# Hellverine (comic book)

Hellverine is the name of a comic book title starring the character Hellverine (Akihiro) and published by Marvel Comics. The title refers to the name of a demon-possessed Wolverine.
The title is a sequel to the "Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance" crossover.

## Publication history

In the summer of 2023, the comic books Wolverine vol. 7 and Ghost Rider vol. 10, both written by Benjamin Percy, had a crossover named "Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons of Vengeance." This crossover introduced the demon Bagra-ghul who would then go on to possess Wolverine and become the "Hellverine."
In February 2024, it was announced that there would be a Hellverine four-issue mini-series, also to be written Percy, with art by Julius Ohta. Per Percy: "Readers really responded to the killer concept of Logan with a flaming skull and flaming claws on a flaming motorcycle, which is as heavy metal as it gets." The demon Bagra-ghul returned, but this time it was not possessing Logan, but rather his son, Akihiro.
In August 2024, it was announced that there would be a Hellverine ongoing series spin-off, with Percy returning as a writer and art by Raffaele Ienco, which would launch in December 2024. According to Percy, "People started seeking out that first appearance issue. Marvel Legends rolled out a Hellverine toy. I was asked to do a mini-series. The mini-series sold well enough that I was then asked to do an ongoing. It feels something like a Cosmic Ghost Rider moment in terms of energy, trajectory. So thank you, fans and retailers. This is awesome. Hopefully, Hellverine will be a colorful part of the Marvel canon in the years to come."

## Plot synopsis
### Volume I

After being sealed away by Wolverine and Ghost Rider, the demon Bagra-ghul breaks free from his prison and resurfaces in a new host body as Hellverine. However, due to Bagra-ghul being influenced by Wolverine's heroic and honorable thoughts during the time he possessed him, Hellverine hunts down evil doers throughout North America and continues his ritual of erecting grotesque statues of his victims' remains in honor of Mephisto. Meanwhile, Project Hellfire has been taken over by US General Harms, who oversees the creation of a group of Hellish super soldiers called the Destroyers from the bodies of five dead soldiers. When the Destroyers awaken, they immediately rampage throughout The Pentagon, until they are confronted and stopped by the Hellverine, resulting in the deaths of two Destroyers. Harms and his men seek out Wolverine to question him over Hellverine's identity; when reviewing Harms' battle footage, Logan realizes Hellverine is his son Akihiro, who had previously been killed by Sabretooth.
As it turns out, Bagra-ghul resurrected Akihiro at his gravesite in the North Pole, due to being drawn to Akihiro's similar scent as Logan's. Despite his resurrection, Akihiro is left amnesiac and Bagra-ghul compels him to hunt after the Destroyers. Desperate to reclaim the Destroyers as they are vital to his plans to usurp the US Government in order to fulfil his prior pact with Hell, Harms proposes an alliance with Logan. Disgusted and distrusting of Harms, Logan refuses and seeks out the Destroyers on his own in order to find his son. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Leon Townsend recognizes the Destroyers as his former squad mates after watching them on television. Logan manages to find one Destroyer at his former home but is forced to kill him when the Destroyer nearly kills his living family.
Townsend confronts General Harms at Project Hellfire's lab and demands to be turned into a Destroyer, believing that he could put a stop to their rampage. Harms meets with the secretary of state, who had been secretly funding Project Hellfire, until they are attacked by the two remaining Destroyers and one of them kills the Secretary. Hellverine appears and kills one Destroyer, but is shot and gravely wounded by Harms with a holy-water laced bullet. Logan arrives to find his son on the ground dying and takes the demon Bagra-ghul back into his own body, believing that would save him. Instead, the act turns Akihiro into a desiccated corpse.
Dr. Spivey of Project Hellfire successfully converts Townsend into a Destroyer, while Logan returns Bagra-ghul to Akihiro's body, bringing him back to life and restoring his memories. Despite Logan's insistence to leave, Akihiro resolves to put a stop to Project Hellfire. Harms orders Spivey to resurrect the Secretary as a Destroyer and after empowering himself with demonic energy, takes the converted Secretary with him to the Capitol Building to begin his demonic takeover. Meanwhile, Townsend finds the remaining Destroyer and convinces him to stand down. Hellverine and Wolverine track down Harms and kill him and the Secretary with the help of Townsend the last Destroyer. Akihiro decides to leave Project Hellfire under the care of Spivey and the Destroyers. Akihrio and Logan part ways, Akihiro telling him he'll "catch him down the road."

