Ultimate Wolverine
Ultimate Wolverine is an ongoing comic book series written by Chris Condon, illustrated by Alessandro Cappuccio, and published by Marvel Comics primarily based on the character of Wolverine. This version of Wolverine serves as the Winter Soldier, utilized by The Maker's Council to maintain their control of the world.[1] The character was debuted in the one-shot Ultimate Universe: One Year In in December 2024, before the series began in January 2025.[2]
Premise
Set in the Ultimate Universe of Earth-6160, the titular character serves as the Winter Soldier, a mutant created and deployed in the Eurasian Republic by Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red, who serve as the "Tsars of Russia and Limbo" and members of The Maker's Council. The first issue released on January 15, 2025.[3]
Plot
The Winter Soldier
Near the Eurasian Republic border that is close to Latveria, some soldiers are talking about Winter Soldier where they heard rumors that he was originally a North American Union experiment gone wrong, not being human at all, and was pieced together from the corpses of those who have died. Winter Soldier gets up and jumps out of the airplane without a parachute. He attacks a hideout of the Opposition that is run by Mystique and Nightcrawler. In a flashback, Dr. Alongya Prostovich of Directorate X tells Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red about how the subject has regenerated from every injury it took. Colossus claims that it's from the North American Union like the other mutants in their custody as he and Dr. Prostovich recall the last time a skeleton enhancement project didn't go well. In addition, they do have a telepath that can help control him. Back in the present, Nightcrawler recognizes Winter Soldier as he begins his attack. As Nightcrawler does a prayer from Psalm 23, Mystique tries to fool Winter Soldier by posing as Colossus. He takes down Mystique. In another flashback, Dr. Prostovich informs Colossus that the subject's memory has been wiped and claims that it went by the name of "Logan". Back in the present, Nightcrawler tries to reason with Winter Soldier. While begging for forgiveness, Nightcrawler uses his teleporation and mastery of firearms to attack Winter Soldier. Before being stabbed by Winter Soldier's claws, Nightcrawler apologizes to Winter Soldier that they weren't quick enough and had come back for him. In another flashback, Logan was shown footage of the enemy by minions of Colossus where it was mentioned that Mystique and Nightcrawler had escaped from an East Berlin camp. While on his airplane upon removing his mask, Logan remembers the Psalm 23 prayer that Nightcrawler told him.[4]
30 years ago in the North American Union, Professor Thorton records his latest research on how Weapon Alpha died moments after the Adamantium-infusing procedure. While noting that the Weapon X Project has obtained some specimens with unique abilities, he notes they have good healing abilities. Just then, Maker comes in and hears of plans for a better world. After killing Professor Thorton, Maker sees a picture of James Howlett and burns the building down. In the present at Winter Soldier attacks some soldiers, Dr. Alongya Prostovich asks Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red that Winter Soldier is there as Magik is weary that the Opposition might have a telepath on their side. They all teleport to where Winter Soldier sleeps as Colossus orders Dr. Prostovich to remove the specimen as he wants to inspect it himself. Dr. Prostovich complies after cautioning Colossus as Winter Soldier is removed from stasis. After throwing Winter Soldier around, Colossus suggests testing it by sending some soldiers after it as Colossus will revise Dr. Prostovich's relationship with Directorate X. During the test, some soldiers hunt Winter Soldier as he slaughters them while the Rasputin family and Dr. Prostovich watch through the surveillance cameras.[5]
17 miles outside of Smolensk, Remy LeBeau and Kitty Pryde meet with a woman who was sent by the Archangel. When asked by Gambit if she can drive since their last driver was killed, the woman states that she can do many talents. Somewhere beneath Smolensk, Wolverine is doing some hunting. A mission briefing mentioned about Gambit and Kitty Pryde where it was mentioned that their driver Gregor Smerdyakov was killed. They also lost the prized possession known as Chyornaya Vdova AKA Natasha Romanova who they suspect has joined up with the Opposition. Back in the sewers, Winter Soldier and those with him are ambushed by Remy's traps. The Opposition finds out that Winter Soldier is there as Vdova drives a truck that Kitty escapes on. As Gambit escapes onto the truck, Winter Soldier follows them. When Winter Soldier breaks into the truck to get to the mutant children that are onboard, Kitty recognizes Winter Soldier as Logan. After using her powers on Winter Soldier's mind to get him to remember, Kitty apologetically kicks him off the truck.[6]
