This book is not exactly hot off the presses, but it is still a very good read. It’s an alternate universe book, so you don’t need to know much comic book continuity to get into it. This is one of several books in Marvel’s rejuvenated Ultimate Universe imprint, spearheaded by Eisner- award winning writer Jonathan Hickman. The continuity reimagines classic Marvel characters in a new way, often much darker. Even though there is a continuity, I think this book is a perfect jumping off point for the fictional universe.
The first issue of this book has a recap page before the actual story begins. It introduces Logan/Wolverine as an agent of the Eurasian Republic, which is basically a superpowered USSR. Several soldiers have a conversation on a plane about who and what exactly the muzzled Wolverine is. The reticent rogue then jumps mid-flight into a wilderness; he’s on a hunt. Apparently, there is a rebel group that he was sent to stop. There are also sporadic flashbacks to Logan in the experiment where he got some of his abilities. It’s best not to spoil anything else, but you might be familiar with a few of the book’s featured players.
There have been fantastic reactions to Ultimate Wolverine, and the Ultimate Universe altogether. If you enjoy this one, you could catch up on the rest of the universe, or DC’s equivalent Absolute publishing line. If you like Wolverine, I would recommend Weapon X, Enemy of the State, and Giant Size X-Men. All are very foundational to Logan’s character, and they also feature a bunch of other characters, if you like Marvel. Chris Condon’s writing is both revealing and mysterious, in such a way that it intrigues you to read further. And Alessandro Cappuccio’s pencils pace the story in a very immersive manner. You can get better recommendations from Marvel’s Fandom website, as well as the publisher’s official site. Physical copies are most likely at comic shops, but digital copies are usually readily available.
You can read it with your schoolmates too! Richwoods High School has its own comic book club now. If you’re interested in joining, show up to room 303b after school on Mondays. You can work on your creativity and people skills. And we could help you work on a comic book of your own, if you have any ideas. Be sure to read next time, when we cover Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (2020-2022) by IDW Publishing.
