Comic Revie: Ultimate Wolverine #10

Ultimate Wolverine #10 is an issue that perfectly sums up the core problem of this series so far. It’s a good comic, at times even very close to being great, but once again it ultimately falls short. It’s an enjoyable read, it contains scenes that genuinely work, and it introduces some interesting ideas yet when you close the issue, the same lingering question remains: why isn’t this better, when it so clearly could be?

A New Artist, a New Tone

The first thing that stands out is the change in art style. Alessandro Cappuccio steps aside for Lins, and the result is mixed. On one hand, Lins’ style fits what Ultimate Wolverine has gradually become a more pulpy, action-driven, traditionally superhero-flavored book. On the other hand, you can really feel the absence of the cold, harsh atmosphere that Cappuccio brought to earlier issues, which perfectly reflected Logan’s emotional detachment and brutality.

At times, Wolverine doesn’t quite look like Wolverine, and the facial expressions can occasionally break immersion. It’s not bad art by any means, but it’s uneven and less distinctive. Ironically, though, the storytelling here works better than it did in issue #9.

Logan and Sabretooth – The Issue’s Strongest Element

The absolute highlight of Ultimate Wolverine #10 is the relationship between Logan and Sabretooth. Their quieter, more personal conversation is exactly what this series has been missing from the start. In this universe, they’re friends and it shows. There’s chemistry, shared history, and an undercurrent of tragedy.

The real disappointment is that moments like this are so rare. Once again, the series proves it knows what it should be doing, but just doesn’t do it often enough.

Artie and Leech also make a welcome appearance. Their role is small but meaningful, reminding us that this story is about real people and children not just political power plays and violence. Let’s just hope they’ll be okay.

Omega Red – A Missed Opportunity

Logan’s confrontation with Omega Red (Arkady Rossovich) is set up quite well. Omega Red has never been the most compelling Wolverine villain, but his life-draining “vampire” gimmick has always worked nicely as a thematic opposite to Logan’s healing factor.

The problem?
The comic barely shows the fight.

We get the setup, we get a new weapon (more on that in a moment), and then… we jump straight to the aftermath. The climax happens off-panel. It’s a baffling choice, especially in a series called Ultimate Wolverine, which already suffers from a lack of memorable action compared to other Ultimate titles.

A few pages of raw, brutal combat even at the expense of some political exposition would have dramatically improved this issue.

The Rasputins – Still Flat Villains

Piotr and Illyana Rasputin remain the weakest part of the series. The idea of turning them into villains isn’t inherently bad, but the execution is almost nonexistent.

At this point:

-We don’t know who this Piotr really is, given that he grew up with Mikhail, unlike his 616 counterpart

-We don’t know how this Illyana ended up in Limbo or how her experience shaped her

-We don’t know what their relationship with each other is like

-We don’t know their dynamic with Rossovich

They come across as one-note “evil Russian dictator” archetypes. By contrast, other members of the ruling council in this universe feel meaningfully different from their 616 versions. Magik, meanwhile, is just… evil. That’s it.

One solid conversation between the siblings could fix a lot of this. Unfortunately, issue #10 still doesn’t give us that.

The Demon Sword and Hi No Kuni Connections

The most intriguing new element introduced here is the Demon Sword a weapon capable of killing characters with healing factors and, according to rumors, even cutting through souls. It’s a very comic-book concept, but an effective one.

The data page at the end of the issue and the newspaper mention of the sword going missing are excellent touches. For the first time, the series truly feels connected to Hi No Kuni and the wider Ultimate Universe. This kind of worldbuilding is exactly what the book needs more of.

Political Context and Universe Details

Another positive is the scene involving Director Rossovich, commenting on “fake news” being published by The Paper (run by J. Jonah Jameson and Ben Parker). It’s a small detail, but one that’s easy to appreciate especially since earlier issues of Ultimate Spider-Man visually hinted at these connections.

Moments like this help the Ultimate world feel cohesive and alive.

The Ending – Strong, but Too Late

The issue ends with a solid, confrontational “F you” aimed directly at Colossus, effectively building tension for what’s to come. The problem is that, after so much wheel-spinning and underdeveloped conflict, it’s hard to feel fully excited.

Once again, the series makes a good move just a couple of issues too late.

Final Thoughts

Ultimate Wolverine #10 is better than the previous issue, with clear strengths Logan and Sabretooth’s relationship, an interesting new artifact, and stronger emotional beats. But it’s also another chapter that fails to capitalize on its own potential, sidelines major action, and continues to neglect meaningful villain development.

This could be a great comic.
Instead, it’s just… solid.

Pros:

+Strong chemistry between Logan and Sabretooth

+A cool and promising Demon Sword concept

+Better character moments than issue #9

+Smart connections to other Ultimate titles

+A tension-building final scene

Cons:

-Omega Red fight happens almost entirely off-panel

-The Rasputins remain underdeveloped

-Inconsistent art and facial expressions

-Too much setup, not enough real action

-The story still feels like it’s running in circles

Final Score: 7 / 10

Ultimate Wolverine #10 proves that this series has heart and good ideas, but still struggles to fully realize them. It’s a step in the right direction just a frustratingly cautious one.