REVIEW: ‘Wolverine’ Issue #1 (2024)

Wolverine #1 (2024) is published by Marvel Comics. It is written by Saladin Ahmed, with art by Martín Cóccolo, colors by Bryan Valenza and letters by Cory Petit. This is part of the “From The Ashes” relaunch of the X-Men books. Wolverine has returned to the wild, trying to escape the world. But both his friends and his foes are desperate to find him.

Wolverine #1 (2024) is an issue of immense size, yet the pacing ensures the story never feels slow or bogged down. There is peace to Wolverine’s new life, running with a pack of wolves, but his life will never allow him to rest or slip away. An exciting structure is chosen, with a three-pronged entry to the issue, showing the book’s main characters. Wolverine, Cyber, and Nightcrawler all enter the frosty wilderness independently, but there is a desire from both Logan’s ally and enemy to find him.

Ahmed is violent and savage, dragging Wolverine into action even if he doesn’t want any part of it. Added vulnerabilities force the hero to defend himself and the innocents in the forest. Wolverine #1 (2024) is nearly double-sized, and the extended story is satisfying to read. At its core, it looks like the story is back to basics. In his natural environment, Wolverine is hunted by one of his old enemies. But it isn’t long before something new is brought to the party. This is something ancient, alive, and is about to change everything.

Wolverine #1 (2024) brilliantly expresses the personalities of the three main figures in the book. As they are introduced, Ahmed writes a narrated monologue for each one. This helps explain the history and their connections while also demonstrating their headspaces. Cyber is a brutal villain, desperate to draw out Wolverine through any means possible. He is sadistic and ruthless.

Nightcrawler is there to find his friend, always caring and sympathetic. And Wolverine is in a dark, uneasy place. After the Fall of X, Logan wants nothing to do with the X-Men or the outside world. So, he is hostile to a friend like Nightcrawler. Ahmed relishes the hatred Wolverine has for Cyber with some delectably violent dialogue. Another narrator with a mysterious voice appears older than the other characters.

The art is phenomenal. At first, the characters are all shown on their own, displaying Cóccolo’s beautiful designs. Wolverine is naked at first before donning his costume, while Cyber looks like a black ops soldier. Then comes Nightcrawler, dressed in comfy woolen clothes. They are all in an incredibly hostile environment. There is also a viscious attribute to the art. People and animals are slaughtered with horrific injuries and deaths.

The level of detail is immense in both the peaceful moments and the bloodbath. The extreme violence makes the reader rage just as much as it does Wolverine, making the confrontation between him and Cyber all the more exciting.

The colors lean toward naturalism and realism. The relentless white snow allows every other color to stand out. The yellow of Wolverine’s costume works brilliantly with the red and blue of Nightcrawler. Red blood stains the snowy ground. In every panel, you can see the characters’ breath, highlighting the freezing conditions. Whether the artist or the color artist added it, it is a nice touch replicated throughout the book. The lettering is distinct and easy to read.

Wolverine #1 (2024) returns to the wilderness. Ahmed may have started where Wolverine is most comfortable, but several hooks dig into his skin to drag him out of there. Bringing in both a hero and villain allows the story to go in the direction of both good and evil.

As a first issue, this fight in the forest shows that the creators know the essential pillars of what makes a great Wolverine comic: the violence and the contrast between his animalist and human sides. But by the end of Wolverine #1 (2024), elements are brought to the surface, suggesting this story will go somewhere new and unfamiliar.

Wolverine #1 (2024) is available where comics are sold.