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Fox Does Something Right!

The Return of Your Childhood / Daniel Carlson

Trade News | February 11, 2009 | Comments (65)

I loved the early-1990s animated “X-Men” cartoon that aired on Fox. Didn’t like it; loved it. It had terrible dialogue, good stories, and a fantastic opening sequence built around a theme that totally should have been included in the movies. But the show was from that gray area before the advent of TV on DVD, and also, let’s be honest, it was a kids cartoon that aired on Saturday mornings.

But it’s now being reported that the animated series is being released in a pair of DVD sets hitting shelves in April, and I am contemplating buying a cartoon from my childhood for the first time since Fox’s “Batman: The Animated Series” came out. There’s no word yet on episode titles or count for the “X-Men” sets, but the guaranteed nostalgia factor is off the charts:










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Comments

Hey Dustin,

There seems to be a problem with the link on the mainpage. It directs to the wrong URL.

That being said. I just wet myself a little bit this is so exciting ohmygodifeellikealittlegirl.

Posted by: Toph at February 11, 2009 11:14 AM

I dunno Toph, I think it's dead appropriate to click on the words "Fox does something right" and have an error message pop up.

Posted by: SJ at February 11, 2009 11:16 AM

There is a sick poetry in that, yes.

Posted by: Toph at February 11, 2009 11:17 AM

Re: The Theme

Actually, I thought I heard shades of the TV theme in Michael Kamen's theme for XMen. One massive gripe I had with the whole series is it had three different composers, and none of the others carried on the work the previous one laid out. Ottman didn't carry over the theme into X2, and while I love John Powell's music to death I'm not quite sure he was the right fit for X3. Then again, the director proved to be an even worse fit for that last one, so I guess the music is a small complaint compared to the directorial stylings of "The Rat".

Posted by: Mike R. at February 11, 2009 11:23 AM

This is the most exciting news I've heard in a while. X-Men was definitely my favorite cartoon as a kid.

Posted by: Disgruntled Pedestrian at February 11, 2009 11:24 AM

Was this the one that did the epic Dark Phoenix storyline justice unlike the atrocious X-Men: The Last Stand? Because if so now I'm going to have to make a purchase. Dammit.

Posted by: TylerDFC at February 11, 2009 11:24 AM

Yeah, yeah, make me feel old.

Posted by: Jay at February 11, 2009 11:31 AM

YESSSSSSSSSSSS. I'm with you on the love for this show, Dan. Agreed that the dialogue was laughable most of the time, but I especially loved that they brought in Cable and Bishop storylines.

Posted by: branded at February 11, 2009 11:35 AM

BISHOP!!!!

Posted by: twig at February 11, 2009 11:36 AM

Hey! I loved this cartoon. I kind of forgot all about it. I don't know if I can justify buying it, but I'll give it a shot.

Update: I just looked at the pre-order on Amazon and they're $17.99 per season. Also, there's a "Wonder Woman 2009" with Keri Russell and Fillion as Steve Trevor? Plus Alfred Molina, Virginia Madsen and Rosario Dawson? What's that thing the kids say today? Oh, yeah... Squeeee!

Do I recall Jubilee being really annoying, though?

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at February 11, 2009 11:37 AM

Now if only they'd release Exosquad . . .

Posted by: Scott at February 11, 2009 11:54 AM

I will most definitely be purchasing this. I loved X-Men and as a little brown girl I always imagined growing up with white hair and looking like storm.

And yes, AvB you do recall Jubilee correctly. Super annoying, no powers and always whining.

Posted by: Wormer at February 11, 2009 11:58 AM

Also, I believe this is where all that Gambit business started.

*sigh*

Posted by: Jay at February 11, 2009 12:03 PM

This was the only show I watched well after an acceptable age for Saturday morning cartoons. I'd hypothesize that the cartoon created a rut for DC, as I felt Bats was screwed by bad movies and all the kids were flocking to the X-Men. The only thing it missed was Age of Apocalypse. They teased it here and there. I would kill for a full blown send up.

