Films for Breakfast

*This is a review of episodes 1-3 of the series*

Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took pop culture by storm or even the Sony and 20th Century Fox Marvel films found massive success in live-action, Marvel flourished in the animation department – Fantastic Four and Spider-Man are two big titles that had massive fanbases with their respective animated shows, but the original X-Men: The Animated Series was on a whole other level; it spanned from 1992 all the way to 1997, and was responsible for why the characters are so beloved to this day. So it makes all the sense why Marvel Studios would pick X-Men to be the first of their revitalizations, as X-Men ’97 is a direct follow-up from where the fifth season of the series supposedly ended back in 1997.

X-Men ’97 picks up very soon after the original series ended, with the core X-Men still reeling from the loss of their leader, Professor Charles Xavier. One of the most impressive elements of X-Men ’97 right out of the gate is how it balances both feeling like a natural extension of the original story as well as something new and fresh. In an age where we have been inundated with superhero content almost monthly for years now, X-Men ’97 feels like a reminder of not only the great stories that can be told within the genre but how the X-Men as a team are a beacon of representation and deep subtext that makes for richer and more character driven stories when they are written with this much care and personal touch.

The death of Charles Xavier is a perfect starting off point for X-Men ’97, as it puts every single character in a difficult position independently due to their relationship with Charles, but also how the X-Men can move on as a team and trust in themselves to move forward in a way that would make the Professor proud. The first episode finds the team not only trying to find a sense of normalcy in the wake of his death, but dealing with their usual issues of humans and the government distrusting them and trying to regulate them. Without giving away any specifics, these elements feel as relevant and well-realized as ever. By the end of the second episode, when Magneto comes into the mix, the show packs a huge punch and shockwave to everything established in the first episode; delivering an all-time character moment for Magneto that I wouldn’t dare spoil.

By the time the show reaches its third episode, it fully feels like it finds its rhythm. One of my favorite things that 90s animated superhero fare did was have contained arcs in the span of two to three episodes where it feels like an entire season had it feeling like the characters went through various journeys and character arcs together; truly growing alongside one another. Within the third episode of ’97, the show goes through the ups and downs of everyone’s relationships with one another, establishes the political climate at hand, runs through a handful of villains, and introduces some truly wacky and nerdy plot elements that will delight fans. It’s truly an impressive balancing act that feels so seamlessly brought into the modern era of Marvel.

I’d also be remiss to not mention how impressive the animation here is. While it may take time for some to get used to the blend of traditional 2D animation with 3D, it looks absolutely gorgeous and really paves way for some incredible action sequences. There’s a big battle towards the end of the first episode that immediately justifies the upgrade in animation, and wows with its eye-popping visuals and truly frenetic and exciting choreography and quickly paced action. Even aside from the bigger moments, this also helps the characters feel all the more expressive and realistic – making for the drama and quieter moments to feel all the more authentic and hard-hitting.

All in all, X-Men ’97 feels like a best case scenario for a revamp of the original series. Every character feels like a natural extension of where we last left them, with some true pathos injected into their mourning of Professor Xavier and how they try to move forward without him. The show finds a brilliant balancing act of doing what the X-Men do best; which is telling personal and character-driven stories that also aren’t afraid to be truly weird and massive in how they incorporate its sci-fi/cosmic elements. If the first three episodes are an indication of the rest of the series, it is one of the best things Marvel has done in years.

4.5/5