A wolf wanders through the woods and fights a polar bear with glowing red eyes as Directorate X staff members talk in the background about their subject. The fight between the wolf and the polar bear is fierce. It then cuts to Logan having killed or dismembered some Director X guards and scientists. When Logan is subdued, Dr. Alongya Prostovich surmises to a scientist named Sergei that something happened to Winter Soldier in the last mission. She plans to call "her" in to help get Winter Soldier under control. They enter a sphere beneath the Kremlin where they bring Weapon X to the "Phoenix specimen to help fix Logan's mind as she is seen hooked up near a disembodied brain that is also hooked up. A Directorate X log revealed that Charles Xavier's body is kept in cryogenic stasis sometime after his death as Dr. Prostovich mentioned that he and the Magneto specimen would've controlled the world. It was mentioned that Xavier's brain was removed from his body that that they will find a way to make use of it. As for the Phoenix specimen, she is kept fed and her muscles are atrophied. The Phoenix specimen was used to control the likes of Ursus, Krylenko, and Petrovna while being able to calm Winter Soldier in a way that the others don't experience.[7]
Characters
Main characters
- Wolverine / Winter Soldier / Logan - A mutant with healing powers and adamantium claws who is mind-controlled to serve the Rasputin family.
Villains
- Colossus / Piotr Rasputin - The leader of the Rasputin Family and member of Maker's Council that rules the Eurasian Republic.
- Magik / Illyana Rasputin - The sister of Colossus who is a part of the Rasputin Family and member of Maker's Council. She is revealed to rule Limbo on the behalf of Maker's Council.[a]
- Omega Red / Arkady Rossovich - A mutant with carbonadium tentacles who is a part of the Rasputin Family and member of Maker's Council.
- Dr. Alongya Prostovich - A scientist and member of Directorate X who worked on Logan.
Other characters
- Mystique / Raven Darkholme - A shapeshifting member of the Opposition. She was taken down by Winter Soldier.
- Nightcrawler / Kurt Wagner - A demon-resembling teleporting member of the Opposition. He was taken down by Winter Soldier.
- Maker - A version of Mister Fantastic from Earth-1610 who traveled to Earth-6160 and remade it into his own image.
- Professor Thorton - A top scientist in the Weapon X Project who was killed by Maker.
- Gambit / Remy LeBeau - A member of the Opposition who was responsible for the Mikhail Massacre where he killed Mikhail Rasputin.
- Kitty Pryde - A member of the Opposition.
- Chyornaya Vdova / Natasha Romanova - A member of the Opposition.
- Jean Grey - She is referred to as the Phoenix specimen and is kept in a spherical structure beneath the Kremling by Directorate X and was used to control the other subjects.
- Charles Xavier - He is mentioned to be dead. While his body is kept in stasis, Charles' brain was removed as Directorate X plans to find a way to make use of it.
Organizations
- Rasputin Family - The ruling family of the Eurasian Republic that brought back the Tsarist autocracy.[b] They are also responsible for the "Rasputin Purge" that exiled Kraven the Hunter's family among others.[c]
- Directorate X - An organization that is loyal to the Rasputin Family.
- The Opposition - A group that is against the Rasputin Family.
Reception
Notes
- ^ As revealed in Ultimate Universe - One Year In #1.
- ^ As revealed in Ultimates Vol. 4 #2.
- ^ As revealed in Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3 #8.
References
- ^ Brooke, David (October 17, 2024). "NYCC 2024: Ultimate Wolverine coming in 2025 • AIPT". Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ "SDCC 2024: 'Ultimate Universe: One Year In' Sets the Stage for Year Two". www.marvel.com. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ Marston, George (October 17, 2024). "Wolverine becomes the Maker's mind-controlled Winter Soldier in the latest Ultimate Universe ongoing title". gamesradar. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ Ultimate Wolverine #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ultimate Wolverine #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ultimate Wolverine #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ultimate Wolverine #4. Marvel Comics.