Warning: The following contains major spoilers for “The Art of Loss,” in Wolverine: Black, White & Blood #4, by Kelly Thompson, Khary Randolph and VC’s Clayton Cowles, on sale now.
Wolverine and Mystique, aka Raven Darkholme, are notorious rivals. While Mystique isn’t one of Wolverine’s biggest foes, she and Logan certainly don’t have the friendliest history. Despite this mutual animosity, however, Wolverine once managed to pull Mystique through one of her lowest moments.
Logan and Raven met up during “The Art of Loss,” in the latest issue of Wolverine: Black, White & Blood. At the time, Logan was drinking alone by the docks in Tokyo. Suddenly, Sabretooth confronted him. Of course, Wolverine knew this wasn’t Sabretooth, leading Mystique to reveal her true form.
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Raven asked Logan where Rogue was, saying that she wanted her daughter back. Wolverine responded by saying that Rogue had made her choice to stay with the X-Men, before giving Raven some “free advice.” Logan told Mystique to let her separation with Rogue run its course.
One day, Rogue would come back to Mystique, not as a member of the Brotherhood of Mutants, but as her daughter. If Mystique pushed things, however, she might lose Rogue forever. While this advice was sound, Mystique wouldn’t hear of it, attacking Wolverine. The two entered a vicious duel before Raven finally retreated.
Wolverine’s advice to Mystique was surprising, considering their shared history. During Wolverine #62-65, by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney, it was revealed that Logan and Raven met during the 1920s. The two were outlaws who came together during a shared execution. After helping Mystique escape, Logan was introduced to her gang in Kansas City. Together, Wolverine and Mystique became lovers and partners in crime.
Unfortunately, Logan and the gang were betrayed by Raven during a heist, when she called the police on them. Wolverine later confronted Mystique about this, only to be deceived once again. While this history certainly would give Wolverine a more jaded view of Mystique, it would also provide them with a sense of familiarity. Even though Logan probably had some contempt for Raven, he knew her fairly well, giving him the ability to impart some advice on his old flame.
Logan’s advice also made sense considering the loss which he was feeling at the time. “The Art of Loss” took place after Uncanny X-Men #173, by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith. Mariko Yashida had just left Wolverine at the altar, breaking his heart. Logan was pretty vulnerable at this point, allowing him to relate to Mystique’s feelings of loss at the time. At the end of the story, Wolverine even told Storm that “more than usual, I find I can relate.”
Wolverine might have been simply giving Mystique this advice for Rogue’s sake as well. In Uncanny X-Men #173, Logan and Rogue bonded as they worked together for the first time. Rogue helped Wolverine save Mariko from the Silver Samurai and Viper, a personal task which went a long way to earn Logan’s trust. By telling Mystique to give Rogue her space, Wolverine might have been looking out for his fellow X-Man. Logan could have given Mystique this advice so that Rogue wouldn’t lose her mother.
Despite this wise advice, Mystique still lashed out and attacked Logan. Even so, this fight probably provided Raven some much needed catharsis at the time. Sometimes, people who feel loss also feel the need to vent. It wasn’t until Uncanny X-Men #177-178, by Claremont and John Romita Jr., that Mystique took Wolverine’s words to heart.
During an attempt to reclaim Rogue from the X-Men, Mystique was finally convinced to let her go. Rogue explained to Mystique that she still considered Raven her mother, but she joined the X-Men so Professor X could help with her powers.
With this, Mystique finally allowed Rogue to go her own way. While Raven would still interfere with Rogue’s life on occasion, she ultimately gave her daughter the space she needed. Rogue still saw Raven as her mother, embracing her at her wedding to Gambit during Mr. and Mrs. X #1, by Thompson and Oscar Bazaldua. It took some time, but Wolverine’s advice finally helped Mystique reconnect with her daughter.
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