In a shocking moment from the debut issue of Marvel’s newUltimateWolverineseries,the protagonist has already crossed a serious point of no return, as he successfully carries out an assassination mission against his former allies, Nightcrawler and Mystique. These two shocking deaths make a bold claim about the prospective fates of iconic Marvel characters, demonstrating one of the truths of the Ultimate Universe: no one is safe.
Ultimate Wolverine#1 – written by Chris Condon, with art by Alessandro Cappuccio – introduces readers to a new version of the iconic hero, who doubles as this continuity’s version of Winter Soldier, a brainwashed assassin forced to kill his own friends.
Logan is sent on a mission to kill Nightcrawler and Mystique, members of the mutant Opposition. Logan ambushes their hideout and makes his attack, killing their foot soldiers before eliminating Mystique. When Nightcrawler reluctantly takes up arms against his old friend, Logan impales him, killing him.
Marvel Makes A Statement With Wolverine’s Brutal Mission In The Debut Of His Ultimate Ongoing Series
Ultimate Wolverine#1 – Written By Chris Condon; Art By Alessandro Cappuccio; Color By Bryan Valenza; Lettering By Corey Petit
Both of these deaths are extremely shocking, due to Nightcrawler and Mystique being mainstays of theX-Menfranchise over the years.Nightcrawler’s death comes across as especially disturbing, given how, in the mainstream Marvel Comics continuity, he and Wolverine share arguably one of theclosest friendships inX-Menhistory. It has been made clear multiple times that in the mainstream continuity, Kurt has given Logan the guidance and wisdom he needed as a friend, while Logan has aided Kurt in accepting himself and his appearance.
The tragedy at the heart ofUltimate Wolverine#1 is that Logan was made to go on a mission to kill his best friend, making him cross an unthinkable line.
Kurt’s death at the hands ofLogan in the Ultimate Universeis especially tragic, as Kurt’s dialogue makes it clear that in this universe, he knew who Logan was pre-brainwashing. The prayer at the end of the issue all but states that these two versions of the character were just as close as their mainstream counterparts, with Kurt even referencing Logan’s nickname for him: Eef. In other words, the tragedy at the heart ofUltimate Wolverine#1 is that Logan was made to go on a mission to kill his best friend, making him cross an unthinkable line.
If It Wasn’t Already Clear, Now Readers Know That In The Ultimate Universe, No One Is Safe
And Redemption Isn’t A Sure Thing
Both of these deaths serve to reaffirm that in the Ultimate Universe, no one can truly be considered safe. As an alternate universe, the Ultimate Universe has never had to be shy about character deaths or even killing off iconic characters. While this trend was more common in theprevious iteration of the Ultimate Universe, the deaths of Nightcrawler and Mystique make it clear that the willingness to kill off major characters has not been lost. With future issues ofUltimate Wolverineteasing the Ultimate Universe’s Kitty Pryde and Gambit, their survival isn’t guaranteed like their mainstream counterparts.
Ultimate Wolverine’s Origin Reveals the Horrifying Reason He Became a Living Weapon
The Maker’s Council’s most lethal asset, the Ultimate Wolverine is the perfect specimen that the Weapon X Program had originally hoped to create.
The way that Ultimate Wolverine has made his bloody debut comes as a complete shock to fans of the character;killing Nightcrawler and Mystique in his first solo outing is a major creative swing for the series to take, both because of how iconic both characters are, and because of how close Wolverine and Nightcrawler have always been. Additionally, these deaths both reaffirm how no one’s fate is garunteed in the Ultimate Universe, while also making the deaths of futureX-Menmainstays who appear in thisUltimateWolverineseries feel more likely.
