This story takes place just after Steve Rogers (the former Captain America) comes back from the dead and Wolverine decides to take the man up on a whirlwind bar hop around the world to talk about old times. Their fun gets interrupted when they learn about time traveling Deathloks coming from the future to eliminate a resistance movement before it starts (a la Terminator).
One of the interesting ways this story is told is that it gives several different perspectives and gives the reader/viewer the entire story. While the main plot is Wolverine and friends trying to stop the Deathloks, the story also shows a particular Deathlok’s story. Actually, its stories. On the one side, you see the human part where a murderer is taken out of prison and killed in order to be brought back by the Deathlok technology; on the other side, you get the perspective of the robotic brain that acts as the cyborg’s controller. There is also a good bit of the story that takes place in the future where you see how events surrounding Wolverine and Steve Rogers are affecting the resistance. Like most time traveling comic-book related stories, no one seems to really care about paradoxes or the consequences of various actions, but going into the story with that in mind means that you can sit back and just enjoy what unfolds a bit more.
Marvel Knights Animation Presents: Wolverine Weapon X: Tomorrow Dies Today has only one bonus on the disc. It’s an interview with artist Ron Garney as he talks about what went into these comics. While not exceptionally long, it still provides a good bit of insight, not only into the creation of these comics, but into how a comic book artist who works from home manages his day and insures he meets deadlines away from the office.
I find it amusing that there are a lot of elements in Tomorrow Dies Today that seem to make its selection as a Marvel Knights Animation just right given the nature of the Marvel-related films coming out right now. Besides the obvious Wolverine-related time travel connection (X-Men: Days of Future Past is about to be released), there is also a focus on Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes (Captain America: The Winter Soldier is still in theaters at the time of this writing), Deathlok (seen prominently in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Spider-Man (again, Amazing Spider-Man 2 is still showing). Even characters like Iron Fist and Luke Cage make appearances, which is interesting given the recent announcement of Netflix mini-series focusing on these characters. The only way Tomorrow Dies Today would have been a better option to help advertise for Marvel’s live action offerings is if there was a Guardians of the Galaxy reference somewhere in there and I missed it.
Even without all of these connections, Wolverine Weapon X: Tomorrow Dies Today is a good stand-alone storyline that plays out well in the animated comic format of this series. It would be nice to see the preceding Weapon X story arcs as well, but there are only a few references to the earlier events and they aren’t really necessary to enjoy this particular story. If you like what Marvel Knights Animation is doing to comics, then you should enjoy this treatment. It isn’t for everyone, but those that appreciate it will want to pick up this DVD.
