I watched Marvel’s X-Men 97 on Disney Plus, and it made me feel like a carefree kid again
A positive mutation
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Full spoilers follow for X-Men: The Animated Series.
I love a good nostalgia trip – especially when it comes to movies and shows from my youth. Turn on the TV and putThe Lion King,Power Rangers,Pokémon, or any other 90s-era entertainment on, and I’ll immediately be transported back to a time where adult problems – bills and a lack of sleep, am I right? – seemed eons away.
So whenMarvelannounced it was developingX-Men 97, aDisney Plus revival ofX-Men: The Animated Series(X:TAS)– a beloved childhood show of mine – you can bet I was excited. That anticipation, though, was laced with apprehension. Sure, the comic book giant enjoyed plenty of success with its Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise. But, after numerous less well-received movies and series, including the mixed reception toWhat If…?, Marvel Studios' first in-house animated offering, I could be forgiven for expecting the worst.
I need not have worried. Based on its first three episodes,X-Men 97is everything I wanted from aDisney Plussequel to one of my favorite animated programs. An old-school series with a modern twist, it’s a worthy successor that packs a sentimental punch. At least from what I’ve seen, it’ll not only appeal toX:TASveterans and established MCU fans alike, but also to those looking for an easy entry point to Marvel’s expansive cinematic franchise.
To me, my X-Men
X-Men 97begins several months afterX:TAS' finale. The world believes Charles Xavier/Professor X, theX-Men’s telepathic and empathetic leader, is dead (he’s not, but just go with it) after he was fatally wounded by Henry Gyrich, a US government liaison officer with a severe aversion to mutant kind, in the original show’s 76th and concluding chapter.
Xavier’s sacrifice has led most ordinary humans to view mutants in a sympathetic light and largely accept their place in the ‘present’ (1997 being the in-universe ‘present day’). However, in Professor X’s absence, the X-Men grapple with how – or, rather if – they’ll continue to move forward as a team. Scott Summers/Cyclops (voiced by Ray Chase) and Jean Grey (Jennifer Hale), for instance, wonder if it’s time to put their unborn son first; a decision that suggests an inevitable parting of the ways with their found family.
X-Men 97 is a delightful reference- and cameo-filled sequel befitting its 90s heyday predecessor
Unsurprisingly, that potential exit, among other best laid plans for Scott and Jean’s fellow superheroes, doesn’t materialize. Whether it’s the re-emergence of Bolivar Trask – the scientist who created the mutant-killing weapons known as Sentinels – or the revelation that Xavier bequeathed leadership of the X-Men to complicated villain Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto (Matthew Waterson), there’s plenty for everyone to deal with in the immediate term.
Given the aforementioned ties toX:TAS, you’ll be pleased (as I was) with the continuity thatX-Men 97exhibits through its episodic and overarching storylines. This isn’t a hard reset. Rather a soft reboot that pursues unresolved plot threads, as well as building on established character arcs, left over fromX:TAS. In a world where remakes are commonplace, I was relieved and delighted to see that Marvel had the courage and conviction to pick up where things left off, rather than retellX:TAS' five-season story with updated visuals.
X-Men 97also delivers on honoring what Beau DeMayo,its showrunner who was surprisingly fired by Marvel, previously described as the “earnestness and emotional sincerity” of the original series.
Indeed,X:TAS' thematic resonance and topical exploration have been preserved with the requisite respect and care – the examination of racial segregation, a staple of theX-Men’s 60-plus year history, chief among them. Other important talking points – legacy, loss of self-identity, and authentic LGBTQ-plus representation (team member Morph identifies as non-binary) to name three – are also as pleasingly prominent; the latter particularly so in light ofX-Men 97’s progressive, present day take on Marvel’s source material.
X-Men 97 delivers its fair share of somber story beats that’ll leave a lump in the throat
Equally gratifying is Marvel’s decision not to tieX-Men 97into the wider MCU. To paraphrase prog-rock band Pink Floyd, it’s not just another brick in the MCU wall – indeed, likeMoon Knight,X-Men 97exists as a standalone entity unshackled by the MCU’s unwieldy makeup.
Of course, with seven more episodes to come inX-Men 97’s first season, it could still become part of Marvel’s cinematic tapestry. There are loose connections to other universes – theMCUor otherwise – in episodes one through three that suggest it might do so, too, if Marvel deems it necessary. However, givenX:TASpredated the MCU, via 2008’sIron Man, by 16 years, I’d like to seeX-Men 97kept separate from the elaborate multiversal tale that’s currently weighing Marvel’s cinematic juggernaut down.
If I have one small grievance withX-Men 97, it’s that it primarily focuses on Scott and Jean in its early installments, with the pair placed front and center of theMarvel Phase 5series' embryonic storylines. That’s to be expected, what withX-Men 97recreating classic narratives from the comics involving Nathaniel Essex/Mr. Sinister (Christopher Britton) and a certain famous clone saga (no, not that malignedSpider-Manone).
