There’s a panel on page twenty-one, where Wolverine stands drenched in blood and delivers a classic line to a tenacious foe. “Ya like to bleed, huh?” He’s involved in a savage fight against the brainwashed Ursa Major, a mutant with the power to shapeshift into a bear, and had just sliced off his arm. His enemy responds with an animalistic snarl, as artist Domenico Carbone brings it to life with jagged teeth and furrowed brows, letting Wolverine know this man is too far gone. This is what Ultimate Wolverine’s been like its entire run: hardcore violence in search of a compelling story. The fight delivers, but writer Chris Condon is still spinning his wheels.
Wolverine vs. Ursa Major: A Clash of Predators
Ever wanted to see Wolverine go toe-to-toe with a mutant bear? It’s a silly premise, but the fight’s an entertaining one. Ursa Major is massive, and Carbone wisely plays up his size, having him dominate every panel he shares with Wolverine. It makes their battlefield feel small and claustrophobic, as shown in cramped frames and low-hanging ceilings.
This fight is choreographed like two alpha predators going at it, one fast and one strong. Wolverine may get in more hits, but Ursa’s blows are more devastating. The way the fight is structured, with multiple panels showcasing quick action surrounding key fight moments, keeps everything moving at lightning speed.
The Visuals: Blood, Gore, and Guttural Roars
Bryan Valenza’s colors enhance each piece of the action, with deep-red blood running freely while dark shadows cover Ursa’s body, rendering him even more primal. Letterer Cory Petit doubles down on the beastly nature of Ursa, displaying all his dialogue with guttural noises. Every roar and growl benefits from elongated letters and bold, upper-cased font, translating the sound right off the page.
Carbone doesn’t spare the gore, with blood and guts aplenty. It’s the right move. Wolverine is one of Marvel’s more violent heroes, and it doesn’t work to neuter that aspect of his character. Watching him slice through Ursa’s bicep, arterial spray arcing across the panels, is visceral and appropriately brutal. The final move, with Wolverine’s claws shooting through Ursa Major’s forehead, is like a fatality ripped straight from Mortal Kombat. The way Carbone captures the surprise on Ursa’s face before he slumps into death gives us a tragic glimpse into the man trapped inside.
Narrative Criticism: Does Chris Condon’s Plot Have Momentum?
Though it’s a fun fight, Condon does it no favors in terms of stakes. This is Wolverine on a sidequest, and Ursa Major feels like a miniboss encounter. It’s a fun distraction, but it doesn’t hold much weight. And that may be this issue’s greatest sin. It’s forgettable. There’s nothing wrong with spectacle comics, but this issue fails to find the heart that peers like Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut were able to.
It’s a shame because we arguably just had the series’s best issue yet. Wolverine finally gets revenge against those who turned him into the Winter Soldier, all while freeing Jean Grey and watching her burn Colossus alive. It was high-octane action with actual narrative weight. This issue has none of that momentum. Ultimate Wolverine is the shortest series of the entire line; it can’t afford to fumble the limited number of chapters it has.
The Future of Jean Grey in the Ultimate Universe
What does work is our continued march to getting more Jean in this series. She’s one of the greatest X-Men, and seeing her largely used as a background captive has been disappointing. Wolverine retrieving the medicine to help her is a step in the right direction, and I’m looking forward to seeing how she’s used as we near the finish.
Pay What You Want!
Final Verdict: Is Ultimate Wolverine #13 Worth Reading?
Ultimate Wolverine #13 is an intense display of Wolverine’s fighting prowess, but not much else. If you’re looking for Carbone’s bone-smashing fights or Valenza’s blood-soaked palette, then you’ll find what you wanted. But if you were expecting story momentum, forward progress, or meaningful character development, you won’t find it here. Read the summary online and save your money for the next issue. Good fights happen in quality stories, too. This isn’t one of them.
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‘Ultimate Wolverine’ #13 Review: Logan Takes on a Bear?
Ultimate Wolverine #13 is an intense display of Wolverine’s fighting prowess, but not much else. If you’re looking for Carbone’s bone-smashing fights or Valenza’s blood-soaked palette, then you’ll find what you wanted. But if you were expecting story momentum, forward progress, or meaningful character development, you won’t find it here.
