X-Men (1992 TV series)

''X-Men'', also known as ''X-Men: The Animated Series'', is an animated superhero television series which debuted on October 31, 1992, in the United States on the Fox Kids Network. ''X-Men'' was Marvel Comics' second attempt at an animated X-Men TV series after the pilot, '' X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men'', was not picked up.

A Marvel Studios-produced revival, '' X-Men '97'', is scheduled to be released to Disney+ in 2023.

Production

In 1991, Margaret Loesch became head of Fox Children's Network. Having championed the ''Pryde of the X-Men'' pilot in 1989, she was quick to set up an order for 13 episodes of ''X-Men''. Saban Entertainment was contracted to produce the show and hired a small studio Graz Entertainment to produce the episodes as it did not have sufficient staff at the time to handle production in house. Graz employed the creative staff, wrote and designed each episode, and drew the storyboards. The voice work was done using Canadian studios and South Korean studio AKOM was hired to animate the episodes. ''X-Men'' was originally to premiere over the Labor Day weekend in September; due to production delays, it was pushed to the end of October. When the animation team AKOM turned in the first episode, it contained hundreds of animation errors, which AKOM refused to fix. Because of time constraints, the episode was aired in an unfinished form. The second episode was turned in just before a deadline, with 50 scenes missing and only a single day reserved for editing. The "Night of the Sentinels" two-part episode originally aired as a "sneak preview" on October 31.

Because of the production delays and animation errors in these two episodes, Fox threatened to sever AKOM's contracts. When Fox re-aired the pilot in early 1993, the errors were corrected. The series earned top ratings throughout its first season, and was renewed for a second season of 13 episodes. Throughout the series run, producers had to deal with quality control issues including attempts to cut costs, requests to change the tone of the series to something more child-friendly as well to integrate toys being sold into the show.

The show was originally planned to run for 65 episodes. Given its success and Marvel's bankruptcy, Saban funded the additional eleven episodes at a much-reduced budget. Philippine Animation Studio and Hong Ying Animation also contributed some of the animation for this series.

The series was added to the Disney+ streaming service when it launched on November 12, 2019, with a revival subsequently announced to be in development.

Synopsis

The show features X-Men similar in look and line-up to the early 1990s ''X-Men'' drawn by Jim Lee (specifically, the Blue Team established in the early issues of '' X-Men (vol. 2)''), composed of Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, Storm, Beast, Gambit, Jubilee, Jean Grey, Professor X, as well as an original character, Morph (an adaptation of previous X-Men member Changeling).

The series deals with social issues, including divorce ("Proteus"), Christianity (" Nightcrawler" and " Bloodlines"), the Holocaust ("Enter Magneto", "Deadly Reunions", "Days of Future Past" and "The Phalanx Covenant") and AIDS hysteria (" Time Fugitives"), and feelings of loneliness (" No Mutant Is an Island"). Television was satirized in the episodes " Mojovision" and " Longshot".

''X-Men'' crossed over with the animated series '' Spider-Man'', when Spider-Man seeks out the X-Men's help to stave off his progressing mutation. In the abbreviated form of the Secret Wars storyline, the Beyonder and Madame Web selected Spider-Man to lead a team of heroes including Storm against a group of villains. An earlier draft of "Secret Wars" involved all of the X-Men, but transporting the voice cast from Canada to Los Angeles, where production for the ''Spider-Man'' animated series was based, had been too costly in previous crossovers, so the episode was re-written to include only Storm, whose actress, Iona Morris, lived in Los Angeles. Hulk and She-Hulk were excluded from the episodes because the '' Incredible Hulk'' animated series featuring the characters was airing on rival network UPN.

The first season of the show brought the X-Men into conflict with human conspirators building mutant-exterminating Sentinel robots, Magneto and his attempts to instigate a human-mutant war, and the powerful mutant Apocalypse's plans to eradicate the weak, both human and mutant alike. Other storylines including X-Men member Morph's death at the hands of Sentinels, Beast's incarceration, and an assassination attempt on US senator Kelly by Apocalypse's minions to turn human sentiment against the mutants.

The second season sees Cyclops and Jean get married and become the targets of Mister Sinister, who hopes to use the genetically perfect combination of their DNA to create an army of obedient mutants. Morph returns, having been rescued by Sinister and brainwashed into forcing the X-Men apart. The season also features the growing rift between humans and mutants, spearheaded by the Friends of Humanity, an anti-mutant group who lead the persecution of all mutants. Apocalypse also returns, developing a deadly plague to be blamed on mutants, fueling mutant hatred. A parallel narrative of Professor X and Magneto being lost in the Savage Land runs throughout this season.

