Wolverine

Collects Wolverine 1-4, Uncanny X-Men 172-173 After enjoying Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Wolverine in the X-Men films, I was looking forward to reading his first solo appearance in comics. Wolverine is an enjoyable and memorable story of romance and action that leaves a lasting impression. The story follows Wolverine's return to Japan to visit his old flame, and what follows is a story that breaks Wolverine down and builds him back up again in a way that will make you unable to resist audibly cheering for him as he fights to regain his honor and discover his own humanity. This comic feels like a perfect blend between old and new styles of the medium: the pencils by the talented (not yet legendary when this was first published) Frank Miller evoke a modern sensibility, while the colors are old-fashioned, but still have a coherent palate. Claremont uses plenty of internal monologue to convey Wolvie's thoughts and feelings as the story progresses, and it works quite well. One can't help but wonder if Frank Miller picked up on this style and later used it to great effect in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One. The art and writing converge to near perfection near the end of the third issue, including what might be one of my favorite pages in all of comics, and perhaps the one page that would define who Wolverine is more than any other. You'll know it when you read it: it's good stuff. The two issues from Uncanny X-Men are nice to have from a value standpoint, but ultimately unnecessary and less serious than the limited series that precedes it in the trade. They focus on the aftermath of the events in Wolverine on the X-Men and are ultimately forgettable on their own. If you are a fan of the X-Men you may get more mileage out of these. Frank Miller is NOT the artist on these issues, which is unfortunate because his pencils were quite good on Wolverine. Still, you can't complain about added extras when they don't detract from the main event. Wolverine is a fascinating and exciting read that I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the character. It was an excellent starting point for me personally, having no prior knowledge about Wolvie from comic books, only from the movies. It is a story that you will want to read again after finishing it. It's just that good. Read it if you like: Hugh Jackman's portrayal, Japanese culture, Good Sequential Art and Storytelling Don't read it if you dislike: Added bloat in the form of extra issues (although I don't believe that they take away from the actual story, and I'll take all the value I can get)

This was the first Marvel compilation I ever purchased, and I read it with no knowledge of the X-Men comic-verse, only knowing that it told the story of Wolverine's "Japanese saga". Since my first reading of it, I've "caught up" by reading almost every X-Men and Uncanny X-Men comic that was written prior to this, the first Wolverine limited run. Despite a little letdown because of the transition from Wolverine #1-4 to the more scattered storytelling of X-Men #172-173, it was the perfect introduction to the X-Men universe, and it has sucked me in completely. Now that I've read this several more times, I'm even more amazed. Chris Claremont's storytelling is sharp as usual, but it's Mark Miller's artwork in the four Wolverine issues that brings things to life. It simply leaps off the page. Also, Claremont's relatively new narration style - first seen in X-Men #162 - of having Wolverine tell the tale ("Their intentions are obvious. I treat 'em accordingly") are pure joy to read . As for extras, there is nothing beyond Chris Claremont's interesting introduction (written in 1987) about how the story was conceived. It might have made sense to include some of the other related panels from subsequent X-Men issues. Or even the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine limited run. Even so, it's obviously a necessary part of any X-Men or Wolverine collection.

I read this as prep for the movie (The Wolverine) later in the day, and I have to say it had me looking forward to how this source material gets interpreted. As graphic novels go, this one is pretty solid and it was fun to see good old spandex wearing yellow Wolverine after several years of the movies and Ultimate versions. The title feels (as well it was) like part of a series, and though it is standalone, you can't shake the feeling that you joined proceedings in media res - and being volume 1, it leaves you off with a cliffhanger. I'm just glad I took in some proper 616 canon. Was great to see the X-men of yore all together. The art is nice, though I confess to having missed the more modern style from the Ultimate U, not least the full page action/ hero shots. The plot is unpredictable and the characterisation is solid; vintage Miller really. The man has revived so many doddering franchises (Daredevil, Batman) that what he does with the iconic Wolverine is in that sense predictably delightful. Well worth the money.