### Volume II

Despite his best efforts, Akihiro struggles with keeping Bagra-ghul contained within his body. Even with Akihiro's memories restored, the demon still influences him into hunting down evildoers for his rituals throughout the country. Akihiro becomes frequently plagued by nightmares fueled from his traumatic past and fears of losing control of himself to Bagra-ghul, causing him to develop an existential crisis. Desperate for help, Hellverine seeks out Doctor Strange at the Sanctum Santorum; although Strange is no longer the Sorcerer Supreme, he reluctantly agrees to help. Frustrated by Strange's apparent lack of urgency, Akihiro forces him to read into his memories; Strange is shocked by what his witnesses. Strange reveals that Bagra-ghul is not fully reformed as believed and that the demon remains loyal to Mephisto, who has his own plans for Hellverine. Believing that this would put Akihiro at ease, Strange tasks him with uncovering Mephisto's plot, starting by sending Hellverine to the North Pole where Bagra-ghul had resurrected him. While investigating X-Force's abandoned Greenhouse, Hellverine encounters Evan, the lone survivor of a group of mutants who have taken refuge. Hellverine learns from Evan that a portal leading to Hell had been created at his resurrection site and was influencing mutant refugees into erecting a monument of corpses to empower Hell's influence onto Earth. Hellverine and Evan manage to destroy the monument despite resistance from the demon-possessed refugees and Bagra-ghul briefly taking over Akihiro's body; despite their success Evan is dragged into Hell. Akihiro despairs over his failure to save Evan and the refugees as Strange arrives to inform him that the magic being summoned from Hell is targeting mutants.

## Collected editions

The first volume will be collected into a trade paperback:
* Hellverine: Resurrection (112 pages, January 2025, ISBN 9781302959982)

## Reception
### Volume I

AIPT.com gave the first issue an 8.5 out of 10 and stated, "The biggest selling point is the blend of action and horror. This issue does not skimp on gore or adult themes while offering a cool yet haunting flaming Wolverine. Given how hard Percy and Co have gone with grotesque visuals, you know this series won't disappoint. The blend of action and horror is quite good." They gave the second issue a 9.5 out of 10 and said, "Hellverine melds superheroes and horror perfectly with grisly sights and delightful monstrous creations." They gave the third issue an 8.5 out of ten and said it was a "another shockingly good horror fest."
ComicBook.com stated, "It's still goofy in how the story addresses occult-based government cover-up, cannibalistic aristocracies, twisted priests and undead soldiers infused with Hell-based energy (the DOOM franchise would like a word...) with complete seriousness. But artist Julius Ohta has an absolute blast bringing it all to life in his artwork. The biggest beneficiaries are Hellverine himself and the aforementioned undead soldiers, who look like the answer to the question, 'What if Jigsaw designed a team of Cenobites?'"
Comic-Watch.com gave the second issue a 7.9 out of 10 and stated, "Hellverine is much more than an excuse to bring back a flaming Wolverine. The first issue introduced a multi-layered plot that gave Logan multiple reasons to be involved. Hellverine #2 elevates the series by connecting the plot emotionally to the various characters involved, especially Logan. The result is an even more engrossing story–one that still features a flaming Wolverine." They gave the third issue an 8.1 out of 10 and stated, "Hellverine's visual intensity remains the series' key selling point. But the narrative impresses more and more with each issue."