Could Wolverine's Claws Cut the Silver Surfer's Metallic Shell?

Comic Book Questions Answered – where I answer whatever questions you folks might have about comic books (feel free to e-mail questions to me at brianc@cbr.com).

Reader Terrence G. wrote in to ask:

In regards to a high durability/near indestructible character like the Silver Surfer, if Wolverine with his adamantium claws tried to stab him, would a) the claws penetrate his skin and then he would rapidly heal; b) the claws be deflected and slide up or down; c) it be like a normal person trying to punch a wall or; d) something else entirely?

Well, first off, we've never seen Wolverine and the Silver Surfer fight each other in the regular Marvel continuity. They have had altercations in “What IF…?” comics and a memorable encounter during the first “Marvel Zombies” mini-series (by Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips), but those instances don't count either way. If you're interested, of course, in “Marvel Zombies” Wolverine's attack on Silver Surfer resulted in pretty much the “c” option that Terrence listed…

His arm basically exploded against the Surfer. However, he WAS a zombie there, so that could be why it broke.

In “What If…?” #81 (by Mariano Nicieza and Kevin Hopgood), in a story asking what if the Age of Apocalypse never ended, Wolverine (as Weapon X) successfully stabbed Silver Surfer…

Here's the biggest issue, and it's one that we're going to have to forget about because most comic book writers have. Even if Wolverine's adamantium claws theoretically COULD cut through something, Wolverine would need to be able to make enough force for the claws to actually puncture the thing. In other words, does Wolverine have enough strength to plunge his claws into something really strong? The answer probably should be “no,” as while Wolverine certainly does have super strength (just being able to lug all that adamantium metal around is a feat), it's a low level super strength. So even if, say, Thor would be able to plunge an adamantium blade past someone like the Silver Surfer, Wolverine might not be able to. However, that does not appear to be the case in the actual comics, as Wolverine routinely plunges his claws into things you wouldn't think he was strong enough to get through.

In “Infinity Gauntlet” #4 (by Jim Starlin, Ron Lim and Joe Rubinstein), Wolverine plunged his claws into the Infinity Gauntlet-wielding Thanos…

If he can do THAT, then I think that we've solved the whole “he doesn't have the strength to get the claws through” problem (whether that is logical or not is a whole other issue), so I don't see why he wouldn't be able to pierce the shell of Silver Surfer if he can pierce Thanos' skin (particularly a Thanos who was wielding the Infinity Gauntlet).

Similarly, Wolverine was shown to be able to stab World War Hulk, who was at his strongest power levels (Wolverine even noted how much more difficult it was to cut his skin)…

So I'm going with Wolverine being able to stab Silver Surfer's metallic shell if need be.

Thanks for the question, Terrence! If anyone as a question, e-mail me at brianc@cbr.com!

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