TV Show Info:
Writers: Stan Lee and Others
Directors: Larry Houston and Others
Cast: Cathal J. Dodd, Cedric Smith, Norm Spencer, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Alison Sealy-Smith, Catherine Disher, Alyson Court, Chris Potter
Rating: PG
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Release Info:
Original Air Dates: October 31, 1992-November 6, 1993
DVD Box Set Release Date: April 28, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99
Episodes: #1.1-#1.13 and #2.1-#2.3
“A better, more faithful adaptation of the X-Men comics than the live action films, X-Men released in a two disc, volume one set is a rare gem in a world full of inconsistent, childish, and cheesy comic book adaptations…”
Though I wasn’t really into comic books as a kid, I’ve been a fan of the X-Men since I was an older teenager. Where I grew up, not many kids were reading comic books. It is a shame I didn’t because I would read just about anything I could get my hands on, back in those days. I didn’t really even know about the X-Men until the 90s and once I learned about the comic book series I was hooked.
X-Men (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection) aired on television in 1992. I didn’t watch it then. I don’t even remember it being on television. I would have only been 11 back then, so X-Men would have been right up my alley. Well, now I am glad that I have seen this series. It is excellent. The characters, their personas, their back stories, and their attitudes all parallel the comic books pretty well. Sure, there are a few changes (i.e. Jubilee’s back story is slightly different), but nothing so big that hardcore fans are going to have a fit.
I like this show because it doesn’t dumb down the X-Men. I’ve found that many shows, these days, are sugar-induced, dumbed down, hyperfests. Parents cannot usually enjoy these shows with their kids. With X-Men, adults can watch this whether they are watching with their kids, nieces/nephews, grandkids, or otherwise. They can watch the series alone and still enjoy it. While the dialogue is occasionally stiff, it isn’t overtly cheesy and the entire concept of the X-Men is darker than in recent cartoon adaptations of this comic book group.
I think the fact that this tries to stick with the comics and it is as realistic as a comic about a bunch of mutants can be, enhances the overall series. While some of the X-Men that are more prominent in other X-Men incarnations are absent (at least from the first season and i.e. Nightcrawler), many favorites, including Jean Grey, Scott/Cyclops, Logan/Wolverine, Storm, Jubilee, Gambit, and Professor X are a part of the series. Favorite enemies like Juggarnaut, Magneto, Mystique, and various underground government groups set on destroying mutants, have strong roles throughout the series.
Before heading down to the plot section, I thought I should mention the voice acting. For the most part, it is good. Occasional voices get on my nerves, the worst being that of Storm. Still, the majority of the voice actors do a nice job, and the persona/voice of Rogue is much more faithful to that of the comic books then her portrayal in either the X-Men movies or any of the other cartoon, television-based comic adaptations. With such a dynamic character, it is nice to see her being a bit more realistically portrayed.
The X-Men (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection) Episode Plots
There are 16 episodes included in this Vol. 1, Two-Disc, DVD Box Set. Of the episodes, 13 are from Season One of the series and 3 are from Season Two.
Here’s a list of the episodes, by disc and a synopsis of each.
DISC ONE
“Night of the Sentinels (Part 1)”: A young mutant name Jubilee is having problems with her newly formed mutant powers. Her foster parents, hoping to help her, register her with the Mutant Control Agency. It isn’t long before a large robot is chasing her. Luckily she runs into the X-Men, who take her home to Professor X’s school for mutants. Worried about her parents, Jubilee sneaks out to check on them, and is quickly captured. In the meantime, the X-Men including Storm and Wolverine head to the Mutant Control Agency Building to destroy files on mutants and hopefully find Jubilee.
“Night of the Sentinels (Part 2)”: With the X-Men in the Mutant Control Agency Building, they have to fight guards and government soldiers to accomplish their mission. Meanwhile, in a abandoned laboratory/factory in Detroit, Michigan Jubilee is being held captive by those in the government who seek to go at war with and destroy the mutant population by creating giant robots called Sentinels.