Ahh, the heady days where Wolverine wasn't an unstoppable force of nature, able to survive even a nuclear blast. He seems somehow more human here, driven by those so relatable impulses of love and revenge. In fact, it's a tragic love story but one with just enough action and the trademark Claremont touches to engage any reader. Japan is an alien place to many of us reading this story, but the Japan that leaps off the page here may be alien, but it is engrossing - full of honour, sacrifice and the other usual simmering juices that drive the best dramas. Wolverine is an outsider, something not uncommon for him, but here it is less the claws, the metal bones and healing factor and more the fact he's not Japanese - he may speak the language he may b more Japanese then many Japanese (something commentedupon in the very story) but because he isn't Japanese he is automatically less in the eyes of others. Miller gives us a character driven story, focusing less often on the action and more on the characters reaction to it, the tightening of eyes, the horror on the face of someone witnessing an evisoration, the broken look in Wolverine's eye when Mariko turns her back on him... it's masterful in it's simplicity. I strongly suggest fans of the character should get it - not just because it may or may not form the basis of an upcoming (as I write this in early 2913) film, or because it's by Chris Claremont and frank Miller, but because it's very good and is a foundation stone of the character Wolverine has become since.

Amazing art and story. Both the writer and the artist were in thier prime when they collaborated on this story. It was the basis of the Wolverine movie, but this story is even better. It is Logan at his worst and his best. The reader sees why Wolverine is by far the most popular X-man. It is simply the best Wolverine story ever written.

This is a great story by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller. Anyone who is familiar with Frank Miller's work only from things like Sin City, 300 and later will be shocked when they see this Miller art. It's really fantastic. It was pretty much Dark Knight Returns which started him in the direction he is going now. Before that it was less stylized and more realistic. In these Wolverine issues you can really see his incredible skill as an artist. Interestingly, I own a regular Kindle and this was a Kindle Deal of the Day. I was curious if comics worked on just a regular Kindle and this was only a couple bucks, so I tried it. I look forward to the day that I can read it in full color, but to be honest, I was pretty impressed with the way it worked on the regular Kindle screen. It is small and black and white, but with just a pair of reading glasses, I had absolutely no problem following it just scrolling through the book. The only time it got a little difficult was with long thin panels. In order for some of them to fit on the screen they end up pretty small and its harder to read words. But for a couple buck, who cares? It worked fine.

I must admit I had my doubts. I've never been a huge fan of Wolverine (or the X-Men in general) and was afraid so short a story (4 issues) would be unsatifsying. I'd never heard of Chris Claremont but am a HUGE fan of Frank Miller so I was willing to take a gamble. I'm glad I did! Much like his runs on Daredevil and Batman, Miller changed the way Wolverine was portrayed. While the book claims Claremont wrote the script I can't help but think Frank helped out quite a bit. The tone doesn't sound like the other Claremont stories in this collection...it sounds exactly like Miller's style. But whoever wrote it: it's good! Wolverine is transformed from his original incarnation as a psychotic killer into a...more sensative psychotic killer. The plot seems a little rushed in places but it's worth the few minutes it might take to grasp why everone is doing what they're doing (and once you get it, it's actually quite elaborate for such a short story). The fight scenes are awesome and the emotional/dramatic scenes play just as well. The "extra" two issues in the back lack the depth of the first four. The art (not by Miller) is much weaker and even the writing looses the beauty and the character depth (but it's supposed to be the same author??). Bottom line: I really enjoyed it and if you like Wolverine, Miller, or Japaneese culture...I think you will too!

This edition reprints one of the best mini-series of the 1980s. That is the Wolverine mini-series by writer Chris Claremont and artists Frank Miller and Klaus Jansen. Many of the elements in this series can be seen in the movies that came later on like the X-men and Wolverine. The art in this series is fantastic. Done by Frank Miller before he started getting weird. Included in this edition are two stories from the Uncanny X-men comic that continues the story from the mini-series. These aren't as good but the first four issues are worth it.

História sensacional! Todos deveriam lê-la, até para entender um pouco do Wolverine! Material muito bom, páginas boas e lombada quadrada. Traz um belo e interessante prefácio não só sobre o personagem, mas a construção dele pelos autores e suas reflexões!

What an outstanding Wolverine story, Claremont truley understands the mythos of the Wolverine and that is why he was one of the best writers every to protray this intense mutant. I only wish Hollywood understood him as well as Claremont did! This is a must read for any Wolverine fans. Its a perfect story!

As a wolverine fan It's essential to have this in your collection.

