Comic Review of Wolverine #12 – “Illusions Without Purpose”

 

Wolverine’s solo series has long accustomed us to the fact that even if the plot takes a back seat, we can always count on brutal action, Logan’s characteristic cynicism, and the exploration of his inner demons. Unfortunately, Wolverine #12 is an example of an issue that has all the elements to be an intense journey into the character’s psyche but loses itself in chaos, repeating the worst clichés of the genre and wasting the potential of both the protagonist and the very formula of superhero comics.

Story Chaos – What’s the Point?

Logan’s main opponent here is Mastermind, a classic mutant villain whose illusion powers should, in theory, be the perfect excuse for experimental storytelling and spectacular visuals. In practice, however, we get a patchwork of scenes that lead nowhere.

Logan stumbles into trap after trap: he meets long-dead loved ones, villains he already killed, even his mother – dead for over a century. The problem is, Wolverine has lived with the trauma of mind manipulation for decades. His brain has been messed with more times than one can count. And yet in this issue, he falls for the simplest tricks. Instead of instinctively suspecting illusions, we watch him wander through set pieces like an amateur. The result? Logan comes off not as a hardened warrior but as a naïve kid pining for his mom.

And here’s the fundamental question: what does this story even achieve?
 It doesn’t develop Wolverine, it shows nothing new about Mastermind, and the plot seems to exist only to fill a few issues with illusions.

Wasted Potential of Illusions

The whole issue takes place inside Mastermind’s illusions. You’d think this was the perfect chance for the artist to go wild – to break realism, play with form, color, paneling, perspective. Instead, Wolverine #12 looks… average.

The art is serviceable, but uninspired. There isn’t a single standout page that lingers in memory. Rather than a surreal nightmare or a visually experimental journey, we get the aesthetics of a filler issue. Even the panel layouts remain conservative, as if the artist forgot this was a world where literally anything is possible.

Bad Clichés and Lazy Tropes

One of the most irritating elements is the constant use of the tired old trope: “But I never said the name X!” – the cheap trick in illusion stories that tips the character off that it’s all fake. The problem? Marvel has done this dozens of times, and here it’s delivered with no twist, no fresh spin.

Add to this the complete lack of motivation for Mastermind. Why is he going to all this trouble? What does he want? We don’t know the comic doesn’t say. He’s reduced to a plot device.

The Few Bright Spots – Inner Monologue and a Hint of Atmosphere

The one saving grace remains Wolverine’s inner monologue. Logan still has that recognizable voice: weary, cynical, yet deeply vulnerable. A few of his reflections manage to salvage some pages from total waste.

There are also moments that, while predictable, still carry some emotional weight. Meeting his mother or facing old enemies could have worked better in a story that actually had something to say.

Final Thoughts

Wolverine #12 is an issue that could have been a psychological, emotionally charged story, but instead gets bogged down in clichés and narrative aimlessness. Ahmed has shown before that he can write ambitious, fresh stories (Black Bolt!), but here it’s clear he has no idea what to do with Wolverine or his rich mythology.

The result? A comic that grows more frustrating as you read it not because it’s bold or controversial, but because it’s simply empty.

Final Score: 4/10

Pros:

+A few solid inner monologue moments for Wolverine

+Emotional potential in the scene with his mother

+At least the arc was short, not stretched out for months

Cons:

-Mastermind has no motivation – just a plot device

-Logan acts like a fool, not a seasoned fighter

-Overused clichés (“I never said the name…”)

-Lack of creative visual ideas for the illusions

-Narrative chaos and wasted potential