Marvel Studios has recently released the finale to the first season of X-Men '97, a continuation of the 90s animated series set outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After finishing this season, I found it to be Marvel's best series to date and one of the best superhero projects in years.
----------------------------------------SPOILERS BELOW----------------------------------------
X-Men '97 holds no bars back as it continues the tell story of the civil battle between humans mutants in ways that still mirror today's world. The series manages to juggle multiple stories that include
Magneto becoming the new leader of the X-Men
Storm losing her mutant powers and seeking help from Forge
Rogue's love triangle with Gambit and Magneto
Jubilee trying to help Sunspot feel comfortable with his powers
Professor X winning the approval of Lilandra's family
Cyclops and Jean Grey trying to raise their son
and others...
The Genosha Massacre
Despite all these stories, the series avoids any struggles of losing interest as they all intertwine into the Genosha Massacre
The Genosha Massacre sees a Mega Sentinel attack the mutant country during a celebration that leads to the destruction of the country and the deaths of thousands. The deaths include Gambit, Dazzler, Leech, Madelyn Pryor, Sebastian Shaw and so many others.
This storyline is one that has never been seen in the X-Men films due to the dark nature yet the series handles this event with care and treating it in a genuinely horrific way. The only X-Men we see during this is Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler, and Magneto with both Gambit and Magneto making heroic sacrifices. Magneto trying to protect young mutants including Leech is one that mirrors Magneto's youth of being a Holocaust survivor as he says "don't be afraid" in German. This event comes in the halfway mark of the season with the rest being dedicated to the aftermath and the X-Men seeking to stop Bastion, the man behind the massacre.
The Finale
Age of Extinction is a three-part finale that follows the X-Men as they stop Bastion. What starts as a traditional superhero story becomes so much more as the stakes get raised to exponential levels.
The first major twist we see is with Magneto temporarily becoming a villain along with Rogue and Sunspot. What follows is major events with Wolverine's adamantium skeleton being ripped out from his body, Jean Grey controlling the Phoenix and the US government sending missiles towards Asteroid M knowing the X-Men are there. The season ultimately ends with the X-Men being ripped through space and time with the only clear survivors being Forge and Bishop. It's an incredible cliffhanger finale that sets up for a much darker and emotional season two as it appears to adapt Fatal Attractions and Age of Apocalypse.
Overview
The first season of X-Men '97 is so much more than just a revival of a classic animated series, it's a beautifully crafted story that explores these iconic characters in new and interesting ways. Instead of falling into the trap of one-dimensional villains and multiverse ending villains, the season prioritizes well developed villains you feel sympathy for and stakes that primarily affect the X-Men and mutants. Ray Chase as Cyclops and Lenore Zann as Rogue were the clear standouts of the season, giving incredible performances that instantly make you love these characters.
Komentarji