Comic Review: Ultimate Wolverine #2 – Quiet Chaos and Rising Tension

Issue two of Ultimate Wolverine doesn't blow your mind, but it definitely builds atmosphere. This is more of a contextual issue than an action-packed one, expanding the world and showing the complex dynamics between characters. While the action doesn’t move as quickly as in the first issue, the tension and mood steadily grow with every page.

A piece of a story that wants to be bigger

Let’s start with the most intriguing aspect – the alternate reality worldbuilding. The Eurasian Republic clearly draws from Soviet aesthetics, but many questions remain unanswered. How much Chinese influence is in it? How much actual ideology vs. simple narrative backdrop? This dystopian version begs for more detail – daily life, the contrast between superpowers, ideology vs. control.

Side characters stepping into the spotlight

This issue finally sheds light on Illyana, Piotr (Colossus), Omega Red (Rossovich), and Dr. Prostovich. Their relationships are… toxic. In the best way. This isn’t your typical team – it’s a web of tense alliances, quiet grudges, and personal resentment, adding depth to the story’s dark tone.

Winter Soldier as a weapon – silent but effective

Although Winter Soldier (Wolverine) still hasn’t said a word, his presence is suffocating. He feels more like a machine than a man – ruthless, unstoppable, brutal. The splash page of him leaping from a tree at his target is a masterful moment – pure momentum, instinct, and power captured in one frame.

Maker – genius who can't outsmart fate

Reed Richards, aka The Maker, is nearly demonic in this series. In the opening scene (already teased in previews), he shows his usual coldness and layered schemes. He tries to stop the creation of a bioweapon program, only for it to still happen – and in a worse form. Winter Soldier is the new Weapon X, and his own council created it. The irony is heavy: even the smartest mind can’t escape destiny.

Visuals and data pages – great additions

The art is strong – cold, sharp, atmospheric. Key panels with Maker or Wolverine in motion are especially striking. The data pages and lore inserts – while some readers complain – are a highlight for me. They deepen the world and stoke curiosity.

This is a transition issue, but not a boring one. It fleshes out the background, shows internal character conflicts, and builds a mood of uncertainty. I wish we had more concrete information about Eurasia and a bit more of Wolverine himself, but the series still holds strong potential. If future issues ramp up the pace, it could become something truly great.

Pros:

+Strong atmosphere and Maker’s narration

+Interesting development of side characters

+Striking visuals and action panel composition

+Great worldbuilding through data pages

Cons:

-Still too little known about Eurasia and its ideology

-Wolverine is too silent and underused

-More exposition, less momentum