Yay or Nay? WOLVERINE! Frank Miller and Chris Claremont's 1982 Romp Through Japan.

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[@dchisholm]

Jim isn't talking about this because he's afraid he'd tip off WOLVERINE GRAND DESIGN

[@phelipegoncalves9355]

Ah, and not to forget: You guys spoke about how Miller doesn't need words, well, probably these Wolverine issues were the least full of dialogues in Claremont's history.

[@1971thedoctor]

This is a mini series that elevated Wolverine as a super star status

[@bannedinallston]

That Lady Deathstrike bit cracked me up. Wolvie's lady is Mariko, the assassin lady who works for Yashida is Yukio, and Lady Deathstrike is Yuriko. Claremont, man

[@basscot17]

But Yuriko was Bill Mantlo's character, originally appearing in Alpha flight, right? She in turn was the daughter of Lord Darkwind (??), the man who learned to forge adamantium, i think? He made Bullseye's adamantium skeleton. All of that happened in Daredevil, sounds issue 200. So, Claremont didn't give all Asian females similar names, only most of them

[@stegron]

A small but interesting thing I noticed years ago- That duoshade panel of Mariko has a 25% yellow color on top of it in the original comic, it was removed for the trade and all subsequent printings.

[@BigBennKlingon]

I bought these when they were released. I didnt notice any extra reverence for Wolverine in Canada. Kids here thought it was super cool that he was Canadian, but not more than that. Strangely enough I remember a lot bigger hub-bub about Alpha Flight being Canadian. It might have had something to do with how AF was overtly Canadian where as with Wolverine it was just a minor detail

[@noodlesbad]

I still have issue No. 1 that I bought off the stand - I second this impression.

[@BigBennKlingon]

@@TetsuDeinonychus lol I forgot about him

[@SpiderS2099]

Lady Deathstrike is Yuriko, whole other characters who appeared way later after this comic. Despite similar names she’s not ninja Yukio and neither Mariko. Although both Mariko and Yuriko come from crime family empires.

[@mattprather3140]

Frank Miller was an obsession of mine at the time of this book's release. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing guys.

[@retrovideos1445]

It was 1982

[@pocketsand9989]

R.I.P. Ed, appreciate all you did for comics.

[@k.drawscomics4422]

The famous cover (that Ed homaged) was actually based on a photo of Sinatra.

[@phelipegoncalves9355]

Congratulations for the amazing video. This is my favorite comic of all time, because it changed my life in so many ways. First, it was the story that made me like to read comic books. Second, when I read it again at an adult age, I finally understood the beautiful message of defeating your inner demons. For me it is not only Wolverine's best stories, but X-Men too. About Lady Deathstrike, if I'm not mistaken: 1- Created as Yuriko in Daredevil 2- Yuriko became Deathstrike in an Alpha Flight comic 3- Then X-Men 205 (amazing comic with Windsor-Smith art) she became a cyborg

[@kikodejesus9192]

Xmen 205 Lonewolf with a BW-S art was amazing beyond words.

[@robertjacques6812]

This book made me fall deeply in love with comics.

[@saintmichael7252]

this mini series is a set of 4 books i've carried with my since i was 9 or 10 years old. One of the first sets I started collecting and saved. it had its place in my short box for decades as i moved and grew into a man, and now looking at them, i'm so grateful to have kept them. light yes, but its done by two of the greatest of all time, respective masters of their crafts without question.

[@DjdJ-qh6wt]

Back in the 80's this wasn't light! 😁

[@johnbutler5650]

Logan as a character is great, because he began as a government agent is some three initial secret organization. In a story telling excercise, there is such an unspoken history that can be used to flesh out nearly every moment of a wolverine tale. Need some kind of shadowy guy to convey something to push the story forward? Pull from his past as a spook, etc. etc. and so forth.

[@Boothead]

20:31 In regards to the neon signage and colouring; The poster art of a Japanese Yakuza movie called 'Sympathy for the Underdog' (1971) features nearly identical perspective, composition and soft focus approach. Could imagine this being a reference. Curious to hear what you think!

[@themok2991]

I'd love to see a Kayfabe video on Bizarre Adventures #31 with "The Philistine" drawn by Miller. Not to mention the stories in it with art by Seinkiewicz, Byrne, and Trimpe.

[@RunMeThrough]

Claremont and Miller were actually driving on the I-5 from Los Angeles to San Diego to attend a party. Not from NY to LA or vice versa

[@simian5805]

Canadian comic fans certainly know and are always quick to point out that Wolverine is Canadian. Easily more well known than Guardian, Puck or even the whole Alpha Flight brand for that matter. Absolutely, more claimed and popular than Captain Canuck. - Ask me how I know, eh? ;)

[@davidrubin3532]

“While Yukon is perhaps a little damp” I love this channel!!