Ja, was soll man dazu noch sagen? Es war damals der erste Solo-Run Wolverines. In 4 Teilen erzählt. Wolverine geht nach Japan, und das aus Gründen der Liebe! Es kommt natürlich zu Komplikationen, pi pa po. Ihr wisst ja, Wolverine regelt das schon, aber auf spannende Weise ;-) Eigentlich ist mir die Story nur 4 Sterne wert. Wieso vergebe ich aber nun einen zusätzlichen Stern? Es ist der Fakt, dass dieser Sammelband noch zusätzlich Uncanny X-Men Teile 172 und 173 enthält. Diese beiden Teile finde ich tatsächlich noch spannender von der Geschichte her als den Wolverine Solo-Lauf! Ein paar der X-Men kommen nach Japan, wo sich Wolverine noch aufhält. Dort geraten sie natürlich in Schwierigkeiten. Es ist auch das erste Mal, dass Wolverine Rogue als eine der X-Men kennenlernt, und ihr natürlich erstmal total skeptisch begegnet. Ich will gar nicht ins Detail gehen. Lest es einfach selbst!

`Wolverine' collects issues #1 - 4 of Wolverine and issues #172 - 173 of the Uncanny X-Men. In the first story Wolverine travels to Japan to reunite with his lover Mariko Yashida, who has mysteriously not responded to his letters and phone calls. Upon arriving Wolverine finds himself battling against Japanese crime factions and assassins in order to liberate Mariko from the clutches of her villainous father Shingen. Wolverine's two love interests Mariko and Yukio are a great inclusion to the story. While Mariko represents Wolverine's human side, Yukio represents his animalistic side. Wolverine knows that in order to be with Mariko he must attempt to change, whereas Yukio accepts his seemingly true animalistic nature. This causes immense inner turmoil within Wolverine as he struggles to choose between embracing the beast within or attempting to retain some remnants of his humanity. It is very hard not to feel sympathetic for Wolverine as he is a man who loses control of his temper at ill-timed moments but who is afraid to change ultimately for fear of failure and rejection. The two Uncanny X-Men issues follow directly on from the previous Wolverine story. In this story the X-Men travel to Japan to assist Wolverine in taking care of some final business. These two issues also give a brief look at some of the X-Men's own problems they were dealing with at the time. Cyclops was struggling to cope with the loss of Jean Grey and Storm was having trouble controlling her powers. Storm's story is undeniably interesting but ultimately appears to be simply an excuse to give Storm a new outfit and haircut. Cyclops' story gives a brief but startling glimpse into how obsessive he really was after Jean Grey died, even going as far as dating Madelyne Pryor; a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Jean Grey (no pun intended). Unfortunately we only get a brief glimpse into the X-Men's lives, which is a shame because the stories are genuinely interesting. However this TPB is primarily a Wolverine tale and Wolverine's story continues and concludes well in these two X-Men issues. During fight sequences backgrounds often consist solely of bold primary colours that divert attention away from the background and focus attention on the characters on page, in order to keep the sequence simple to follow. I find that many contemporary comics sometimes have too much detail during action sequences which can make it difficult to focus on what is going on. The Wolverine TPB performs the opposite and strips the fight scenes down to its bare essentials making continuous movements and actions much easier to follow. Text is short and snappy during action sequences, highlighting the increased pace and thought process of Wolverine as he slices and dices his foes. The layout and size of each panel is also very well crafted and accommodates what is occurring on page very well. The opening panel for example, which shows Wolverine hanging off the edge of a cliff, has a narrow width and long length that showcases the height of the cliff. Text is laid out on the page so that the eyes are forced to scan down the whole page while reading, allowing the eyes to take in the entire image. Overall, `Wolverine' by Claremont and Miller is a superbly crafted comic book with an excellent story that provides greater insight into Wolverine's character, showing his human side as well as his animalistic nature. I found Wolverine's own story to be the more interesting of the two stories and it definitely gives a lot more depth to Wolverine's character, showing that he is not simply a device to provide X-Men comics with action but can also be the centre piece of his own story. The two X-Men issues were also a good inclusion into the TPB as they allow Wolverine to seamlessly blend back into the traditional X-Men comics, which keeps the pace moving and allows the Wolverine's storyline to conclude and the next storyline to begin without interruption. For anyone looking to dig deeper into Wolverine's character this comic is a must-buy.