This article contains spoilers for Wolverine #26.The Weapon X Project had the perfect technology to capture Wolverine. The Weapon X Project was the tenth major super-soldier program (the "X" in the name is the Roman numeral for ten, not the letter). Wolverine was the project's greatest success when his bones were successfully coated with the unbreakable substance adamantium. Unfortunately for the scientists working at the project, the experiment went horribly wrong when Wolverine broke free of his restraints. Reduced to a state where he was more beast than man as a side effect of the experience, Wolverine cut a bloody swathe through them, killing almost everybody there.
The Weapon X Project initially attempted to reproduce their success with Wolverine, but they soon learned there were precious few mutants who could survive the adamantium bonding process. Adamantium is poisonous, and Wolverine only survived because of his mutant healing factor. The Weapon X Project took another approach, though, attempting to capture Wolverine and force him to work for them. It seems they came up with novel ways to hold Wolverine captive.
In Wolverine #26, by Benjamin Percy and Juan Jose Ryp, Logan is taken prisoner by a villain named the Merchant, who reveals the Weapon X project fashioned adamantium restraints that could be placed over Wolverine's hands. Wolverine's claws are able to cut through almost anything - but they're unable to penetrate these adamantium cuffs. Few enemies have actually found a way to hold someone like Wolverine prisoner, but the Weapon X Project actually pulled it off. With his hands tied behind his back, Wolverine is unable to fight back against the Merchant as he cuts off various parts of Logan's body to auction off to the highest bidder.
How Much Adamantium Did The Weapon X Project Have?
Adamantium, the metal that coats Wolverine's skeleton and claws, is actually very rare indeed. It is created through the mixing of certain chemical resins; adamantium can only be molded for eight minutes after the resins have been mixed, and only if it is kept at a stable temperature of 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Weapon X presumably had vats in which they created adamantium, and they obviously had enough to make cuffs for Wolverine.
The X-Men could actually create similar handcuffs; they are known to have entire vats of adamantium prepared for resurrecting Wolverine and implanting adamantium in his clone body. These would be tremendously useful against some of their powerhouse enemies, and it's easy to imagine them being used to keep prisoners. Although the X-Men have yet to see the need for a prison, sooner or later they're going to need something other than an abyss hidden in the depths of Krakoa. Even the Hulk isn't strong enough to break adamantium, and it would be so appropriate to see the X-Men appropriate Weapon X technology designed to hold one of their own, Wolverine.
Wolverine #26 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!