At some point during his intelligence operations abroad, Logan encounters Wade Wilson, the mercenary known as Deadpool (Deadpool #27); like Logan, Deadpool is a product of the Weapon X Program, possessing a healing factor that was apparently derived from Logan's own. It is possible that Logan had previously encountered Wilson prior to the mercenary's assumption of a costumed identity, but this cannot be confirmed; Logan will later characterize his dealings with Deadpool as a part of his life that he would prefer "never sees the light of day."

It may also be during this period, if not earlier, that Logan encounters the centuries-old occult mercenary known as Terror, Inc (Wolverine #58). Logan dislikes dealing with him, perhaps seeing in Terror's cynicism a reflection of what he himself might become later in his long life.

During these years, as the super-villain population steadily grows, Logan apparently encounters a number of mutant criminals, including Mystique (Wolverine #51), Mesmero (Uncanny X-Men #104), and Magneto, although his encounter with the latter is brief.

There is also some reason to believe that he clashes with the subterranean ruler called the Mole Man (Wolverine #157) and with Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime (Iron Fist/ Wolverine #1), during this period, if not earlier, although his later seeming familiarity with these men may relate only to encounters with them during his years with the X-Men.

It is possible that he encounters the cyborg CIA operative known as Bushwacker during this period as well (Daredevil #249), an encounter that must surely have driven home to Logan how narrowly he avoided assuming such a role as Bushwacker's. Such incidents, along with his discouraging encounters with Deadpool and Terror, Inc., may play a cumulative role in Logan's decision to accept the role of Alpha Flight leader, as he comes to recognize the necessity of such a super-team.

It may also be at this time, if not earlier, that Logan clashes with superhuman Soviet operative Vladimir Zaitsev (Uncanny X-Men #228); although having earlier worn his yellow-and-blue costume even in the field abroad, on this occasion Logan wears a brown-and-orange costume, presumably to prevent his actions on this occasion from being linked to his eventual public image as leader of Alpha Flight. Logan will wear this alternate costume again years later.

By this time, certain parties in SHIELD, concerned by the potential threat posed by the growing number of superhumans, begin to train select SHIELD agents for the express purpose of engaging such superhumans in combat. One group of such agents, specifically trained to defeat the Avengers and led by Sgt. Harry "Hardcase" Malone (Wolverine #139), becomes known as the Harriers (Uncanny X-Men #261), and they apparently encounter Logan during this period, perhaps several times; it is possible that Logan and Hardcase have additional history as well. When SHIELD itself begins to recruit superhuman agents, the Harriers are dismissed, and they become mercenaries.

On an unspecified mission in the Soviet Union, Carol Danvers is captured by the KGB and sentenced to Lubyanka Prison in the USSR (Marvel Fanfare #24; Uncanny X-Men #163, 236, 251). Logan, Michael Rossi, and possibly others disobey direct orders and break into Lubyanka to free her. During the mission, Rossi is apparently slain (Uncanny X-Men #182), and the other members of the team abandon the effort, leaving Logan to smuggle Danvers out of the USSR alone, despite her insistence that he abandon her to save himself.

Following these events, Danvers, despite her youth, is recruited as Security Chief for Cape Canaveral (Marvel Fanfare #24; Marvel Super-Heroes #13), becoming, in her twenties, the youngest person ever to hold the position; it is in this role that she will meet the Kree warrior known as Captain Marvel, whose involvement with her will change her life dramatically. She and Logan will not meet again for years.

As for Rossi, he is later learned to have survived, although, as far as is known, Danvers is never informed of this; whether or not Logan is aware of it is unclear. Rossi will eventually work in cooperation with Professor Charles Xavier (New Mutants #2), a man who will play an important role in Logan's own life. With his friend and lover out of the intelligence field, Logan has less reason to remain in it himself, and it may be at this point that he decides to accomodate Hudson and quit field work altogether, to assume full-time leadership of Alpha Flight.

