Marvel continues their ongoing motion comics conversions with this tale starring the omnipresent Wolverine. While there’s no shortage of Wolverine stories ripe for motion comics treatment, this isn’t necessarily one of them. Aside from a key co-starring role by current Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. character Deathlok, as well as brief cameos from other Marvel heroes, the story and art aren’t compelling enough to deserve the motion treatment. The movie stands okay on its own, but pales in comparison to the rich legacy of other entries in the deep Wolverine catalog.
Wolverine is enjoying a pint with Captain America when they’re attacked by a Deathlok sent from the future to kill the heroes of today. As they quickly learn, he’s not alone, and the band of Deathloks have enhanced their abilities with borrowed attributes from our heroes, including Wolverine’s claws and Iron Man’s repulsor. While we don’t get into details about how they got these upgrades, the story does occasionally shift to the future to show a grizzled old Wolverine and friends such as Spider-Man facing off against the horrors of their time.
The plot borrows a bit too much from Terminator, if not Wolverine’s own X-Men: Days of Future Past, but the enhanced and multiplying Deathloks are admittedly pretty cool. As in Deathlok’s current TV incarnation, much of the conflict involves his own turmoil about following programmed orders versus listening to his own humanity, and while the outcome of the battle is never in doubt, it’s still a frenetic adventure to get there.
Jason Aaron’s story is well paced but leans toward mindless fighting action rather than meaningful plot development. Ron Garney’s artwork is passable and suitably kinetic for motion conversion but suffers from occasional loose linework that doesn’t hold up well to big-screen magnification. The motion work is above average, with quality approaching native animation. Voice acting is merely okay, with menacing Deathlok lines but a Wolverine so gruff he sounds like a parody.
The only bonus feature is a spotlight on Ron Garney’s artistic process including an interview and a tour of his home studio.
