Saladin Ahmed and Martín Coccolo’s Wolverine feels like it’s all been building to Wolverine #19 due to the Adamantine and its larger role in the latest story arc. Not only is it super durable, but it can also control people when it enters them, which it just did to Hercules. Now, Wolverine and the community he swore to protect are in danger, with Hercules and Wolverine fighting to the death!
The Adamantine is a curious creation, in part because it has been allowed to slowly develop over nineteen issues. An extremely durable metallic ore tied to the Olympian gods that has become sentient, it sees Wolverine’s adamantium as a “pretender” that needs to be vanquished. Largely distant from Wolverine in proximity, Wolverine #19 ends in a direct confrontation with them both, along with a cliffhanger that Marvel already spoiled, and should put Logan in the toughest position he’s been in for years.
Before the finale, this issue serves as a fight comic through and through, as Wolverine is in a berserker rage and Hercules is not in control of his body. The action and drama of it all are limited at the start due to both heroes being frozen in time thanks to Athena, but it helps shift from the battle we already got plenty of last issue. It also lets Ahmed give readers a good primer on Adamantine, making it an easy jumping-on point. Ahmed also does a good job establishing the stakes Wolverine faces before he and Hercules bring the fight to Adamantine.
Look what you did, Wolverine!
Credit: Marvel
Beyond being helpful and informative, this opening sequence lasts a good eight or so pages and lacks conflict, danger, and drama. It also pivots away from New Morlocks and Silver Sable parts in a slightly clunky way.
Coccolo gets to flex his action muscles in this issue in the back half. There’s a lot to highlight in Coccolo’s art in this issue, from a blur effect on Hercules’ fist coming right at the reader to Adamantine’s flashy armor. Wolverine also looks great in this battle, like the detail in his back muscles in one panel, and quite a hit to the head that makes his mask ears flap. The action is fast, and it builds towards the reveal that people will be talking about for some time. Coccolo also does the tricky job of making a gladiator-armed foe feel dangerous and a worthy opponent of Wolverine.
Wolverine #19 delivers on the long build toward Adamantine, with a brutal central conflict and a strong visual payoff. The early slowdown gives needed context but drags longer than it should, softening the urgency. Once the fight takes over, the issue finds its footing and pushes Logan into one of his most dangerous situations in years. The ending lands with impact and sets up major consequences.
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