As Alpha Flight's preparations for public activity continue, Logan, still considering the life of a full-time super-hero, seeks the advice of his longtime sensei Ogun in Japan (Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #4-6). Years later, Logan told Kitty Pryde, "The man taught me everyting I knew." Even after training Logan, Ogun remained his superior in skill in hand-to-hand combat. Logan also told Kitty, "I respected him, Kitty. I ... loved him like a father. Whatever I am today, a lot of it's because of him."

Logan is shocked to learn that Ogun, who has taught him so much about honor and moral codes over the years, has given himself over to the darker forces of the Ninjitsu magic he practices, becoming an assassin and evil magician and ultimately intending to psionically enslave Logan to his will, a fate that Ogun will later force upon Kitty. Deeply disturbed by this meeting, Logan vows to never return to Japan (Uncanny X-Men #118, and he and Ogun will not meet again for years.

Logan returns to Canada and, symbolizing his break with his former mentor, discards the bladed weapons he has used on occasion; accepting his fate, he exclusively uses his adamantium claws from now on. Logan will not wield a sword again for years (Wolverine Limited Series#1).

Eager to avoid thoughts of his confrontation with Ogun, Logan prepares to make his debut as a Canada-based publicly known super-agent and is dispatched to disrupt terrorist activities in Ontario; however, James Hudson informs him that the "assignment," Logan's first public Canada-based mission since the Flight battled Egghead's forces years earlier, is actually a test developed by Department H to observe Logan's reactions in battle.

During the course of this test, Logan is teleported to the New Mexico headquarters of the mutated genius known as the Leader (Wolverine #144), as are the Greek demigod Hercules and the Deviant Karkas, all of whom the Leader intends to use to capture the American mutate known as the Hulk. Logan escapes the Leader's restraints and frees his fellow captives, although the Leader flees from the debacle.

By coincidence, the Hulk himself arrives in the north woods of Quebec, Canada shortly before Logan's return (Incredible Hulk #180-1). But the situation was more complicated than either Logan or the RCMP knew. The Hulk had been mysteriously lured to the north woods by Marie Cartier, who had been studying sorcery to find a means to cure her unfortunate brother. Paul Cartier was a victim of a supernatural curse that had transformed him into a legendary monster of the Canadian wilderness, the Wendigo. Aided by her reluctant companion, Georges Baptiste, Marie Cartier drugged the Hulk with a sleeping potion and planned to use sorcery to transfer the curse from her brother to her captive.

Although Logan was surely aware that the Hulk was hundreds of times stronger than himself, he was more than eager to face him in combat. Perhaps Logan believed that his adamantium claws would narrow the odds against him. Logan demanded that the local RCMP give him six hours on his own to defeat the Hulk, and, not wanting to tangle unnecessarily with the Hulk themselves, they were only too ready to oblige.

To his surprise, Logan found the Hulk locked in combat with the Wendigo himself. Department H had previously received reports of the Wendigo's activities but dismissed them as fabrications. Seeing this mythical creature in real life did not shake Logan in the least, and he attacked both combatants, swiping at them with his claws. Logan first concentrated on the Hulk, but discovered that his claws apparantly had no effect on the Hulk's superhuman hide. It is unlikely that even the Hulk is invulnerable to sharpened adamantium; more likely, Logan simply lacked the superhuman strength to drive his claws into the Hulk's unusually thick flesh.

With his claws making no headway, Logan was clearly outmatched, but his bravado was undiminished. His major advantages over his huge opponent was his own small size and his agility, which had increased as a result of Department H's training. Logan kept moving swiftly out of the way of Hulk's enormous fists. Meanwhile, Logan kept hoping for an opportunity to sink his claws into some more vulnerable spot on the Hulk's anatomy. That way he could bring the fight to an end. He couldn't hope to keep ducking the Hulk's fists forever.

Unable to make any headway with the Hulk, Logan unexpectedly lashed out at the Wendigo instead, this time with results. His claws ripped through the Wendigo's hide, causing him to howl with pain. The Wendigo's strength rivaled the Hulk's, but presumably his level of invulnerability didn't. More likely, though, it was because adamantium is a form of steel, which is made from iron, and many supernatural creatures are vulnerable to cold iron. Indeed, though Logan's furious assaults would have killed most living creatures, he was astonished to learn he had only rendered the Wendigo unconscious.

