But no, the bone claws pretty much sliced through everything like butter, just like the Adamantium claws did.

What's the point of Adamantium, then?

••

Chris first started musing about bone claws when I was still on the book, and I shut that down pronto. One of my reasons for showing Wolverine's skeleton in "Days of Future Past/Time Out of Mind" was to emphasize what we already knew: that his bones had been replaced with adamantium, and the claws were mechanical.

Once I was gone, Shooter decided this was "unrealistic" and Chris started referring to Logan's bones as being "laced with adamantium," whatever the ^&$% that means! Bone claws were not far behind.

At work here is the same kind of thinking that gives Spider-Man biological webbing. Logic is thrown out the window, and the mutation presents in a most convenient manner. How fortunate that Parker's web-spinner wasn't at the base of his spine, approximating a real spider. How handy that Logan's claws retract into the back of his hands/forearms, not, like all other clawed animals, his fingertips.

Superheroes are, by definition, outrageous and unrealistic, but, to borrow a phrase from Richard Donner, we must THINK VERISIMILITUDE. It doesn't have to be realistic, it just has to be believable!

And don't even get me started on Mr. Claremont's "revelation" that the claws puncture the flesh of Wolverine's hands every time he extends them, but his mutant power instantly heals the wounds!

•••

First, I have to take responsibility for that second one. I suggested it during my time on UNCANNY.

As to your other point, the housings are there to keep the gloves from fraying. After all, unless they're glued on, those gloves are going to slip and slide a bit with the movement of his hands and fingers.