Wolverine is staging a return to the world of animation with this latest animated X-Men series: Wolverine and the X-Men.
Like most X-Men cartoons, this story is not in-sync with any of the comic book tales. It begins with Wolverine getting ready to leave the X-Men mansion for good. It seems the perpetual loner feels it is time to move on. What’s new? Wolverine always does his own thing - that’s what makes him the cool loner we adore. Before he leaves he has a lovers spat with Rogue who views him as an older brother/father figure. The quarrel seems almost hokey when you watch it, but the drama actually plays a bigger role in later episodes.
Just before Wolverine leaves, the X-Men mansion is attacked and both Jean Grey and Professor X disappear. Without leadership the X-Men fall apart, and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and the Mutant Response Division (MRD) are left to roam free.
Jump forward one year later, and mutants lie in captivity and unregistered mutants are hunted down. While previous X-Men cartoons have all hinted at this bleak future, Wolverine & the X-Men are living it. This is the future we’ve all feared.
Wolverine and the X-Men heralds several changes to the X-Men mythos. For one, Wolverine is the leader of the reformed X-Men. Where’s Cyclops? He’s been in a state of grief since Jean and the Professor disappeared and is more or less a pitiful drunk. They’ve also taken a different direction with Toad - the one mutant you hate to watch but always seems to show up in both X-Men features and cartoons. Toad is a stylized version of himself, much like the Joker was in “The Batman.” He is completely green, and more or less should be hanging out with the Morlocks (mutants who live underground because they can’t visibly fit in with humans). Also, the core X-Men team will be host two team members who have never been part of the X-Men animated franchise: Emma Frost and Forge.
There are some constants though. Quicksilver is back to being the leader of the Brotherhood, while Warren Worthington, aka Angel, is back to hiding his secret from the public. Oh, and who else is leading the barrage against mutant freedom, but Senator Kelly - he should really collect royalties.
The first two episodes are filled with action, but expect more than a couple hokey moments between Wolverine and Rogue, and Wolverine and a family that tries to help him out.
All in all the series brings a fresh take on the X-Men, and the dark approach will immediately capture both young and mature audiences. It’s too early to call how good this series will be. But, Wolverine and the X-Men is easily the best launch of an animated series in the past year. The series easily trumps X-Men Evolution in overall appeal, claiming the title of best X-Men animated series in the past decade. Whether Wolverine and the X-Men will it be able to also take the title of best X-Men cartoon of all time from the 90s X-Men animated series remains to be seen.
Wolverine and the X-Men premieres on Nicktoons Jan. 23.at 8PM ET.
*All photos courtesy of Marvel Comics
im just ver disappointed with lance…how come his so ugly…i wuz hoping to c more of lance and kitty?…and wuz up with wanda…she’s megnito’s favorite…ppl x-men evolution wuz so much better…btw i hat how dey changed da characters…u cant even recognize them
I couldn’t be more dissapointed with the direction they have taken the X-Men with this cartoon. I understand that the X-Men have many different universe as the past is constantly changed by time traveling mutants. This seems to be another possible universe where Wolverine has somehow by the grace of god become the leader of the X-men. This is a travesty to the true X-Men universe. A bunch of Wolverine queer loving propaganda. The wreckless hot headed brute becoming the leader of the X-Men, giving orders and comeing up with the strategies? To make it worse, Woverine lectures Cyclops about being wreckless. Rogue having no powers except absorption (trying to tie in with the universe that the movies have created). The only X-men that gets accurately depicted is Nightcrawler, they made him awesome, as he should be. The most inaccuratly depicted X-men is Cyclops. They have made Cyclops wreckless, unfocused, impatient, no tactical knowledge, with no leadership abilities. In actuallity he is the true leader, 2nd most powerful (Jean is 1st), and most tactical x-men. The company that has bought this franchise is completely intent on destroying the true X-men universe. This could never compare to the show of the 90’s that focused on all the X-Men equally with unparalleled teamwork and leadership.
Watching this series…it looks like a few things tie in with evolution…
I liked Xmen evolution. picked up alot after season one. i wish they finished it. there was a great episode when havok and xyclops evolved and cyclops didnt need the red optics to control his beam.
they never finished out the Apocolypse story.