The new series Wolverine and the X-Men is the fourth animated series of the X-Men characters. This time around the writer went away from the original story., that might either worked or annoyed the fans. The series looked like a mix version of the 1992 X-Men: The animated Series and 2002 X-Men: Evolutions. In this version the roles of two of the main character are inverted, others are just discarded or demoted to a supporting role. When I first heard from this series my first thought was that it was just an opportunity to squeeze the popularity and hype created for the upcoming movie: X-men Origins: Wolverine. I was surprised with what I saw. If in fact, the series features the adventures of the cool, arrogant, cocky and selfish character, but this time he is put in a position he has never been: As the leader.
What really surprised me about this series is that it did not damage the original story known to the X-men fans, it does not try to reinvent a story that is sacred to many people. Instead it begins with an already establish setting, and as it develops the audience get to know the characters (if they are knew to the series) or refresh about them. Also I liked the way they kept the main character’s personality and how they accommodate it to the new version, but what really caught my attention was Cyclops, unlike in previous versions this time he is humanized, he is no longer the goody goody hero, this time around, he is troubled and confused which makes him more appealing. Technically, each episode is splendidly animated, it is liked the stories from the comic books with the animation quality of the evolution series, if not better in some effects. music, story line, script, voice acting everything is as good as the animated series which I think is the best series in depicting the characters. What bothers me about it was that it kept in some characters the same “Teeny” appearances they had in X-men: Evolution like Iceman, rogue, Nightcrawler and Jeanne. Also what they do with Professor Xavier seems to be predictable and overused, however for storytelling purposes it works and is excellently managed.
This new X – men series is a new approach to the classic, and although it has many differences with the comic book. It still feels like X-men, the adventures, the action, the powers, and the stories. Each episode is well narrated and depicted just like the comic books, plus with an astonishing animation that invites the viewer to keep watching. I hope that this series last as much as the animated series, since it has all the potential to become a classic.
Review By Milo
Release Date: April 21, 2009
