X-Men '97

[anarky]

This show is fucking amazing. It's like Marvel's answer to Batman: The Animated Series, that they never quite pulled off in the 90s.

It's everything that was great about the comics from Giant Size #1 through the Morrison run, all mixed up and made fresh, without pulling any punches. (Hell, sometimes punching harder than the comics.)

If you're not watching it, do so. And no need to binge the original. It's not necessary, and, while it obviously helps with some context, the new series is so far beyond it.

And as an unironic Jubilee fan, I'll be the first to admit she was annoying as fuck in the old show and I wouldn't be a fan if I saw it before reading books like Uncanny 258. She's not annoying in this show.

[Tom Foolery]

I tried watching the original show back in the 90s. The animation was so shitty, I gave up after like 3 or 4 episodes. People say it got better. I actually have the entire series on DVD though, but I’ve never bothered to watch it.

I tried rewatching it again when it showed up on Disney+ and it just didn’t hold my interest.

[anarky]

For real, there's no need to watch the original. The new one gives all the background you'd need. My wife had seen the movies and the Evolution cartoon, my son knows characters from the Marvel Snap game, and my daughter, damn, I failed, she didn't even recognize the cameo at the end of The Marvels that gave me six simultaneous heart attacks and two orgasms. They love it. And you already know the stories they're drawing from. It's much better than the original series at remixing stories from the entire history of the comics to create something new. This week's new episode, for instance, combined bits of Lifedeath, E Is for Extinction, and whatever the story in Uncanny 275 was called.

Again, don't bother with the original if you didn't like it to begin with.

[anarky]

God. Damn!!

[Tom Foolery]

Ooooh! Is it like an allegory for minority oppression?

I’m gonna start watching a few episodes. Be back later to give notes…er..thoughts.

[Diabolical]

Fucking woke libtard bullshit!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anarky]

I need to switch from computer to phone and post that inane FB comment that I screen capped, complaining about race-switching Jubilee because of woke, because Bruce Lee had the same last name and he wasn't Chinese and neither was Stan Lee who created her to be white.

Literally the dumbest thing I've ever read, and we've lived through the Trump era.

[Tom Foolery]

Watched the first three episodes. My impressions:

Did they update the opening animation at all? Because it was giving me ‘eww’ flashbacks.
You were correct that you needn’t have watched the original series, but goddamn you need an encyclopedic knowledge of the comics that all the original stories from the cartoon were pulled from.
The characters are all ‘simplified’ versions of their comic counterparts(and I think that was part of the reason I never got into the original cartoon) to the point I find it mildly annoying. Southern Belle Rogue, annoying douche Gambit, angry loner pining for Jean Logan, nerdy Beast. Stoic Storm. Just barely above one note. Which ironically makes Jubilee and Morph the least annoying characters.
The first episode was the weakest, like it could’ve been any episode of the original series. I did find it funny that Professor X is such an extra prima donna bitch that he would get his Last Will professionally bound and embossed.

The next two episodes were much better.
It often looks like the characters are wearing lipstick. Yasss Girl Magneto is disconcerting.
I’m confused by Morph’s power set. He mimics other people’s powers also? He was shrugging off gun blasts as Colossus and brandishing the Soul Sword as Magik. I always thought he just cosmetically mimicked others’ looks.
I was also annoyed that Cyclops ‘fueled’ Bishop’s power with his optic blast. That’s not how his concussive blast works. But I did like how he was using it to propel himself around quickly during the first episode Sentinel fight. That’s straight up battle tactics Scott. Dope.

It’s not the greatest series, but it was okay for what it was. As it seemed to be improving with each episode, I’ll maybe sit thru a few more episodes today.

[jjreason]

I tried & failed at about the 5 min mark of episode 1. Maybe I'll try again some time.

[Tom Foolery]

Okay.

Episode 5. “Remember It”

Wow. Holy shit.


Y’all can skip the first four episodes. Or watch them just for the context/set up. Either way. But Five goes next level.

[anarky]

Okay.

Episode 5. “Remember It”

Wow. Holy shit.


Y’all can skip the first four episodes. Or watch them just for the context/set up. Either way. But Five goes next level.

Now you see why I've been trying to get you to watch this series.

That episode looks X2, Spider-Man 2, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier square in the eye and says, "Fuck you. Amateurs."

It's going to get wilder, Tommy. (Though #6 is a bit of a reprieve.)

[anarky]

Also your comment about the first episode feeling like an episode of the original?

The main plot was essentially a remake of Jubilee's intro, with Sunspot filling her role.

[Tom Foolery]

That episode looks X2, Spider-Man 2, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier square in the eye and says, "Fuck you. Amateurs."

It's going to get wilder, Tommy. (Though #6 is a bit of a reprieve.)

I was definitely thinking ‘If they had made this a live action movie instead of Apocalypse or Dark Phoenix, the franchise wouldn’t have tanked.’

I stopped after episode six today. I’ll pick it up tomorrow after I go get my weekly comics.

[Tom Foolery]

Personally, I thought “Magneto was right.” was a cooler line to end on, rather than “To me, my X-Men”.

But I think Xavier is a royal douchekebob, so maybe I’m biased.

[Diabolical]

The show is fun, but not great.
The stories are simplistic, Cliff's Notes versions of the comics, and the acting leaves a lot to be desired.

Episode 5 was just ok until the action scene at the end.