God this show rocked. Gambit, Apocalypse, Cable, Sabretooth vs. Wolverine done right, Sentinels, Nightcrawler, X-Force cameos GRAHHHH NERDGASM I'M SPENT!!

Posted by: Dan at February 11, 2009 12:06 PM

Psh, screw you Jay, Gambit was awesome


I did always wonder what the hell went on with Rogue in this show, didn't she like power suck She-Captain America to death or something?

Anyway, this show and that weird side scrolling arcade game with the x-men (and the ninja turtles, upon further reflection) do force me back to my childhood.

Posted by: Braski at February 11, 2009 12:08 PM

FOX also used to show it in the afternoons during the week, at least when I was in high school. My best friend and I used to rush to her house after school and watch it. God, I loved this show.

Posted by: Jeni at February 11, 2009 12:10 PM

Yeah Rogue sucked up Ms. Marvel's powers when she was in with Mystique. Convenient way to get rid of Ms. Marvel, she was useless.

And Gambit? Pfft, if you want to blame anything on the show it's for making Gambit too awesome to be portrayed on the big screen.

Posted by: Dan at February 11, 2009 12:13 PM

I did always wonder what the hell went on with Rogue in this show, didn't she like power suck She-Captain America to death or something?

She did. And as a result she could fly and was super strong. She totally kicked ass.

Posted by: Jeni at February 11, 2009 12:15 PM

A weird bit of trivia about this was that Gambit was voiced by Chris Potter aka Peter Caine from "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues."

Now if only they'd release Exosquad . . .

And King Arthur and the Knights of Justice.

Posted by: branded at February 11, 2009 12:20 PM

It never ends......and now look what you've wrought this May.

Posted by: Jay at February 11, 2009 12:21 PM

I was scouted and hired to play Storm by Marvel Comics years ago. They made me sit down for three days to read comics and watch these cartoons. I remember thinking that there was no way in hell I could pull off those cheesy lines.

Turns out no one wanted me to talk. They just wanted to take picture while they attemped to grab various body parts. Fun...

Posted by: Trouble at February 11, 2009 12:21 PM

There's one scene in particular from that cartoon where Gambit is playing basketball shirtless...so that means I was about 13 when I began to seriously ponder the merits of masturbation.

Posted by: feramones at February 11, 2009 12:24 PM

I'd say the only bad thing to come of the cartoon was the ridiculous protrayal of Beast, which led to Kelsey Grammar in the movies.

This cartoon is where I unequivocably fell in love with Rogue.

Posted by: antietam at February 11, 2009 12:27 PM

Bishop! Apocalypse! the giant robots that were only in a cheap cameo in the movies but could've gotten an entire plot of their own!

THIS SHOW WAS THE MOST AWESOME cartoon of my childhood. I remember playing X-Men with all the kids in my building, and watching each episode breathlessly and loving the hell out of it. This is the best news of the whole WEEK.

Did you know that Rogue's name in Spanish is 'Titania'? It wasn't until I learned enough English that I found out how hilarious and appropriate that name was. Silly Spanish.

Posted by: figgy at February 11, 2009 12:27 PM

That theme song is awesome. Almost on par with the Spider-Man one. Who remembers that? It was the guy from Aerosmith and all kinds of talk-boxy "Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Radioactive Spider-Man". That X-Men cartoon is a huge part of my childhood and probably helped make me the nerd I am today. You can also thank Spider-Man's cartoon and Batman: The Animated Series.
(And you're welcome, Jay.)

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at February 11, 2009 12:32 PM

Sometimes it's fun to follow the comments for something about which you have no knowledge or opinions (I never saw this cartoon--clearly I'm far too old--and never read the comics, only saw the movies) and just enjoy fellow Pajibans' happiness (and mini arguments). And to watch them geek out.

Posted by: tamatha at February 11, 2009 12:37 PM

Geeze! You made tears come to my eyes! ACTUAL TEARS! I've missed this show and the soundtrack and Gambit, Storm, Rogue, the Prof the whole kit n kaboodle dammit!

And Dan you are so right! It's because of this series that Gambit's character became too awesome to be played in a movie. I cxan't see anyone who could do that role justice...unlike Professor X who I dream casted when I was 14.

