Warning: Contains spoilers for Wolverine #8!!

Marvel already has the perfect MCU arc waiting for Wolverine, which has the potential to be even more ambitious and over-the-top than what audiences saw in Deadpool & Wolverine. By pitting Logan against old X-Men foe Arcade, Marvel could do something unique and unexpected with the character, rather than resorting to his patented hack-and-slash style of action once again.

Wolverine #8, written by Saladin Ahmed, with art by Daniel Warren Johnson, and art by Johnson takes Logan on a deadly trip down memory lane, courtesy of the entertainment-obsessed villain, Arcade. In the issue, Wolverines wake up groggy and notices that his young Wendigo traveling companion, Leonard, is missing. Arcade quickly claims responsibility, forcing Wolverine to revisit some of his most difficult memories to rescue his friend.

It's the latest chapter in a long history between Arcade and Logan, and proof Arcae would be the perfect villain to keep Wolverine active in the MCU.

Arcade Vs. Wolverine Would Be A Fitting Next MCU Chapter For Logan

Wolverine #8: Written By Saladin Ahmed And Daniel Warren Johnson; Art By Daniel Warren Johnson And Martín Cóccolo, Color By Bryan Valenza; Lettering By Cory Petit

With decades of history behind him, there isn't exactly a lack of stories to adapt for Logan. He's had his claws in every pot and team in the Marvel Universe, at this point, but to truly standout as something fresh and worthy of further pursuit in the MCU, he needs a story that feels uniquely 'Wolverine.' There are so many other characters to fill out the ranks of the X-Men and many other mutants to pull in and keep things fresh for audiences. Bringing Arcade into the mix with Wolverine means Logan still has a unique, purposeful story to tell.

Arcade creates everything from hyperrealistic scenarios...to psychedelic and confusing scenes. In short, he's something of a 'limitless' villain.

In addition to what it would add for Wolverine, Arcade himself would be incredibly interesting to see onscreen. His specialty "Murderworlds" are a sure path to something memorable, as they not only test Logan's limits, but would give audiences something completely new within the MCU. They present endless possibilities for branching out with design and writing, giving creative teams some serious freedom. Arcade creates everything from hyperrealistic scenarios, like Logan’s encounter with Silver Fox, to psychedelic and confusing scenes. In short, he's something of a 'limitless' villain, tailoring experiences to his victims. Wolverine has plenty of material to work with.

Arcade Has A Villainous Style And Visual Flair, Making Him The Ideal MCU Bad Guy

His History With Wolverine Only Scratches The Surface

Arcade is the brainchild of Marvel legend Chris Claremont, who introduced the villain way back in Marvel Team-Up #65 in 1978. Since then, Arcade has used his penchant for the dramatic, incredible skill in robots and engineering, and killer imagination to torment a whole host of different characters. Wolverine is hardly the only one to fall victim to his complex schemes, as he's also managed to trap a wide range of other mutants, Inhumans, and other heroes in various sinister setups. Arcade primarily operates by deg different "Murderworlds" tailored for whatever his terrible purpose of the moment happens to be.

In Wolverine #8, he takes a personal approach to tormenting Logan by using his advanced robots to mimic figures from his life or replay particularly terrible moments, like his time as a Weapon X experiment. This isn't the first time he's dipped into Wolverine's psyche to use his memories against him. In Wolverine/Gambit: Victims, Arcade trapped Wolverine in memories of his dead love, Mariko, at the same time he set up Remy LeBeau to hunt him down for crimes he didn't commit, pitting the two old teammates temporarily against one another. He knows how to twist a metaphorical knife.

Wolverine/Gambit: Victims was a four-issue mini-series released in 1995, by writer Jeph Loeb, artist Tim Sale, colorist Gregory Wright, and letterer Richard Starkings.

Arcade and Wolverine have crossed paths numerous times, but Logan isn't the only one he's gone after. Arcade also pulled Laura Kinney, still going by X-23 at the time, into his Hunger Games-esque “Avengers Arena,” forcing several young heroes to fight against one another for survival. Although Laura made it out of the trap alive, her inclusion gave Wolverine yet another reason to detest him. Not only does Arcade continue to pull use his memories and personal loss to torment him for entertainment, but he's more than willing to drag in his family for a piece of the action, too.

The MCU Needs To Approach Wolverine Differently To Continue Capturing Audiences' Attention

Marvel Shouldn't Deliver The Same Old Cinematic Logan

There's no doubt that Wolverine is wildly popular with comic and film audiences, but even beloved characters still require writing and storytelling worth following along. His mere presence might be enough to motivate many people to buy tickets, but if MCU fumbles the character by continuing to give viewers too much of what they've already seen, that draw won't last forever. If Wolverine's presence is meant to continue in the MCU and extend beyond the recent smash hit Deadpool & Wolverine, he needs to make a new impression. Arcade is, in essence, as much a villain as a tool of exploration.

If Arcade designed the perfect Logan-centric House of Horrors, it could double as a full exploration of everything that has shaped the adamantium-laced mutant into the man he is.

The film Logan managed to transcend the superhero movie conceits to present something incredibly human, emotional, and impossible to forget, partly because it showed a completely different side of Wolverine. While MCU doesn't need to tap into exactly that same feeling, it does need to offer more than action sequences and jokes. If Arcade designed the perfect Logan-centric House of Horrors, it could double as a full exploration of everything that has shaped the adamantium-laced mutant into the man he is, including all the facets of his pain, grief, and love that haven't made it on screen yet.

Battling Arcade Would Force Wolverine To Show New Sides Of His Powers

An Outside The Box Antagonist

While compelling storytelling should be the primary focus of any good movie, it wouldn't be Wolverine without a considerable amount of action. It's time to reach beyond Logan simply stabbing any and everything with his claws, though. His full powerset is so much more than that. Just as Arcade's playgrounds test the limits of his psyche and seek to wallop him with some serious emotional damage, they also provide an excellent way to push his physical abilities to the limits, but in incredibly unique ways. Unlike plenty of other villains, Arcade isn't much of a fighter himself and utilizes other skills.

Wolverine #8 offers a few glimpses into the particular ways Arcade challenges Logan through intellect and cleverness alone. Sure, his robots might blow up when they're touched, and he certainly engineers some genuine death traps, but he's also intelligent enough to mask his scent with cotton candy spray and utilize tools like adamantium dust. Villains who pair intelligence with cruelty and some twisted need for entertainment tend to be some of the greatest to watch onscreen, and Arcade could easily tap into the same niche as characters like the Joker. He would certainly be a huge refresh for Wolverine.

If MCU Wants Continued Success With Wolverine, Arcade Would Be A Dynamic Next Threat To Face

A New Kind Of Villain For Logan's MCU Era

In the MCU's long tenure, it has produced several interesting villains, with some perhaps not living up to their full potential before their time was up; bringing in Arcade to face Wolverine is the chance to create the kind of big-budget film that could leave a lasting impression. All the elements are there: action, incredible effects, expansive sets, character growth and development, and the full gauntlet of emotions, all rolled up with one of the most consistently well-received and loved characters of all time. If Wolverine is truly meant to shine in the MCU, Arcade needs to be his villain.

Wolverine #8 is available now from Marvel Comics.