Wolverine & Loki's Infinity Stone Quest Begins in Avengers #700

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Avengers Just Carved Out a New, Cosmic Path for Wolverine

By Tim Adams

Published Nov 20, 2018

Wolverine is known for being a member of the X-Men and Avengers, but he now has a new cosmic role in the Marvel Universe.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Avengers #700 by Jason Aaron, Adam Kubert, Matthew Wilson and VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.

If you haven't heard, Marvel brought Wolverine back from the dead in 2017's Marvel Legacy #1. He didn't come back empty-handed, however, as he popped back up in possession of an Infinity Stone. While it hasn't been explained where he got the Space Stone, we may be closer to seeing Wolverine interact more with the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe.

Last week, Marvel released a cover for Wolverine: Infinity Watch featuring Logan's signature claws popping through the Infinity Gauntlet. With the teaser came the cryptic warning, "the answers you seek as Logan ventures out alongside everyone’s favorite god of lies and stories, Loki Laufeyson! THE NEW COSMIC STATUS QUO WILL DEMAND... WATCHING…” Loki is one of many characters currently vying for the Infinity Stones in the Infinity Wars event series, as the fifth issue ended with the God of Lies holding all six stones.

So between now and February 2019 (the launch of Wolverine: Infinity Watch #1), Logan and Loki will find themselves sharing a mission together to possibly gather a new Infinity Watch -- a group of individuals who are tasked with safeguarding an Infinity Stone. But that still doesn't explain how Wolverine will get himself involved in such cosmic matters.

The first clues came in Avengers #10 (aka the Legacy numbered 700th issue), which contains a backup story featuring Wolverine, Loki and the cosmic antagonists of Avengers' opening arc, the Celestials. After losing in battle to Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Final Host left Earth with Loki as its prisoner. Just as Loki began to allude to an even larger threat on the horizon, Wolverine appeared out of nowhere to help Loki escape.

However, Wolverine has undergone quite a few changes since coming back to life. To Loki's surprise, Logan's body began to burn with the red-hot flame of the Phoenix. Of course, readers have already seen a Phoenix Wolverine in the pages of Jason Aaron's Thor, though that adventure takes place in the future of the Marvel Universe.

Somehow, Logan has become the new host of the Phoenix in the present-day, which puts him on the frontline of the upcoming battle. The Wolverine and Phoenix union raises many questions, but one thing we know for sure is this development should be the set up for Logan and Loki's adventures in Wolverine: Infinity Watch. Wolverine, perhaps thanks to the Phoenix, is aware of whatever evil is lurking in the shadows, and needs Loki's help to alert the Avengers so they can be ready.

No matter how Infinity Wars ends, it would seem there is still a story to be told with the Infinity Stones. The event revealed there are Infinity Stones in every corner of the multiverse, and Wolverine: Infinity Watch may feature the unlikely duo trying to assemble the Infinity Gauntlet as the ultimate weapon. Loki and Wolverine both know what is on the horizon, and are looking to prepare the Marvel Universe for what's coming.

Since the Avengers of 1,000,000 BC has played a prominent role in Avengers, there is a chance the new Infinity Watch is a gathering of the same figures from that team: Phoenix, Black Panther, Iron Fist, Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Odin and Starbrand.

What a Phoenix Wolverine means for the Infinity Stones, Infinity Gauntlet and the Marvel Universe will be revealed when Wolverine: Infinity Watch #1 goes on sale in February 2019.

KEEP READING: Marvel Teases Wolverine Wearing the Infinity Gauntlet in 2019