Ultimate Wolverine #11
Author : Chris Condon
Artist : Alessandro Cappuccio
Wolverine and The Opposition take the battle for freedom directly to the rulers of the Eurasian Republic, who are Piotr & Illyana Rasputin, Colossus & Magik. This is not without consequence, as the ruling siblings will not go down without a fight, and alongside their scientist, Dr. Alonya Prostovich, they concoct a devious plan to strike back. This issue has exhilarating artwork from Alessandro Cappuccio and a shocking twist that you need to uncover.
What ULTIMATE Wolverine’s Been Up To…
Ultimate Wolverine has been a wild ride! This version of Wolverine is one of the bloodiest and most violent ever. The series begins with a bang as we see Wolverine dropping through the air, parachute-less, into a church where The Opposition, led by Nightcrawler and Mystique, are planning their next move. And well, let's just say things get really bloody, really fast. In issue #1, we are introduced to a brainwashed Wolverine, a familiar trope for Logan’s stories; however, there is a twist. After Logan’s capture by the Eurasian Republic, the Directorate X programme has transformed our beloved anti-hero Wolverine into their eradicator, the Winter Soldier, an unstoppable killing machine controlled by Dr. Alonya Prostovich.
It is an interesting take on Wolverine’s story, as the Eurasian Republic pits Logan against his familiar former friends. The Ultimate Wolverine series provides a unique perspective on the character by blending the familiar elements of Wolverine's story with the Winter Soldier concept. The first half of the series delves into Logan's backstory, revealing his capture by the Eurasian Republic and his transformation into the Winter Soldier within their Directorate X programme.
In the most recent issues, some of our favourite X-Men are being rescued, and The Opposition are becoming braver and taking the fight to the doorstep of the Eurasian Republic, led by siblings Piotr & Illyana Rasputin, alongside Omega Red. The revelation of the series to date is that another Rasputin sibling, Mikhail, is the leader of The Opposition! The family feud commences and culminates in issue #11!
Who are The Opposition?
The Opposition is a resistance movement made up of both mutants and humans who refuse to live under the Rasputin family’s authoritarian mutant-control regime. In a world where mutants are treated as state-owned weapons by Directorate X, The Opposition represents the fight for freedom, self-determination, and dignity. They reject the Eurasian Republic’s exploitation of mutant bodies and abilities, and instead build an underground network of safe houses, smugglers, fighters, and refugees committed to protecting their own.
More than a military force, The Opposition is a community. Their member contain familiar names like Mystique, Nightcrawler, Black Widow, Gambit, Kitty Pryde, and Sabretooth. Who contribute in different ways—through frontline combat, covert missions, or sheltering displaced mutants. Their operations are quiet, hidden, and strategic, relying on secrecy and solidarity rather than open warfare. They stand as the one organized counterbalance to the state’s power, offering hope to mutants who have been dehumanized or hunted.
Condon has created The Opposition as a symbol of the life Logan once chose; a life of resistance, solidarity, and protecting vulnerable mutants from the Rasputin regime. Before he was brainwashed and turned into the Winter Soldier serving the Eurasian Republic, the Opposition was his family, the closest thing he had to a purpose built on freedom rather than violence.
Ultimately, Condon wants The Opposition to represent Wolverine’s path to redemption. They remind him that he was once part of something noble, that he fought for people instead of hunting them, and that there is still a version of himself worth reclaiming. In that sense, The Opposition isn’t just a rebel group to Wolverine—it’s the key to remembering who he is.
Who Are They Fighting?
The Eurasian Republic seeks to build a tightly controlled, authoritarian super-state where mutants function as state-owned assets rather than individuals with rights. Their central goal is to maintain political and military dominance by weaponising mutant biology, using programs like Directorate X to condition, brainwash, or reshape mutants into obedient tools. Through the ruling Rasputin Family, the Republic aims to eliminate dissent, expand its influence, and crush any group like The Opposition that challenges their authority.
To justify their control, the Eurasian Republic positions itself as the only force capable of maintaining stability in a world reshaped by mutant power. Their agenda is about power through fear, control through dehumanisation, and security through absolute dominance, creating a society where freedom is sacrificed in favour of a rigid, oppressive state hierarchy.
The Rasputin family serves as the authoritarian ruling power of the Eurasian Republic, made up of Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red. They govern with cold efficiency and absolute control, treating mutants not as individuals but as state assets to be weaponized. Colossus is stern, imposing, and ruthlessly pragmatic, embodying the regime’s intolerance for weakness. Magik brings a sharp, calculating edge, enforcing the Republic’s will with a mix of mysticism and brutality. Omega Red serves as their enforcer, brutally loyal and unwavering. Together, they form a harsh, militaristic leadership that crushes dissent.
