What else is there to say about a show that's been around for seventeen years and off the air for twelve? If you were ever planning on watching it, chances are you already have. And if not, you're missing out on one of the best animated shows of all time. X-Men was more than just the sum of its parts and its appeal still transcends mediums and demographics alike, making it entertaining for both kids and adults. Drama, romance, intrigue, epic battles between the forces of good and evil...what's not to like?
This collection is a solid one, striking the perfect balance between comedy and drama. Lighthearted episodes are appropriately sandwiched between dramatic epics so as to diffuse tension and make certain that the show remains true to its intention, which is to provide for a fun fantasy cartoon. "Have Yourself A Morlock Little X-Mas" comes to mind as being one of the more jovial of the series, and it provides for interesting interactions between Storm, Wolverine, and Jubilee. Shows with ensemble casts, whether they be animated or not, have the advantage of being able to merely switch up the characters that normally interact and pair them up with new ones to make new sparks fly whenever things start to get stale, and the X-Men creators embrace that very technique to keep the show interesting. It works. These moments contrast starkly with the more grim subject matter, making the darker elements of the show all the more striking.
As the series progresses, the technical improvements become more and more apparent. The sound editing, which in earlier episodes could be a little wonky -- the synchronization was at times a little off, or the volume would fluctuate -- is much more accurate and streamlined this time around. Technically, there are very few flaws with the look of the show; it has a comic-book aesthetic but it somehow keeps it original.
In terms of the main characters, it's nice to see that the creators decide to incorporate Gambit a lot more into the later episodes, as they really didn't make the best use of his persona in the previous two volumes. This volume also marks the final original episodes of the show, and it certainly ends on a high note with the four part series finale, Beyond Good and Evil. It signals the return of every vibrant character from Mystique to Cable to Sabretooth, all of whom prove to be just as capable of carrying off large parts of the episodes on their own as the main X-Men. It's a thoroughly rewarding and powerful end to the show as it stands.
I should note that although this saga aired last on television, it's included on the first disc of Volume 4. Also, the fourth part of Beyond Good and Evil was originally intended to close out the series, but there were a few more episodes released after this supposed conclusion. However, though I haven't actually ever seen these lost episodes, their production was helmed by a different studio, and purportedly the animation style is drastically different. As it stands, it seems that the studios don't really seem to consider these episodes part of the canon, as none of them are included in any of the volumes.
DVD Bonus Features
Unfortunately, these releases are sorely lacking in the special features department. While the show alone is a solid viewing experience in its own right, I'd liked to have learned something about the creation of the show, or the people behind it, or hell, even to look at some storyboards or concept art. It's a shame; if you're going to wait so long to finally release the show on DVD in the first place, wouldn't you rather wait a little longer just to put a little extra work into the product to really make it worth the viewer's while? You can download stuff on the Internet now, you know.
Bottom line: If you like comic books, or superhero movies, or comic book movies or superhero cartoons, X-Men is most certainly worthwhile.
"X-Men: Volume 4" is on sale September 15, 2009 and is rated PG. Animation, Comic Book, Sci-Fi. Directed by Larry Houston. Written by Francis Moss, Ted Pedersen, Len Wein, Julianne Klemm, Michael Edens, Elliot S. Maggin, Robert N. Skir, Marty Isenberg, Stephanie Mathison, Brooks Wachtel, Mark Edward Edens. Starring Alison Seasly Smith, Alyson Court, Cathal J Dodd, Cedric Smith, Lenore Zann, Norm Spencer.
