The Ultimate Universe has shown how creators can take heroes back to their roots, and that’s the case with Ultimate Wolverine. Logan is now in the Winter Soldier program, and he’s seemingly lost his humanity and identity in the process. The first issue revealed that his fellow mutants knew him as a friend, but he also slaughtered them. Writer Chris Condon and artist Alessandro Cappuccio take us deeper into the program and circumstances that made him into a weapon in Ultimate Wolverine #2.
The main characters in Ultimate Wolverine #2 include Magik, Omega Red, Colossus, Wolverine, and Dr. Alonya Prostovich. The latter character runs Directorate X, a research program that has turned Wolverine into the Winter Soldier. Considering every character in this book is a villain, it does not look so good for Wolverine to escape slavery.
Ultimate Wolverine #2 opens thirty years prior to the series of events. It’s a flashback revealed in the preview showing how The Maker took off the man behind Weapon X the board. Could we have guessed Weapon X was switched out for The Maker’s plans? Probably, but it’s at least a certainty how Wolverine’s past was messed with in this universe.
Brutal death.
Credit: Marvel
Much of this issue is about Wolverine getting field-tested. The clearly very evil Colossus puts Dr. Alonya on the chopping block to see how Wolverine does against his own men. The brutality is animalistic and unrelenting. On top of that, Colossus gets no pushback when he puts his hand on his throat. He seems to be the dog they want, but in the final moments, one might see something up with Wolverine that could turn him against his masters.
If it’s not obvious from this review yet, this is a slow-burn story. Between this and the first issue, we know very little about Wolverine. The second issue only confirms he’s a lapdog with a hint there may be a man inside ready to escape.
As far as art, Cappuccio and color artist Bryan Valenza continue to do eerie things with the art. From the glasses of Truett Hudson’s which seem to glow, to gusts of air coming from Wolverine’s mask, there’s a sense of fear and horror in much of this book. The animalistic raw power of Wolverine is also on full display. Cappuccio’s use of bold contrasts and meticulous detailing enhances the storytelling, immersing readers in this gritty and uncompromising world.
Ultimate Wolverine #2 continues the slow-burn descent into Logan’s tragic transformation, emphasizing his loss of humanity while teasing a potential breaking point. The art excels in creating a chilling, violent atmosphere, though the story could benefit from a faster pace and more character insight.
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