DVD Review: X-Men Volume 1 & 2 Marvel Animated Comic Collection - 1990 Mutant Bliss

The glory days of 1990s cartoon goodness are alive and well in the Marvel Comic Book Collection: X-Men Volumes 1 & 2. Finally, after over a decade of waiting, writing several nasty emails and sitting through mediocre mutant cartoons like “X-Men: Evolution” and “Wolverine and the X-Men” we have finally been giving the DVD translation we deserve. It’s no wonder why several fans decided to quit waiting and buy the bootleg collection from their local comic store with either the television station watermark. The loyal fans, however, who waited out the X-Men DVD drought, can rejoice in the DVD release from Buena Vista Home Video.

The DVD sets have no smokes and mirrors. No enhanced menus. No upgraded video quality. And, absolutely no special features. It’s just about as bare bones as you can get. But, you know what – we couldn’t be happier.

The 1990s X-Men animated series was just about as true to the comic story arcs as you could get. The series featured origins of classic X-characters like Wolverine, Rogue, Archangel and Magneto, while introducing new characters like Cable and Bishop.

X-Men Volume 1 kicks off with the classic three-way struggle between the X-Men, Professor X arch-nemesis Magneto and the government sanctioned Sentinels. As the X-Men fight the trials of the present, they must also fight the irrevocable future heralded by Bishop, a time-traveler from the future.

X-Men Volume 2 features The Phoenix Saga, my favorite X-Men story arc, both in the comic and in the animated series. This story arc is brilliantly written for TV just as much as it was amazing to read in the comics. Also, we are introduced to Omega Red and one of my all time favorite X-Men villains, Mr. Sinister. See the pattern of favorites going on?

The 1990s series has its fair share of corny-archaic dialogue moments, especially Storm. She’ll say the most bizarre things like, “Worldwind – deliver THEM!” Or, in her most epic voice, exclaim, “Forces of nature’s cold - FREEZE” – when battling Omega Red. However, none of this takes away from the well-written scripts or the classic 1990s animation.

X-Men is without a doubt the best and most thrilling animated X cartoon series of all time. This is one series any X-reader will want to pick up – even if only to pass on to the next generation.

X-Men: Comic Book Collection Volume 1
Disc 1:
Episode 1. Night of the Sentinels (Part 1)
Episode 2. Night of the Sentinels (Part 2)
Episode 3. Enter Magneto
Episode 4. Deadly Reunions
Episode 5. Captive Hearts
Episode 6. Cold Vengeance
Episode 7. Slave Island
Episode 8. The Unstoppable Juggernaut

Disc 2:
Episode 9. The Cure
Episode 10. Come The Apocalypse
Episode 11. Days Of Future Past (Part 1)
Episode 12. Days Of Future Past (Part 2)
Episode 13. The Final Decision
Episode 14. Till Death Do Us Part (Part 1)
Episode 15. Till Death Do Us Part (Part 2)
Episode 16. Whatever It Takes

X-Men: Comic Book Collection Volume 2
Disc 1:
Episode 17. Red Dawn
Episode 18. Repo Man
Episode 19. X-Ternally Yours
Episode 20. Time Fugitives (Part 1)
Episode 21. Time Fugitives (Part 2)
Episode 22. A Rogue’s Tale
Episode 23. Beauty & The Beast
Episode 24. Mojo Vision

Disc 2:
Episode 25. Reunion (Part 1)
Episode 26. Reunion (Part 2)
Episode 27. Out of the Past (Part 1)
Episode 28. Out of the Past (Part 2)
Episode 29. The Phoenix Saga (Part 1): Sacrifice
Episode 30. The Phoenix Saga (Part 2): The Dark Shroud
Episode 31. The Phoenix Saga (Part 3): Cry of the Banshee
Episode 32. The Phoenix Saga (Part 4): The Starjammers
Episode 33. The Phoenix Saga (Part 5): Child of Light