X-Men '97

What we have here, then, is something close to the best of both possible worlds: a nostalgic revival of a beloved series that matches our idea of what it was like to watch X-Men when we were kids, rather than one trying to specifically ape any specific elements of that series.

Despite “X-Men ‘97” leaning too hard into heavier drama, this is an excellent continuation of a fan-favorite series. .... “X-Men ‘97” is the real deal.

The series is sincere but not self-important, slightly silly but not embarrassed about it. Its bright, flat retro style — a bit more polished than the ’90s series, but otherwise of a piece with it — looks downright distinctive in a sea of “3D” animation and “realistic” CG. Best of all, it works on its own terms.

It features a solid voice cast and a vibrant new visual style marked by several spectacular action sequences. It’s also a series that illustrates just how powerful the mutant metaphor is even three decades later. Marvel fans of any age would do well to give X-Men ‘97 a look.

X-Men ’97 takes what worked so well in that first series and develops it into one of the greatest X-Men projects so far, quite possibly the best animated series to come from Marvel. It took nearly three decades to return to this world, but X-Men ’97 makes the wait well worth it.

Ultimately, featuring terrific animation that soars in dynamic, thrilling action sequences while updating the aesthetic of the semi-outdated ‘90s version, “X-Men ‘97” is pretty much what you’d want from a modern-day animated series. It acknowledges the past, the same vibe, and storylines, using the same formula of tightly-packed 30-minute melodramas within, but updates itself for modern times without ever overextending its innovations.

X-Men ’97 works because it feels like the exact same TV show, but with its inhibitor collar turned off. This is X-Men finally cutting loose.

The pace can be dizzying, but when rendered in the pleasantly throwback, neon-colored, two-dimensional style of the original, it’s also engaging. There’s no time for things to drag when the plot is this packed.

Taking advantage of the streaming format and passage of time, “X-Men ‘97” is a little more adult in tone than the original, though it remains true to its spirit and incorporates plenty of familiar trappings, from the animation style to the memorable musical theme.

It’s truly a fun watch for adults who grew up watching the original series, though that nostalgia will only carry some fans so far. But it’s also a bit dense for kids to pick up jumping in (at least without the first five seasons of the decades-old version to get acclimated), and the ‘90s setting and history might be a tough sell for newcomers. But whoever it’s for, we’re so glad Marvel willed it into existence.

While “X-Men '97” is very much a sequel, the general mythology of the characters and their world is familiar enough after 24 years and 13 films to allow those who didn’t watch the '92 cartoon to dive right in.

Luckily, that semi-insufferable nostalgia carries with it an efficiency of storytelling that has been lacking in the previous 15 years of superhero entertainment. With 30-minute episodes and a dozen main characters, "X-Men '97" doesn't beat around the bush, assuming we all know the backstory, and that we're willing to accept the show's crazier elements.