Bloodsport: Pt. 1 of 3

• Writer - Frank Tieri
• Penciler - Dan Fraga
• Inker - Norm Rapmund
• Lettering - Richard Starkings
• Lettering - Comicraft
• Lettering - Saida
• Colorist - Raymund Lee
• Editor - Mike Marts
• Editor in Chief - Joe Quesada

Summary

  Wolverine takes on the identity of Patch, the character that he normally uses while on travel in Madripoor. Onboard the plane, he recounts what had happened in the last few days: his encounter with the Weapon X project (which Nick Fury helps to clear Wolverine's name by making it appear as if the video that was shown around the nation was a hoax), then his receipt of a letter in the mail inviting him to enter a yearly "Bloodsport" contest in Madripoor where his mysterious "friend" from the Weapon X episodes would finally be revealing his identity as he is the reigning champion, and now Logan finds himself on a flight to Madripoor. As they land into Madripoor, Wolverine sees the image of the devil in the clouds ... an image he had saw plenty of times in the past during "The Best There Is" episodes in Wolverine 159 - 162 ... and wonders what it means.

  At the airport, Wolverine is met by his escort, Jae Lo, who takes him to the Foxy Den, which used to be the Princess Bar (a popular place that Logan used to hang out with his friends during his stay in Madripoor as Patch). There, he meets Viper, his wife, who tells him that she, as Madripoor's leading crime-boss, is overseeing the Bloodsport contest. She comments how she had already met all of the contestants, and tells Logan that she "fears you'll make me a widow before long!".

  The contest begins, as 14 contestants battle it out to make it to the next round. Headhunter beats Oddball, Puma eats up Gamecock (literally), Taskmaster defeats Cat, Zaran (remember him from Wolverine 158?) defeats Razorfist, Anaconda defeats Forearm, Toad (X-Men foe) defeats Eel, and Patch defeats Speed Demon in Round One. In Round two, Puma defeats Anaconda, Taskmaster defeats Zaran, and Patch beats Toad. Headhunter fights the champion in a cage masked by a curtain. Headhunter enters, and quickly, a "chop" sound can be heard. Headhunter's head had been chopped off, and the reigning champion reveals himself. Patch recognizes, with dread, that the champion was none other than Mr. X!