SerpApi.Org
Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men '97 season 2Wolverine just stole Spider-Man's thunder in the coolest way. With only two weeks to go until the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Marvel Studios' most recent animated project has seen Logan striking some pretty awesome poses in X-Men '97 season 2 that should look pretty familiar to longtime comic book fans, while also bringing to mind an exciting trend where about to see with the MCU's Webslinger on the big screen.
Judging by the trailers alone, Marvel Studios and Sony have packed Spider-Man: Brand New Day with all kinds of visual callbacks, specifically recreations of some of Spider-Man's most famous and well-known comic covers. The movie hasn't even come out yet, and the footage we already have is proof enough that the new movie will serve as a major celebration of Spider-Man's history on the page just as much as his epic legacy on-screen as Tom Holland's Webslinger enters a new era of his superhero career.
However, we have to acknowledge that X-Men '97 season 2 is currently killing it in the comic cover recreation arena, and Wolverine has particularly been dominating since 2024. That said, Logan may soon be dethroned by Spider-Man come the end of July.
Wolverine Has Already Been Recreating Comic Covers (Before Spider-Man)
The last two episodes of X-Men '97 season 2 alone have been absolutely awesome for longtime fans of Wolverine in the comics. Rather than simply referencing famous comic moments, the animated series has also recreated more than one iconic cover with some impressive accuracy.
The standout is Frank Miller's legendary Wolverine #1 cover from 1982. After reclaiming his adamantium claws at the Weapon X facility in X-Men '97 season 2 episode 5, Logan flashes the same grin and beckons with his finger as a perfect recreation, a fantastic homage to one of Wolverine's most defining and well-known images.
Likewise, the previous episode essentially recreated the cover of Uncanny X-Men #268 when Wolverine meets with Captain America and Black Widow, looking almost exactly like the classic issue (particularly thanks to Black Widow's more classic gray costume and short hair).
X-Men '97 season 2, episode 5 also paid tribute to Uncanny X-Men #234, after Logan gets infected by the alien Brood in another instantly recognizable visual, being in the exact same pose as seen on the cover from 1988.
This has become something of a Wolverine tradition, even in live-action with Hugh Jackman. After all, 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine also recreated several classic comic covers, particularly during its multiverse montage when Wade was looking for the perfect Wolverine variant, including the iconic Incredible Hulk #340 with Hulk reflected in Wolverine's claws, as well as Uncanny X-Men #251, featuring Logan crucified on a giant X-shaped cross by the Reavers. Likewise, Jackman also recreated Frank Miller's famous Wolverine #1 cover during a promo for the MCU film.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Is Going To Have Some Awesome Homages
As impressive as Wolverine's recent streak has been across projects, Spider-Man: Brand New Day still looks primed to become one of Marvel Studios' biggest celebrations of comic book artwork in a single movie.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day's trailers have revealed an incredible number of direct comic book homages like Amazing Fantasy #15, the cover that introduced Spider-Man to the world with his very first issue. Other shots closely resemble The Amazing Spider-Man #134 (Tarantula), The Amazing Spider-Man #345 (Boomerang), The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (Punisher), and even The New Avengers #27 with The Hand.
That's an impressive lineup before audiences have even seen the full movie. As such, there's good reason to believe Marvel and Sony are saving even more visual references for the movie's opening weekend, massively rewarding fans who have followed Spider-Man's adventures across decades of comics (while still providing awesome visuals even for those who haven't).
Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases July 31st from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures.
