2×05: Weapon X, Lies and DVDs

WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS AND DETAILS FOR
X-MEN 97 SEASON 2

The original animated X‑Men series broke the mold when it came to continuity. Its first season was a fully structured arc, with each episode leading directly into the next — a common practice now, but virtually unheard of in Saturday‑morning animation at the time. Producers and networks preferred stories that could air in any order, and anyone who has ever tried to untangle the true watch order of the final three seasons knows how complicated that became. But within those season‑long arcs were character‑focused episodes, each giving a favourite their moment. The first to receive such treatment was Wolverine, way back in Cold Vengeance, where most of the episode centred on his Arctic showdown with Sabretooth. Every member eventually got their turn, and X‑Men ’97 proved in its first season — with episodes like Lifedeath and Motendo — that it intended to follow suit.

One of the few criticisms levelled at X‑Men ’97 is its side-lining of Wolverine. In the original series, his popularity guaranteed he received the bulk of the solo stories — and why not? His history is vast and complicated enough to fill an entire show. But until Magneto tore the adamantium from his body in the Season One three‑part finale Tolerance Is Extinction, Logan didn’t have much to do. This season, the producers and writers clearly heard the fan outcry, and Weapon X, Lies and DVDs is the result.

A loose sequel to the original series episode Weapon X, Lies and Videotape (ask your parents), this chapter revisits the Weapon X programme, reuniting a full team of misfits — some better known than others — to infiltrate a new facility run by Dr. Abraham Cornelius, the scientist responsible for bonding adamantium to Logan’s skeleton. The team lands, not without casualties, and discovers an even greater threat inside the base. From there, things only get worse. Weapon X, Lies and DVDs brings horror to the foreground more effectively than Lifedeath ever could. The original series simply couldn’t have done this episode: it’s bloody (green, but still), gory, and full of body‑horror squeamishness, finally bringing the once‑restricted Brood to the small screen in all their bug‑eyed terror. More than once, this viewer jumped. The animation is, as usual, stellar — fluid, dynamic, and beautifully rendered.

As the season continues, we can only hope some of the other X‑Men receive similarly themed solo stories as we move forward.

Using intelligence passed to him by Captain America and Black Widow, Logan uncovers a reactivated Weapon X facility — one tied to the machinations of Dr. Abraham Cornelius, the lead scientist behind the original Weapon X experiments on Wolverine, Sabretooth, Maverick and Silver Fox. With Morph at his side, Wolverine assembles a team of misfits: former Team X ally Maverick, Canadian operative Garrison Kane, former lover Lady Deathstrike, and even Sabretooth — his greatest enemy. All agree to put their shared history on pause. Cornelius is the mutual threat.

Approaching the facility, their aircraft is swarmed by a flock of birds with monstrous, mutated features. Morph is the first to regain consciousness after the crash and discovers Kane dead. The others survive, only to be attacked by a bear exhibiting the same grotesque mutations. Inside the facility, Wolverine detects an unusual scent, and upon finding Cornelius’s records, the team learns the horrifying truth: Cornelius used a lone Brood alien — a member of the hive‑mind species — in his Weapon X memory‑erasure experiments, extracting a chemical compound from its blood chemistry.

When they confront Cornelius, he taunts them before transforming into a Brood creature himself, revealing that thousands more lurk in the shadows. Fighting their way through the facility toward the power generator that controls the exits, the team encounters Omega Red, imprisoned by Russian forces at the site. During the battle, Wolverine is revealed to be infected and transforms into a Brood, killing Maverick as the team flees his wrath.

Realising they cannot allow Wolverine — or the Brood — to escape, Morph devises a desperate plan. He lures Logan into the adamantium bonding chamber. A brutal fight breaks out, but Logan is trapped inside as the process begins. Sabretooth and Deathstrike are overwhelmed, and Omega Red charges in for the kill. Suddenly, a restored, adamantium‑clawed Wolverine bursts free from the tube, saving the team and leaving Omega Red to perish as the facility explodes — destroying the Brood infestation once and for all.

Later, aboard the jet, Wolverine and Morph confront the truth of their mission. Logan admits he lied — this wasn’t about the Brood or the facility. He wanted his claws back. Morph asks whether becoming an animal again is worth it. Wolverine simply replies that it’s what he is. Morph finds that answer sad and turns away from him as they fly home.

This week, Forge has finally been added to the credits with a title card of his own. New shots include Wolverine and Sabretooth’s battle in the Tundra from Cold Vengeance, while there’s also shots of him battling Yuriko from Out of the Past. There’s also a shot of Team X, originally seen in flashback in X-Men #5. Morph also wears one of their uniforms throughout.

In keeping with the Wolverine theme, Morph transforms themselves into several characters connected to him: Sasquatch, Puck and Guardian are all members of Alpha Flight, Silver Samurai appeared in Lotus and the Steel and Deadpool is also part of the project. They also morph into the Thing and Spider-Man briefly.

Garrison Kane first appeared in X-Force #2. A future version of his character briefly appeared alongside Cable in Time Fugitives.

The Weapon X DVDs are very conveniently labelled. Some of the names on the files are familiar, including: X-23 (Laura Kinney]; Ajax (seen in Deadpool); Aurora of Alpha Flight; Fantomex, Silver Fox, Psi-Borg, Mastodon; the Winter Soldier; Garrison Kane, Agent Zero; Kimura; Worm; Sludge; Kestrel and Marrow, all characters associated with the Weapon X project at some point.

Sabretooth was last seen in Bloodlines, greeting son Graydon Creed on his door-step. Sabretooth confirms here that he didn’t kill him, and regrets it.

Morph mentions Yuriko and Logan being former lovers. Wolverine also tells Deathstrike that this is their second alien invasion. He’s referring to the original series episode Out of the Past.

Apart from the Brood, three mutants appear to perish in this episode: Kane, Maverick and Maggott. Omega Red no doubt survived.

Logan says that he smelt something similar to the Brood once, referring to the Family from Love in Vain. Those aliens were used in place of the Brood when the aliens were dubbed too scary for children’s television.

Maggott is seen as a Weapon X patient. In the comics, he was once a prisoner and died at their Neverland facility. He’s been resurrected in the comic books since. This is his first animated appearance – he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #345.

When Wolverine is first seen infected, the pose he’s in is a direct homage to the cover of Uncanny X-Men #234.