency, working for the Adamantine and just trying to kill Wolverine for revenge, a pedestrian, petty reason for a man who claims to be a wise, ancient being.
Marvel has had many opportunities to reintroduce Romulus to modern Wolverine comics since his last chronological appearance nearly 15 years ago, and hopefully the return of Logan's true puppet master can redeem the past failings of the character. Romulus has a lot of potential as a brilliant and brutal Big Bad for Wolverine, and hopefully partnering with the mysterious Adamantine will give Romulus the chance to truly shine.
Wolverine #6 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.
