By Kevin Mahadeo
Some people just have the right stuff. Writer Jason Aaron consistently displays that month after month in the most gut-stabbingly exciting ways possible with WOLVERINE: WEAPON X.
Halfway through its second arc, Aaron's WEAPON X focuses on the blood-soaked adventures of its titular six-clawed mutant as he slashes he way through mercenaries and madmen alike. Each arc runs as a standalone story; however, those keeping up regularly have already seen little pieces left behind tying into a bigger overall tale. The current tale finds Wolverine a bit out of his element, trapped in a mental institution and often cowering in the corner. The finale of last month's issue saw Logan regain his sanity and return to his violent ways, so prepare for some serious blood running with today's release of WEAPON X #8.
With WEAPON X underway and his PUNISHERMAX run begun, Aaron took from time from slicing and dicing to talk about his plans for the mutant formerly known as Patch, his dream arc with a rocky guest star, and more.
Marvel.com: With your first arc complete and your second one halfway through, what's it been like working on WOLVERINE: WEAPON X? 
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #8 cover by Adam Kubert
Jason Aaron: It's been a lot of fun so far. I think what's been the coolest thing with these first two arcs is that I've been able to do two completely different kinds of stories. The first one was pretty much an action-driven, black ops espionage type of story. The second one is something totally off the way. It's a little over-the-top, crazy horror story of Logan trapped in a mental institution. So, being able to switch gears like that is fun. The stuff we have coming up after the current arc switches gears again, so we move off into new territory.
Marvel.com: As you said, the first arc definitely falls into action and with the second, from the opening lines, you get that horror movie feel. Is this something you want to continue, with each arc hitting a different type of genre?
Jason Aaron: Yeah, that was kind of the whole idea from the get go. In some sense, we have an over-arching story that weaves through all these arcs, but from arc to arc I wanted to completely change it up in terms of genre and tone and everything. So, it's always an accessible book. It's always a book people can jump right into who have never read Wolverine before. And for people who have been keeping up with it from story to story, you're going to get a very different flavor every few months.
Marvel.com: So, when do we get to see the romantic comedy arc?
Jason Aaron: [Laughs] Well, there's not a romantic comedy arc, but issue #10, which is a standalone issue after the current arc, is pretty much all about romance and Wolverine's sex life. More about Wolverine's sex life than you ever wanted to know.
Marvel.com: Well, Wolverine has certainly been quite the playboy in his long life and been with quite a few ladies.
Jason Aaron: Right. We get to see several of them over the course of the issue. We see a lot of his former flames as well as people like Rogue and Storm. So, a lot of appearances by important women throughout Wolverine's life, good and bad.
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #9 cover by Adam Kubert
Marvel.com: Stepping back a moment, in the current arc you introduced a guy with chainsaws for arms. As an "Army of Darkness" fan, that just makes me smile. Where do you come up with these awesome things like chainsaw arms?
Jason Aaron: You know, I hadn't really thought about the "Army of Darkness" connection, but I see it now. It's all about doing the craziest horror movie stuff I can think of. In some ways it's along the same lines of stuff I've been doing in GHOST RIDER the last couple of years, maybe toned down a little from that. But I wanted to bring in a brand new villain who could strike at Wolverine and pose a threat not physically, but mentally in the way he was able to get inside his head.
Marvel.com: The next issue also guest stars Nightcrawler and Psylocke. Maverick played a huge role in the previous arc and you mentioned Storm and Rogue showing up in issue #10. Is this something you want to continue, in having these appearances by characters from his outside world?
Jason Aaron: Yeah. I like being able to have those characters pop up whenever it makes sense and not for having a team up for the sake of having a team up. That's kind of Wolverine's supporting cast. I wanted him to have a supporting cast, but without making up a whole platoon of new characters. It's nice to be able to pick and choose and bring some of those people in. Actually, in the arc that starts with issue #11, Steve Rogers will play a pretty big part. We'll see Steve and Bucky, both.
Marvel.com: Is there a character you desperately want to use, but you're just waiting for the perfect moment to bring him in?
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #10 cover by Adam Kubert
Jason Aaron: There is. The one arc I've been waiting to do, but we're waiting on a specific artist to do it with, is the Thing, who is my favorite comic book character. I don't want to say too much about it other than it will be Wolverine and the Thing. I've only gotten to write [the Thing] in like one panel in WOLVERINE #73. We [saw] a one panel shot of the Thing's poker game. I'm anxious to write the Thing, but I'm also anxious to write the Thing and Wolverine together in the midst of what I plan on throwing them into. So, that's coming, but I'm just not sure when it's going to happen.
