TV REVIEW: X-MEN '97 - Season 1

4/5

Days Of Future Past.

10 Episodes. Starring: Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, J. P. Karliak, Lenore Zann, George Buza, A. J. LoCascio, Holly Chou, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Matthew Waterson, Ross Marquand & Adrian Hough. Created By: Beau DeMayo, On: Disney +.

Magneto WAS right! Da-da-da-da-da..DA! Da-da-da-da-da..DA! As soon as you hear the iconic theme tune by Ron Wasserman, you just know it's on. The original titles of the classic 90s 'X-Men' animated series (that only Batman's one back then could rival). Unfrosted and without the extra bass seasons later, like the time the 'Seinfeld' guitar tried to experiment, searching with soul singing. Marvel and Disney Plus have brought them back. Decades after wanting and waiting for the 20th Century Fox rights of the 'X-Men' film franchise to be locked up in the M.C.U like The Joker in 'The Dark Knight', mainly for Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, it's finally here almost a quarter of a century later. And what do we get for our patience? A twofer of claws coming out. Jackman will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in 'Deadpool and Wolverine', this Summer, reuniting with Ryan Reynolds after the botched job of Wade Wilson in the still fun 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'. Taking over Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man again to be the man in the most superhero movies as Logan runs again. Even if in this animated series, he's mostly milk carton.

Previously on 'X-Men', who would have thought it would be the class of '97 reunion of Professor Xavier's gifted youngsters in Saturday morning cartoon form that would save the stumbling superhero property that is the marvellous Marvel? Righting the ship after box-office blunders like 'The Marvels' and 'Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania' or critically clawed shows like 'She-Hulk' and 'Secret Invasion'...although let it be said that I like all of these...very much. Beau DeMayo may have reportedly been fired, but his 'X-Men '97' is the spoonful of sugar and nostalgia we need, like Jerry Seinfeld's new Netflix comedy movie. Ever since we heard those iconic guitars in the 'Ms. Marvel' reveal, we've been waiting with bated breath. But now it's time to compose ourselves like The Newton Brothers for these ten top episodes of epic-ness that looks outstandingly like the original. Not just that, Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, J. P. Karliak, Lenore Zann, George Buza, A. J. LoCascio, Holly Chou, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Matthew Waterson, Ross Marquand and Adrian Hough. They're all back, like your childhood dreams and hairlines from the 90s. You thought Netflix's anime 'Scott Pilgrim' was a treat, bringing everyone back from the movie that came out in the early 2000s? Well...you ain't see nothing yet. And "To Be Continued" there's more to come in these days of future past that could do a sequel way better than the blockbuster movies, just like the comics did with their better stand on the Dark Phoenix saga.

Before all that, the best animated thing out of Disney, that is done proud by Pixar, can still break your heart. Why? Nah...we want to hold some of the cards. But you've never seen anything like this. Comic callbacks. Classic cameos. Amazing action. Helpings of heart. Joking jabs after catching stray shots, going hell for black leather. Easter Eggs don't crack you up quite like this. Even the video game like character select closing credits will have you sticking around like the bird for that eyes view of the school. The beginnings of Marvel Animation, like a 'What If...?', or Marvel Television (it was Agatha all along) to come, couldn't have started off bolder or more beautiful. Picking up where the end of 1996 left off, this revival in more ways than one brings the heart paddles to Feige's franchise interest that finally has the right (way to go K.E.V.I.N.). As the soap opera drama, and serious topics that hold up a mirror to the watching world reflected in racism and class divides like a new 'Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes', show how serious this all is. And just why this might still be Marvel's most popular and successful superhero team. More than those original Avengers, or the first family of the 'Fantastic Four', bookending the M.C.U. at this point. Besides, with Morph, you get a walking cameo. Even if those are complaining that he looks more like that claymation creature. The same claiming foul about how Rogue looks at a certain angle. It's all Jessica Rabbit weirdo fanboys...and I should be ashamed of myself. But I digress in embarrassment. Oh, and you know this streaming service Plus needn't have bothered with that whole "Skip Intro" thing. I bet it hasn't even been click baited once. To Disney, my X-Men. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'X-Men: The Animated Series', 'X-Men: Days Of Future Past', 'Deadpool & Wolverine'.