Ultimate Wolverine #6 begins with a quote from one of my favorite stories, A Christmas Carol: “I wear the chain I forged in life..I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.” It’s not a quote that one would think to apply to Wolverine, and yet it’s a perfect fit for the character, especially this version who’s bound by chains of blood, violence, and manipulation.
Yet someone has loosened those chains, meaning that for the first time in a long time Logan is free. To truly gain his freedom, he’ll have to fight his way past the ghosts of his past, and the chains that are still holding him. Again, this is pretty heavy stuff for a Wolverine book, but it’s done so well. From beginning to end, I was hooked thanks to Chris Condon’s writing – the conversation between Wolverine and the mystery voice in his head is rich with subtext, while also painting a narrative of someone who can truly relate to Logan.
Throughout Ultimate Wolverine #6, Condon hammers home a point I’ve made about Wolverine: what makes him such a compelling character is that he’s fought to be better than he was, no matter the universe. That’s true here – he could have stayed chained up, but he chose to fight through the darkness and shed the weight of his past. The fact that Condon is willing to tackle weighty issues like this instead of just resorting to bloody violence is proof that this is going to be a standout Wolverine story.
Marvel
The artwork from Alex Lins also helps sells that subtext. When Logan pops his claws for the first time, chains shoot out, covering his entire body. He falls through space, passing by the Maker – the man who’s kept the whole world chained up by his own sick design. And then he comes face to face with massive versions of Colossus, Magik and Omega Red – the people who turned him into a weapon. But that’s nothing compared to the last fight Logan has, which brings the theme of freedom full circle. While this issue isn’t as bloody as past installments, it still packs enough violence to hook Wolverine fans.
The imagery in this comic is further enhanced by the amazing color work from Bryan Valenza. Valenza begins by shrouding things in shadow, then easing up on the darker tones as Logan carves through obstacle after obstacle. It’s only fitting that the finale takes place in a well lit room, where Logan’s surrounded by friendly faces (X-Men fans, keep your eyes peeled for some cameos.) Cory Petit also contributes a pair of pages that delves deeper into the figure who set Logan free, adding an undercurrent of tragedy to the triumphant tone.
Ultimate Wolverine #6 is a soulful standalone story, digging deep into Wolverine’s core to break a cycle of bloodshed and violence. It also marks a turning point in the series, which only makes me more excited for future issues. Wolverine may have broken free of his chains, but Condon and Lins have me hooked for what’s coming next.
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