X-Men ’97 has arrived on Disney Plus, introducing a new generation to a classic era of Marvel’s premier Mutant superteam. It continues X-Men: The Animated Series (X-Men: TAS), originally released between 1992 and 1997, a bright and influential version of superheroes helped form many fans’ image of what the X-Men can and should be.
To Me, My X-Men! The Best X-Men 97 Merch Ahead Of The Marvel Mutants' Retro Return
Looking for the best X-Men '97 merch ahead of the series premiere? Our superpowered best picks are here!
The X-Men dominated the comic book industry in the 1990s. The superteam’s relaunch in 1991 was a major triumph: X-Men #1 remains the best-selling American single-issue comic of all time, with over 8 million copies sold. Unsurprisingly, that issue and other classic storylines inspired many of the stories in TAS, a series that sought to blend the team’s comic book legacy with original stories. Here is how fans can pick up the collected editions containing legendary stories adapted by the series, as X-Men ’97 wows fans all over again.
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Mighty Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men (Vol.1)
$14 $16 Save $2There wouldn’t be any X-Men without the superteam’s creators, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, wanting to add to the Marvel roster without being bogged down with explaining how these new superheroes gained their powers. The original team line-up introduced in September 1963’s X-Men #1 is recognizable to every comic fan, including Professor X, Cyclops, Beast, Angel, and Iceman, seen in the first issue through the eyes of new member Marvel Girl, better known today as Jean Grey. This unmissable collection captures the earliest days of these comic book legends.
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X-Men: Days Of Future Past
$17 $20 Save $3At the tail end of the first season, the two-part story Days of Future Past was the first adaptation of the legendary comic storyline of the same name. Now best known for inspiring the thrilling 2014 X-Men movie of the same name, the original 1981 story by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Terry Austin must be on any comic fan’s reading list. It’s one of the most famous dystopian-future tales ever published in comics, which shines a spotlight on fan-favorite characters Wolverine and Kitty Pryde.
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X-Men: Dark Phoenix Saga
$13 $23 Save $10One of the most famous and epic stories in X-Men history received a multi-episode adaptation through TAS’ third year. Collecting X-Men #129-137, this book catches fans up with Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s legendary original saga. When Jean Grey gains cosmic power beyond all comprehension, the X-Men must choose between their friend’s life or the universe's survival. X-Men myth-building doesn’t get any more definitive.
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X-Men (Penguin Classics Marvel Collection)
$17 $28 Save $11The first season of X-Men: The Animated Series began and ended with the superteam taking on their great enemies, the Sentinels. In the final episode, The Final Decision, the X-Men were forced to join forces with Magneto to take on Master Mold, who had kidnapped Sentinel creator Bolivar to help assemble a new army. Its plot came from the uncanny team’s early days in 1965. The Supreme Sacrifice! by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Jay Gavin concluded a storyline running through X-Men #14-16 and can be found in this classic volume.
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Wolverine: Weapon X Unbound
$25 $35 Save $10The Season 4 episode Weapon X, Lies, And Videotape took inspiration from Wolverine (Vol. 2) #48. The cover of this collected edition really captures a distinctive time for the Marvel Mutants! Inside, the Canadian superhero returns to Weapon X to uncover the secrets of his past. The mystery played a big part in the Fox X-Men and Wolverine movies, but X-Men: TAS got their first.
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X-Men: Origin Of Generation X
The final season’s two-part opener adapted the 1994 comic storyline The Phalanx Covenant. In the show, the X-Men are attacked by techno-organic aliens aiming to assimilate all life on Earth. It pushed Beast to the forefront of a dysfunctional alliance, including Warlock and Mr. Sinister, to defeat the Phalanx. In the comic storyline, available in this collected edition, fledgling mutants from Generation X launch a preemptive attack to stop the alien takeover.
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X-Men: Mutant Genesis
The early 1990s X-Men reboot was hugely influential on the look and feel of X-Men: The Animated Series. The debt was acknowledged in the fourth season when the two-parter Sanctuary adapted the storyline that kicked off Chris Claremont and Jim Lee’s X-Men 91 #1. Here’s the chance to read the best-selling comic issue of all time as Magneto and his Acolytes attempt to start a new life for all mutantkind on Asteroid M.
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X-Men: The Animated - The Adaptations Omnibus
$72 $125 Save $53This is the omnibus that sees the series pay back the favor to its comic book inspiration. Over more than 1000 pages, fans can read adaptations of the stories from TAS, including some original inspired by the original comic books! That means TAS takes on Days of Future Past, the Dark Phoenix Saga, and more. It makes a great companion for new and old fans glued to screens whenever a new episode of X-Men 97 launches on Disney Plus.
To Me, My X-Men Graphic Novels!
The X-Men have one of the richest and rewarding histories not only in Marvel, but all comic books. TAS and X-Men 97 sequel show that, through all the time-twisting, cosmically powered challenges, the characters and relationships at the heart of the stories remain the most essential ingredient for success.
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This is an excellent chance for fans to catch up on the legendary storylines that were too big and influential to stay on the page. Fans inspired to start or add to their collection can take advantage of the best prices and delivery options at Amazon by signing up for a free 30-day trial of Prime.
FAQs
Is X-Men ’97 A Direct Continuation Of X-Men: The Animated Series?
As its name suggests, X-Men ’97 is very much a spiritual successor to X-Men: TAS, but almost three decades later, it has made some changes to appeal to modern audiences. The series has a more mature approach, with more of an overarching narrative approach. Fans will also note changes to the title sequence, a more detailed animation style, modified character designs, as well as new voice cast members coming on board.
Is X-Men ’97 Worth Watching?
We’ve got the perfect answer: As each episode of X-Men ’97 is released on Disney Plus, fans should make sure they catch the Game ZXC reviews.
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