In this issue of Wolverine, we find the title character in a bit of an existential crisis after a series of personal struggles and a decline in his mutant abilities, and he finds himself in an old-fashioned brawl with an old friend from World War II, Captain America. As with all good team-up stories, we see how one of Cap’s fellow heroes sees him, particularly during the current time of “Capmania” in Cap’s own title, which is referenced almost from the start.
After Logan ruminates about some of the aforementioned recent turmoil in his life, he sees a poster for a charity event featuring the Sentinel of Liberty—whom at least one bystander wishes was actually Star-Spangled Spice.
Logan understands how difficult it must be to be under the type of public pressure and scrutiny Cap is under right now, and admires him all the more for continuing his charitable appearances nevertheless.
When Logan literally smells trouble inside and stumbles into the backstage area, the other performers and security don’t take well to his intrusion, but he is focused on fighting men whom only he can apparently see—and eventually, the chaos draws out the man himself.
Cap apparently considers his mere name, as well as questions about his new shield, to be unnecessary small talk, and demands to know why his friend is acting so erratically. Logan appears to lunge toward our hero, surprising him at first…
…but he knows better, which Logan appreciates.
Logan continues to fight the invisible foes, but Cap wants to help…
…which he’s willing to do with just a little guidance from Logan, but a pair of goggles works even better (as Captain Obvious explains).
While Logan continues to silently doubt himself, Cap issues the obligatory statement about causing minimal harm only.
When Cap realizes innocent civilians may be in danger, he changes course instantly, impressing Logan with his speed and determination.
Despite the goofy headgear, Cap manages to change the mind of the Spice Girls fan in the audience.
After thinking “a man can either deal with his problems or whine about ’em,” Logan asks himself “What Would Cap Do,” but he already knows the answer.
(Yes, the bad guys are really called Rascal and the Rodents.)
Logan continues to admire Cap, this time for his perseverance and stamina—albeit forgetting about his super-soldier serum and Vita-Rays, which would later be revealed to be a predecessor of the Weapon X treatment that Logan underwent himself.
Logan wonders what drives Cap, supposing for a moment that he has his own issues before dismissing the thought…
…but he quickly reconsiders, realizing that he’s only seeing the star and the shield and not the complex person underneath, who is undergoing his own burdens and struggles (as longtime readers of this blog know well). And just to make sure, Cap confirms it.
Rascal tries to same “I’ll kill myself and take all a’ youse wit’ me” gambit that the Japanese terrorist did recently in Captain America #1, but this time Logan is the one to call his bluff, and Cap trusts him.
Logan is grateful for that trust (especially with how he feels about himself right now).
Sensitive Spice can tell something’s up with his friend and offers to listen, but Logan has other plans.
ISSUE DETAILS
Wolverine (vol. 2) #124, May 1998: Tom DeFalco (writer), Denys Cowan (pencils), Bill Sienkiewicz (inks), Jason Wright (colors), Richard Starkings (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Wolverine: Blood Wedding.
ALSO THIS MONTH: Captain America #5, Avengers #4, and Marvel Team-Up #9 (May 1998)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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