Ah, the good old days when ’90s babies had a blast watching cartoons on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network & Disney Channel. Renting a VHS at Blockbuster. Playing video games on Sony’s first console, PlayStation. Super Mario 64 became a game changer in the video game industry. I was born in 1993, the year Jurassic Park came out and changed cinema forever introducing the public groundbreaking Visual Effects. Anyway, I’d like to review one of my favorite cartoons growing up that introduced me to Marvel, which is none other than “X-Men: The Animated Series.”
X-Men: The Animated Series aired in 1992 (same year Spawn made his comic book debut) on Fox Kids. It became an instant hit spawning Like its fellow programs, “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” & “Power Rangers,” X-Men made a lot of profit selling toys. I already covered the history surrounding the X-Men series from the live-action 2000 movie produced by Fox. So, don’t forget to check it out along with other X-Men related reviews.
Anyway, the highly anticipated Deadpool and Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman, will be released on July 26, 2024. That’s three days after my birthday. As a fan of the X-Men series, I wanna share my thoughts on the ’90s cartoon. I’ve yet to see “X-Men” ’97 on Disney Plus. I’ll be looking back at all five seasons starting with the first season. By the way, Insomniac Games is working on a Wolverine video game on the PS5.
Today’s review contains no SPOILERS. I’m giving newcomers a chance to try out this classic cartoon.
Good & Evil Qualities
Good: Good: Voice Actors all did a superb job for their respective voiceover performances.
Animation looks great for a cartoon from the early ’90s.
Action Sequences are pretty good.
Chemistry between members of the titular team serves as the main highlight.
The Intro never gets old. It’s impossible to skip. Haim Saban & Shuki Levy composed an ear banger. The former’s a businessman who produced Power Rangers. The latter wrote opening theme songs from other cartoons like “Inspector Gadget,” “He-Man” & “Digimon.”
Wolverine’s my all-time favorite Marvel superhero.
As you may know, Apocalypse’s the first mutant since the pyramids were built. His power level makes him a dangerous foe forcing the X-Men and Brotherhood of Evil to join forces as depicted in the comics and video game, “X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.”
The cartoon retains the comics’ theme involving prejudice against mutants. A metaphor for racism. It was done maturely without making it feel preachy or forced commentary reflecting real life.
Evil: There’s some animation and continuity errors. It’s not easy coordinating a cartoon. Animators don’t have time to double check every single frame.
I know Angel’s an original member of the X-Men, but he’s lame. His only power is his wings that grant him flight.
Episodes 1-2 – Night of the Sentinels
After Jubilee runs away from home, she flees from mutant hunting Sentinels. She’s rescued by the X-Men. Together, they battle the giant robots.
Cyclops says a NOT joke. Fourteen years before “Borat” said, “This suit is NOT black!” “This suit is black pause, NOT!”
Beast mentioned gamma rays. An obvious reference to Hulk. He got his own cartoon in 1996.
Somebody meets his end.
Wolverine has two funny moments. He vandalizes Cyclops’ car and calls Gambit gumbo.
At the 19:35 mark, a Sentinel air humps. Actually pretty funny.
Episode 3 – Enter Magneto
Prior to becoming enemies, a flashback shows Xavier & Magento were good friends.
After Beast refuses to escape prison, he attends court in an attempt to convince humanity the X-Men and good mutants are harmless.
Storm has an awesome moment.
Magneto says, “Brave New World.” Steve Rogers’ successor, Sam Wilson takes over his role as Captain America in the upcoming movie, “Captain America: Brave New World.”
Episode 4 – Deadly Reunions
Wolverine fights his rival, Sabretooth.
Magneto attacks a chemical plant. He confronts Xavier.
Remember Magneto’s helmet can block telepathic attacks? Somehow, Xavier manages to give him a horrific flashback of his tragic past.
Jubilee says, “You want an Oscar or what!?” A few faces who starred in the X-Men films later won an Academy Award.
- Anna Paquin – The Piano
- Halle Berry – Monster’s Ball
- Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Lining’s Playbook
- Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- Jessica Chastain – The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Episode 5 – Captive Hearts
Cyclops claims his powers restore from the sun’s solar energy. A reference to Superman.
