Ultimate Wolverine: The Most Brutal Addition to the Ultimate Universe

Christopher Fase ‘26 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Spoilers Ahead.

When Ultimate Wolverine was announced as the newest series in Marvel’s current Ultimate universe, I was simultaneously excited and skeptical. I enjoyed the first look at the art, but it felt redundant to give another whole series to an X-Men character when there is already an X-Men book in the Ultimate universe. Since Ultimate X-Men follows both original and less recognizable mutants, it seemed like Marvel was simply trying to win back fans who wanted to see their favorite characters again in lieu of exploring another facet of the Marvel universe that hadn’t been touched in the Ultimate universe yet. I’m happy to report that Ultimate Wolverine #1 proved me wrong by offering a very different take on the classic X-Men characters that branches off naturally from what we already know of this universe.

The series sets itself apart from the existing Ultimate X-Men not only because it includes more recognizable mutants, but also because it places them in a much different context. While the mutants in Ultimate X-Men are young teenagers in the fictional region of Hi No Kuni discovering their abilities for the first time, Ultimate Wolverine takes place in the Eurasian Republic, a place where the fight for mutant-kind has already escalated into all-out war. The trio of Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red rule the nation with an iron fist, and have created Directorate X, a program trying to turn mutants into government-controlled weapons for The Maker’s Council. Rising up against the trio in charge of Eurasia are The Opposition, a group trying to free mutants from experimentation and exploitation. The first issue follows Wolverine as he takes down an Opposition base, and features flashbacks to his capture and the experiments he’s undergone as part of Directorate X. Enter Wolverine himself, a mutant and former Opposition member who was captured by the Council and experimented on for his regenerative healing abilities. Through Directorate X, he has become the Maker’s ultimate weapon, striking fear into the hearts of allies and enemies alike, having been given the name of The Winter Soldier.

Wolverine himself lacks a lot of interiority in the first issue. While he is our point of view character, we don’t know much about his backstory or inner-life before he was captured and experimented on. However, this debut makes it clear that there are layers to him that will be explored further in future issues. It functions a lot like the original Weapon X comic, with Wolverine often being viewed externally by other characters and being controlled by their whims. The difference here is that while Weapon X was a flashback to before Wolverine knew any other X-Men, here he is an active presence in the lives of other mutants. We’re seeing his dehumanization in the Directorate X program in contrast with the mutants who are fighting back against the government in order to reclaim their humanity.

A major example of this is Nightcrawler’s appearance in the first issue. Nightcrawler, aka Kurt Wagner, takes on the role of a priest in this issue, helping to guard the Opposition base Logan is raiding. Kurt has been a priest in previous comics, and here he stands in contrast to both Logan and his more militarized ally Raven Darkholme, aka Mystique. As Logan comes after him, Kurt is resistant to the use of violence, covering his ears from gunfire and trying to reason with Logan at first. He claims he recognizes Logan from somewhere— it’s unclear how, given that Logan spends the majority of the first issue under a mask, but Kurt is able to see something human in him, despite all the dehumanization Logan has faced leading up to this moment. When Kurt has to use violence against Logan, he teleports around him, creating a barrage of gunfire from all directions in a spectacular sequence. Despite his preference for nonviolence, Kurt’s powers can be effective and powerful when he needs them.

However, this display is not enough. Logan gets the upper hand on Nightcrawler and ultimately kills him. Kurt pleads with Logan and apologizes for not being there for him, but the Winter Soldier has nothing to say to him. The next page sees Logan silently walking out of the Opposition base, seeing the violence he has left in his wake. We don’t see his face, so it’s unclear what specific reaction he has to this, but we do see him linger on the body of a soldier he killed earlier. At the very least, Kurt’s plea has given him pause.

I’d like to take a moment to appreciate Alessandro Cappuccio’s art and Bryan Calenza’s colors, showcasing Logan and his fellow mutants as dynamically as ever. The color palette of the book is overwhelmingly cold shades of blue and grey, which makes the red of Wolverine’s Winter Soldier suit pop even more. The design itself is a great combination of Wolverine and the Winter Soldier’s traditional designs, capturing a character who has been dehumanized to the point where he’s nothing more than a killer. The first issue brings moments of bright, exciting action that showcases the powerful killing machine that Wolverine is, but as the excitement of the action fades away, we return to Logan’s cold, dark existence. The issue ends on a prayer from Wagner that showcases Kurt’s love for his fellow mutants, his mission to protect them, and the love that Logan has lost in becoming  the Winter Soldier.

Ultimate Wolverine brings the Ultimate Universe its most brutal entry yet, showing us a side to this world that is more violent and brutal than any we’ve seen before. However, despite that brutality, a lot of love can be found among the mutants who are resisting the government, the kind that is often seen in the mainline X-Men comics. With its unique style and a new perspective on the X-Men, Ultimate Wolverine has the potential to be a real highlight of the Ultimate universe.