Posted by: Four Eyes at February 11, 2009 12:51 PM

Now I just have to wait for the Pepper Ann DVD's. She's like one in a milYUNNNNNN!

Posted by: Sweetie Dahling at February 11, 2009 12:53 PM

Wormer: Jubilee could create something like high-explosive fireworks. It sounds kind of stupid, and really it was, but fireworks have been known to kill people.

I knew guys in college who'd set the VCR (the what?!) to record the show before they went out to get drunk Friday night. While I was always kind of bitter they never made much use of Colossus or Psylocke (hello, masturbation fuel!) and Storm sounded like Judi Dench with a stick in her ass, this was a pretty kick-ass show.

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at February 11, 2009 1:10 PM

Sir.

Posted by: Jay at February 11, 2009 1:11 PM

Did someone say ExoSquad?

http://tinyurl.com/exosquadseason1

Posted by: Mike R. at February 11, 2009 1:22 PM

My brother and I used to record this show off TV every Saturday morning. We still have the VHS tapes - discovered in college that this show makes an excellent drinking game.

This news seriously makes my day.

The nose knows, bub.

Posted by: MN_Jen at February 11, 2009 1:44 PM

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Hyphenated and Capitalized.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at February 11, 2009 1:52 PM

Good god please post the X-Men TV Series drinking rules...you piqued my interest Jen.

p.s. Fuck you Brett Ratner...

Posted by: Dan at February 11, 2009 1:57 PM

Probably one of *THE* best cartoon intros EVAR.

Honorable mention: Garfield and Friends

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at February 11, 2009 2:10 PM

The X-Men cartoon, along with the first two Batman movies and the Animated Series, are responsible for my holding intelligence in higher esteem than just about anything else. Beast had the least impressive power on the show (he was blue and he could jump high), but he was also an unstoppable badass because he was smarter than everyone else.

Posted by: Lucas at February 11, 2009 2:11 PM

No no, I was respectfully nodding at you. Don't worry, I saw it.

I see and remember everything.

Posted by: Jay at February 11, 2009 2:25 PM

I don't remember being this excited over a carton series since I managed to buy a pirated/home made DVD set of Rocko's Modern Life on Ebay.

Now if only I could find a complete set of The Angry Beavers, my childhood memories would be complete.

Posted by: alphawhiskey at February 11, 2009 2:35 PM

Yes, TylerDFC, this cartoon totally did the Dark Phoenix storyline justice! Don't get me started on X3, we'll be here all day.... The cartoon got almost everything right, from Storm's regal voice and stature to Gambit's N'awlins drawl.

This cartoon is the whole reason I got into comic books in general and the X-Men comics in particular. God, I loved this show! Every Saturday I woke up, grabbed a bowl of cereal, and hunkered down in front of the tv. I will be first in line when this comes out!

Posted by: Melissa at February 11, 2009 2:45 PM

Ahem....

So, talking about this show, and nobody is going to bring up Morph?

You people make me sad.

Posted by: Vermillion at February 11, 2009 3:24 PM

So, talking about this show, and nobody is going to bring up Morph?

Ah yes, the male shapeshifter who seemed to enjoy turning into Rogue and Jean Grey to lead on Gambit and Wolverine.

Posted by: branded at February 11, 2009 3:47 PM

I won't lie - I have Time Warner cable and some channel shows episode from X-Men at midnight. I watch :)

Oh and the dialogue can be pretty inane at times. But one of the reason I LOVED and still enjoy this cartoon is that it was the first TV series I'd watched (along with B:tAS) that portrayed the gray shades of life. Magneto was a d!ck, but at least you understand where his behavior came from. It wasn't just "I'm evil, it's what I do" (like most other shows were)... well I guess Apocalpyse was kinda like that - but whatever...

Oh Dan, The idea for "Age of Apocalypse" was actually born from this cartoon series! They decided to have an episode arc where Trevor Fitzroy(?) goes back in time and takes out Xavier. So the Marvel guy decided it'd be sweet to reimagine the entire comic book time spectrum had Xavier tied young!!

