X-Men ’97 has featured some of the greatest renditions of Marvel’s famed mutant heroes, some of which outdo their cinematic counterparts. The X-Men movie timeline is littered with famed mutants from X-Men comics. However, many of these were incredibly disappointing, with underwhelming or inaccurate depictions that failed the characters. X-Men ’97, on the other hand, boasts far better characterizations, accurately and compellingly delving into the characters’ complex motivations.
X-Men ’97 has triumphantly revived X-Men: The Animated Series, recommencing the narrative just months later. The series has been celebrated for its emotional and mature content, deftly exploring the nuances of each X-Men ’97 team member. These perfect characterizations extend beyond the main team, with villains and minor mutant characters being depicted more effectively than they have been in any of the live-action X-Men movies.
10. Gambit Was Notoriously Wasted In Live-Action
Gambit Appeared In X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men ’97 has proffered the quintessential depiction of the legendary X-Man Gambit. The series deftly maintains Gambit’s perfect portrayal from X-Men: The Animated Series, the show which earned Gambit his fan-favorite status. Gambit has been a central aspect in X-Men ’97, especially episode 5 “Remember It,” which saw the Ragin’ Cajun face an out-of-control Sentinel, heroically saving the mutant residents of Genosha.
Gambit has been notoriously overlooked in the live-action X-Men movies, with his appearance repeatedly teased but only actualized in one disappointing portrayal. Gambit appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is widely considered to be a wasted opportunity. Though a solo Gambit solo was planned, it was ultimately shelved. As a result, X-Men ’97 has delivered the best modern depiction of Gambit ever, followed closely by his appearance in X-Men: TAS.
9. Cyclops’ Character And Powers Are Best Depicted In X-Men ’97
Cyclops Appeared In X-Men, X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men: Apocalypse, & Dark Phoenix
Cyclops has also received far better treatment in X-Men ’97 than any of his numerous live-action appearances. Throughout X-Men ’97, Cyclops is shown wrestling with his leadership responsibilities and how these impact his personal life, a key theme for Cyclops in Marvel Comics. Furthermore, Cyclops’s powers in X-Men ’97 are depicted with the full range of dynamic applications as seen in X-Men comics rather than the basic depiction seen in the live-action movies.
Cyclops appeared in many live-action X-Men movies, none of which depicted him as effectively as X-Men ’97. Cyclops was an underwhelming presence in the original X-Men trilogy, with a very basic characterization that epitomized the character’s bland and diligent characteristics – rather than a complex figure burdened with responsibility. Meanwhile, Cyclops’s subsequent appearances in the X-Men prequel movies were too focused on his relationship with Jean Grey, leaving his portrayal far too two-dimensional.
8. Sunspot Was Wasted In Live-Action
Sunspot Appeared In X-Men: Days Of Future Past & The New Mutants
Roberto Da Costa, aka Sunspot, has emerged as one of the central figures in X-Men ’97, taking over Jubilee’s role from X-Men: The Animated Series as the audience’s surrogate. Like Jubilee in X-Men: TAS, Roberto is introduced into the world of the X-Men and mutants in the first episode of X-Men ’97, and while the full extent of his powers have not been depicted, he has experienced complex narratives that establish him as a main character more fitting for the famed New Mutants member,
Roberto appeared in two live-action performances with varying degrees of success. While both of these aptly displayed his incredible mutant abilities, Sunspot appeared mainly as an extended cameo in X-Men: Days of Future Past, valiantly fighting Sentinels but with no exploration of his character. While The New Mutants did explore both aspects, his appearance was hampered by the subpar narrative, rendering his X-Men ’97 the superior rendition.
7. Emma Frost Is The Perfect White Queen
Emma Frost Appeared In X-Men Origins: Wolverine & X-Men: First Class
Emma Frost was a fearsome presence throughout X-Men: The Animated Series as the Inner Circle Club’s White Queen. In X-Men ’97,Emma Frost maintains her formidable reputation as part of the Genoshan council, serving as a central figure in mutant politics. While fairly brief, Emma Frost’s appearances in X-Men ‘97 have been more fitting for the highly consequential mutant, who in the comics is known as a morally ambiguous figure who often serves her own agenda.
The Hellfire Club was renamed the Inner Circle Club for X-Men: TAS.
Emma Frost’s live-action depictions have lacked this nuance, omitting her more intriguing motivations in favor of a more simplistic role. Frost was intended to appear in X-Men Origins: First Class, which included a mutant named Emma with the same diamond-form ability. However, this depiction lacked her telepathy and was later confirmed as a different character. Frost officially appeared in X-Men: First Class, where she played a more central role. While captivating, this appearance was relatively brief and not befitting the character’s impressive comic book legacy.
6. The Sentinels Have Proper Fight Scenes
The Sentinels Appeared In X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Days Of Future Past & X-Men: Apocalypse
The Sentinels have starred in some highly memorable fight scenes in X-Men ’97 that far exceed the live-action equivalent. The Sentinels appeared in the thrilling debut episode, “To Me, My X-Men,” where the X-Men fought an action-packed battle against the mutant-hunting robots. The Sentinels’ subsequent appearance in X-Men ’97, season 1, episode 5 “Remember It” truly demonstrated their terrifying and lethal potential, featuring in several chilling sequences. The Sentinels are also likely to return in subsequent X-Men ’97 episodes.
