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: September 24, 1994-September 23, 1995
DVD Box Set Release Date: September 15, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $16.99
Episodes: #3.8-#4.3
What can I say? I love the X-Men. They’re my favorite group of comic book heroes. I have had the privilege to review the two previous releases of this cartoon television series. You can check out my reviews of them and view a synopsis for each of the episodes in these sets (Season One and Season Two episodes) by checking out X-Men, Volume One and X-Men, Volume Two.
This DVD, like the previous two, is released together with a Volume 4 box set. These two sets contain many of the episodes in the later seasons of the series. This set is made up of episodes mostly from season three of X-Men. There are also three episodes from season four. By this point of the show, you should be familiar with who the X-Men are, and know at least a little bit about each of the main characters in the series.
I like this adaption of the X-Men comic books more than nearly any other available. I feel that this cartoon is one of the most faithful adaptations to the series. A lot of care seems to have been put into making this with respect to fans of the comic book. There are some minor liberties taken here and there, but fans of the comic shouldn’t be disappointed by the overall quality of this series. It certainly is one up on the live action movie adaptations.
The best part of the X-Men, Volume Three set of episodes is the four-part Dark Phoenix Saga. The nice thing about the Dark Phoenix storyline is that the writers of the cartoon didn’t attempt to cram all of it into one episode. Stretched over four episodes, this storyline follows the Phoenix, as it is reactivated within Jean Grey, and the manipulation of the Circle Club on Phoenix, a secret group that wishes for Phoenix to be their queen. While this is the best series of episodes in this set, the others are enjoyable to watch, as well.
Before heading into the synopsis section, I should mention the voice talent involved in this series. The voice talent is great, overall. The voices fit nearly every character, spot on. While this talent isn’t big name Hollywood, there are many voices known throughout the voice acting community. I also like that the writing for the voice actors doesn’t dumb down the characters, so both children and adults can enjoy this series, without it being too corny, which is a common problem with superhero cartoons.
The X-Men (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection) Episode Guide
There are 15 episodes available in the two-disc set X-Men, Volume 3. The episodes are a mix of what is available for seasons three and four of the series. Though there were 20 episodes made for season two, the episode set to air before the “Savage Land” two-parter was never aired until season 5. The episode is called, “No Mutant is an Island,” and is not available in this set.
Here is a list of the episodes, with their season/episode number, and a brief synopsis:
#3.8 – “Savage Land, Strange Heart: Part 1″
Zaladane, the high priestess of the sun god of the Savage Land, Garokk, convinces Sauron to kidnap Storm. Of course, Zaladane has plans for Storm. She has Sauron convince Storm to release her inner storm-filled energy, which awakens the Sun God (Garokk) himself! Storm’s only hope is the X-Men who must find her before things get out of control.
#3.9 – “Savage Land, Strange Heart: Part 2″
As Storm continues to release her weather-based energy, Garokk has the chance to rise and is fused with the island volcano, as well as the planet beneath it. When it looks like the Sun God is set to return and the Savage Land may see its final end, an unlikely hero steps forth and helps the X-Men.
#3.10 – “Obsession”
Archangel wants revenge and this leads to obsession. He is unable to control his hatred for Apocalypse, an immortal mutant who made Archangel evil and used him as a weapon. Desperate to complete his quest, Archangel finds an ally in Rogue, who plans to help hunt down Apocalypse, so vengeance can be his. However, Beast has another idea for how to punish Apocalypse.
#3.11 – “The Dark Phoenix: Part One: Dazzled”
Jean Grey is hurt by Scott’s (Cyclops) flirtatious behavior with a singer named Dazzler. The Phoenix is still living within her and it takes control of Jean. It is still not stable, leaving Jean open to the manipulation of Jason Wyngarde at the request of a secret sect, the Inner Circle Club. Jason manages to trick her mind into thinking they have a past and a romance, leading Jean right into his clutches.
#3.12 – “The Dark Phoenix: Part Two: The Inner Circle”
Phoenix (Jean) is made the queen of the Inner Circle Club and both Emma Frost and Professor X try to get control of Jean through a psychic connection. Jean’s bond with Scott stands in the way of the Inner Circle achieving its goals as does the appearance of a thought-dead Wolverine. With the X-Men prisoners to the Inner Circle Club, the Phoenix must fight her own inner demons to escape.
#3.13 – “The Dark Phoenix: Part Three: The Dark Phoenix”
The X-Men try to get Phoenix to leave Jean’s body, but this just angers her, and she vows to destroy them all. As the Phoenix turns darker, she attempts to re-energize by feeding off an entire star system and destroying it. The empress of Shi’ar, Lilandra, whose star crew witnessed the destruction, vows that Phoenix must be stopped and the only way to do that is kill Jean/Phoenix together.
