Since his introduction to the Marvel Universe almost five decades ago, Wolverine has been a complex figure. Many of Wolverine's most memorable stories are non-violent glimpses into the mind of the feral mutant that add more depth to this already complex character. However, one comic revolving around a deep, personal conversation with Nightcrawler was dramatically overshadowed by its infamously suggestive cover.
In 2003, Wolverine #6 by Greg Rucka and Darick Robertson contains a meaningful interaction between the titular hero and his longtime teammate Kurt Wagner. When Nightcrawler finds Logan sitting by himself in a bar called "The Box." Not long before their meeting in the bar, Logan had broken into the cult compound of the Brothers of the New World, who had kidnapped and murdered a friend of his. In only a few short minutes, his claws had ended the lives of almost 30 men, and the weight of their deaths was crushing him. Kurt asks him if the men deserved their deaths, turning the conversation toward a much deeper topic.
While the storyline that preceded this particular issue is one of the bleakest and bloodiest in Wolverine's history, his discussion regarding it with Nightcrawler is a carefully crafted exercise in the implications of superhero violence and whether or not it is ever truly heroic, something which is overshadowed by the issue's infamous cover by Esad Ribic.
Although the meaning of the image lends itself to multiple readings, the cover features what appears to be a nude Nightcrawler standing in front of Logan, who is seated with a beer bottle placed precariously on the table before him. Within the context of the story, the cover art could easily be interpreted as Kurt opening up his own vulnerabilities to a Wolverine who is wallowing in doubt and self-loathing. However, it can also be seen as a piece laden with erotic subtext, most notably with the phallic bottle suggestively positioned over Logan's crotch.
While this cover suggests a romantic or sexual intimacy, the story itself explores a more strictly platonic intimacy, mixed with vulnerability and the nature of violence that stands as a strong finish to an ongoing Wolverine story. This story's take on vulnerability, intimacy and the nature of evil stands as a strong, thoughtful finish to a Wolverine story.
While the issue might be more remembered for its suggestive cover than the story itself, it's still a brilliant showcase of who Logan is at his core and how his friends help him navigate the complexities of his innermost self.