Comic Review: Wolverine #11 – brutal fight, disappointing finale

 

Anyone who follows Logan’s adventures knows that his clashes with Sabretooth are classics of the genre raw brutality, blood, and the tension between two characters who define each other. Wolverine #11 is largely built on that formula: it’s essentially one big fight between Wolverine and Victor Creed. And while in terms of intensity and spectacle it delivers some of what fans expect, narratively and emotionally the issue is uneven.

A fight that should have been epic

Martín Cóccolo undeniably knows how to draw brutality the blood flows freely, the blows feel heavy, and the overall atmosphere of the fight has the savagery fans crave. The best moments are when Logan smashes through walls and windows especially the scene where he drops the iconic “best there is” line while crashing out of the building. It’s the kind of moment that begs to be remembered.

However, the fight choreography is disappointing. Individual panels look good, but overall it comes across as a series of random strikes rather than a coherent, flowing battle. Wolverine and Sabretooth should fight like beasts but also like seasoned killers here, there’s no sense of strategy, rhythm, or surprise. It’s just blow after blow, with little real drama.

Logan’s inner monologue – a highlight

Saladin Ahmed has consistently shown that he knows how to write Wolverine’s inner voice. Logan’s introspection in Wolverine #11 is one of the issue’s strongest points. He isn’t just battling Sabretooth; he’s wrestling with his own memories. The moments when the narrative pulls us inside his head give the story real emotional weight. It’s this that adds depth to the character something the fight scenes alone couldn’t accomplish.

The mother who wasn’t

The previous issue shocked readers with the return of Logan’s mother a storyline with potential to open up new, uncharted aspects of Wolverine’s psychology. Sadly, Wolverine #11 defuses this twist quickly and in a rather underwhelming way. It turns out the whole thing was a manipulation by Mastermind.

On one hand, it’s a relief that Marvel didn’t go down the controversial road of literally resurrecting Logan’s mother, which could have undermined the consistency of his backstory. On the other hand, the reveal is far from exciting. Mastermind isn’t a villain who ignites much imagination, and his role here feels more disappointing than shocking. A promising “mother angle” ends up being reduced to a fairly generic narrative trick.

A wasted opportunity

The problem with Wolverine #11 is that it had the potential to be a breakthrough issue but ends up being just another Wolverine vs. Sabretooth slugfest. There’s a lack of freshness and boldness. Ahmed tries to dig into Wolverine’s character, but does so too cautiously, and the final twist only confirms that the series is stuck in old patterns.

Another downside is Sabretooth himself: despite the brutal visuals, he feels almost indestructible, which weakens the credibility of the fight. Logan slashes him dozens of times with adamantium claws, and yet the visible damage is minimal. Instead of drama, we get cliché.

On the plus side – atmosphere and brutality

Still, the issue does have merits. The raw, savage tone of the fight, some striking panels from Cóccolo, and Logan’s well-written inner narration create moments that engage. If you’re here purely for blood-soaked spectacle, Wolverine #11 delivers.

Conclusion

Wolverine #11 is an issue that teeters between spectacle and disappointment. We get a brutal fight, strong atmosphere, and some memorable moments of narration, but little that feels fresh or meaningful for Wolverine’s mythology. The Mastermind reveal feels more “okay” than “wow,” and the lack of fight choreography turns a potentially epic showdown into monotony.

It’s not a bad comic but for a character as iconic as Wolverine, expectations are much higher. Which is why the sense of missed opportunity looms so large.

Score: 6/10

Pros:

+Savage, bloody atmosphere of the Wolverine vs. Sabretooth fight

+A few striking Cóccolo panels, especially the destruction sequences

+Logan’s inner monologues add depth to the character

+The “best there is” scene hits hard

Cons:

-No real choreography to the fight—just repetitive blows

-Mastermind twist feels underwhelming and derivative

-Wasted potential of the Logan’s mother storyline

-Sabretooth portrayed as unrealistically durable, undermining stakes

-The issue overall feels predictable and average