Posted by: Gnaius at February 11, 2009 3:53 PM

*Xavier DIED young*

The word I was looking for was 'died'.

Darn it.

Posted by: Gnaius at February 11, 2009 3:55 PM

home made DVD set of Rocko's Modern Life on Ebay

*gasp*
I'll be over in ten minutes. Warm up the DVD player.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at February 11, 2009 3:55 PM

Ah yes, the male shapeshifter who seemed to enjoy turning into Rogue and Jean Grey to lead on Gambit and Wolverine.

Well, that was part of his charm.

He was also the first big death on the show (to demonstrate the showrunners were halfway serious), only to come back as a brainwashed servant of Mr. Sinister. Then he went nuts, got PTSD, and never really got better until the series finale.

All this from a character that, in his original comic interpretation, was a low-grade villain-turned-X-Man only to die shortly afterward.

Posted by: Vermillion at February 11, 2009 4:09 PM

Gnaius--you're dead on about the Fitzroy arc, as it was him and Nimrod who went back and got chased by Bishop.

If you remember Bishop flashes to a quick scene in his future where they show some X-Men in their AoA costumes which was a cool little tease. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that) I would've loved to have seen Nate Grey and one handed Wolvie. *Sigh*

I'm nerding way too hard today. I actually popped in X-Men Legends on the heels of this...

Posted by: Dan at February 11, 2009 4:23 PM

Mmmm, Gambit...

I join the love for this cartoon. And the notion that Jubilee was irritating as all get-out.

re:AvB, if only Rocko's would be officially released... what are they waiting on? Best. Cartoon. Ever. I have a pair of boots that squench like Rocko's shoes did.

And to a lesser degree, Doug. I liked that one okay, but the Beets made that show. I have a Beets shirt. I need more allowance! Why?! Because I doooo!

Posted by: Nadha at February 11, 2009 4:29 PM

Carlson, thank you for this. I've been sat at my computer with my guitar in hand for the last three hours, practicing songs I have to play at a gig tomorrow. I've got AC/DC's 'You Shook Me All Night Long' motherfucking locked. Feeder's 'Insomnia'? Could play that shit in my sleep. But for some reason, Buddy Holly's 'Peggy Sue' has been kicking my ass - just can't get the structure locked in my head. I've spent the last hour and a half repeatedly listening to the song, playing along with the Guitar Pro tab file, cursing the four-eyed fuckstick with all the vehemence my RSI-addled body can muster...

And then comes this post. And a reminder of the X-Men cartoon theme tune, and the particle storm of awesomeness that comes with it. Buddy Holly can go get fucked, I'm learning how to play that shit right this second...

Posted by: Dill The Devil at February 11, 2009 4:37 PM

If I recall correctly, Jubilee was used on this show as a Mary Sue to introduce viewers (especially girls) to the backstory-heavy world. And she was also utterly useless.

God, I loved this cartoon!

Posted by: Joanna at February 11, 2009 4:57 PM

Jubilee really was a waste of space (at least for me), I just wanted more Wolverine, more Gambit, more Storm creating hurricanes, more Apocolypse (damn he was a cool villain) and a heck of a lot less of Cyclops (who I thought had a stick up HIS ass!)

Damn I miss my youth! 'Twerent so long ago I was hunkered in front of my tv watching X-Men, Gargoyles and pining for The Muppet Show. Now I'm pining for all three. (say what you want Gargoyles was decent!)

Posted by: Four Eyes at February 11, 2009 5:20 PM

I sent this to my brother and he reminded me that I bought him bootleg dvd's of all of the X-Men cartoons years ago. Damn, I'm an awesome sister. ;)

Posted by: Tracy at February 11, 2009 5:50 PM

Patty Mayonnaise like a motherfucker!

Posted by: Jay at February 11, 2009 6:24 PM

My kids have only known the X-Men as they are portrayed in the pooptastic movies. It makes me happy that I will be able to make up for my shoddy parenting by buyng this series.

Posted by: admin at February 11, 2009 6:30 PM

Fun fact. One of my professor's in school voiced Corsair, Cyclops' dad. He directed a show that I was in, and every day before curtain went up we watched the episodes with him in it to raise our spirits.

