Spinning out of Saladin Ahmed and Martín Cóccolo’s Wolverine is The Last Wolverine, an Age of Revelation title that focuses on Leonard, the Wendigo. Almost like Batman, the series reimagines Wolverine as a kind of symbol to the people, and taking up that mantle is Leonard. Can he live up to Logan’s legacy, or will his animalistic ways come back to haunt him?
With Wolverine, aka Logan, mind-controlled in this event, The Last Wolverine seems to be all about what happened to him, while giving Leonard something to do. I have to admit I wasn’t pumped about Leonard being the main character, but this does give Ahmed more time to win us over.
The issue opens like so many superhero comics have done, with a burning building and people inside yelling for help. Enter Wolverine, aka Leonard, who swoops in to save the day. Now in control of his carnal side thanks to Logan, he’s sporting a yellow costume similar to Wolverine and fighting the good fight in Vancouver. This first half serves as proof Leonard is the superhero he always wanted to be, but it was largely sparked after a run in with Logan.
Outside of the flashback with Logan, this issue offers X-Men fans a bit of detail on fan-favorite characters. Nightcrawler is heavily used, and he’s got a brand new look that’ll shock many. The cliffhanger also reveals a key character and a key bond she has with another key character, which will likely have folks coming back for more. Both these elements are the best parts of the book.
Here he comes to save the day!
Credit: Marvel
Unfortunately, I can’t say I’m very invested in Leonard’s story. Taming the beast is one thing, but it seems that’s no longer an issue at all, so now he’s simply a young-ish hero trying to live up to Wolverine’s legacy. Being so new, I’m not invested in his ongoing adventure, and so far, he’s pretty basic. He’s far too nice, with little going on that makes him complex. That makes the best parts of the issue hint at Logan’s fall from grace, and any connections he left behind, the best parts.
Art is by Edgar Salazar with colors by Carlos Lopez. When Leonard comes in to save the day early on, Salazar gives him a cliché superhero pose, obviously on purpose to bring that bona fide hero energy. The design of the character on the cliffhanger page is great, and Nightcrawler’s look is shocking but in a good way. Sometimes art can look a bit unfinished or awkward, like when Leonard holds up a building, but that’s a rare thing.
The Last Wolverine #1 delivers an intriguing new angle on the Wolverine mythos, positioning Leonard the Wendigo as a symbolic heir rather than a literal successor. While Saladin Ahmed’s writing deftly expands the Age of Revelation world and gives X-Men fans a few exciting twists, Leonard’s journey lacks the grit and complexity that made Logan’s legacy endure. There’s almost enough here to evolve into something feral and unforgettable, but it’s not looking great.
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