X-Men 97: an ultra-enjoyable shot of nostalgia (review)

The sequel to the 90s animated series is a great success.

In recent years, times have been tough for fans of X-Men. The last two collective films (Apocalypse And Dark Phoenix) were critical and commercial failures. We had forgotten the very existence of New Mutants. And there is hardly anything other than Logan by James Mangold to have honored a franchise that once reigned over superhero cinema.

Then, the takeover of Fox by Disney in 2019 completely put Mutants on pause. They pointed the tip of their noses into Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness And The Marvels, but we do not yet know what place the X-Men will have in the future of the MCU. And the return of Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverinecertainly very exciting, will a priori have no tomorrow.

While waiting to find the solution, Marvel had the good idea to bring out an old project from the Fox Kids cupboards. The X-Men animated series nineties (broadcast in France on Canal Plus then France 2), which fed an entire generation before the release of Bryan Singer's films. For those who have forgotten it or have never seen it, a recovery has been posted online. But it's not easy to summarize five seasons and 76 episodes in 2:30 minutes (they are all available on Disney Plus).

27 years later, we are therefore entitled to a direct sequel, entitled X-Men 97 (i.e. the year the show ended). It picks up the plot a year after the death of Charles Xavier, which tragically concluded the original series. Cyclops is now the leader of the X-Men (Jean Grey, Wolverine, Malicia, Fauve, Tornado, Gambit, Tornado, Bishop and Jubilee). Except that Magneto arrives to take control of the institute, which Professor X bequeathed to him in his will while many threats weigh on the Mutants.

We were able to see the first three episodes (two arrived on Disney Plus on Wednesday), and we are in love. The 2D animation is a success, managing to keep a vintage touch while being resolutely modern. And we are happy to find our good old X-Men, including Wolverine and his yellow suit who always bickers with Cyclops and has a crush on Jean Grey, or a hyper charismatic Magneto with his long hair and his wrestler's physique. Without forgetting some iconic villains, like Mister Sinister, never before used in the cinema.

X-Men 97 also marks us with the finesse of its writing, and we wonder why its creator, Beau DeMayo, was fired like a trash just before the launch of the series. Fine-tuned dialogue, captivating plots: this new show is much less childish (it is recommended for ages 14 and over) than that of the 90s and is not content to play the nostalgia and fan service card.

We will wait for the broadcast of the 10 episodes (which will continue at the rate of one per week) to make a final judgment, but this is probably the best Marvel series of the Disney era.