It’s a three-part series opening that puts Scott and Jean through the emotional wringer. Aside from some wider familial dysfunction that delivers some spicy melodrama to proceedings, though, the rest of the X-Men feel secondary or even disappointingly side lined by the unfolding events. Sure, Magneto gets some multifaceted time to shine in episode 2, Jubilation Lee/Jubilee (Holly Chou) plays a fairly substantial role inX-Men 97’s premiere, and episode 3’s ending suggests there are entries led by Lucas Bishop (Isaac Robinson-Smith) and Ororo Munroe/Storm (Alison Sealy-Smith) to come. Fans hoping to see the likes of Wolverine, Rogue, and Gambit get their fair share of screen time early on, though, should temper their expectations.
A necessary evolution
Fans ofX:TASshouldn’t be concerned thatX-Men 97disregards other elements (aside from what I’ve covered above), either. Indeed, those hoping for a nostalgia-fueled trip down memory lane will ahem marvel at how it evokes the feelings of watchingX:TASas a wide-eyed kid.
From the original show’s iconic opening title sequence – The theme song! The animated character intros! The opposing factions running into each other! The 3D title text! – to numerousX:TASand wider Marvel animated series' call backs and Easter eggs,X-Men 97is a delightful reference- and cameo-filled sequel befitting its 90s heyday predecessor.
X:TAS' thematic resonance and topical exploration has been preserved with the requisite respect and due care
For viewers wanting a bit of shock value from the group’s latest animated runout, there’s some to be had in its first three entries. There isn’t an overabundance of surprising moments, but those of a blind-siding nature – well, they’ll be emotionally stunning to anyone unfamiliar withX:TASor the group’s illustrious comic book history – are hard-hitting. I’ve been moved by similar animated genre fare before, such as byArcaneandBoJack HorsemanonNetflix, andX-Men 97delivers its fair share of somber story beats that’ll leave a lump in the throat.
The biggest difference betweenX:TASand its successor, though, is the latter’s animated glow-up. Though conceptually similar to the 2D character designs from the original show,X-Men 97adds more than a dashing of 3D-style cell-shading, alongside a fresh lick of paint, to renovate the group’s animated adventures. Like me, it might take you a beat or two for your eyes to acclimate to its newfound graphical style, but I found it to be a simple yet effective upgrade to the 90s cartoon’s aesthetic after a few minutes.
X-Men 97’s animation is also a step above – obvious as that is to say, given the technological advancements since the original – its forebear. With South Korea’s Studio Mir, whose previous works includeAvatar: The Last AirbendersequelThe Legend of KorraandHarley Quinnseason three, taking the leads on the show’s development, you can bet that there’s a serious anime vibe to its animated composition.
I’d like to see X-Men 97 kept separate from Marvel’s elaborate multiversal tale
X-Men 97’s action sequences, for instance, are superb. Compared toX:TAS, they’re more ambitious, creative and free-flowing in their scope and scale, have a greater degree of intensity, and even occasionally slip into violent territory. Away from the customary battle scenes, Studio Mir’s penchant for abstract visuals, imaginative animation style, and weird hues lends itself to some trippy, horror-infused moments, too. Episode three is the best example of this, with nightmarish scenes aplenty that indicatesX-Men 97will be more multi-genre in tone than its animated progenitor.
My verdict
X-Men 97is a crowd-pleasing, wistful throwback to a time where watching Saturday morning cartoons was as stressful as life ever got. A melting pot of classicX:TASingredients with more than a sprinkling of modern spice, it’s a mouth-watering recipe that cooks up a delicious, nostalgic feast for the senses that’s as flavorsome to newcomers as it is rewarding for long-time viewers.
I’ll never tire of recommendingX-Men: The Animated Seriesto anyone who hasn’t seen it, but you don’t need to do so to appreciate and enjoy whatX-Men 97has to offer. To me, that’s the tell-tale sign of an excellent show, and you can be sure it’ll join ourbest Disney Plus showslist for that reason, as well as the others noted throughout this piece, in the near future.
At just 30 minutes a pop, each episode makes for easy digestible viewing while you munch down a bowl of milk-soaked cereal first thing in the morning, too. So, before the monotony of school or work washes over you every Wednesday for the next 10 weeks, why not take a nostalgic trip back in time – breakfast in hand – by watching a terrific sequel to one of the best animated shows of all-time? I know I will be.
X-Men 97’s first two episodes are out now on Disney Plus. New episodes air weekly until the season finale on May 15. Lastly, find outhow to watch the X-Men movies in orderwhile you’re here.
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As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.
Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.
Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.
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