Marvel.com: You mentioned the romance issue coming up, but what other genres do you plan on touching upon?
Jason Aaron: Well, right after that we've got the big arc where [artist] Ron Garney comes back. It's very much a sci-fi story and we introduce a new version of Deathlok, which is a throwback to the original version. He's a cyborg assassin from the future, so we'll see these Deathloks running around in the present trying to kill Wolverine and trying to kill Steve Rogers and Bucky and other people. We'll also see a storyline in the future that these Deathloks come from that involves Wolverine and some new characters that we'll be introducing.
Marvel.com: With WEAPON X kicking ass, is there anything else you want to do in the Marvel Universe? Any other character or team you want to take a crack at?
Jason Aaron: I'm really happy where I'm at right now. I've got long-term plans on Wolverine. I'm just getting started on PUNISHERMAX and got a pretty big story I want to tell with that. Those two books are taking up
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| WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #11 cover by Adam Kubert |
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:963cd50424="dirtybirdee"]I am incredibly SICK of these stupid lame A*ss Wolverine rip-off, lame, lame lame, BORING stories. Either come up with something ORIGINAL with Logan or don't use him at all. One of these days, I will write the best damn Wolverine stories you've ever read and I will NEVER compromise the essence of what is Wolverine like many of these recent lame stories do so often ...
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:963cd50424="dirtybirdee"]I am incredibly SICK of these stupid lame A*ss Wolverine rip-off, lame, lame lame, BORING stories. Either come up with something ORIGINAL with Logan or don't use him at all. One of these days, I will write the best damn Wolverine stories you've ever read and I will NEVER compromise the essence of what is Wolverine like many of these recent lame stories do so often, most notably "Old Man Logan", where lo and behold we see the Wolverine that we SHOULD have seen all along in his prime, but no. Stupid stories, stupid writers, and stupid artists want to portray a stupid Wolverine. I'm even OK with inventing a bunch of villians for Wolverine to go up against, just so we don't have to compare him to the mainstream characters to give him a sense of what is real, vs. these lame-&@*! stories that they've been doing for YEARS now. I"m so sick of it. And now that Disney's gotten a hold of Marvel, f-ing forget about it. Wolverine might as well be dead. It would HONESTLY be better if he never even existed so then I wouldn't have to waste any of my time protestiing the way they have exploited him through the years. ****.[/quote:963cd50424]HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!Is this a serious attempt at communication? Back on topic though, Aaron is killing it on Weapon X. One of my favorite books each month, and this last issue was definitely no exception. Can't wait to see where this arc ends up, and I'm dying to read that Cap story he talked about.
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I am incredibly SICK of these stupid lame A*ss Wolverine rip-off, lame, lame lame, BORING stories. Either come up with something ORIGINAL with Logan or don't use him at all. One of these days, I will write the best damn Wolverine stories you've ever read and I will NEVER compromise the essence of what is Wolverine like many of these recent lame stories do so often, most notably "Old Man ...
View More
I am incredibly SICK of these stupid lame A*ss Wolverine rip-off, lame, lame lame, BORING stories. Either come up with something ORIGINAL with Logan or don't use him at all. One of these days, I will write the best damn Wolverine stories you've ever read and I will NEVER compromise the essence of what is Wolverine like many of these recent lame stories do so often, most notably "Old Man Logan", where lo and behold we see the Wolverine that we SHOULD have seen all along in his prime, but no. Stupid stories, stupid writers, and stupid artists want to portray a stupid Wolverine. I'm even OK with inventing a bunch of villians for Wolverine to go up against, just so we don't have to compare him to the mainstream characters to give him a sense of what is real, vs. these lame-ass stories that they've been doing for YEARS now. I"m so sick of it. And now that Disney's gotten a hold of Marvel, f-ing forget about it. Wolverine might as well be dead. It would HONESTLY be better if he never even existed so then I wouldn't have to waste any of my time protestiing the way they have exploited him through the years. ****.
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I want to see Cable show up in the future arc! Aaron and Garney doing a Cable / Wolverine team-up would be pretty awesome. :cable: