Ultimate Wolverine got off to a strong start with its debut issue. Christopher Condon and Alessandro Cappuccio quickly drove home the Logan as a tragic character as he has been transformed into the Maker’s Council’s Winter Soldier. As the Winter Soldier, Logan has been tasked with hunting the rebel mutant group known as The Opposition. This development has given importance to this series as we see a different look at the role mutants play in the Ultimate Universe being explored. What will be revealed next? Let’s find out with Ultimate Wolverine #2.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Christopher Condon
Artist: Alessandro Cappuccio
Colorist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: Cory Petit
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #2 SOLICITATION
“THE MAKER’S COUNCIL AND THEIR ULTIMATE WEAPON! Colossus, Omega Red and Magik put the Ultimate Wolverine to the test by seeing how well he handles the OPPOSITION, a group fighting for mutant liberation!” – Marvel Comics
REVIEW
Ultimate Wolverine #2 isn’t the massive world builder that the debut issue was. After what was established in its debut this second issue is a narrow focused issue. That is not at all a bad thing as it does give the opportunity for the cast of the series to develop their voices more. Though that does leave the story we see play out not be as tension filled as it could have been.
In terms of furthering the dark tone set by the first issue Ultimate Wolverine #2 does its job hitting that mark. Christopher Condon shows an understanding that to fully get over this version of Logan he shouldn’t talk. Logan has been made into the ultimate killing machine by Magik, Colossus, and Omega Red. Being a mute, lacking both internal monologue and dialogue, adds to Logan’s aura as the Winter Soldier.
Establishing Ultimate Winter Soldier in this way makes everything around the character stand out more. With all of the Maker’s Councils appearances we’ve seen Hulk take the majority of the attention. While the Rasputin Family have established what they are like as dictators it has been kept to a minimum. But here we see Magik and Colossus getting more attention.
What was great about this is how Condon shows that Magik and Colossus balance each other out as dictators. Magik is the more cunning of the siblings with how she goes about getting Doctor Alonya Prostovich prove her loyalty. On the other end of things Colossus shows he values strength when it comes to loyalty as he is the one that forces the survival of the fittest test on the Winter Soldier.
This set-up made for Logan’s portrayal to continue to be a focus. He is the Terminator of the Ultimate Universe. But because of his previous history as part of the mutant group known as the Opposition there is that wild card factor that could come into play. Colossus and Magik bringing this up makes you pay even more attention to how Alessandro Cappuccio draws Ultimate Wolverine. Beyond the action you are looking at hints of Logan being aware of how he is being treated and used through his facial expressions.
Which makes the hints at Logan being part of some sort of Weapon X program thirty years prior to the present an intriguing development. Particularly since the person that appears to have been running the program was Ultimate Charles Xavier. This isn’t confirmed as the Maker only calls the character “Professor.” But based on the design it was clearly supposed to give the look of this being Ultimate Charles Xavier. If it is than that creates even more questions around the mutants status quo before the Maker transformed this to his own Ultimate Universe.
For all that good, the one aspect that didn’t work is that when this issue was over it doesn’t feel we are anywhere new. We are left in a similar spot that we were in by the end of the first issue. Even for all the little intriguing things that go on the story itself came across as filler. The way the next issue follows up on certain character points may make Ultimate Wolverine #2 stronger in the long-term. But right now, reading it on a monthly basis, this second issue does have a feeling you could’ve skipped without missing anything other than Winter Soldier looking threatening.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimate Wolverine #2 drives home that Logan’s Winter Soldier is the Terminator of the Ultimate Universe. While the bigger picture story isn’t progressed very much, we at least get solid character development for Logan, Colossus, and Magik. The artwork by Alessandro Cappuccio really does a lot of heavy lifting with the subtle things done in ways characters emote throughout this issue. That is enough to keep interest in where things are headed.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
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