Warning: SPOILERS for A.X.E: X-Men #1
Surprisingly enough, Wolverine would make a perfect therapist – because he knows something about mental health that the rest of the X-Men do not. Despite his violent nature, Wolverine is more of a warrior-poet than a blunt instrument; though he can succumb to rage whenever truly angered, his default state is pensive and even philosophical at times (though this side of him isn’t readily apparent upon a first meeting). In A.X.E: X-Men #1, he proves he’s a jack of all trades and master of two by consoling Jean Grey during her worst moment.
For decades, Wolverine’s past was just as mysterious to the reader as it was to the other members of the X-Men. Beyond serving on Alpha Flight, Canada’s team of superheroes, not much was known about Logan, his family, his past and even his own name. Origin, released in 2001, revealed all those elements and more: born James Howlett, Wolverine is far older than fans ever suspected, and his childhood more tragic than they could have guessed. With all the pain he carried, it’s no wonder that Wolverine knows how to others who undergo similar experiences.
In A.X.E: X-Men #1, written by Keiron Gillen with art by Francesco Mobili, Jean Grey leads the Avengers inside the Progenitor Celestial in an attempt to shut it down before the world is destroyed. The Celestial administers a test to Jean as a defense mechanism, showing her one traumatic memory after another: her years on the X-Men, her decision to leave the Quiet Council and her fateful decisions as Dark Phoenix. Jean fails her test; Iron Man is angry and Jean is despondent. “Whatever I do…it’s never enough” she says, to which Wolverine replies “A God who fails you and passes me ain’t no God at all, Red…it’s wrong about you, and you’re wrong about you if you listen to a damn word it says.”
Wolverine Knows Admitting Weakness Is A Strength
Wolverine appears stubborn and headstrong at first glance, but he actually knows one of the first rules of maintaining one’s mental health: admitting weakness and understanding one’s limits. He also understands when to listen to others and when not to, and he clearly demonstrates this when advising Jean not to listen to the Celestial. The Progenitor is clearly forcing Jean to relive traumatic Dark Phoenix memories, and Wolverine reminds her that she is a far greater hero than he will ever be.
Wolverine’s story in Japan clearly influenced this moment with Jean, and his introspection wins the day. The Celestial is not just a God, but Jean’s own subconscious that blames herself for all the difficult moments in her life, even the ones over which she had no control. Wolverine has many skills, but he has always been one of the best teachers the X-Men have to offer – because he teaches his students to control their minds as well as their powers.
