Two Wolves Walk Into A Bar — Reviewing ‘Ultimate Wolverine’ #5

Within the foundation of the multiversal concept there lies a myriad of potential possibilities which could invariably be played out. Combinations of figures, places, and events that might match up except for minor shifts here or there. Other branches can end up going in wildly dramatically different, unexpected directions, creating intriguing potential.

No matter the differences, though, invariably there will come a moment where James “Logan” Howlett and Victor Creed will come to blows. Whether they are friendly, adversarial, or murderous depends on the universal situation.

That time has come for Ultimate Wolverine as Chris Condon, Bryan Valenza, Cory Petit, and guest artist Alex Lins introduce the ultimized version of Wolverine’s oldest and deadliest foe. Except, this version has a whole lot more going on than one might expect.

**SPOILERS FOLLOW**

I’m probably in a minority within the comics’ fandom, but I prefer a good Sabretooth. One who isn’t a sadistic serial murderer rapist cannibal with a penchant for torture. You know, like the Age of Apocalypse version who was a father-figure and hero. I was even a fan of the Red Skull Onslaught flipped Sabretooth of the 2010s who was rough but on the heroic side of things.

Thankfully, that’s what Condon gives us in this series. A Sabretooth that is still an old pal of Wolverine’s but also one that is deep in the freedom fighting sphere. He protects young Leech and Artie till they can be ferried to safety by the group. This big burly dude is a bartender who goes out of his way to make a Shirley Temple for the kids just because they listen to and enjoy his old stories. I mean, come on!

Overall, this continues to be a very solid series. Condon once more takes something that is overdone with the characters and breathes new life into it, such as having another Wolverine versus Sabretooth fight. We’ve seen it a billion times but here it feels fresh and gripping. Their roles are shifted and the stakes are quite personal and high.

Hell, even the flashback to Logan begging his pal to end him if he ever becomes something like he is now hits right in the heart.

Never did I expect the Ultimate Wolverine series to be the best Wolverine series we’ve had in quite some time. Yet, here we are.

While Sabretooth is nicer, there is nothing nice about the tone of this series. Very rough, tons of blood and pain to be spread around within and without the title character. This tone has been perfectly set through the four first books and does not fade any with the artistic shift.

Lins comes with a style perfectly suited for a story such as this. Rough and tumble from the outset, he lets the harder elements live in the texture they deserve. Rather than a sharpness, though, as usually accompanies such artwork, there is a softer feeling rounding things out. It’s fitting, since both characters in this story are hard on the exterior with a present and past that is softer.

Tons of kinetic shifting energy peeks in as the action scenes play out. Nothing is held back as the figures move through the space with brutality. Plenty of blood and gore are present without ever needing to go into a realistic overly graphic space.

There is a change in the overall color atmosphere in this issue. Much of that comes from the spaces the story takes place in, but also just from how Valenza shifts his palette to match Lins’ style. Much of the overall color scale is kept to a more medium sort of level. This finds a tonal baseline neutrality that allows the various spaces to keep a familiar appearance.

Even the fantastical element has a toned down feel to it, because this is not a superhero book, nor one that really dabbles into the extreme fantastic. Instead it’s a dark book about the struggles a man and a group of people are going through as the powers above them work hard against them.

Each of the voices crafted here finds their space and power easily. Petit’s veteran hand guides the way, as the lettering breezes through the pages. This creates distinct tones and sounds for each participant within the story, letting their words strike with built up power as the story keeps moving along. All the modifiers deliver more dense and intriguing levels.

Ultimate Wolverine #5 is now available from Marvel Comics.