Ultimate Wolverine #12 Is Bloody & Great, But it Won’t Convince the Haters (Review)

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The Ultimate Wolverine series has become surprisingly interesting, largely because of the discussions surrounding it. While the Ultimate line initially generated a lot of excitement, that has faded, and fans have begun to critique its shortcomings. Many find the flaws in Ultimate Wolverine particularly noticeable. What I find fascinating, as a reader of the series, is how minor some of the complaints are. People criticize it for being too similar to the main Wolverine storyline (but it actually reimagines those ideas), for having too much death (it’s set in a grim alternate universe), and even for focusing on Wolverine instead of the X-Men. Issue #12 concludes the first year of the series, and like many great issues, it likely won’t change the minds of those who aren’t already fans.

The Ultimate Wolverine comic has consistently been a strong seller, even surpassing the mainstream Wolverine series in popularity. This new issue continues the book’s established style – appealing to fans while likely not changing the minds of those who dislike it. Following the major ‘Opposition’ storyline, this issue focuses on Wolverine seeking revenge. The writer, Condon, perfectly captures the tone for this type of story, and the use of captions, showing us Logan’s thoughts, is particularly effective. The characters in the Ultimate universe are generally well-written, and this version of Wolverine is consistently underrated.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Pros Cons
Exciting, well-paced plot The issue’s big fight looks great, but could have lasted longer
Excellent art
Pays off a moment that has been teased for months

The story really kicks into high gear as Logan faces the woman responsible for his creation, hoping to finally silence the voice of Jean Grey, who’s being held captive by the Eurasian Republic and used as another way to control their powerful, living weapons. This confrontation has been building since the beginning of the series and feels perfectly timed. There’s an exciting fight scene featuring Wolverine, Colossus, and Magik with a surprising twist, and we also learn what happens to a beloved X-Men character. Surprisingly, the issue ends on a relatively positive note, which feels earned considering all the losses the team has experienced throughout the series.

Ultimate Wolverine Remains the Best-Looking Ultimate Book

Alessandro Cappuccio quickly became a fan favorite after his work on Moon Knight, and he continues to deliver excellent art, as seen in this issue of Ultimate Wolverine. He takes a familiar scene—Wolverine leaping into action from above—and elevates it with his signature style. The artwork is incredibly detailed, clean, and brings a lot of energy to the characters and action.

This issue’s action sequence features some truly excellent artwork, and I particularly loved the panel where Wolverine is simultaneously attacked by both Rasputins. Overall, the art continues to be a major reason why fans enjoy this series so much – Cappuccio consistently delivers visuals that perfectly capture the story. Despite any criticisms the book might receive, the art is always a strong point.

Ultimate Wolverine #12 successfully sets the stage for the Ultimate Endgame storyline, delivering a thrilling and impactful issue. However, it likely won’t change the minds of readers who already dislike the series. This issue features the death of a popular X-Men character – which is sure to spark discussion online – Logan defeating an opponent some fans doubted he could handle, and an ending that might frustrate those invested in certain character relationships. Overall, it’s a strong comic, but it won’t win over existing detractors.

Ultimate Wolverine #12 is on sale now.

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2025-12-10 17:48