Wolverine: Snikt!

Wolverine: Miniseries

by Tsutomu Nihei, Guru eFX (Contributor), Cory Petit (Contributor)

Marvel Manga action by Japanese superstar Tsutomu Nihei! Alone in a barren wasteland inhabited by robotic, parasitic organisms, the X-Men's most lethal member devolves further and further into his true, savage, berserker state with each battle. The key to Logan maintaining a link to his humanity may lie with a mysterious young girl.

Genres: Comics, Manga, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Superheroes, X Men

120 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2003

About the author

See also 弐瓶 勉.

Tsutomu Nihei (弐瓶 勉 Nihei Tsutomu, born 1971) is a Japanese manga artist. His cyberpunk-influenced artwork has gained a strong cult following. He has a relatively large community of fans in Germany where his manga Blame!, NOiSE and Biomega were published by Ehapa. Blame! was also published in France and Spain by Glénat, in the US by Tokyopop and in Italy by Panini Comics.

At first he studied architecture and later it is shown up in his manga works with drawing huge structures. This became one of his general theme that makes his manga unique. His works are usually in black and white. He is also an avid fan of the video game series Halo, as he mentions in his commentary section in the Halo Graphic Novel.

Taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_...

Reviews

[Sam Quixote · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s the non-Matrix Matrix world and humanity is nearly wiped out due to a mutant/robot species with one weakness: adamantium. You can see where this going! So they send someone back in time to get Wolverine to help them in the future, he snikts out his adamantium claws and saves the day.

If they have time travel tech, why not travel back to before the mutant/robot species was created and put a stop to it then? Oh but then we wouldn’t have this crap book, right?

I didn’t like Tsutomu Nihei’s art that much - everyone’s ghostly white for no reason, the scratchy lines are ugly and the villain designs are unimaginative. Some of the landscape shots looked cool though.

Indistinct, contrived, unexciting, predictable, uninteresting - Snikt! is shit!

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed familiar when I placed a hold on it from my local library's new graphic novel listing, and indeed it is a new edition of a collection of a comic book series from 2003. I think I must have read it twenty years ago, but none of it really rang a bell as I flipped through it. But that is understandable as this is not particularly memorable stuff, just being a rip-off of James Cameron's Aliens: Wolverine is transported to a post-apocalyptic world against his will to fight mutant bacteria mech-drones and their egg-laying queen. "“Drop Wolverine on it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

The black-and-white art gallery in the back of the book shows the disservice the hideous dark-and-murky coloring job does to Tsutomo Nihei's linework. The choice to leave everyone's skin pure white in the midst of all the gloom gives us a ridiculous Goth Wolverine who looks more like Neil Gaiman's Sandman than our favorite Canadian mutant.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book is pretty simple and straight forward. Something terrible has happened in the future and has the few remaining people living/hiding underground. Someone with the power to transport themselves through time goes back to the past to get Wolverine as they believe he is the one who can help them. Simple plot and the book wastes no time getting through that. You can read this straight thru in less than 30 mins. The art and action were cool but there is no real meat and potatoes here. I’d probably only recommend this to Wolverine fans like myself.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wolverine Vs giant robots in the future only this time we have Japanese manga art style instead of traditional American comic art. It’s cool visually, but there isn’t really much of a story here.

[Jostalady · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is Wolverine for goths! Aside from that oddity about it, great art work, amazing story. I am quite fond of the dark colors, Wolverine looks a little different than the traditional ways he is portrayed, but they didn't take away his personality too much.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 stars. This one was very predictable and there didn’t seem to be much of any unique story within this one. Wolverine was sent on a mission and that mission was completed. There didn’t seem to be any journey through that mission that challenged him or would intrigue the readers any. The art isn’t great, but I do appreciate it as being stylized by the creator.

[Pinkerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

English (but not so good) / Italiano
I already knew this author thanks to his manga, so I can assure you that no one would read a story (usually incomprehensible) because written by him, but the drawings... the "dirty" trait, the decadent architecture, succeed in creating a surreal “atmosfear” which drags the reader into a completely dystopian world. So that made me a strange effect to see the blue sky in the last pages. Perhaps a Logan tale not unforgettable for the mind, but what a grandeur for the eyes!

Italiano
Già conoscevo quest’autore grazie ai suoi manga, quindi posso assicurarvi che nessuno leggerebbe una storia (incomprensibile solitamente) perché scritta da lui, ma i disegni… il tratto “sporco”, le architetture decadenti, riescono a creare “un’atmosfear” surreale che trascina il lettore in un mondo interamente distopico. Tanto che mi ha fatto uno strano effetto vedere il cielo azzurro nelle ultime pagine. Forse un racconto di Logan non indimenticabile per la mente, ma che magnificenza per gli occhi!

[Andrea Butini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storia breve e lineare, tutto già visto per chi mastica di Tsutomu Nihei.
Ma, appunto, è Tsutomu Nihei.
E i suoi mondi, le sue tavole e quei mostri biomeccanici sono sempre favolosi.

