Wolverine: Netsuke

In this four-issue Marvel miniseries from 2002–2003, writer and artist George Pratt takes Wolverine on a meditative journey to Japan, where a quest for a stolen netsuke—a traditional miniature sculpture—becomes a deeper exploration of the character’s own fractured history and samurai-like code. Pratt’s moody, painted artwork gives the story a haunting, almost dreamlike quality, setting it apart from typical superhero fare. It’s a thoughtful, character-driven piece that uses the netsuke as a lens to examine Wolverine’s past and his place between two worlds.