Wanted: Wolverine

*“You're obviously the most powerful X-Man, my dear. With you down, the rest won't be any trouble.”*

—**Northstar**, *Uncanny X-Men #121*

## Wanted: Wolverine

### Character(s)

Northstar
Alpha Flight
Wolverine
X-Men

**Wanted: Wolverine** is an X-Men storyline written by Chris Claremont and drawn by John Byrne (who also co-plotted the story), with inks by Terry Austin, colors by Glynis Wein and letters by Tom Orzechowski.

The story was first published in *Uncanny X-Men* #120-121 in 1979. It is the first appearance of Northstar and the other founding members of Alpha Flight.

## Story

### Part 1: Dead or Alive

In Canada, the Prime Minister orders Vindicator to assemble his team of superpowered individuals known as Alpha Flight to capture their former teammate Wolverine and return him to their ranks. Vindicator alerts Northstar, Aurora, Sasquatch, Shaman and Snowbird of their new mission. Meanwhile, in Japan, the X-Men say their goodbyes to Sunfire until they notice that Wolverine is missing. Elsewhere, Wolverine gives a gift to Sunfire's cousin, Mariko.

The X-Men, now on the airplane headed for the United States, come across a storm. Storm attempts to dissipate the blizzard, but it resists her control. The pilot decides to land the plane in Calgary and immediately find Vindicator on the runway. Nightcrawler sees Sasquatch outside of the window holding on to the plane. Sasquatch throws the plane into an abandoned hangar, to which Vindicator scolds him. The blizzard soon gets stronger, and Shaman reveals he is not the culprit and assumes the X-Men have someone who can control the weather. Nearby, the X-Men and the pilots have escaped into the airport disguised as civilians. Wolverine tells the others of his history with Vindicator and Alpha Flight.

Outside, Nightcrawler is confronted by Northstar and Aurora, who blind him with their powers. While he is stunned, Northstar punches him out. Aurora states that she hope he isn't hurt, and that she doesn't like hunting other mutants. Meanwhile, Cyclops worries over his missing teammates, as they cannot find Nightcrawler, Storm, Banshee or Wolverine. In a nearby boutique, Banshee watches as Storm tries on a new outfit. Vindicator soon appears and attacks the two, but Storm easily defeats him. Storm and Banshee regroup with the X-Men while Wolverine is knocked out by Sasquatch.

### Part 2: Shoot-Out at the Stampede

The X-Men, now in costume, track Alpha Flight to the Calgary Stampede in search of their captured teammates Wolverine and Nightcrawler. They are soon ambushed by Alpha Flight. Vindicator states that Nightcrawler is free to go, but that Wolverine stays with them.

As they discuss the matter, Northstar slowly moves towards Cyclops. Sensing treachery, Colossus stomps the ground and creates a mini tremor, disorienting Alpha Flight. A battle ensues, with Sasquatch attacking Colossus, Snowbird taking on Storm, and Cyclops blasting Shaman's creations.

Northstar uses his super-speed to punch Cyclops from behind while his sister avoids Nightcrawler's attacks. As Wolverine and Vindicator battle, the two groups realize that Shaman has lost control of the blizzard. Storm takes to the sky and uses her powers to stop the deadly tempest. Realizing Storm is the most powerful X-Man, Northstar quickly knocks her out in her weakened state. Cyclops shoots Northstar in the head with his optic beam, and then grabs him, furious that he attacked Storm after she saved Canada.

Wolverine grabs Cyclops's arm before he can strike Northstar, telling him that Storm is uninjured. Wolverine agrees to go back with Vindicator despite Cyclops's protests. Later, aboard the X-Men's plane, the group plans to rescue Wolverine until they notice Wolverine sitting next to the pilot. He had escaped from Alpha Flight's van and dismisses concern over the group returning to capture him once more.

## Featured characters

### Protagonist(s)

* X-Men
	+ Banshee
	+ Colossus
	+ Cyclops
	+ Nightcrawler
	+ Storm
	+ Wolverine

### Supporting character(s)

* Colleen Wing
* Misty Knight

### Antagonist(s)

* Alpha Flight
	+ Aurora
	+ Northstar
	+ Sasquatch
	+ Shaman
	+ Snowbird
	+ Vindicator

### Other character(s)

* Sunfire
* Mariko Yashida
* **Pierre Trudeau**, Canadian Prime Minister
* **Annie and Jill**, pilots
* **Darice and John**, a couple on a date
* **Paul, Jim, and Corey**, a trio of civilians
* **Garson**, Department H security guard

## Collected editions

* **X-Men: Alpha Flight**
* **Alpha Flight by John Byrne Omnibus**
* **X-Men Epic Collection: Proteus** collects Uncanny X-Men (1963) #111-128, Annual (1970) #3; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #89; Incredible Hulk Annual (1968) #7, 440 pages, September 2020, ISBN ‎ 978-1302922528

## Trivia

* This story was adapted into the episode "Repo Man" from the animated series *X-Men*.

## External links

* Uncanny X-Men #120 on Marvel Database
* Uncanny X-Men #121 on Marvel Database