[Pranta Dastider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story is not too interesting. Premise was nice, but short lived. Artwork might have looked better without any colour. So overall this combination didn't work for me. However, if you like to look into a new style of artwork this should be good to observe.

[Adam M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up to review for No Flying No Tights and you can read that here. tl:dr this was bad and really didn't need reprinted. unless you're 13 and just getting into Wolverine, there are better books to read

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.

Story was pretty plain, but I enjoy the grittiness of Tsutomu Nihei’s early art. The art lowkey carries this, but I still enjoyed just gazing at all the nice landscape pieces Nihei included.

[Eduardo Méndez Rivas · Rating 3 out of 5]

No lo sé, siento que todo sucede muy rápido. Se siente como una mini aventura más en la vida de Logan, como una de esas locas cosas que le pasan a uno inesperadamente en la noche, pero que se van rápido. Me gustó la idea de la bacteria, pero no puedo dejar de relacionarla con los centinelas. El guión es muy simple, aunque el arte ayuda mucho a dar la sensación de ser una historia desgarradora. No es la mejor historia de Logan que he leído.

[kesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

who let nihei cook? 😭 the art reminds me of serial experiments lain and totally fits wolverine’s character. i fw a lot of the panels heavy -

a great intermission book esp. after reading a comic w TWO spidermen like the change in dialogue was palpable.

plot was pre straightforward, i’ve always been drawn to dystopias which is why i’m excited to read tom taylor’s dceased - this was refreshing 😮‍💨

3.5/5.

[Bingus Boingus · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Lilian William · Rating 2 out of 5]

En gros c'est Matrix avec Wolverine et une histoire de voyage dans le temps à la Terminator

[Libbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5✨

Eh, this is fine. If you're a wolverine comic fan and fancy something new with a manga style this might be your cup of tea.

To me it was a pretty nothing story and the art style just wasn't great either.

[Granit Hysiqi · Rating 1 out of 5]

LOL

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Wolverine is in it, I am going to want to read it. I love the title, I love the cover, I love Wolverine, sign me up!

The storyline KINDA made sense? There is time travel involved, so that always has the opportunity to go sideways. This was...maybe one of those times? It's never made clear HOW the future people knew about Wolverine and his skeleton, nor is it made clear what happened to Wolverine that he wasn't already present in the future and what happens TO the future now that Wolverine has gone there, finds out about the enemy and goes back to his/our time, with the enemy only a few decades away. Surely he can tell someone who can start preparations and once he knows the weakness of the enemy, he can deal with it before it even gets as bad as it did for them to call him to the future to begin with?

So yeah, timey-wimey handwave-ium, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Moving on.

Wolverine looks YOUNG in this one, way younger than I am used to seeing him. Not a bad thing, it kind of makes sense that with his healing factor he wouldn't look old, like ever.

Also, the artwork is GRITTY as all get out. Not a lot of pretty, but when it IS pretty, you notice it more. The body armor of the leader, the female characters, the present day, all pretty. The future world, the enemies, all gritty. Wolverine has some BAD@ss head shots (panels?) with his claws out and a snarl on his face, so the artwork makes sense and definitely matches the story.

I really enjoyed this one, but the time travel stuff didn't really work for me re: suspension of disbelief. This is one I highly recommend for Wolverine fans and for those who like a good story and don't mind time travel paradoxes.

3, I couldn't get over the time travel but LOVE Wolverine, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Wolverine is in it, I am going to want to read it.

I love the title, I love the cover, I love Wolverine, sign me up!

The storyline KINDA made sense? There is time travel involved, so that always has the opportunity to go sideways. This was...maybe one of those times? It's never made clear HOW the future people knew about Wolverine and his skeleton, nor is it made clear what happened to Wolverine that he wasn't already present in the future and what happens TO the future now that Wolverine has gone there, finds out about the enemy and goes back to his/our time, with the enemy only a few decades away. Surely he can tell someone who can start preparations and once he knows the weakness of the enemy, he can deal with it before it even gets as bad as it did for them to call him to the future to begin with?

So yeah, timey-wimey handwave-ium, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Moving on.

Wolverine looks YOUNG in this one, way younger than I am used to seeing him. Not a bad thing, it kind of makes sense that with his healing factor he wouldn't look old, like ever.

Also, the artwork is GRITTY as all get out. Not a lot of pretty, but when it IS pretty, you notice it more. The body armor of the leader, the female characters, the present day, all pretty. The future world, the enemies, all gritty. Wolverine has some BAD@ss head shots (panels?) with his claws out and a snarl on his face, so the artwork makes sense and definitely matches the story.

I really enjoyed this one, but the time travel stuff didn't really work for me re: suspension of disbelief. This is one I highly recommend for Wolverine fans and for those who like a good story and don't mind time travel paradoxes.

