Split image of LEGO Wolverine in LEGO Avengers Code Red (2023) on the left, Halle Berry's Storm in X-Men (2000) on the right

A terrible X-Men quote just got referenced by Marvel 24 years after the film’s initial release. The 2000 movie was what started the X-Men’s success. Professor X’s class of mutants was introduced to audiences with positive reception. Since then, a total of 13 films have been released in the franchise so far with each film just getting better in quality. X-Men is a clear product of the year 2000 with some elements aging better than others, but there is one moment in the movie that remains disliked to this day.

During the X-Men’s confrontation with Magneto’s Brotherhood at the Statue of Liberty, Storm faced off against Toad. What should’ve been a solid moment of the battle has since turned into a joke among fans because of one line in particular. Before striking Toad with lightning, Storm says, “Do you know what happens to a toad when it’s struck by lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else.” It was clearly the writers’ attempt at comedy, but the cheesy X-Men line did not deliver in its intended tone. Luckily, the moment has gotten some redemption years later.

2024’s LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition Brings Back X-Men’s Toad Line

LEGO Gambit, Wolverine, Storm, and Ice Man in fighting stances in LEGO Marvel Avengers Mission Demolition (2024)

LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition is an animated special that follows the origin story of Demolition Man. Audiences are introduced to the average city worker, Dennis, who seems to destroy everything that he touches. However, his unique ability comes in handy when the Avengers become trapped, and he is the only one who can release them. After Dennis embraces his Demolition Man persona and frees the Avengers, all of the heroes team up in a final battle against the villain, Terrax.

Plenty of heroes make cameos in the final Mission Demolition battle, but one moment in particular is clearly a callback to 2000’s X-Men. When Black Panther corners Terrax, he asks him, “Have you heard the one about the toad getting struck by lightning?” Thor and Storm then appear in the sky and hit the villain with their electricity powers. Especially with Storm’s presence in the scene, the line was an obvious reference to her memorable X-Men line. Fans might have hoped that the cheesy line would stay a memory of the past, but Marvel’s new reference actually saves it.

Why LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition’s X-Men Reference Works

Storm with lightning in her eyes in 2000's X-Men

While LEGO is enjoyed by people of all ages, the animated LEGO projects are clearly targeted towards children. Because of that, most of the storylines are more lighthearted with plenty of comedic undertones in the dialogue. The reason why the original X-Men toad line fell so flat was because Storm’s delivery didn’t match. If she had said the line in a joking manner, the absurdness of the line would’ve hit as comedy. However, her actual serious delivery was what made the cheesy X-Men line stand out negatively.

The Toad line that was delivered in LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition was a moment of comedy. It helped that the whole film was lighthearted in tone, and an off-hand cheesy line like that didn’t seem out of place. The project embraced the line for the unserious moment it was, which is what made the reference work overall. The infamous X-Men line has become one that fans love to hate, but Marvel’s newest release has helped somewhat revamp its reputation.