Warning: SPOILERS for Wolverine #6Of Marvel’s many superheroic fathers, Wolverine has traditionally ranked fairly low on the list. Logan has left behind a string of abandoned children, has killed more than a few of his kids, and has trained the rest to become killers like him. However, Wolverine has always had a soft spot for kids, and Marvel is finally giving the X-Man the chance to be the best father that Wolverine deserves to be.

In Wolverine #6 by Saladin Ahmed and Martín Cóccolo, Logan and his allies are one step closer to discovering the secret behind Adamantine. While recovering from a previous fight, chaos ensues far away, catching Wolverine’s attention. He discovers his young companion-turned-Wendigo, Leonard, in a brutal fight against Laura Kinney.

Instead of ing his daughter in battle, Logan takes Wendigo’s hands and works on his breathing techniques. In a shocking turn of character, Logan’s time with Wendigo seems to have seriously softened the X-Man’s outer shell. After decades of failures, Wolverine may finally understand parenting.

Wolverine Is Embracing His Inner Teddy Bear by Helping His Kids

Wolverine #6 by Saladin Ahmed, Martín Cóccolo, Bryan Valenza, and Cory Petit

Traditionally speaking, Wolverine is one of Marvel’s worst fathers. Besides unintentionally abandoning most of his children, the rest have been transformed into feral hunters just like him. Unfortunately, Wolverine’s family legacy is a sinister one that has certainly extended to his children. But Wolverine isn’t inherently bad with kids. For years, the X-Man taught at Xavier’s Academy as a gym teacher. Sure, Logan wasn’t the most emotionally articulate teacher, but he was there for his students to let loose their frustrations. But being a parent requires a lot more than being a punching bag.

Wolverine has lived an incredibly long, lonely, and tiring life. He often chooses to cast himself away from society, afraid that he would bring the horrors of his life upon those around him. Underneath his gruff Canadian exterior, Logan is a loving man. But his own traumas have usually stepped in the way of bonding with his kids. Every time Wolverine looks at one of his children, all he sees is the potential for another Wolverine to adopt his suffering. But during the Krakoa Saga, Logan finally started to accept he could be the father that these kids deserve.

The Wolverine Family First Found Peace in Krakoa

Tragedy Eventually Befell the Wolverines

When the mutant nation of Krakoa was first founded, all mutants were given a second chance within the nation’s borders to overcome any crimes and wrongdoings made in the human world. Now with a symbolic fresh slate between them, Wolverine, Laura, Akihiro, and Gabby Kinney were all able to grow closer as a family. For once in his life, Wolverine had his pack and couldn’t seem happier. With the awkward tension of the past behind them, Logan opened himself to his children more, unafraid to love and share his story.

Surprisingly, Wolverine is better equipped to handle the emotional tribulations of parenthood now more than ever.

However, Logan does not often remain happy for long. After the death of Akihiro, the death of the original Laura, and the fall of Krakoa, Wolverine separated from what was left of his family to return to exile alongside the Louisiana X-Men. However, in Wolverine #6, once Logan and Laura are reunited, the hero its how much he needs to be around his kin. Wolverine rarely its what he feels out loud, but he wants to feel like a dad again. Surprisingly, he’s better equipped to handle the emotional tribulations of parenthood now more than ever.

Wolverine's Hot-Headed Nature Causes the Greatest Friction with His Kids

Logan Has Learned to Control His Reactive Impulses

The major factor that gets in the way of Wolverine’s ability to connect with others is his gruff hot-headedness. Logan’s an old man who is set in his ferocious ways and doesn’t take kindly to being pushed. Over the centuries, he’s softened his casual persona but has remained closed off in one-on-one interactions. But that’s not how one raises children, especially when they are bred to be killers. Logan’s inability to communicate the entirety of his feelings often leads to miscommunications or completely unspoken truths that result in more hurt and suffering. But with Leonard, Wolverine has had to completely rework his parenting style.

After becoming a Wendigo, Leonard has been plagued with bloodthirsty cannibalistic thoughts that drive his actions. Barely able to speak, there isn’t a lot of verbal communication between Wolverine and the Wendigo. However, Logan understands that beneath the creature's exterior is a scared boy who was turned into a monster out of desperation. Instead of dealing aggressive blows, Logan has learned to slow down and calmly breathe with the monstrous youth. Logan has steered enough children toward violence; this time, he’s doing things differently.

Wolverine Is Mending Old Wounds to Be a Better Father

Logan Needs to Work On Himself for His Children

If Logan can teach self-help techniques to the Wendigo, it must mean that the hero has been working on himself. No amount of parental good intentions can teach patience and calmness to a child unless the parent has come to find their inner peace, too. Wolverine is near-immortal and has spent too long defined by the rage and guilt that he carries. Until now, that pain has wedged a barrier between himself and any semblance of family. But Wolverine is finally getting it right while making sure every member of his growing family can depend on him.

Wolverine #6 is available now from Marvel Comics.