At that time, Hulk only possessed the intelligence level of a small child and was motivated as much by a longing for the comfort of friendship as by his frequent rages. Seeing Logan attack his enemy confused the Hulk. Why would the little man who attacked him then start helping him by attacking his enemy. Pathetically blinded by his wishful thinking, Hulk decided that Logan must actually be his friend.

There was a moment of silence after Logan defeated the Wendigo, when neither he nor the trusting Hulk made a move. Logan was well aware that the Hulk no longer wanted to fight, but that didn't matter. He had his mission to fulfill. Logan lashed out at the Hulk with his claws once again, and the Hulk flew into a rage, believing himself once more deceived and betrayed. Logan ran from the charging Hulk, challenging hiim to catch him. But Logan's self-confidence was falling. What could he possibly do to stop this creature?

But then Marie Cartier suddenly intervened, using the combination of a mist-like mist and a magical pell to render both the hulk and Logan unconscious. Cartier put Logan in chains. As for the Hulk, his heartbeat slowed, and he reverted to his true form, that of a frail human physicist, Bruce Banner. George Baptiste was horrified and told Cartier tthey could not turn another human being into the Wendigo, even in order to cure Paul. but marie was obsessed with freeing her beloved brother from his curse and could not be disuaded. And Baptiste, who was just as obsessiively in love with Marie, would do virtually anything to help her get what she wanted.

Hence, Baptiste made hinself the subject of the spell of transference, and before marie knew it, he himsef was transformed into the Wendigo, thus restoring Paul to human form.

Banner reverted back into Hulk, who shook off the effects of the spell. Marie Cartier fled, and then the hulk saw Logan - his betrayer - lying helpless before him in chains. Logan had also revived and had managed the grip of his bonds through escape artist methods, but he was nowhere near being free of them.

Terrible in his anger, Hulk moved slowly toward his Logan, and then suddenly picked him up and hurled him with tremendous force to the ground. The impact was so great that it shattered the thick iron chains. Though horribly bruised, he was alive - thanks to his Adamantium-laced skeleton. Their battle began anew, but as fast as his healing factor was working, logan was now nowhere near his physical peak.

Thus, despite his best efforts, Logan fails in this mission. However, Logan remains the prime candidate for leadership of Alpha Flight; shortly afterward, he leaves Canada once more (Uncanny X-Men #139), "doin' [his] "James Bond" number" and completing his current roster of international assignments.

One of his final missions abroad is over the Berlin Wall (Spider-Man Vs. Wolverine #1), in communist territory. On this occasion, Logan, as Wolverine (in his yellow-and-blue costume), works with his old friend and lover Charlemagne; although it seems probable that he and Charlemagne have worked together on a number of occasions during his Department H stint, no record of such adventures exists. It will be the last time the two see each other until recent times, when Charlemagne, hunted by various intelligence agencies, arranges for Logan to participate in her own death.

During Logan's last months as an intelligence operative abroad (Alpha Flight Special #1), Alpha Flight is organized into what will become its final form, and he is expected to take over leadership of the team upon his return; among its members are Logan's own protege Aurora, as well as Shaman and, the last recruit, Sasquatch, who, as Michael Twoyoungmen and Walter Langkowski, had worked with Logan during his earlier years with the Flight.

Upon his return to Canada, Logan assists James Hudson in containing Bedlam (Alpha Flight #53), who has resisted all efforts to control him and is finally placed in a state of suspended animation. Logan draws no satisfaction from being proven correct about Bedlam; his disillusionment with Hudson over this incident leads him to question the wisdom of continuing to work for Department H in any capacity. Moreover, Logan begins to realize that he has developed an unacknowledged attraction to Heather Hudson (Alpha Flight #33), an inappropriate feeling that further complicates his current situation. These issues, among others, will play a role in Logan's ultimate decision to resign from Department H.