[@GitShiddy]

"Is Wolverine Canada's Superman?" No. Superman is Canada's Superman. Especially if you grew up with the Heritage Minute featuring Shuster's time in Toronto talking to a reporter named Lois. Then you're raised knowing Superman is half Canadian. (though technically that's not truly accurate).

[@joelgreenlee9421]

I think this was released while he was doing Daredevil. It was before Ronin and Dark Knight Returns. What was so awesome about it was that it was the first solo appearance of Wolverine. At that time it was a huge draw. I'm glad it's as good as it is and it warrants occasional rereads

[@skeletonshorror5184]

Thanks for reviewing this book, it changed my life back in the day. It had it all: romance, action, ninjas, international espionage, an amazing story and timeless art. 5/5!!!! 💀🔥

[@indomitus9100]

This was summarized in Wolverine Saga, which was the first comic-book I read. It was pivotal for getting into comics, X-Men and Wolverine

[@ericrecano8557]

The 1st Mini Series…one of the greatest mini series Marvel has ever done-period. Makes me miss the Daredevil/ Wolverine Frank Miller , vs DK2 ugly ass pre schooler drawings, angry old man writing Frank Miller. When Miller was In his prime…there was no one better.

[@lastbastionstudiostv]

I freaking love this comic and it has been one of the inspirations on something I've been working on. Thanks for covering this one!

[@grahammillar7173]

rewatching this while wokring on a miller-inspired comic and I had to laugh a little at the intro. Tom drew Wolverine in the last 2-3 pages of FF grand design in the DOFP scenario at the end of the book. He's a member of Franklin's Final Four....Although I wouldn't mind seeing Tom draw another Wolverine comic.

[@nicholaskruger9460]

I have three mint wolverine #1. They are mint. Found up in my mom’s attic. And 2 and 3.

[@TheHumesMusic]

As a kid I was never really into the art in this (except for the 2-page spread where he is breaking through the window), and seeing it again now I just get the feeling Miller only did rough layouts for this series. In comparison the work he was doing on Daredevil at this time looked great.

[@bobbyandelena]

Learned a lot. Thanks for posting -Wolverine fan

[@JamesHaney]

I remember the OG issues off the rack--I had just graduated from high school--breaking the ceiling of narrative presentation in th wake of Miller's "Elektra" run on DAREDEVIL. The industry was near the end of the Golden Age narrative mode--single-story one and dones--and was tiptoeing towards the sophisticated storytelling that Moore, et al, were about to unleash on the Colonies. Appreciate the preservation of the original coloring in the reprint and not muddied down, ala the FLEX MENTALLO TPB! MAKE MINE MILLER MARVEL!! 🖖♾

[@wadefurlong]

Yay. Game changer.

[@lagenchase5188]

A favorite trade of mine. I own a fair amount of Absolutes and random omni's, and yet my beat up copy of this is one I pull from at different times. Sits right next to my copy of Ronin. Both have been loved to a point that the glue is breaking down complete with bends and folds everywhere. Great Vid guys!

[@anthonymusto8968]

It's funny I just recently picked this up but it's a new deluxe edition and it has the 2 Paul Smith X-Men that continue after this and the last 6 pages have an artist edition section

[@alanlawrence6584]

Don't know if anyone's mentioned this yet, but Marvel lists original publication of this miniseries as 1982. Yukio doesn't become Lady Deathstrike--that's another character, not in this series. Yukio stays around, showing up in X-men during the Paul Smith run, where she has an implied affair with Storm, and then shows up intermittently through the years in Wolverine and X-men comics. I think it seemed important to Claremont to show that Yukio doesn't pine away for Wolverine after he rejects her. She turns up in the Phalanx saga and hangs out with Storm again, after Claremont was off the book. The later writers pick up a lot of her character from what Claremont lays down over the years.

[@brianevinou8172]

Shogun is an awesome book. Check it out.

[@tommybenitez3319]

You had to be there back in 82 to understand

[@msmittysmitty83]

Scoli's book on Kirby is one of my favorite books ,

[@howkel]

I bought this monthly in real release time. I was so stoked to get a solo Wolverine book. This was the book that heralded the character's explosion into pop culture.

[@jayconant3816]

Always loved that wolverine fighting the ninjas cover ,I kinda wish the art style inside was more like the cover

[@DjdJ-qh6wt]

The cover came quite a bit later and Miler hadn't quite made it to that point yet!

[@sebastianmichaels143]

I miss Ed.

[@ronprewoznik3566]

Yay!

