DVD Review: X-Men Volume 3 & 4 Marvel Animated Comic Collection

Just five months after the release of X-Men Volumes 1 and 2 on DVD, Buena Vista Home Video is bringing back more 90s nostalgia with the release of X-Men Volume 3 and 4.

If you were a fan of X-Men in the 90s, this series needs no introduction. Marvel introduced an animated serialized story that wowed both children and adults. Instead of sticking to the golden age hokey style of cartoons, Marvel used real story arcs from the comic books to draw the interest of old and new audiences.

The most notable arc is the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix stories. Volume 3 introduces Jean Grey’s transformation into the Dark Phoenix, as well as several of the X-Men’s cosmic allies. Surprisingly, Although this Volume contains some of the most memorable episodes from the series, Buena Vista, surprisingly, left out an episode from the set. “No Mutant is an Island” was left out of this set. It features Cyclops returning to his childhood orphanage after the loss of Jean in Volume 2. Why Buena Vista would leave out such an important episode that bridges Volumes 1 and 2 is beyond me. This is supposed to be a “collection,” yet the whole meaning of the word has been lost with this ridiculous snafu. Volume 4 features “Beyond Good and Evil.” This four-part series focuses on time travel and the threat of Apocalypse. Cable and Bishop are featured in this series, as X-Men try to save the time line.

Although the X-Men animated series was one of the top animated action cartoons of the 1990s, I can’t help but balk at the DVD release. There are no special features on any of the DVDs. Also, neither volumes 3 and 4 have their episodes in order. It feels like Buena Vista either simply didn’t care or that they have secret plans to release another set with special features and all the episodes that should have been included on this release. This DVD collection still ranks high on nostalgia, but points have to be docked for laziness and a lack of attention to detail on the part of the Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Volume Three:
Disc 1
34 Savage Land, Strange Heart (1)
35 Savage Land, Strange Heart (2)
36 Obsession
37 Dark Pheonix: Dazzled (1)
38 Dark Pheonix: The Inner Circle (2)
39 Dark Pheonix: The Dark Pheonix (3)
40 Dark Pheonix: The Fate Of The Pheonix (4)

Disc 2
41 Cold Comfort
42 Orphan’s End
43 The Juggernaut Returns
44 Nightcrawler
45 Weapon X, Lies and Videotape
46 One Man’s Worth (1)
47 One Man’s Worth (2)
48 Courage

Volume Four:
Disc 1
49 Proteus (1)
50 Proteus (2)
51 Sanctuary (1)
52 Sanctuary (2)
53 Beyond Good and Evil (1)
54 Beyond Good and Evil (2)
55 Beyond Good and Evil (3)
56 Beyond Good and Evil (4)

Disc 2
57 Have Yourself A Morlock Little Christmas
58 The Lotus and the Steel
59 Love in Vain
60 Secrets, Not Long Buried
61 Xavier Remembers
62 Family Ties