Issue #11 Review: The Opposition Announces Themselves
““…so it is the time to reveal ourselves. No more whispers or secrets. We are The Opposition. We have fought and we have died for our freedom.””
Mikhail Rasputin, the leader of The Opposition, has taken to the internet and announced his stance against the Eurasian Republic. And he’s got the reaction he wanted; now the people of the ER are taking to the streets and showing their rulers that they want their freedom.
Through Condon’s writing of Mikhail’s speech, you feel the energy of rebellion, and it makes you want to be involved in the revolution yourself! Coupled with Cappuccio’s purposefully cold and callous art, which paints a dark, oppressive existence, you empathise with the people and mutants. You want them to succeed and bring forth a brighter and happier world. You want to read on to see the insurgency in action.
The Rasputin’s Strike Back
This next series of events is a fanciful fusion of excitement, anticipation, and emotion. Condon does a great job of creating the urgency amongst The Opposition once they find out the Rasputins have launched an attack. The attack they are so afraid of is a bomb, a Cerebomb, “a psionic weapon made from a telepath’s brain—and it’s one of a kind.” This is a nice easter egg from Condon for X-Men fans, which telepaths’ brains have they used? Condon uses short, sharp, and concise dialogue to quicken the pace for the reader as you reach the crescendo.
But the emotion is electrified by Alessandro Cappuccio’s art. The terror of Wolverine, Gambit, and Mikhail is brilliantly illustrated by their intense facial expressions. The raw emotion and actualisation of what they are facing jumps at you from the pages, and emotionally invests you as you strap in for one hell of a ride.
Has Logan Lose Everything… AGAIN?!
In these last few pages of issue #11 the artist is the superstar, as dialogue is minimised. The drawing does the talking; the pace for the reader continues to accelerate; what I like is the fluidity Cappuccio creates from tile to tile as your eyes follow the story unfolding.
This culminates in a beautiful splash page from Cappuccio of Logan free falling to prevent the Cerebomb. No dialogue, just the reader and the art, I love this type of insert. It allows the reader to build anticipation to the highest level before turning the page to see the finish.
A double-page spread follows up the splash, emphasising Cappuccio’s artwork, as he captures the sorrow of the characters from the expression on their eyes as they accept their fates. And Logan, is alone again.
If you’re thinking why the team of mutants couldn’t stop the Cerebomb from annihilating them—why didn’t Kitty Pryde use her powers to phase everyone whilst the bomb made impact? Mikhail has the ability to manipulate matter and energy, why didn’t he just alter the energy of the Cerebomb?
This is explained away by Dr. Alonya Prostovich whilst she is readying the weapon as she shares the bomb’s ability; “Capable of getting by any defenses a mutant may generate.“ This bomb is unfortunately full proof and The Opposition never had a chance,
Conclusion & Rating
Issue #11 had the biggest twist of the story; the Cerebomb looks to have eliminated The Opposition, leaving Wolverine seeing the red mist, literally, with Cappuccio’s last tile of a raging Wolverine silhouette in front of a solid red background.
I have mixed feelings about this issue and the story to date; many fan favourite X-Men have met their demise. Nightcrawler, Mystique, Beast, and now the entire Opposition. It leaves me to ponder if there is a larger story at hand, or if they are being killed off for shock value. This makes the story feel like every other Wolverine story, a one-man mission of revenge with most likely Jean Grey at the end of it.
With that said, you can argue that these 11 issues incorporate how tragic and brutal the Ultimate Universe is. After all, it is made from The Maker’s vision. What really shone in issue #11 was Cappuccio’s elite-level artwork, as it took the reader by the scruff of their neck on an emotional roller-coaster ride.
My thoughts on where issue #12 will go is with Wolverine going straight to the head of the tyrannical snake and picking a fight with the Rasputins, where Wolverine will discover his beloved that transcends universes. Condon teased Jean Grey with bookend references on the first and last page. The first page panel by Cappuccio of a woman with bright red hair, then the last page with reference to the Phoenix Specimen. Although a nice easter egg, it is a Wolverine that has been worn by the amount it has been retread.
If you are a fan of Wolverine or are looking to jump into a Wolverine story from the beginning, I would recommend this Ultimate series to you. If you are a Wolverine fan and just entering the comic book world, then I would suggest you check out Weapon X to really understand the true origin story of the infamous anti-hero.