Posted by: FoilWrapper at February 11, 2009 6:54 PM

I like the animated show too. It was truer (is that a real word anyway?) to the actual comics, which I read avidly as a pre-teen. Anywho, this is a great idea! The new X-men animated show is not as good as this 90s version but neither are the movies, except for Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman is pretty spot on. All the other ones...not so much...!

Posted by: ph at February 11, 2009 7:18 PM

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!! IT WAS SO GOOD! This tv show is the reason I do what I do today. Thanks to the show I started reading comics and well its everything I do now. :) yay!

Posted by: S at February 11, 2009 7:27 PM

I have the first 2 seasons of The Muppet Show on DVD. I'm turning my brother's kids onto Muppets.

Remember Muppets Tonight?

Posted by: Nadha at February 11, 2009 9:22 PM

By the way: for those people geeking on Exosquad - Hulu has the first season available

http://www.hulu.com/exosquad

Damn you Alec Baldwin!!

Posted by: Gnaius at February 11, 2009 9:50 PM

I'm still waiting for someone to recognize MY favorite damn show from when I was a kid and release Peter Pan and the Pirates on DVD

Posted by: Rowen at February 11, 2009 10:36 PM

Awesome! Exosquad on Hulu. Wait, I'm not American? You can't stream outside the country?! There must be something I can do?

C'mon man let me take a look.

C'mon man, I got these cheeseburgers man.

Man I'll suck yo dick!

Posted by: admin at February 11, 2009 10:51 PM

Here you go Dan, and other X-men fans who grew up to be alcoholics:

Chug your drink during opening theme. If you don't want to drink, you must dance. Interpretive dance to the X-men theme song.

Pick one or two characters, and drink one sip/gulp when your character:
Is called by their first name
Calls another character by their first name
Wears regular "street" clothes
Is in the danger room

Drink two when your character:
Says an awful pun about their powers, i.e "I guess its not in the cards, non?" and "Let's see if some rain will quench their anger!"
Says a line or has a smoldering look regarding their unrequited love
Inexplicably instantly changes from street clothes to their uniform (what was that? Lightning?)

Drink three when your character:
Has/is involved in a flashback
Is knocked unconscious
Is kissing! (Did other Saturday morning cartoons have this much romance?)

Everyone drinks:
When the exterior shot of the mansion in shown
Any weird animation error is spotted
The theme song is played during the episode

We also just keep making up rules as we go. I think I need to play this weekend!

Posted by: MN_Jen at February 12, 2009 12:14 AM

Oh. My. GOD!!!

I just played the theme song (which might already be on my iPod) and danced around a little.

I haven't been this excited since Gargoyles came out on DVD. Of course, that ended in heartache, as they never released season two, volume two. PS: Fuck you, Disney.

Posted by: elisamaza at February 12, 2009 1:27 AM

Okay, though I'm more of a DCU guy, I DID enjoy the X-Men series. And since many people enjoyed the theme (which WAS about 800 pounds of awesome), allow me to interperate.

"Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-NUH, nuh-nuh! Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-*NUH*, nuh-nuh! Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-**NUH**, nuh-nuh! X-MEN!"

(I'd like to thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we've passed the audition.)

Posted by: Green Lantern at February 12, 2009 1:42 PM

DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah
DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah
DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah DAH-dah-dah DAH-DAAAAAH!

*BELL*

I love the bell in that theme song.

Posted by: Meander at February 12, 2009 10:53 PM

My brother the musician likes to get on the piano and play 'name that tune' with late 80's/early 90's theme songs at parties. Since I know them all I have to keep quiet. X-Men is one of our favorites! We were addicted to that shit. Saturday was all downhill from there..

and as far as Garfield BSlim: We're ready to party, we're ready!..I hope you brought lots of spaghetti..Come on in, come to the place where fun never eennnds.Come on in its time to play with Garfield and friends (Garfiled and friends)

I'm gonna have these songs in my head alllll day

Posted by: VinKong at February 13, 2009 8:30 AM