#3.14 – “The Dark Phoenix: Part Four: The Fate of the Phoenix”
In order to spare Jean and find a way to destroy Phoenix without hurting her, the X-Men take on the Shi’ar Imperial Guard. When the X-Men, and in particular, Professor X, begin to question how safe Jean is with Dark Phoenix in her, their shifting attitude is bound to have an impact on Jean.
#3.15 – “Cold Comfort”
When the X-Men find out former founding member, Iceman (Bobby Drake), has broken into a government facility, Professor X thinks he has turned to the bad side. It is later revealed that Lorna Dane was kidnapped. Bobby attempts to break in again, and the X-Men follow, but when another group of mutants, X-Factor, show up, there are more questions than answers being offered.
#3.16 – “Orphan’s End”
Scott learns the truth about who his father is and what happened to him when Corsair, the leader of the Starjammers, shows up seeking Scott’s help. The Shi’ar police are after Corsair, and Scott and the X-Men must discover the truth about whether Scott’s father, who abandoned him as a child, is a good guy or a bad guy.
#3.17 – “The Juggernaut Returns”
Juggernaut, Professor X’s step-brother, returns. The enemy of X and the X-Men loses his powers when an archeologist finds the Ruby of Cyttorak. With it, he is able to take on Juggernaut’s powers for himself. X must get over the memories of the past in order to save his step-brother’s life by restoring his powers.
#3.18 – “Nightcrawler”
Wolverine takes a ski vacation to Europe (Germany) with Rogue and Gambit. While there, the three learn about the local legend, a blue demon that terrorizes the town and hides out in the monastery. What they learn is that it is not a demon, but a mutant named Nightcrawler, who is actually very gentle. Appearances can be deceiving and the town folks want nothing more than to destroy the blue demon.
#3.19 – “Weapon X, Lies, and Video Tape”
Wolverine is haunted by the memories of his painful past. When he receives a mysterious postcard, it reawakens those memories. Beast and Wolverine head to the Canadian government Weapon X facility, where he was given his Adamantium skeleton, looking to find the answers he seeks. When it looks as though all he ever knew as right is wrong, the truth may be even more painful than Wolverine could imagine.
#4.1- “One Man’s Worth: Part One”
When Master Mold orders Trevor Fitzroy and Bantam to kill Professor X, they time travel back to 1959 to do the deed. Messing with the past creates an alternative universe in the present and humans and mutants are at war. In this world, the leader is Magneto. Bishop and Shard try to get the married Wolverine and Storm from this alternate world to go back in time and save Professor X, but since X died before he founded the X-Men, they have no connection to him or desire to want to save him.
#4.2 – “One Man’s Worth: Part Two”
When Bishop, Shard, Wolverine and Storm fail to save Professor X, they mess with time even more than they already have. In fact, Forge has never even used his time machine, so he has no idea who they are when they return to the further altered present. With Master Mold now entirely in charge of the future, it’s up to them to try one last time to save Professor X and help restore the much more peaceful future.
#4.3 – “Courage”
Morph has decided it is time to come home. The day he rejoins the X-Men is supposed to be happy, but the celebration is cut short when the Sentinels attack a top secret weapons facility. When Wolverine and Morph investigate the attack, they learn the truth. Morph is forced to face his past with the Sentinels, a past where he almost lost his life.
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Audio/Visual:
You shouldn’t expect 2009 quality for the episodes presented in the X-Men, Volume Three two-box set. This show was made in the 90s and while it looks good for being over ten years old, it still looks like it was made in the 90s. The episodes are presented at a 1.33:1 aspect ratio in standard, full frames as it originally aired on television. There really aren’t all that many errors, minus some occasional, faded colors in the animation. There are minor instances of grain and fuzz, as well. For this type of release, it’s about as standard as it gets.
The audio for this box set is available in English French and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound. This is fairly typical for an animated cartoon’s audio track. The primary track is the English 2.0. Dialogue comes through clearly. There is no need to volume toggle. The musical score is kept forward and is only somewhat dynamic (it occasionally sounds tinny), as can be heard with the title theme. The effects seem fairly full bodied, though a surround element would have made them better. Subtitles are available in English for the Hearing Impaired, Spanish and French.
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Bonus Features:
It’s no big surprise that there are absolutely no bonus features available.
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Bottom Line:
If you already own Volumes One and Two of this awesome cartoon series, why stop now? Pick up a copy of X-Men, Volume Three today. If you don’t have the other two volumes, and/or you’ve never seen this series before, but you think you and your kids will enjoy it, I recommend starting with Volume One and working your way up from there. This will give you a chance to really get to know the characters and watch them evolve throughout the series’ various seasons. On the whole, X-Men, Volume Three is recommended.
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Technorati Tags: DVD Review, TV Show, X-Men, Volume 3, Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection, Stan Lee, Wolverine, Rogue, Professor X, Charles Xavier, Magneto, Cyclops, Jean Grey
Written by Dominick Evans – Visit Website
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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.
