The best Marvel animated series is back with X-Men’97! Check out our thoughts of the first three episodes!
Hey All!
Twenty years after its final episode, the cultural phenomenon that was the X-men Animated Series (specifically titled X-Men as a way of distinguishing itself from subsequent shows like X-Men Evolution or Wolverine and the X-Men) is being revived on Disney Plus as X-Men ’97. Ten new episodes continuing the stories of the characters make up the new season and if you have been following news on social media, you will have seen the titles and descriptions of each episode. We were fortunate to get to see the first three episodes of the new series in advance of its streaming premiere on March 20th.
Much like the show’s original format in the 90s, the episodes are inspired by story arcs from the comics and have been adapted to fit the tone and format of a Saturday morning cartoon. That being said, much like the melodramatics of the 90’s iteration, X-Men ’97 is not the simple good guy versus bad guy beat’em up show. The themes of prejudice, isolation, betrayal, complicated romantic relationships, and found family, remain the core of the series. Additionally, the show remains in the format of being less episodic and more serialized with stories carrying over from episode to episode; the same way a comic book series runs.
The series returns with characters, at least in the first three episodes, Wolverine (Cal Dodd returning to the role), as Cyclops (Ray Chase stepping into the role), Jean Grey (voiced by Jennifer Hale who did the role in Wolverine and the X-Men), Gambit (A. J. LoCascio stepping into the role), Beast (George Buza returning to the role), Rogue (Lenore Zann returning to the role), Jubilee (with Holly Chou stepping into the role), Storm (Alison Sealy-Smith returning to the role), Bishop (Isaac Robinson-Smith stepping into the role), Morph (J.P. Karliak stepping into the role), and Magneto (Matthew Waterson stepping into the role).
The series begins approximately one year after the final episode of the original 90’s run (that final episode was titled “Graduation Day”). The setting is still in the 1990s and the X-Men do still live in the mansion but, in line with the final episode of the previous series, Professor Xavier is gone. Though the final episode (“Graduation Day”) had Xavier go to space with Shiar Empress Lilandra (his romantic interest) the character is very much regarded as deceased at the start of the first episode in this series.
The first episode (“To Me, My X-Men”) is very much setup for the series as a whole. Each character is introduced in a familiar fashion as they were in the 90’s animated pilot episode “Night of the Sentinels.” The plot of a young mutant being rescued by the X-Men is straight out of that first episode but instead of Jubilee being the mutant rescued from Sentinels, we get Roberto DaCosta (who comic book fans will recognize as Sunspot) being rescued from The Friends of Humanity (a human organization which hates mutants). Some lines of dialogue are even lifted from the original series and worked into the episode. All of this is done as a way to show the audience that this series will be very reverent and respectful with acknowledging of where it has come from.
The second episode (“Mutant Liberation Begins”) sees Magneto stepping into his role as an X-Man and successor to Charles Xavier. It takes inspiration from the classic issue titled “The Trial of Magneto” and uses visual cues (like the purple costume with the giant M) as reference. In the second episode is when the show steps forward. The dialogue is more engaging and mature than the first episode with Magneto delivering one of his popular speeches about oppression and how he intends to be better than he was and try to set an example for change and evolution rather than his previous radicalism. I will not share any spoilers, but another popular arc is introduced in this episode as well which involves a very important journey for the character Storm.
The third episode (“Fire Made Flesh”) takes an even bigger step in its way of handling a very famous X-Men story arc that while in the comics ran for nearly a year, is adapted and compressed into one episode with the potential for more to come. In the third episode, some visuals also become “trippier” than previously seen on the show all in service as homage to the famous story arc.
Speaking of visuals, X-Men ’97 manages to emulate the style and art of the 90’s series with a modern tweak so that the characters and world look the same but moves more dynamically. Both the classic animated theme song and the show’s intro remain intact with a slight tweak. The intro now changes with each episode so that the characters which will be featured in the episode will have a spotlight in the intro; similar to how Game of Thrones would show the different lands in their intro as would be the focus within the episode. People like to skip intros to get to the episode, but I think this small addition makes the experience all the better.
X-Men’97 is very much a show made for the fans of the 90’s animated series. Fans of the X-Men in general will not need to have a crash course to enjoy the show, but people who have not had any real exposure to the X-men can catch up by watching all of the classic episodes from the original 90’s show which is streaming on Disney Plus. Much like its predecessor, X-Men’97 is ideal for anyone over the age of 9, depending on your child’s maturity. The themes are very clear and not hidden but that is the point of children’s shows. People who were in kids in the 90s, or just grew up watching the show, are the real target audience and age range. For myself, X-Men’97 scratches the nostalgia itch by being a perfect continuation of the original animated series from my childhood. I pray they do another season because it deserves it.
Check out X-Men’97 on Disney Plus every Wednesday!
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