Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Wolverine #50

More so than most other X-Men, the man called Wolverine has lived a long life full of suffering and pain. And more often than not, it’s his archfoe Sabretooth standing right at the center of Logan’s torment. But with the recent “Sabretooth War” seemingly ending their rivalry for good, Wolverine is forced to reckon with who he is without his greatest rival.

Wolverine #50 by Benjamin Percy, Victor LaValle, Geoff Shaw, Cory Smith, Oren Junior, Alex Sinclair, and VC’s Cory Petit pits the titular Caknucklehead against his lifelong enemy in the ruins of Krakoa. With an anxious X-Force at his back, Logan squares off against Creed using his trademark claws as well as a Muramasa blade.

Taunting his opponent one last time, Sabretooth says to Wolverine, “You just want me to end. But do you even exist without me? Who would you even be without all this hurt?” But Creed ultimately doesn’t live long enough to hear an answer.

Wolverine And Sabretooth Know Pain All Too Well

But Logan And Victor Couldn’t Be More Different

Wolverine and Sabretooth have been going at it longer than either one can remember, and in many ways, they’re the most consistent aspect of each other’s lives. The two mutant legends arguably know one another better than anybody, and Sabretooth’s final taunt holds much more weight than Logan would probably care to admit. But unlike Creed, Wolverine’s life is more than just pain and violence and that’s always been what distinguishes the two. While violence has shaped both their lives for ages, Wolverine and Sabretooth fight for fundamentally different reasons – and their relationship to that pain couldn’t be more different.

In life, Victor Creed was a bestial monster fighting, killing, and reveling in pain and suffering for little more than his own twisted satisfaction. Wolverine, on the other hand, has a family, a cause to fight for, and memories of peace to bring him solace in the dark times. Thinking to himself, Logan says, “When I’m lost in a moment of despair or grief, I’ve got the wisdom of previous joy to fall back on.” And considering the only thing that ever brought him joy was the suffering of others, that’s not something to which Sabretooth could ever relate.

Sabretooth’s Death Gives Wolverine Hope For The Future

Logan Has Been Haunted By Creed For As Long As He Can Remember

Wolverine may never be able to tell Sabretooth who he is without his pain, but Logan knows who he is in spite of it. Now that his long enmity with Victor Creed is hopefully settled for good, Logan has the chance to breathe easy for the first time in a long time, despite everything happening with the Fall of Krakoa. Without Sabretooth stalking in his footsteps, Wolverine finally has the opportunity to forge a new future and decide just who he is without the pain that’s defined him for so long.