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An episode of X-Men ’97 told the same story of Deadpool & Wolverine more effectively than the MCU film did. It was also not particularly subtle in doing so, with advertisements correlating the characters of Deadpool and Morph. However, the animated adaptation was far more effective in presenting a troubled bromance.

The X-Men ’97 Season 2 episode “Weapon X, Lies, and DVDs” centers around Wolverine. With his health failing after the Adamantium was removed from his body last season, Logan is desperate for a cure. This leads him to seek out the Weapon X scientists who fused Adamantium to his skeleton in the first place. To that end, Logan assembles a team of Weapon X survivors, both allies and enemies, including Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike. Also along for the ride is fellow X-Man Morph. However, Logan does not tell them the real reason for the mission.

Morph sticks out like a sore thumb among the hardened mercenaries, cracking jokes and mocking the easily irritated Sabretooth. The parallels to Deadpool would be obvious, even without the title card showing Morph halfway through a transformation into Wade Wilson. Beyond that, Morph changes into Deadpool while evacuating a wounded Sabretooth within the episode itself.

With that parallel established, the question is raised as to what purpose it serves. The answer lies in how X-Men ’97 further develops the unique relationship between Morph and Wolverine in X-Men: The Animated Series. On the surface, it is a relationship similar to the one Deadpool attempts to establish with Wolverine in the MCU. However, even allowing for the increased depth a television series offers over a film, the X-Men ’97 execution is far superior.

Morph gives Wolverine the emotional partner he needs

Morph seemingly died in the pilot of X-Men: The Animated Series to show how serious the stakes of this show would be. While the entire team was upset by Morph’s death, Wolverine was the most deeply troubled. Indeed, Logan described Morph as “the only one who could ever make me laugh.” Later episodes revealed Morph survived, but was brainwashed by Mister Sinister. However, Logan never gave up on trying to rescue his closest friend among the X-Men. Morph ultimately rejoined the team in the series finale.

X-Men ’97 took the relationship in a more mature direction. It was teased that Morph had developed romantic feelings for Wolverine. However, they were reluctant to act on them given Logan’s hang-ups regarding Jean Grey. This was made crystal clear in the Season 1 finale, where Morph took on Jean’s form to comfort a wounded Logan. They also told Wolverine that they loved him.

“Weapon X, Lies, and DVDs” continues this thread, with Morph’s feelings obvious to Lady Deathstrike, who was Wolverine’s lover once upon a time. She calls Morph “Tomo,” in reference to a shape-shifting trickster of Japanese legend who was eternally loyal to a samurai. Lady Deathstrike warns Morph that Tomo’s story ended badly, suggesting the same fate awaits them if they continue pursuing Logan.

The episode ends with Morph seemingly taken these words to heart, after confronting Logan on how he lied about the reason for the mission. Logan tells Morph that he can only be “an animal with claws.” Morph says they find that sad and asks Wolverine if they think it is sad. When Logan doesn’t answer, Morph walks away and sits next to Lady Deathstrike and trades sad looks with her.

Various X-Men comics have teased Deadpool having a similar attraction to Wolverine. Deadpool & Wolverine also referenced this, but most of Deadpool’s flirting there came off as trolling rather than honest expressions of affection. X-Men ’97, however, told an effective and truly touching tale of unrequited love with Morph as a substitute Deadpool.

Originally reported by Matt Morrison for SuperHeroHype.