Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation

Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation #1-4

by Tom Sniegoski, Christopher Golden, Pat Lee (Illustrator)

Wolverine, the bestial member of the X-Men, and the Punisher, grim protector of New York's' streets. Two of Marvel Comics most popular characters team up again in an eerie thriller that delves into the underground world of the Marvel Universe. Under the mean streets of New York City lie the Morlock Tunnels, abandoned since the deformed mutants were massacred years earlier. But if these tunnels are supposed to be deserted, then whose footfalls echo in the darkness? Is it Soteira, the long-dead Morlock legend? Is it the new mutant known as Revelation? Or is it some new horror born to threaten the world at large?

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

About the author

Tom Sniegoski is the name under which Thomas E. Sniegoski publishes some YA and comics.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodreads should create a 0 star rating just for this book. This is from the era of the Punisher Marvel would like to forget (so would everyone else). In the first Marvel Knights Punisher book, the Punisher kills himself and is brought back to life by his guardian angel and given angelic powers, like being able to pull sci-fi guns out from under your coat and supernatural healing powers. I feel dumber even having written that. In this series, a Morlock has been unearthed which has a death aura. She's walking around the subway tracks making everyone on the surface keel over. Wolvie and the Punisher cross paths and team up. The story is incomprehensibly bad. At one point the Punisher takes an I-beam through the chest and is fine once someone pulls it out. I mean, we're talking a foot wide hole in the chest. The angels and Morlocks are both in these weird carapaces. It looks like a Japanese anime gone wrong.

[Shivesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This four-issue miniseries, Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation, was published in 1999 during the Marvel Knights era—a period when Marvel aimed to inject more edginess and mature themes into their comics, catering to a growing-up audience. As someone who was transitioning out of my '90s childhood and into the real world, I vaguely remember this push for a more adult-oriented storytelling approach but by this time I was well out of the floppies of my youth and did not keep up with this era much at all. However I do remember the Garth Ennis Punisher from this time: iconic and memorable.

One of the standout features of this miniseries is the artwork. It is ahead of its time and distinctly anime-inspired rather than manga panels. The action shots are dynamic and vividly drawn, capturing the frenetic energy often seen in anime. This visual style sets it apart and gives the series a unique flair that resonates with fans of Japanese animation.

However, the story is where the series falters. The narrative is disjointed and confusing, making it difficult to follow. The characterization of the Punisher as anything other than a street-level character feels out of place and fails to connect with traditional fans like myself. The Punisher, especially from the '80s and '90s, is a character driven by revenge, operating with simple motivations and focusing on punishing criminals and super-criminals. Introducing larger, more celestial themes during this era strays from his core identity and feels contrived.

In the collected edition by Jason Aaron that recently finished a short run, I noticed a similar trend toward a supernatural Punisher. This version of the character feels deeply contra-factual to his normal abilities, and the internal logic just doesn't hold up. For instance, the idea that he has a magical pocket in his trenchcoat that can produce any weapon he thinks of feels outlandish and unnecessary. It raises questions about what happens if he removes the trench coat—does he lose this ability?

Wolverine, on the other hand, remains true to his character. Logan is solid in this series, delivering the gritty, no-nonsense persona that fans have come to expect. Unfortunately, the villain in this storyline is forgettable, and the concept of a council of evil angels falls flat. These elements fail to provide a compelling antagonist or a satisfying conflict.

Overall, "Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation" is a mixed bag. The art is a definite highlight and might appeal to those who appreciate an anime-inspired aesthetic. However, the story's lack of cohesion and the unconvincing portrayal of the Punisher detract from the overall experience. Unless you're a die-hard fan of Wolverine and Punisher or happen to find this series in a dollar bin, it is for passing on. It's a reminder that while experimentation in storytelling can lead to fresh and exciting narratives, it can also result in misses that don't quite hit the mark.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the "fun" interpretation of the Punisher as an avenging Angel. I'm none too fond of the Punisher being for Bootlickers, so this is fine enough interpretation. This is Wolverine without his adanamtium and rocking the bone claw.

It's comics being silly--which is what superhero comics are largely about. Anyone telling you different probably needs to grow up a little bit and not take their childhood nostalgia so seriously.

Pat Lee's art is interesting--half-traditional comics and half-manga.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dig the supernatural elements and the tone of the book. My first comic as a kid was Hearts of Darkness, so I’m kind of biased. The morlocks being all teched out was kind of goofy but I’ll chalk it up to a brilliant Morlock and not just Pat Lee wanting to draw cool techno organic Guyver stuff. The angels interactions with Logan should have probably been more abstract.

[Darren-lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Interesting that they tried to do something different with the characters, but didn't quite pull it off... The Punisher... Reborn... With the powers of an angel.... WTF, people! He would be an angel of death....

[Timo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kenen ikinä mielestä oli hyvä idea antaa Tuomarille taivaassa siinneet voimat ja pistää se tappelamaan kaiken maailman demoneita ja muita kiukkupyllyjä vastaan?
Ei toimi, ei alkuunkaan. Ja kaiken kruunaa vielä manga-vaikutteinen taide.
Valtavan isoa kakkaa.

[Jonatan Garrido · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful, worst ever depiction of the Punisher.