One scene pays homage to a famous sparring scene from the original “Star Trek” episode, “Amok Time.” It was later referenced in “The Cable Guy.”
Leech makes an appearance. He later played an important part in “X-Men: The Last Stand.”
Wolverine holding a picture of Jean & Scott became a meme. I wanna see Hugh Jackman recreate it in Deadpool and Wolverine. By the way, Hasbro made an action figure of the meme.
Episode 6 – Cold Vengeance
After leaving the X-Mansion, Wolverine has a rematch with Sabretooth.
Storm, Gambit & Jubilee are sent to Genosha. To avoid suspicion, they go incognito as tourists.
An animation error with Wolverine’s arms are yellow.
Episode 7 – Slave Island
Storm, Gambit & Jubilee are imprisoned. They learn Genosha isn’t a safe haven for mutants. They captured mutants are forced to build a dam.
Sunfire, Mystique & Blob appear.
Cable makes his first appearance. In the comics, he’s the son of Cyclops & Madelyne Pryor. Cable’s mother is a clone of Jean Grey. Cable comes from the future.
Episode 8 – The Unstoppable Juggernaut
Mighty: Xavier’s stepbrother, Juggernaut (a non-mutant baddie) robs banks framing Colossus for crimes he didn’t commit.
Juggernaut has a funny line. “What’s she gonna do, hit me with her diaper?”
The fight between Colossus & Juggernaut predates their battle from “Deadpool 2.”
Weak: A continuity error with Wolverine who quickly changes his outfit during the battle with Juggernaut.
Episode 9 – The Cure
A doctor creates a cure that nullifies a mutant’s powers. Fourteen Years Later, X-Men: The Last Stand was influenced by this episode. Speaking of the third movie, Moira McTaggart visits her old friend, Xavier.
Meanwhile, Cable hunts down the same doctor who invented the Genosha collars that enslaves mutants.
After escaping Genosha, Mystique teams up with Apocalypse. Unlike the comics, she’s affiliated with the Brotherhood of Evil.
Pyro & Avalanche factor in. They’re in ca-hoots with Mystique.
This episode focuses on Rouge. She’s conflicted on whether she wants to take the cure or keep her powers. She has a flashback when she accidentally puts her boyfriend in a coma. It was also depicted in the first X-Men movie. It’s a darn shame Anna Paquin didn’t retain the character’s free-spirited Southern Belle personality. I have nothing against Ms. Paquin, but the way Rouge was depicted in the movies, she acted mopey. Don’t blame the actress, blame the writers and director.
One scene pays homage to The Twilight Zone episode, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” A passenger sees Rouge sitting on a wing.
Episode 10 – Come the Apocalypse
Apocalypse formulates a grandmaster plan to use four mutants as his “Four Horsemen.” A better story than the 2016 disappointment, “X-Men: Apocalypse.”
We get a shot of Rouge’s butt as she lies on the ground looking at Apocalypse. It became a meme.
Episodes 11-12 – Days of Future Past
This two-parter takes cues from the 1981 storyline. Bishop goes back in the time to prevent a bad future from happening when mutants are eradicated and enslaved by sentinels. In the comics, Kitty Pryde went back in time. Wolverine took Bishop’s place in the 2014 film.
Forge confirms the past is in the ’90s. The show’s main setting.
Mystique, Pyro, Avalanche & Blob attempt to assassinate Senator Kelly.
Wolverine calls Bishop “The Terminator.” James Cameron took inspiration of the storyline when he made the first Terminator film.
Episode 13 – The Final Decision
Magneto and the X-Men are forced to prevent Master Mold from replacing Kelly’s brain.
The battle with sentinels makes me wanna replay the first two X-Men Legends games.
Gambit mentioned he met Ghost Rider.
Final Scene sets up Season 2.
The Final Verdict: A-
X-Men’s first season is the beginning of a legendary cartoon that introduced ’90s babies like me to Marvel along with Spider-Man: The Animated Series. If you’re new to the cartoon or already familiar with the movies, the ’90s cartoon’s your one-way ticket as a Marvel fan.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 