3, I couldn't get over the time travel but LOVE Wolverine, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure if I’d like this comic or not. I remember when it came out people were down on it. I remember looking at the art at the time and thinking it wasn’t like other wolverine or marvel books. After finally reading it I can say, wow! This comic is a fun futuristic wolverine story.

I’m not sure what else Tsutomu Nihei has created but this wolverine comic is beautiful. Marvel got an amazing manga creator and had them create an amazing story. I love the rough art style. It has a perfect fit for wolverine. He’s not clean or perfect. He’s a mess hero who works best in a mess world. The story is interesting stand alone story. Wolverine is pulled to the future to fight in a wasteland that use to be earth. He’s earth last hope to survive.

If you’re use to manga this story is well paced and fun to read. I could see how western comic readers might be put off by the style and pacing. It’s not what I grew up with and different. I think it’s great. I’ve personally been growing more fond of the manga style. I wish marvel would have done more of these style of stories. I’m not talking about the manga verse comics they made but stories made by great manga creators that are allowed to run crazy with the characters. If they could be anything like this story I’d be 100% sold on it.

Give this comic a shot. You might love or hate it, but it’s still better than a lot of wolverine comics made in the last twenty years.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lembro que esse foi um dos primeiros "mangás" que li na vida, lá por 2002, 2003, e simplesmente odiei. Agora, a Panini Comics Brasil, que primeiro tinha lançado ele em formato americano, o lançou em formato mangá, com uma capa amarela, preta e branca com um design sedutor. Então resolvi adquirir pra saber se o meu ódio pela história era algo da época ou se continuava nos dias de hoje. Confesso que nos dias de hoje eu consegui entender melhor a trama que para mim pareceu impenetrável na época, mas ainda assim considero esse um quadrinho ruim, mesmo no formato original. Não acho nem os desenhos, nem as cores (sim, tem cores) e nem o roteiro grandes coisas e, se era pra fazer uma história nada a ver com Wolverine, pra que utilizar ele, então? Fica aí o questionamento. Esses mangás da Marvel são muito ruins em média, então geralmente são sinônimo para nos afastarmos deles.

[Artur Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma curiosa aventura do violento herói da Marvel, transportado para um futuro onde a humanidade, à beira da extinção, trava uma luta perdida contra bio-constructos artificiais. Essencialmente, é o estilo de Tsutomu Nihei, que se especializou neste género de narrativas. Não desilude, sabemos que podemos esperar espaços de decadência arquitetónica pós-industrial, e monstruosas criaturas bio-cibernéticas imparáveis. Um curioso cruzamento entre mangá e comics, chocando duas estéticas radicalmente diferentes.

[Mike Reiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting art, especially around scale and setting, but this little, very brief graphic novel does not live up to its promise. Hopefully this was reasonably successful - the glossy and expensive tpb print seems to indicate that - and we’ll get more international takes on marvel characters, but this is a rough start.

[iamjacsmusings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wolver-one-of-a-kind sci-fi horror take on the character.

He's still the best there is at what he does but What If...? he had to stab, slash and Snikt! in a dystopian future somewhere between Akira and The Matrix?

It's a fast and furious read with little story depth but plentiful kinetic action.

Worth adding to your collection.

[La guarida del Lector · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia muy al estilo japonés que nos ambienta en una versión post-apocalíptica de la tierra.

Siento que la editorial habrá presionado mucho al mangaka japonés para entregar una obra rápida y corta, por lo mismo tiene muchos clichés y la historia se siente algo floja.

Sin embargo es un buen respiro para el personaje con un diseño que no estamos acostumbrados a ver en él.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wolverine is yanked into 2047 to fight an enemy that can only be killed with Adamantium.

Fortunately, he happens to be near the main hive. He goes and kills the "Primogenitor" and thus the world is saved. All the other Mandate robot thingies all over the world will surely be no problem for the handful of survivors.
Either way Wolverine gets transported back home.

[Larakaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels like coming straight from the 1990s when everything was grim and dark and brutal. The story is a mix of Alien, Matrix and Days of Future Past. Plenty of action, not much else. Art style reminded me of Gaiman's Sandman. 

[Jeffrey Schulte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Want a quick and extremely unconvoluted story to get you not at all familiar with the character of Wolverine? Here you go... I guess? The arts pretty cool, besides every character having the exact same never-ending facial expressions consistently. I think the only time Logan wasn't nonchalant was when he got angry... that one time in the fucking story. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun little sci-fi thriller and I actually enjoyed a lot of it. But as an avid Wolverine fan this didn't do the character that much justice. He had no personality at all. He's character reminded me of what everyone one thought the cool kid in class was supposed to be like in 3rd grade. It's very short and not vert rewarding but if you want cool action with adimantium claws this is pretty cool.

2.5 stars

[Sonny Allabaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

shoulda just left it in b&w

[Rubën Rüiz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Buen arte, pero historia solo para pasar el rato