Wolverine #23 — Saladin Ahmed and Julius Ohta Put Logan Through the Wringer

There is a specific kind of desperation that Saladin Ahmed brings to his take on Wolverine, and issue #23 leans into it with both hands. This isn’t the invincible brawler we’ve seen in films or earlier comic runs. This is a Logan who is bleeding, broken, and running out of tricks.

The premise here is deceptively simple but emotionally devastating. Logan is dealing with shattered claws and a significant dimming of his mutant healing factor and strength. But the real sting comes when those stolen or lost abilities begin to circulate among his enemies. Suddenly, the things that make Wolverine Wolverine are being used against him by the very people he’s spent a lifetime fighting. It turns his greatest strength into a liability, forcing him to adapt in ways that feel incredibly raw and vulnerable.

Julius Ohta’s artwork is doing the heavy lifting on the physical toll of this situation. You can feel the exhaustion in the line work, the grit in the environments, and the sheer impact of every punch. Ohta captures the kinetic energy of a fighter who can no longer rely on brute force, making every encounter feel precarious. Dan Panosian’s cover adds to the atmosphere, grounding the chaos in a stark, realistic tone that matches the internal struggle.

And then there’s Taskmaster. Bringing him into the fold is a brilliant move. Taskmaster is the master of mimicry and adaptation, so having him leverage the very powers Logan has lost creates a thematic nightmare. It’s not just a fistfight; it’s a confrontation with Logan’s own obsolescence. Ahmed writes the banter and the tension with a sharp edge, making their dynamic feel fresh and dangerous.

This is the kind of issue that reminds you why you love these characters in the first place. It’s not about the powers; it’s about the will. If you enjoy stories where the hero has to fight through their own limitations, this is a must-read. Trust me on this one—it’s a standout moment in the run.