X-Men ‘97: An Adventurous Series Filled with Nostalgia

When I say X-Men, I don’t mean Xavier’s students, they’re called X-Men because they’re X-traordinary, and they have X-traordinary powers! I’m talking red beams out of your iris, six sharp blades popping out of your fist, telekinesis, and weather manipulation. Even a girl that could kill you if she flirted with you! Everything comes back like a blast from the past in Marvel’s X-Men ’97!

The original series, X-Men: The Animated Series, was a Marvel animated TV show aired in October 1992. After the series finale in 1997, it garnered a fanbase that impacted the lives of so many that it left fans wanting more. The idea of having powers once someone reached a certain age fascinated me. 

I’d become obsessed with wanting to be a mutant and being part of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, too. X-Men: The Animated Series tried to bring some of the magic in the comics onto the screen. While some liberties were made with smaller stories, and even cameos that should have been more than cameos, its reception from the fans was undoubtable. Everything was a hit from the iconic theme song to the 90’s aesthetic of the show. 

The newest animated series, X-Men ‘97, is a continuation of the original animated series. It has some modern twists that stay true to the vintage 90’s X-Men aesthetic older fans enjoyed. As the title cards appear, we are reintroduced to the theme song. It is easily recognizable by fans but with modern instruments and an additional guitar riff that brings even more life to an already phenomenal theme song. 

In addition to a revamped theme song, we see the opening sequence fans are familiar with some major upgrades! There are longer introductions to each main character and additional introductions to the new members, Morph (voiced by JP Karliak) and Bishop (Isaac Robinson-Smith). There is more screen time to introduce them, and the original colour palette is used in the original show, with less grain. We’re in the era of high-definition everything but they still allow us to have that nostalgia trip down memory lane with the same art style, just modern. 

However, the animation style has uncanny valley levels of weirdness that have improved infinitely. It also looks similar to the original series’ aesthetic compared to what was created decades ago. The action sequences are less choppy. There’s more time to create animated sequences and show better action and movement. It almost looks like they took inspiration from the Cyberpunk Edgerunners style or even Archer.

Though they were able to keep most of the aesthetic the same for X-Men ‘97, not everything from the past could come into this new age. With the passing of Cyclops’ voice actors Norm Spencer and Magneto’s David Hemblen in 2020, newer voices were found to voice these iconic characters: Ray Chase and Matthew Waterson, respectively. Not only have detailed credentials as voice actors but they have done justice to these iconic characters. 

While I may not be the biggest fan of Cyclops as a character, I acknowledged Chase’s Cyclops as the leader of the X-Men. I still don’t forgive Cyclops for being a brat and leaving his team in “No Mutant is an Island” in X-Men: The Animated Series; even though he returned and saved all those kids in that episode. I couldn’t recognise him as my leader. I have high hopes and no doubt in my mind that Chase will continue with the legacy Spencer left before him. 

Let’s not forget about the new leader of the mutant resistance, Waterson’s Magento. Though most villains typically have a deeper tone in their voice, this new Magneto has the same depth in his voice but is one of the good guys. There’s a power that Waterson brings to this version of Magneto and much like my faith in Chase, I have high hopes that this amazing legacy will continue.

There are additional changes to the other members in X-Men ‘97. Alison Sealy-Smith replaces Iona Morris (Storm). Chris Potter was the original voice of Gambit but was later changed to Tony Daniels and for the new animated series, A.J. LoCasico now voices the New Orleans greatest thief turned hero. Robinson-Smith replaces Bishop voice actor Phillip Atkin. Also, Cedric Smith is replaced by Ross Marquand, best known as Red Skull from Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame, to voice the man himself, Professor Charles Xavier. The original voices of Jubilee (voiced by Alyson Court), Jean Grey (voiced by Catherine Disher), Gambit (voiced by Chris Potter), and Morph (voiced by Ron Rubin) don’t reprise their roles. However, they voice other characters in the series.

The changes made in X-Men ‘97 may discourage some fans and even question their fondness for these new talents. But after watching the episodes multiple times, it doesn’t take away from the nostalgia.

It’s apparent that time was taken to hook fans of the original animated series on the first episode. We get to see Morph be a part of the team and an asset to the roster. The one-liners from Wolverine still hit in this modern age and cement what the staple of animated Wolverine should be like. Even the ongoing gag of not allowing Jubilee to fly the X-Jet returns! We even also get what I’m interpreting as a nod to the alternate life that Storm and Wolverine had. Logan’s disdain for Scott’s leadership is just as apparent as I remember. 

As a long-time fan of X-Men as a franchise within Marvel, it’s pleasing to see how much love this property is getting as they push to bring the X-Men into the MCU. Sometimes when beloved animated shows from the past are revived, they don’t quite hit the same way as they once did. Though my perspective may be skewed, I genuinely think that this continuation of a story that was deemed unfinished will hit with fans, new and old, and provide the closure needed.