Of course, Marvel wasn’t going to wait too long to resurrect Sabretooth following his death at the end of the previous volume of Wolverine, and though the “why” and “how” of his return are still major questions, the publisher has confirmed that the villain is back for an all-out brawl that “Wolverine's been dreading…for a century!”

Marvel’s advanced solicitation for Wolverine #11, written by Saladin Ahmed, with art by Martin Coccolo, simply and sharply proclaims “SABRETOOTH. WOLVERINE. DEATH,” while the cover for the issue features the perennial adversaries locked in combat once more.

The synopsis frames this fight as one that fans have “been waiting decades for,” but it will ittedly have to be pretty extreme to top conflict between Wolverine and Sabretooth.

Sabretooth Is Back; The Marvel Villain Is Set To Return After His Gory "Sabretooth War" Demise

Wolverine #11, Written By Saladin Ahmed; Art By Martin Coccolo; Available July 2025 From Marvel Comics

At the start of the author Benjamin Percy explained, to save Sabretooth for a climactic battle with Wolverine down the line. Five years later, Percy was given the task of delivering this climactic battle, which also served as the final chaper of the Krakoan Era Wolverine series. This turned out to be the intense "Sabretooth War" saga.

As definitive as Sabretooth's death at the end of the arc seemed, every reasonable comic book fan recognized that Marvel would bring him back eventually. The publisher even tried to forestall this inevitability by putting out a period piece Sabretooth story, The Dead Don't Talk, but now, Wolverine #11 appears set to officially resurrect the character, and it is promising another no-holds-barred battle between the two historic foes. As the synopsis for the issue puts it:

SABRETOOTH. WOLVERINE. DEATH. WOLVERINE versus SABRETOOTH on the grounds of the HOWLETT ESTATE! You've been waiting decades for this... and Wolverine's been dreading it for a century!

Now, the question is what this means for Sabretooth’s re-entry into the Marvel Universe beyond this story.

Wolverine Lore Isn't The Same Without Sabretooth Lurking In The Background

Why Marvel Is Right To Bring Him Back

Beyond his role as Wolverine's greatest enemy, Sabretooth is one of the relationship with Wolverine that defines him, and together these reasons explain why he will never stay dead for too long. It is fair to say that even when he is not actively antagonizing Wolverine, just knowing he could pop up to complicate the hero's life any time adds a layer of tension to Logan's ongoing adventures.

With Saladin Ahmed's tenure on the current volume of Wolverine reaching the one-year mark, it is also understandable that he would want a shot at writing a Wolverine vs. Sabretooth story.

In this sense, no Wolverine run is complete without Sabretooth playing a role; with Saladin Ahmed's tenure on the current volume of Wolverine reaching the one-year mark, it is also understandable that he would want a shot at writing a Wolverine vs. Sabretooth story, just as his predecessor Benjamin Percy, and so many Marvel Comics authors before them, have had the privilege of doing. Until more details about Sabretooth's return to the Marvel Universe, and his latest encounter with Wolverine, emerge, fans will have to occupy themselves with speculation about his short and long-term future.

Wolverine #11 will be available July 23, 2025 from Marvel Comics.