Here it is, round four of the Wolverine and the X-Men DVD releases. These partial season releases are clearly aimed at the younger crowd who don’t yet know the joy of buying a season all at once in a big set. Thus, keep in mind that this entire review is intended more for parents buying the episodes for their children and not fans looking to be proud owners of one of the best animated Marvel series in a long time. With that said, this release is a mixture of standalone episodes, saga installments, and a bookend to the major plotline of the previous DVD release. Do the standalone and saga episodes balance out the “Huh?” factor that comes from starting a disc with no “previously on Wolverine and the X-Men…” announcement for a storyline that badly needs it?
“Stolen Lives”
The Maverick/Wolverine/Kristie saga comes to an end with a father and daughter reunion and a revelation about Wolverine’s past. There really should have been an episode recap to start this off. Unless you watched the episodes on the disc immediately prior to starting this, you’re going to be lost. It really warrants a refresher. Wolverine and the X-Men, despite putting Wolverine at the forefront, doesn’t spend nearly as much time on Wolverine’s Weapon X days as the 90s version or even the X-Men films did, so this slight tangent to the lost connection between Wolverine and Mystique comes as an interesting twist.
“Hunting Grounds”
Ah, Mojo. One of the most amusing and relevant whackjobs in the X-Men universe. A big blob of a being laid out on a slab with legs and a scorpion-like tail, Mojo is the living embodiment of a being who gets the Clockwork Orange brainwashing treatment – but likes it. Thus, Mojo has locked his eyes open with clamps and has organized a gladiator-esque, reality television series. This week’s contestants? An unwilling Nightcrawler and Scarlet Witch, with Wolverine as a surprise guest of sorts. Mojo’s appearances in the X-Men canon are always interesting, as they’re not-too-subtle jabs at the modern obsession with entertainment at any cost.
“Badlands”
One of the two big plot pieces in this volume, “Badlands” sees the ragtag group of mutants in the future (with a mechanically-assisted, walking Professor X) as they stay on the run from a new breed of sentinels. The newest line of the killing machines have incorporated the abilities and attributes of a certain mutant, leaving them to conclude that one of the strongest among them was taken captive in the past – something the X-Men of the modern age must work hard to correct.
“Code of Conduct”
Another piece of Wolverine’s past comes into focus when the X-Men are taken kidnapped in order to force Logan into facing an enemy from his past: The Silver Samurai. Long ago, Logan and the Samurai had their heart set on the same woman; after a duel sees his rival humiliated, Logan respects the wishes of his love to leave and never look back. Unfortunately, the past came looking for him. The 90s version has an episode very similar to this one, and the two are close enough in quality to make the redo a wash.
“Backlash”
Master Mold is about to come on line. The coordinating artificial intelligence linking the actions of all sentinels together, Master Mold is the controlling entity hellbent on destroying Professor X in the future. To solve the problem before it can even begin, Wolverine sets out to destroy Master Mold and change the course of history. At this point in the series, Master Mold gets killed off before ever getting the chance to really become a character unto itself as opposed to its menacing presence in the 90s version. Unless a future season finds a way to reboot the Master Mold project, this might be its final moments. Though a full season arc isn’t too shabby, even if Master Mold is mentioned more than it’s shown.
DVD Bonus Features
The men behind the new X-Men series, Craig Kyle, Greg Johnson, and Christopher Yost offer audio commentary on the episodes, otherwise there’s little more than a few trailers to supplement the episodes.
"Wolverine and the X-Men: Fate of the Future" is on sale February 2, 2010 and is rated NR. Action, Adventure, Children & Family. Directed by Boyd Kirkland, Doug Murphy, Nicholas Filippi, Steven E Gordon. Written by Greg Johnson, Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost. Starring Fred Tatasciore, Jim Ward, Kari Wahlgren, Nolan North, Steve Blum, Tom Kane, Yuri Lowenthal.
