IIRC Wolverine was presumed dead in 1988.

After the Mutant Massacre (#210 to #219) the X-Men were thought dead and set up in Australia of all places (#229 to #269).

That would have started in May, 1988.

Then again, Havok was also in that group...

Context: They're talking about restoring a scorched savage land to its former state.

I can't think of a mutant who:

• Can serve as a focus catalyst
• Has a primal nature in sync with the land
• Is a man
• Is dead in 1988
• Havok knows

Edit: I just realized he must be thinking of Garok the petrified man (the person that ended up being the catalyst in the issue) and not some other candidate. I don't think he's a mutant and idk how Havok knows about him, but he does have a connection with the land and he was thought dead

Off the top of my head I would guess Thunderbird.

Ka-Zar would be another obvious choice, but I don't think he died until much much later

"a living being..."

"I can think of one person who'd fit that bill perfectly" "Unfortunately he's dead"

???