The end of the Ultimate Universe has been set into motion with Ultimate Endgame #1, and the rest of the titles are soon to follow. While the other Ultimate titles are dovetailing into the events of Ultimate Endgame, Ultimate Wolverine #13 takes a detour to explore how Wolverine is dealing with the aftermath of rescuing Jean Grey and sending the Eurasian Republic’s last remaining leader, Magik, on the run. Jean is growing steadily sick, leading Logan to go on the hunt for medicine and stumbling into trouble along the way.
Throughout Ultimate Wolverine #13, Chris Condon explores the nature of choice. When Sentinel One asks Wolverine if they should help in the Eurasian uprising, Logan tells him that it’s up to the people to make their own choices after years of submission. He also makes the choice to help Jean, and when encountering the feral Ursa Major, tries to talk him down before the inevitable violence occurs. Choice has always been baked into Wolverine’s character, no matter the universe; whether it was the choices taken from him when he was forged into a weapon, or the choice to be better than what others intend for him. The fact that Condon understands that is what makes Ultimate Wolverine worth a read.
Interestingly, the theme of choice is brought up in the issue’s prologue, which focuses on a young Illyana Rasputin. Readers will learn that her path to darkness started at a very young age, which begs the question: how did an innocent child become the bloodthirsty ruler of both Russia and the demonic realm that is Limbo? Condon’s script suggests once again that Illyana made a choice, which both parallels and serves as a dark mirror to Logan’s own choices or lack thereof.
Marvel
As Ultimate Wolverine enters its final stretch of issues, a new artist joins the fray. Domenico Carbone has a sleek, visually arresting style that makes the entirety of Ultimate Wolverine #13 feel like a really well-crafted animated short. His best work comes during the battle between Logan and Ursa Major, which is packed with bloody violence yet also is compelling in its craft. Ursa Major is a terrifying sight, towering over Logan with a crazed look in his blood red eyes; Logan, on the other hand, moves with surprising speed and ferocity as his claws draw rivers of blood from the massive figure.
The prologue with Illyana is no less terrifying, thanks to Bryan Valenza’s use of shadows and how Carbone draws said shadows. They twist to life, taking on the form of demons and other horrific figures as Illyana huddles under her covers. Finally, the shadows take form into a large arm that reaches out for her, drawing her into the realm of Limbo. It’s the stuff of nightmares, and the fact that it ends there isn’t very comforting.
Ultimate Wolverine #13 manages to carve out its own story amongst the end of the Ultimate Universe, ruminating on choices and how they shape us into the people we’ve become. The ending also hints that Logan has made another major choice, but how it’ll affect him remains to be seen.
You must be logged in to post a comment.