“Enter Magneto”: With Beast still imprisoned, he’s stunned when Magneto breaks in to free him. Beast is grateful, but feels he needs to stand trial to prove his innocence and show humans mutants really aren’t dangerous to their existence. Unfortunately, Magneto has other plans which involve destroying humankind and making mutants the far superior ruling race. With the trial a joke with no human willing to listen to Beast or his reasoning behind the attack, it doesn’t look like he’ll be winning the trial. This episode delves into Magneto’s past and his relationship with Professor X. Sabertooth also makes his first appearance.
“Deadly Reunions”: Xavier tries to explain why Magneto believes mutants are the evolved form of humans and a superior race. This has caused a major problem with Magneto plotting the demise of humans, and this time he’s pretty sure he won’t fail. Professor X is trying to rehabilitate Sabertooth, removing the rages within him, but Wolverine won’t have any of it. Magneto decides to attack a chemical plant to get X to come to him, knowing X won’t want him to kill humans. Of course, their reunion isn’t as Magneto planned, causing many of the X-Men to get hurt in the process.
“Captive Hearts”: During a training exercise, Storm has a flashback to her painful past. This causes a paralyzing case of claustrophobia. Wolverine shows his feelings for Jean, but she’s with Cyclops, who takes her out on a date. On their date, they encounter a dangerous group of mutants who call themselves Morlocks. When Jean and Cyclops are held hostage, Storm must overcome her fear, so she can join the X-Men and rescue them, before Callisto tries to make Cyclops provide her with a heir.
“Cold Vengeance”: Having left the X-Men because he is in love with Jean (who is with Scott/Cyclops), Logan/Wolverine heads north, to the arctic. Once he is home, he is attacked by Sabertooth, his enemy who has been tracking him. When Sabertooth threatens a local tribe, Wolverine must do his best to protect them after they rescue him. In the meantime, Cyclops sends Storm, Gambit and Jubilee to Genosha. Posed as tourists, the three decide to enjoy the visit to the island, which seems to be a safe, island resort for mutants.
“Slave Island”: With Storm, Gambit and Jubilee are kidnapped by the Genosha commander and his army, it becomes clear what the true purpose of Genosha’s welcoming of mutants is all about. All of the mutants captured on the island are being used as slaves to build a dam. Storm rebels and is captured. When Jubilee plans a slave rebellion, Gambit is the one who betrays them. With the rest of the X-Men heading to Genosha with no idea of what happened to the three the only help they have is a suspected mutant name Cable whom the Leader of Genosha fears.
“The Unstoppable Juggernaut”: When the X-Men return to the school it has been destroyed. They cannot communicate with Professor X, so they dig through the rubble to try and find him. In the war room, they find a message from the professor, who claims he is going on a journey. The group decides to look for him, and the person responsible for the destruction of the school. When Wolverine rushes off alone to find the professor, Storm Rogue, and Jubilee go after him. Jubilee ends up running into a mutant named Colossus who they believe totaled the mansion. The real culprit though, is Juggernaut, who is, as his name states, virtually unstoppable.
DISC TWO
“The Cure”: When a scientist/doctor claims to have found a cure for the mutant gene, Rogue travels to Muir Island Mutant Research Center. When Rogue arrives, she meets a Dr. Adler, with whom she discusses receiving the cure. After she leaves, it is revealed that Mystique is posing as Dr. Adler. With Apocalypse helping her and Cable trying to attack the doctor, the X-Men have to step in to try and take them down. What they don’t know is that Professor X is there investigating the cure, as well.
“Come the Apocalypse”: Muir Island is a sham and Apocalypse’s real plan is revealed as he turns mutants seeking the bogus cure into the Horsemen (Famine, Pestilence, War and Death). The X-Men have no choice but to fight them, as the Horsemen have gone off on a rampage, trying to destroy the entire planet.
“Days of Future Past (Part One)”: A mutant from the future, Bishop, travels in time from the year 2055. His goal is to find an X-Men who assassinates someone, but once he has left the future, his mission becomes fuzzy and he has no idea who the mutant is that he has to stop. In the end, he has no choice but to turn to the X-Men for help in discovering the truth, before it’s too late.