The third season focuses on the cosmic force, the Phoenix, which merges with Jean Grey and eventually turns her into the malevolent and powerful Dark Phoenix. The season also introduced the Shi'ar Empire who want to stop the Dark Phoenix, including Lilandra and Gladiator. Other storylines include the introduction of Wolverine's former lover turned mercenary, Lady Deathstrike, former X-Men member Iceman, and the villainous Shadow King.

Volume 5 of the ''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Hardcovers'' lists the X-Men cartoon as part of the Marvel multiverse, inhabiting Earth-92131. Also, the plague-infested future that Bishop tried to prevent in Season 2 is listed as Earth-13393 while Cable's release of the immediate cure of the plague is listed as Earth-121893.

Adaptations

Although the majority of the series' stories are original, a number of storylines and events from the comics are loosely adapted in the series, such as:

Season 1

* The two-part Pilot episode "Night of the Sentinels" features "The Mutant Registration Act" which was first used in "Days of Future Past" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #141 (January, 1981) by writer Chris Claremont and writer/artist John Byrne. Also the battle at the shopping mall is adapted from Jubilee's first appearance in the story "Ladies' Night" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #244 (May, 1989) by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri. In that story, Jubilee is attacked by the M-Squad and is rescued by female X-Men and the final sequence wherein Jubilee arrives at the X-Mansion is based on a similar sequence when Kitty Pryde first arrived at the X-Mansion following the funeral for Phoenix in "Elegy" from ''X-Men'' #138 (October, 1980) by writer Chris Claremont and writer/artist John Byrne.
* The episode, "Enter Magneto", features a confrontation at a missile base: this is largely based on the X-Men's first battle with Magneto, as told in their 1963 debut story "X-Men" from ''X-Men #1'' (September, 1963) by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.
* "Captive Hearts" is loosely based on events depicted in "Catacombs" and "Dancin' in the Dark" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #169-170 (May–June, 1983) by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, except that the X-Man kidnapped by The Morlocks in those stories was Angel, rather than Cyclops.
* In the episode "Slave Island", Genosha's treatment of mutants as slave labour is adapted from "Welcome to Genosha"/"Busting Loose"/"Who's Human?"/"Gonna be a Revolution" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #235-#238 (October–November, 1989) by writer Chris Claremont and artists Rick Leonardi and Marc Silvestri. However, the premise of how the Genoshan's enslaved mutants is greatly retooled, likely to be more appropriate for children's television.
* In the episode "The Unstoppable Juggernaut", The Juggernaut's origins is adapted from the story "The Origin of Professor X!" from ''X-Men'' #12 (July, 1965) by Writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby and Alex Toth. Also, the X-Men clashing with Juggernaut at the bank is adapted loosely from the story "Juggernaut's Back in Town" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #194 by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita Jr., particularly the portions where the X-Men are staking out the bank before the Juggernaut attacks and the origin of Colossus is adapted from ''Deadly Genesis!'' in ''Giant-Size X-Men'' #1 (May, 1975) by Writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum.
* "The Cure" features a flashback to Rogue's origins detailing her kiss with Cody Robbins, which is adapted from "Public Enemy" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #185 (September, 1984) by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita Jr.
* Apocalypse's creation of his Four Horsemen in "Come the Apocalypse" is very loosely adapted from Issues #10 "Falling Angel!", #12 "Boom Boom Boom!", #15 "Whose Death is it, Anyway?", #19 "All Together Now!" and #24 "Masks" from ''X-Factor'' by writer Louise Simonson artists Walter Simonson and Marc Silvestri.
* The first part of the 2-part episode story "Days of Future Past" is loosely based on ''X-Men'' #141 (January, 1981) by writer Chris Claremont and writer/artist John Byrne, the first part of the "Days of Future Past" story arc. The entire story was retooled to fit the continuity established in the animated series, however some original elements remained such as Wolverine leading a resistance against the Sentinels. However Bishop's role as a tracker of Mutant rebels is reminiscent of Rachel Summer's role as a Hound, likely adapted from Uncanny X-Men #189. Similarly, Bishop's betrayal of the Sentinels and travel back in time is adapted from Kate Pryde's similar stunt in ''X-Men #141 (January, 1981) by Chris Claremont and writer/artist John Byrne. Nimrod's appearance and battle with the X-Men is likely adapted from "Raiders of the Lost Temple!" in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #191 (March, 1985) and 194 (June, 1985) by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Romita Jr. Also, Bishops' assertion that Gambit betrayed the X-Men is adapted from "Bishop to King's Five!" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #287 (April, 1992) by writers Jim Lee, Scott Lobdell and artist John Romita Jr., wherein Bishop's future the X-Men were apparently killed by one of their own, and as Gambit was the only survivor Bishop long suspected him of betraying the X-Men.
* The second part of "Days of Future Past" is adapted from "Mind Out of Time" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #142 (February, 1981) by Chris Claremont and writer/artist John Byrne, wherein the X-Men prevent the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants from assassinating Senator Robert Edward Kelly. The story was altered to fit the continuity of the animated series, wherein Bishop takes the place of Kate Pryde, however it deviates from the original story when Magneto abducts Kelly.
* The entire Sentinel plot from the episode "The Final Decision", including Master Mold forcing Trask to do his bidding is adapted from "Among Us Stalk... the Sentinels"/"Prisoners of the Mysterious Master Mold!"/"The Supreme Sacrifice!" from X-Men #14–16 (November 1965 – January 1966) by writer Stan Lee and artists Jack Kirby & Jay Gavin. Whilst Scott's marriage proposal to Jean and Mister Sinister's interest, which is explored fully in Season 2, is very loosely adapted on "Inferno, Part the Fourth: Ashes!" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #243 (April, 1989) by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri, among other issues where Sinister manipulated Scott's marriage to Madelyne Pryor for his own twisted ends.