[@videovagrancy8526]

There is so much about this mini-series that I just love. So many great pages and panels. (A favorite of mine is the one where he wakes up in the street after his first battle with Mariko's father. Something about the colors and the "neon noir" look that makes me just stare at it.) There are just so many great pieces like that in this series. I've read it several times and spend time just studying the writing and art. A masterpiece if it's time. And a great example of what makes comics great! (Btw, recently picked up a copy of that white covered version of the book off Ebay, it brings me back to when I was a kid.)

[@shlepzig]

Yukio from the Wolverine mini series is a different character from Yuriko Oyama who becomes Lady Deathstrike. I found it really confusing as a kid in the 80s reading them months (years) apart because the names are so similar (and being American I was not in tune with Japanese names). Yukio in the Wolverine Miniseries is a trained assassin from the streets of Tokyo. Yuriko Oyama is the daughter of docter that created the bonding process to give Wolverine his Adamantium bones (which is the reason Yuriko has such a beef with Logan).

[@joerubinstein1075]

Hey,I was there too.

[@JakobNoone]

And doing great work with everyone, IMO.

[@jawnsushi]

I just read this for the first time a couple months ago. It was really good! As far as Frank Miller's art goes, it's probably my least favorite of his. But that's simply because it's not in the style he's known for. The art is still really good.

[@kikodejesus9192]

The Logan of the 4ish miniseries and origin in marvel presents with the iconic art of BW-S is the essence of Logan to me. The animal who can rage without thought or reason is also the man who truly love and the soul mate of Mariko Yashida. I love it then that at times Logan doubts his memories because he is not sure if the memories were his or were implanted. I remember that Asano said Logan is more Japanese than the Japanese. Oh 80s. Happy times for me.

[@TheJMuise87]

Rewatching this video, just noticed how when Wolverine is cutting off the bears arm, the motion lines kinda split the panel into two. Not sure if it was intentional but it works well

[@FlushedNoob]

Tom! Loved transformers vs GI Joe. Taught me what to do when I meet space buddha. Awesome to hear you on the show.

[@ChronicallyPizza]

Honestly being Canadian I can tell you I took a strong liking to wolverine not only for that quality but it was a strong reason

[@eddiesaun9690]

I read Marvel during the Miller period, the Golden age of Marvel. I read and re-read the Wolverine mini-series until memorized. In my opinion this was a top 5, EVER, book. Masterful work (including graphics)

[@TheMr32hunter]

haven't watched but as a dude who was a mid teen at the time an absolute Yay. this is an absolute classic. ( 82 wow I was only 11 then crazy)

[@VomitPinata]

YES. This series blew my head off when it came out. I had the single issues. bought em as they came out. So unique and just gritty as fuck. Red Room is doing much the same right now, too! Thanks for all you do!

[@palchristianandersen9086]

I think those negative spaces are there to avoid that the panels on the left side of the page have parallel gutters with the panels on the right side of the page. That way it's easier for your brain to intuit that you're supposed to finish everything on the left side of the page before you start reading the right side.

[@hcanderson3787]

Love Cap...but I gotta go with Wolvie. ;-)

[@DjdJ-qh6wt]

This was a watershed moment when it first came out. Bob Layton's Hercules was released within the same month! Maybe the same week even! We had never had a mini-series before,... this was pre-Secret Wars! The violence at the time was shocking for a Marvel comic. The sword fights perhaps the most choreographed battles that had ever been seen! They were like a ballet. The lighting and full page spreads were unthinkable and a break towards the bold after Miller's Daredevil. I can't express the impact it had enough. This was also Wolverine's first trip to Japan which added a lot to his character. Byrne's flushing out of his back story in Alpha Flight was yet to come at this point! A true classic and read to shreds at Grade 5 summer camp!!!🤪

[@DjdJ-qh6wt]

All the kids I knew that collected comics when this came out take great pride in Wolverine being Canadian!

[@FacundoComix]

Frank Miller is the best. Period.

[@artpipe]

yay

[@hexkwondo]

This series was iconic!

[@willisryan4576]

Wolverine is way cooler than Superman! Yes he's the favorite in Canada... and DD of course.

[@reepacheirpfirewalker8629]

When I finally read the comic as I refused to pay the hundreds of dollars people wanted for this mini I realized I didn't miss much.

[@jdsantibanez]

Shogun was a James A. Michener's novel.

[@JakobNoone]

James Clavell, not Michener.

[@dwaynemuth8775]

Great job, guys! Lynn Carley’s first color work on Frank were Wolverine 4 & DD 191! I met Miller 2nd time when Wolverine 1 came out! Thanks for getting me to remember a great series! Keep up the great work!

[@dwaynemuth8775]

Varley

[@frankstrysik1558]

Nay for me. My least favorite Miller work.