“Days of Future Past (Part Two)”: Bishop confronts the mutant who is responsible for the assassination that affects the future. Before Bishop can kill him, though, he’s stopped by the X-Men. The Brotherhood of Mutants have teamed up to murder Senator Kelly. When Mystique attends, disguised as the assassinating X-Men member, it is up to the real X-Men to keep his name from being dragged through the mud anymore than it already has been.
“The Final Decision”: Having kidnapped Senator Kelly, Magneto takes him to a sunken ship where he plans to kill him. He knows if he does, this will create the war between humans and mutants that he’s been wanting. The Sentinels attack Magneto and Senator Kelly is again taken. It is up to the X-Men to stop Magneto and save the Senator.
This is the last episode of Season One of the show.
“Til Death Do Us Part (Part One)”: Jean and Scott finally get married. Senator Kelly has been elected president. Having realized not all mutants are bad, he frees Beast and makes him a part of his cabinet, with an emphasis on forming mutant-human peaceful relations. Morph, who was believed dead returns, with a vengeance (having been brainwashed) and the public aren’t happy that Senator Kelly has changed his tune when it comes to mutants. This creates chaos in the streets.
“Til Death Do Us Part (Part Two)”: On their way to their honeymoon on a private island, Scott and Jean are stopped by Mister Sinister, who, with the Nasty Boys, kidnaps them. Morph, still brainwashed, seeks revenge on the X-Men. He plans to kill them all, one by one. The only hope Jean and Scott have is the X-Men who will have to come to the island to save them.
“Whatever it Takes”: After recovering, Storm returns to her leadership position with the X-Men. She heads to Africa where there is a tear in the astral plane. It is in the village where she was born and raised and her son, Mjnari, is being manipulated and possessed by the Shadow King. Wolverine spends this time looking for Morph and Professor X and Magneto meet up again, this time in Africa.
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability:
Acting: 
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
The video quality for X-Men was good. The 1.33:1 aspect ratio served the video well and provided little room for complaint. The quality was clear for the most part, with fair levels of detail and a nice color palette. There were no serious issues with grain, dirt, or compression errors. Kids should enjoy this and parents should find that it was a worthy undertaking, too.
Like the video, there is little to complain about when it comes to the audio. Everything sounded fine and the Dolby Digital surround provided for a lively, action-filled track. Volume toggling was not an issue. Along with English, there are comparable tracks in both French and Spanish. Subtitles have also been included in English for the Hearing Impaired, French, and Spanish.
Visual:
Audio:
Bonus Features:
Sadly, there are no real special features available in this set. Some previews occur prior to the arrival of the main menu. The previews included are for G-Force, Monster Inc., Lost: The Complete Fourth Season, ABC, and a general Disney Blu Ray Promo. Also available are a series of sneak peeks for The Back Cauldron, G-Force, Lost: The Complete Fourth Season, a Disney Blu-Ray Promo, Morning Light, and Monsters Inc in Blu Ray.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
One of the better, more faithful adaptations of the “X-Men” Comic Book series, X-Men, Volume 1 (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection) is a must have DVD Collection for any fan of the X-Men. With intriguing storylines and characterizations that parallel that of their comic book counterparts, many consider this cartoon version amongst the best X-Men adaptations. If you’ve seen it and love it, pick the Volume One set up. If you or your children love the X-Men and haven’t seen this series or if you want to introduce your kids to the X-Men, X-Men, Volume 1 (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection) is the perfect DVD set to do so. It comes highly recommended.
Overall Rating:
Technorati Tags: DVD Review, TV Show, X-Men, Volume 1, Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection, Stan Lee, Wolverine, Rogue, Professor X, Charles Xavier, Magneto, Cyclops, Jean Grey
Written by Dominick Evans – Visit Website
—
Dominick is in his late 20s. He lives in Michigan with his life partner, Ashtyn, their 14 year old son Robert, and their Shih-Tzu, Oliver. Dominick is a writer and the head editor for both LI Kids and Literary Illusions. He enjoys composing music and is an aspiring director/screenwriter. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, playing video games, watching movies, and singing.
One Comment