Ultimate Wolverine #10, from Chris Condon and the team, is a real emotional gut punch, but in a good way. It manages to give us a heartfelt goodbye while also delivering some seriously brutal action that ups the game for the Ultimate Universe. The issue does a surprising job of hitting you in the feels before everything explodes into all-out war.
The chapter kicks off with a really touching moment between Wolverine and his long-time frenemy, Sabretooth, at the Opposition’s hidden Chernobyl base. Sabretooth, who helps lead the Opposition, announces he’s quitting the fight. It’s not because he’s scared; he’s taking two mutant kids he’s been hiding to a safe place across the border. He tells Logan he can’t stand to see them get hurt, admitting they’ve become like family to him, especially with all the losses the Opposition has been dealing with.
This quiet, brotherly scene is the heart of the issue. Sabretooth, showing he understands Logan’s past as the mind-controlled Winter Soldier, gives Logan the Muramasa Blade before leaving. The price for the gift? Logan has to promise to keep Victor’s and the kids’ escape a secret.
The action then swings dramatically to the enemy’s side. The Eurasian Republic, run by Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red, is freaking out. Colossus is furious that his own brother, Mikhail Rasputin, has betrayed them, and with their super-weapon, the CereBomb, delayed, Dr. Alonya Prostovich surprisingly suggests a ground assault, and everyone agrees. The final bits are huge, explosive action with Omega Red vs Wolverine, a timeless classic. The fight is short and gory, and the issue ends with a mic-drop moment from Ultimate Wolverine, one that will surely escalate the action.
The artwork by Alex Lins, with colors by Bryan Valenza, handles the changing mood perfectly. The quiet scenes with Logan and Victor feel personal and intimate, with the dialogue doing most of the heavy lifting. In contrast, the battle sequence is a burst of chaotic, raw energy, full of heavy action and dramatic panel layouts. Cory Petit’s lettering is also great, featuring the classic SNIKT sound effect for Wolverine’s attack and a powerful portrayal of his sheer rage.
Bottom line: Ultimate Wolverine #10 is an incredibly strong issue. It moves the plot forward in a big way, gives a major side character a great send-off, and delivers a stunning, game-changing victory that throws the entire Eurasian Republic into chaos.
‘Ultimate Wolverine’ #10 The Muramasa Blade Strikes
Ultimate Wolverine #10 is an incredibly strong issue. It moves the plot forward in a big way, gives a major side character a great send-off, and delivers a stunning, game-changing victory that throws the entire Eurasian Republic into chaos.
