DVD Review – X-Men Volume 1 and Volume 2
Actors:Iona Morris, Lenore Zann, Alison Seasly-Smith
Studio: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
Release Date: April 28, 2009
What would we do without the continued success of movies that are taken from the pages of comic books? It is without saying that with this success, Marvel has taken advantage of the situation. With the opening of X-Men Origins: Wolverine this month, Marvel has put out volume one and two of the original X-Men animated series from the 1990s. Saturday morning cartoons are back!
Fans who grew up with this version of the X-Men will appreciate a trip back to their childhood and will more than likely identify things they would not have picked up on when they were younger, like Beast’s Howard the Duck t-shirt. More so, fans will appreciate the few seconds of cameos made from some of Marvel’s list of characters. Those who have never seen X-Men outside of the movies will also see an extensive rogue gallery that falls outside of Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants.
Everyone who has been a fan of the X-Men should be familiar with this classic animated show that introduced everyone to the origins of their favorite mutants and their enemies. This animated show from the 1990s is ripped from many of the comic book stories that fans have read and have used to develope their understanding of the X-Men world. Many of the well know characters, as well as lesser known ones like Jubilee, are seen throughout both DVD volumes. These episodes produce digitally mastered images, as well as sound. Of course, there are still instances when wolverine is wearing short long sleeves one minute, and then two seconds later is back to his traditional short sleeve yellow jumpsuit. The two volumes combine for a total of four DVDs and thirty-three episodes that gives twenty minutes of viewing from seasons one through the first six episodes of season three.
Each episode in the DVD collection gives insight to all the main characters that make up the X-Men lore. Besides Wolverine and the rest of the X-Men we meet characters like Bishop, Cable, and Lilandra, Empress of the Shi’ar Empire. From the beginning of volume one, with Night of the Sentinels (parts one and two), viewers will get an idea of the hardships the X-Men and their fellow mutants will face. The mutant hunting sentinels are out to capture and eliminate all mutants and it is up to Professor Xavier and his X-Men to prove that not all mutants are as evil as they are made out to be by the general public. By finally proving that the extreme measures taken by the sentinels and their creators, the X-Men have gained some positive feedback for mutants. Enter Magneto gives us our first view of the master of magnetism and his conflicting view of Xavier’s idea for a human and mutant coexistence. The Magneto of this animated show is an intense alternative to his smooth and nonchalant movie counterpart. What would the X-Men be without the enemies that they encounter? Besides the countless battles with Magneto, the X-Men face the one enemy that cannot be destroyed and is bent on both humans and mutants being eliminated. The Cure and Come the Apocalypse are the first episodes and the only time outside of the comic books and video games that fans get to see Apocalypse at his best. Apocalypse is determined to create his own army of enslaved mutants starting with his Four Horsemen led by Archangel, formally known as Angel. Eventually the Horsemen are defeated but Apocalypse returns in Time Fugitives parts one and two. This time he has created a virus that has decimated the mutant population of the future. The time travelling Bishop makes a return from prior episodes to again try and save his future. This time Cable, from an alternate future, is on a mission to set things right and prevent the virus from spreading without a cure. Apocalypse is a dangerous and diabolical enemy that proves to be almost too much for the X-Men. With the help of Cable and Bishop they succeed. Of course the X-Men would not be complete without the Phoenix Saga. The saga is broken into five episodes that show the origins of Jean Grey’s alter ego. Those who have only seen the X-Men movies should be familiar with the awesome power of the Phoenix, but the animated series covers the saga prior to the emergence of the Dark Phoenix. After contacting Xavier, Empress Lilandra is forced to flee from her empire after being replaced by her sinister brother, D’Ken. The X-Men are then sent on a mission to recover the M’Kraan Crystal and help save the Shi’ar Empire and the entire galaxy. As in the movie ending, things do not turn out too well for Jean Grey at the end of volume two.
These first two volumes of the old school X-Men animated series are a must have for any X-Men fan. This was the first look into the ins and outs of the mutant world. Favorites like Wolverine, Gambit, Storm, and Cyclops are seen in every episode and even have episodes dedicated entirely to their character. Enemies that have received little attention like Apocalypse, Mr. Sinister, and Omega Red make multiple appearances that allow fans to gain history on these characters. It is without question that if you are interested in seeing X-Men Origins, you should pickup these DVDs to get a complete origin on the X-Men world. As Beast always says, “It’s fascinating!”
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