Marvel has officially unveiled the new Ultimate version of Wolverine. The iconic X-Man character has had a countless number of variants over the years, all ranging from varying degrees of weakness and strength. The newly revamped Ultimate Universe is all about delivering audiences recontextualized variants of their favorite heroes. Now it's Wolverine's turn, with hints that Wolverine will be reborn as the Ultimate version of the Winter Soldier, replacing Bucky Barnes.
Marvel's "Next Big Thing" at New York City Comic-Con officially announces Ultimate Wolverine #1 by Chris Condon (That Texas Blood, Venom War: Daredevil) and Alessandro Cappuccio (Moon Knight). The also unveiled character designs from Cappuccio and variant covers from Gleb Melnikov and Steve Skroce, giving audiences a better look at what Wolverine will look like in the Ultimate Universe. In addition, readers will notice that unlike most Wolverine variants and versions, this incarnation wears a muzzle on his face. Condon explains at the that, simply put, "it's because he's wild," providing insight into just how this might be the most violent Wolverine that audiences have ever seen:
“When Wil Moss called me and asked me if I wanted to take on this title, I jumped at the chance and immediately had an idea of what to do with it. I’m bringing my essence of storytelling from That Texas Blood to the Marvel Universe with Wolverine, looking back at what came before and bringing us something new. You might notice that there’s a Red Star on his costume and you might wonder why. If you look at that mask, there’s a muzzle on him and that’s because he’s wild”
What Ultimate Wolverine as The Winter Soldier Means For Marvel's Universe
Wolverine Returns To His 'Weapon' Status as The Maker's Greatest Weapon
Along with the reveal of Ultimate Wolverine's new design, the first details were also offered. Before the character leads their own book with Ultimate Wolverine #1 in January, they will make their debut in Ultimate Universe: One Year In #1, a special one-shot marking the first year of the restored Ultimate Universe which is also promised to "set up the next year of stories." That next year of planned stories includes the return of The Maker. It's only fitting that his most valuable weapon (both to his character and Marvel as a publisher) will debut in the same issue.
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It would appear as if Wolverine will not only become instrumental to The Maker and his Council, but perhaps directly within it as an agent. Whether he's truly a willing member, or if he's been brainwashed and manipulated remains to be seen, but it seems evident that Wolverine as an idea will be going back to his roots as a weapon of violence for the opposition. In Earth-616 canon, the Weapon X program designed Logan to become an instrument of violence for unimaginable forces. Wolverine could be used in the same manner in the Ultimate Universe. In fact, Marvel's early details imply this new Wolverine will be reimagined as "The Winter Soldier" of the Ultimate Universe:
True to the character’s origin as a government weapon, Ultimate Wolverine is an unwilling agent of the Maker, the secret creator of this corrupt universe. Mindwiped and used as an assassin, he’s still the best there is as at what he does… even if he’s not in control of who he does it to. In order to maintain control of their corner of the Maker’s world, three of his council – Magik, Colossus and Omega Red – deploy their most lethal asset: The Winter Soldier! But WHO is the weapon behind the mask?
Our Take on The Ultimate Wolverine as The Winter Soldier
Who is the new Wolverine?
What's most fascinating about this variation on Wolverine is that it may not actually be Logan. In fact, in all likelihood, this version of Wolverine isn't Logan, as "Forgotten Marvels" by Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee, and VC's Cory Petit from Free Comic Book Day 2024: Ultimate Universe/Spider-Man #1 teases that the Logan of this universe may already be dead. Unless there is a reveal coming that Logan's death was faked and he'll be resurfacing under a new path and identity (not unlike Earth-616's Bucky Barnes), this Wolverine will be someone completely different.
If Logan does resurface in the same way that 616's Bucky debuts as the Winter Soldier, it would certainly be an indicator as to how he s the fray of the Maker's Council. On the other hand, if this isn't Logan, it treats the Wolverine name and idea as a mantle in the same way that it's loosely used as such for Laura Kinney. It also continues a trend of the Ultimates not necessarily having the same secret identity as their 616 counterpart (i.e. Ultimate Hawkeye being Charli Ramsey, not another Clint Barton).
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Wolverine is “the best there is at what he does,” but what he does has changed a lot since the fan-favorite X-Man was introduced in Marvel Comics.
Alternatively, there's a chance that this new Wolverine could be a Logan clone, as cloning could also be why there are multiple Bullseye in the Maker's Council. There are theories galore as to who Wolverine could be and how he ties into the Winter Soldier comparisons, but most importantly, it seems evident what goal Marvel wants to achieve through this Wolverine: bring the Wolverine namesake back to its original status quo while experimenting. When Logan first debuted in comics 50 years ago opposing the Hulk, he was an assassin. An overt Winter Soldier amalgamation brings Wolverine back to his roots.
The Earth-616 Wolverine has evolved immensely since he debuted 50 years ago as an antagonist fighting the Hulk. He's tempered and calmed the storm within him and, despite his violent tendencies, character development has matured him. For Marvel in its official universe to go backward would be a disservice to the character's evolution, but that's the beauty of the Ultimate Universe. It brings characters like Wolverine back to their status quo without de-evolving their official iteration. Ultimate Wolverine being a return to form starting from scratch is exciting news for readers.
Ultimate Wolverine #1 begins in January 2025.
