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Info:

• Title: X-Men The Animated Series Vol. 3 & 4
• Rated: Unrated
• Cast: Cedric Smith, Norm Spencer, Catherine Disher, Cal Dodd
• Writer: Various
• Director: Various
• Distributor: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
• Original Year of Release: 1994 - 1996
• Extras: None
• Series:

X-MEN The Animated Series Vol. 3 & 4 DVD Review

X-MEN The Animated Series Vol. 3 & 4 DVD Review
© Mania

X-Men: The Animated Series is one of the best comic book-based animated shows of all-time and Buena Vista Home Entertainment continues the release of the entire series on DVD with volumes 3 & 4, presenting 28 more episodes.  What set this show apart from those that came before it was its strong embrace of its comic book roots.  The character’s personalities were almost exactly like their comic book versions, albeit toned down somewhat in terms of violence.  The series also adapted some of the best known X-Men storylines and even when some of the characters were changed in certain episodes, the main plot thrust was still retained.  The character designs were done by long-time comic artist Frank Brunner who made sure the characters looked as close to the comic versions as possible.

Cover art for X-MEN The Animated Series Vol. 3 on DVD

Volume 3 begins with the two-part ‘ Savage Land , Strange Heart” as Storm is kidnapped by Sauron and taken to the Savage Land so he can absorb her energy.  In “Juggernaut Returns” the unstoppable villain returns to get revenge on Professor X but mysteriously has his powers stolen away leaving Xavier to have to save his life, against the protestations of some of the other X-Men. 

The main storyline of Volume 3 is the four-part “Dark Phoenix Saga”.  Jean becomes corrupted by  the power of the Phoenix and eventually falls under the mental control of Mastermind aka, Jason Wyngarde of the Hellfire Club’s Inner Circle who want to make Jean their Black Queen.  Jean’s fate was DRASTICALLY changed in the animated show from that of the comics…call it TV’s need to have a happy ending, the story arc still managed to capture the essence of the Chris Claremont/John Byne original story.

Vol. 4 features the “Beyond Good and Evil” four-part story that spans the present to the distant future.  In the year 3999, Apocalypse steals Cable’s time-travelling device and journey’s back in time to the present.  He employs Mr. Sinister to kidnap Jean and other psychics to try and destroy time and create a new universe where he is the sole power.  Meanwhile Cable and the X-men go back to the time of ancient Egypt to destroy Apocalypse’s Lazarus Chamber.

Cover art to X-MEN The Animated Series Vol. 4 on DVD

One problem presented with these two volumes is that some episodes of the original series run were out of order due to various problems.  This makes the continuity somewhat skewed as these two volumes present the episodes in chronological order rather than numerical order.  Thus after the dramatic conclusion of the Dark Phoenix saga, there is not follow-up in the next episode that follows. 

X-Men: The Animated Series set a new standard for comic book-based shows with a high quality of animation, superb writing, and adaptations of fan-favorite storylines.  There’s no time like now to relive this great series.