Wolverine has been through hell as an immortal superhero, but only now have his allies begun to fully understand the gravity of how much anguish the adamantium-clawed mutant has endured. Finally, one of the Wolverine X-Men Teammates have addressed the consequences of his dangerous life and how not acknowledging his pain has affected him, but it's up for debate whether Wolverine will act after decades of living through it.
In Mysterious X-Men #6 – written by Gail Simone, with art by Javier Garrón – Wolverine tells Gambit and Rogue that he is the last survivor of his army friends. Still having some of Harvey X's telepathic powers, Rogue is able to read Wolverine's mind, realizing how torn he really is, and diagnosing him with PTSD in the process.
Wolverine has been through many traumatic experiences, but Rogue is the first to recognize, decades too late, that he has a big problem because he isn't dealing with the long-term PTSD he suffers from.
In a long-awaited X-Men moment, Rogue finally addresses Wolverine's biggest problems
Mysterious X-Men #6 – Written by Gail Simone; Art by David Márquez; Color by Matt Wilson; Clayton Cowles lyrics
Many war survivors face PTSD, and Wolverine is over 200 years old, which means he's lived a life fighting in wars, so many of the traumas he has experienced go beyond what an average person has to endure during a normal lifespan. Not only has Wolverine taken lives, but because he is a superhero with highly coveted abilities, he has also had to endure attempts on his life, such as being encased in adamantium, or Magneto pulling the adamantium from his skeleton in Fatal attractions. Immortality may seem like an incredible gift, but for heroes like Wolverine, it's endless torture.
Wolverine is known for being irritable, self-isolated, and generally has a negative view of the world, traits often seen in people with PTSD.
Because Wolverine is such a hardened and strong-willed person, he doesn't even want to entertain the idea when Rogue tells him that she realizes he's in pain, but considering his personality, it makes perfect sense for him as a character. Wolverine is known for being irritable, self-isolated, and generally has a negative view of the world, traits often seen in people with PTSD. This revelation about Wolverine adds depth to him and further explains why Wolverine will disappear or leave for the desert when he faces enormous hardships, such as the loss of Krakoa.
Wolverine's indestructibility means he's been on the front lines of history's biggest conflicts
Can the X-Men help Logan in his darkest moments?
It has long been an accepted fact in superheroism that Wolverine, like many heroes, suffer great tragedies in an attempt to protect the world. That said, because Rogue is able to feel the turmoil in Wolverine's mind, she can better understand the immense pain he holds inside.. Wolverine's inner turmoil is the reason he struggles to form connections and why he often butts heads with teammates, such as his infamous rivalry with Cyclops; he is suspicious and his long and tiring experiences lead him to distance himself from others.
As Wolverine tends to run when faced with traumatic experiences, his PTSD will be treated again, especially now that Rogue and Gambit are aware what your friend is going through. Wolverine's antisocial and brutal personality has been an integral part of his character for decades, and Rogue naming the reason for his behavior adds a layer of depth to his character in a tragically humanizing way. As a member of X-Men and an immortal mutant, it's interesting to see Marvel finally address the painful consequences of Wolverinelong life of difficulties.
Mysterious X-Men #6 is now available from Marvel Comics.