The Sentinels were tantalizingly teased in a short Danger Room sequence in X-Men: The Last Stand, which aptly demonstrated their frightening, towering presence and the enormous threat they pose to mutant life. However, this was never fully actualized in subsequent appearances. Though the Sentinels do feature in some captivating fight scenes in X-Men: Days of Future Past – The Rogue Cut, many were omitted or shortened for the original theatrical cut. Their futuristic design (based on the character Nimrod) was dynamic but skipped the classic iteration teased in The Last Stand – which is depicted perfectly in X-Men ’97.
5. Storm Was Too Underutilized In The X-Men Movies
Storm Appeared In X-Men, X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Days Of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, & Dark Phoenix
Storm was also wasted by the X-Men movies despite her relative prominence throughout. In X-Men ’97, Storm’s narrative provided ample compelling storytelling as she faced being stripped of her powers and worked to regain them. The highly emotional story allowed for a far more compelling narrative that centered on Storm. X-Men ’97 also fully explored the extent of Storm’s powers and her status as an Omega-level mutant. Additionally, the refined delivery of Storm’s grandiose exhortations from X-Men: TAS created perhaps the greatest Storm on-screen.
In contrast, in the original X-Men trilogy, Storm had a distinctly gentler depiction than is typical of the character. Storm was frequently pushed to the sidelines in the narrative, undermining her role as one of the leaders of the X-Men. Storm was given a substantially more formidable characterization but had a minor role. X-Men ’97, on the other hand, has proffered a depiction of Storm straight out of the comics.
4. Rogue Never Assumed Her Full Potential In The Movies
Rogue Appeared In X-Men, X2: X-Men United, & X-Men: The Last Stand
Rogue has experienced a lot of emotional turmoil in X-Men ’97, reeling from numerous deaths and wrestling with her powers. Lenore Zann’s performance in X-Men ’97 is touching and offers the quintessential voice of Rogue. Additionally, with the expansion of Rogue’s backstory and her romance with Magneto, Rogue’s portrayal in X-Men ’97 is far more complex and nuanced, creating a truly intriguing rendition of a fully-formed Rogue.
Rogue never assumed her full powers in the X-Men movies, which opted for a more realistic tone for the comic book adaptation. Consequently, Rogue flying and having super-strength seemed somehow implausible. While X-Men certainly gave Rogue a compelling story regarding the burden her powers put on her life. Her subsequent appearances were brief and underwhelming. Rogue’s depiction in X-Men ’97 has delivered all the emotional impact as the X-Men movies, but with an appropriately bombastic personality and powers as well.
3. Callisto Is A Proper Leader In X-Men ’97
Callisto Appeared In X-Men: The Last Stand
Callisto’s appearances in X-Men ’97 were brief, but they maintained her legacy from X-Men: The Animated Series. Callisto had a cameo appearance in episode 1, “To Me, My X-Men,” seen on the streets with the Morlock Leech. Callisto later appeared more prominently in episode 5, “Remember It.” In this episode, Callisto is seen valiantly protecting her Morlocks in a manner far more befitting the fearsome warrior. Despite being shorter than her X-Men: The Last Stand appearance, Callisto in X-Men ’97 is far more appropriate for her character.
Callisto’s appearance in X-Men: The Last Stand bore little resemblance to her comic book counterpart. X-Men: The Last Stand did establish Callisto as the Morlock’s leader and depicted a rivalry between her and Storm. However, despite this, Callisto had a minor role and wasn’t shown as the formidable leader she’s known as in X-Men comics.
2. Is A Main Character In X-Men ’97
Jubilee Appeared In X-Men, X2: X-Men United, X-Men The Last Stand, & X-Men: Apocalypse
Jubilee was teased throughout the original X-Men trilogy but only featured in minor cameos. In X-Men ’97, Jubilee has retained her central role, evolving into a more mature rendition as she mentors Roberto as the newest young recruit. Moreover, Jubilee has been given her own narratives, exploring her character to an even greater extent than in X-Men: TAS. Episode 4, “Motendo,” included a Jubilee variant from the future, demonstrating the character’s importance and expanding her character notably.
In each live-action X-Men movie, Jubilee only appeared as a background character wearing her distinctive yellow jacket. Jubilee’s role was expanded in X-Men: Apocalypse but only slightly. Jubilee appeared in a handful of scenes featuring the new young mutants at the Xavier Institute but never ventured into battle and only used her powers once to restart an arcade machine. While this was a fun nod to her appearance in X-Men: TAS, it felt unsatisfactory.
1. Bishop Has More Than A Cameo
Bishop Appeared In X-Men: Days Of Future Past
Bishop’s depiction in X-Men ’97 has been even better than his earlier appearances in X-Men: TAS. Bishop joined the X-Men team for X-Men ’97 three episodes, even earning a sequence in the opening credits. Bishop’s X-Men: TAS depiction contributed to his fan-favorite status, where he exuded an effortlessly cool swagger. Bishop kept this for X-Men ’97, in which he appeared in a wealth of dynamic action sequences. Bishop’s role in Cable’s new backstory in X-Men ’97 highlights his importance as an X-Men character, who was central to several X-Men narratives.
Bishop’s live-action equivalent, on the other hand, was a glorified cameo. Bishop appeared in X-Men: Days of Future Past, fighting Sentinels in the future timeline. While Bishop did have a greater role in The Rogue Cut, the theatrical cut didn’t explore the character’s importance adequately. As a result, Bishop’s depiction in X-Men ’97 was a far superior rendition.
