Meet the Ultimate Sabretooth, As Wolverine's Nemesis Gets a Bloodsoaked Reboot
Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate Wolverine #5! Marvel Comics’ new Ultimate Universe gave Wolverine a brutal redesign, and now, it seems as though Marvel is doing the same thing with Logan’s ultimate nemesis: Sabretooth. Fans have been wondering when Sabretooth was going to rear his villainous head in the Ultimate Universe, and the wait is finally coming to an end, as Wolverine’s arch enemy is getting a bloodsoaked reboot. But, given the nature of Wolverine’s Ultimate Universe reboot, fans are still left wondering: will Ultimate Sabretooth still be a villain?
Marvel Comics released the solicitation for Ultimate Wolverine #5 by Chris Condon and Alex Lins, which included the main cover art (by artist Alessandro Cappuccio) and the official synopsis.
ULTIMATE SABRETOOTH CLAWS HIS WAY ONTO THE SCENE! Mysteries of Ultimate Wolverine's past are revealed when a familiar face joins the fray!
The synopsis tells fans that Sabretooth is finally going to be introduced in the new Ultimate Universe, but honestly, it didn’t have to. The cover art alone was enough to tell fans everything they needed to know about the upcoming issue. Sure, the added confirmation that this beast is, in fact, Sabretooth is appreciated, but the cover art totally speaks for itself. Not only is Sabretooth going to make his Earth-6160 debut in this upcoming issue, but he’ll still be Wolverine’s arch enemy, just like he is in Earth-616. But, the question remains: what kind of enemy will Sabretooth be?
Will Sabretooth Be a Hero or a Villain in the Ultimate Universe?
Ultimate Wolverine is a Brutal Villain, so Sabretooth Might Actually Be a Mutant Hero
When hearing the news that the Ultimate Universe is introducing Sabretooth - mixed with the visual of an admittedly gruesome first-look on the cover of Ultimate Wolverine #5 - fans might immediately think that he’s going to be a villain. Sabretooth is notoriously villainous in Marvel’s main continuity, after all, so that’s a fair assumption to make. But this solicitation only reveals that Sabretooth is coming to the Ultimate Universe, with the cover art implying that he and Wolverine will be enemies. That doesn’t automatically mean he’s going to be a villain - quite the opposite, in fact.
Wolverine is currently being controlled by the Eurasian Republic, the territory belonging to Colossus, Magick, and Omega Red, who are members of the Maker’s Council, which secretly controls the world. In other words, Wolverine is a villain, and he’s being used by Colossus and the others to hunt down and murder rogue mutants who stand against the current world order. Maybe Sabretooth is one of those freedom-fighting mutants. If that’s the case, then he is perhaps the only hope mutantkind has at defeating Wolverine - i.e., their only hope at survival.
Sabretooth Wouldn’t Be the First Mutant Villain-Turned-Hero in the Ultimate Universe
Mystique was a Mutant Freedom-Fighter who was Killed by Wolverine
If Sabretooth is one of the good guys who is fighting for mutant liberation from the tyrannical state of their world, he wouldn’t be the first mutant villain-turned-hero. In the first issue of Ultimate Wolverine, it’s revealed that Mystique - a notorious villain in Earth-616 - was one of the mutant freedom fighters standing against the Rasputins on behalf of mutantkind. Unfortunately, her time in the Ultimate Universe was tragically cut short, as Wolverine slashed her throat before killing everyone else (including Nightcrawler) who dared stand against the Eurasian Republic.
You May Hate It, But Marvel Is Doubling Down on Wolverine's Most Broken Power
Wolverine has one particular ability that is wildly controversial in the X-Men fandom, & now, Marvel Comics has decided to double down on that power.
While the idea that Sabretooth is a good guy fighting for mutantkind would be a cool twist, even that hasn’t been confirmed. Right now, the only bits of information fans have about Sabretooth’s Ultimate Universe debut can be found in this solicitation. All fans know for sure is that Ultimate Sabretooth is coming, and he’s getting a bloodsoaked reboot (just like Wolverine).
Ultimate Wolverine #5 by Marvel Comics is available May 7, 2025.
Source: Marvel
- Created By
- Roy Thomas, Len Wein, John Romita Sr.
- Cast
- Hugh Jackman
- First Appearance
- The Incredible Hulk (2023)
- Alias
- James "Logan" Howlett
- Alliance
- X-Men, Avengers, Canadian Army, OSS/CIA, Avengers Unity Squad, Alpha Flight, New Avengers, New Fantastic Four, Savage Avengers, Weapon X, X-Force
- Race
- Human-Mutant
