Comic Review: Ultimate Wolverine #3 – Solid Continuation, But Missing a Spark

The third installment of the Ultimate Wolverine by Dennis Condon and Ramón F. Cappuccio brings another dose of brutal action, subtle hints at Logan's past, and a slowly unfolding backdrop for the world of Earth-6160. While this is still a well-written and beautifully illustrated comic, it’s hard to shake the feeling that… this chapter is a bit like idling in neutral — the engine’s running, but we’re not really moving forward.

Cappuccio Delivers – Big Time

Let’s start with the biggest strength of this issue — the art by Ramón F. Cappuccio. The artist is absolutely in his element. The dynamic fight scenes, perfectly structured panels, and above all, the expressions and emotional depth in the quieter, more personal moments — all of it screams top-tier talent. You can feel that he’s enjoying himself here. That’s why it’s a shame he had to step aside, even briefly, in such a short series. The difference is noticeable. It doesn’t ruin the book, but it leaves a bit of a sour taste.

Writing: Solid, But Not “Wow”

Dennis Condon knows how to write characters — that’s for sure. He skillfully blends dialogue with action, builds relationships, and subtly expands the 6160 mythology. But… this issue just doesn’t seem to have a clear purpose. It’s hard not to feel like, in a five-issue miniseries, issue #3 should be driving us toward a conclusion. Instead, everything feels a little unfocused. New threads appear (hello Natasha Romanoff!), but it’s unclear where they’re leading us.

New/Familiar Faces – Surprises and Stumbles

Natasha’s appearance was a great decision — not just because it makes sense geographically, but because of her shared backstory with Logan as a brainwashed assassin for the Russian government. There’s chemistry between them, and her unexpectedly dorky personality is a refreshing touch.

Less convincing, though, is the romantic pairing of Kitty and Remy. Their scenes together are well-written, and their teamwork in battle is fun to watch — but romantically? It's just weird. It feels forced and unnecessary. Maybe there’s a reason behind it that’ll be revealed later, but for now, it doesn’t work.

Logan’s Past – Still in the Dark, But Promising

We get a few more crumbs of Wolverine’s past — both literal and metaphorical — but we’re still mostly in the dark. One particularly strong scene is Kitty’s “Cassandra Nova moment,” which might be a turning point for Logan. It’s one of the best illustrated moments in the issue and really stands out. Still, there are more questions than answers.

Data Pages – A Nice Bonus, But Not Always Effective

In Ultimate Wolverine, the data pages (extra content in the form of reports, posters, or news articles) play an important role. This issue features an opposition flyer and an article about the death of the fourth resistance leader (Magik and Colossus’s brother). These are cool little world-building elements, but visually, they don’t always match the tone — like the ominous shadowy panel of the leaders, which contradicts Illyana’s sympathetic portrayal at the end. A small thing, but it sticks out.

Conclusion: Good, Not Groundbreaking

Ultimate Wolverine #3 is a good comic — beautifully drawn, well written in terms of character and pacing — but it lacks that one big spark that would make it unmissable. A middle issue in a miniseries should start building toward a climax. Here, we’re mostly drifting.

That said, the potential is still strong. There are intriguing hints, great action, and character dynamics that could explode in the finale. I’m hopeful the next issue delivers that much-needed push. For now, this one feels more like a pause than a step forward.

My Score: 7/10

Excellent visuals, interesting subplots, but the main story arc needs more momentum. Hopefully #4 gives us that punch.