Season 2

* The episode "Whatever It Takes" features a flashback depicting Mjnari's birth is based on the story "Life-Death II: From the Heart of Darkness" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #198 (October, 1985) by writer Chris Claremont and artist Barry Windsor-Smith. In that story, Storm discovered Shani's tribe after losing her mutant powers, and resuscitated Shani's (unnamed) son as in this episode. The story also featured a tribal elder named MjNari, who chose to die when Shani's son was born, so that the tribe would not become too numerous for its resources.
* The episode "Repo Man" is based on "Shoot-Out at the Stampede!" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #121 (May, 1979) by writer Chris Claremont, Writer/artist John Byrne and artist Terry Austin. The episode is also based on the "Weapon X" story from ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #72-84 (March–September 1991) by writer/artist Barry Windsor-Smith.
* The episode "X-Ternally Yours" is based upon the "Gambit" 4 issue mini-series featuring "Tithing"/"Honor Amongst Thieves"/"The Benefactress"/"Thief of Time" (which was published literally around the same time that episode first aired) (December, 1993–March, 1994) by Writer Howard Mackie, artists Lee Weeks and Klaus Janson. Though in the comics Gambit's brother is named Henri instead of Bobby.
* In "Time Fugitives (parts 1 & 2)" features a variation of the "Legacy Virus" story line where it was the creation of Apocalypse, who had created the virus with the aid of Graydon Creed and the Friends of Humanity, infecting innocent people and claiming that mutants were the ones who had caused the plague. In an attempt to stop the plague, Bishop came back from the future to destroy Apocalypse's work before the virus could move on to mutants, but as a result vital antibodies that would allow the mutant race to survive future plagues were never created. Traveling back from even further in the future, Cable was able to come up with a compromise that allowed both Bishop's and his own missions to succeed; although the plague never made the jump to mutants on a large-scale basis, Cable nevertheless ensured that Wolverine would be infected, thus creating the necessary antibodies while not killing any mutants thanks to Wolverine's healing factor.
* Parts of the episode "A Rogue's Tale" are based on "Rogue Redux" in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #269 (October, 1990) by writer Chris Claremont and artists Jim Lee and Art Thibe. Whilst other parts of the episode are based on "By Friends – Betrayed!" in ''Avengers Annual'' #10 (August, 1981) by writer Chris Claremont and artists Michael Golden and Armando Gil.

Season 3

* "The Phoenix Saga (Part 1): Sacrifice" is loosely based on "My Brother, My Enemy!" from ''Uncanny X-Men'' #97 (February, 1976) by writer Chris Claremont and artists Dave Cockrum & Sam Grainger