We only have two episodes left X-Men '97and former series showrunner Beau DeMayo has been giving fans “homework” for the last episodes of the first season. This homework takes the form of old X-Men episodes or comics to prepare for what comes next. The last task is to view the original X Men 1989 animated pilot.
In the clip from episode nine of X-Men '97, which you can watch above, we see the team dressed in their classic outfits. Cyclops wears his suit with the cap, Wolverine wears his brown and tan suit. The storm has it original costume from the comics. These are the same aspects of the comics, also known in the original X Men pilot, “Pryde of the X-Men.”
Another factor used in “Pryde of the X-Men” was Magneto's orbiting fortress, Asteroid M. Its fortress was already teased several times in the show's opening credits, as it appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series. We think the addition of “Pryde of the X-Men” as a so-called task only further fuels the idea that Magneto's base of operations is making a big comeback. You can watch the full episode of “Pryde of the X-Men” right here:
X-Men: The Animated Series is one of the most iconic superhero cartoons ever made. Without its huge success, it's unlikely that Fox would have greenlit the first one X Men movie But the X Men The cartoon we got was almost completely different from what Marvel originally planned. In '89, Marvel commissioned a pilot episode featuring junior X-Men member Kitty Pryde, hence the title “Pryde of the X-Men”. It only aired sporadically in syndication, before an eventual VHS release with a very weird live-action intro of Spider-Man talking about the importance of voting… To a presumably childish audience. (Sure, why not).
“Pryde of the X-Men” is fascinating for several reasons. It's sort of a spin-off of the version of the team first introduced in the 1982s Spider-Man and his incredible friends series That's why they went ahead with the odd decision to make Wolverine Australian, an idea that was first used in the Spidey cartoon. (And what a prediction of Australian actor Hugh Jackman as Logan). For some reason, the producers replaced Rogue with Dazzler.
The cartoon had the classic training and concept Uncanny X-Men, despite the late 80s comics with a different team at the time. Despite his pale subject compared to the 90s show, the original pilot has some great stuff. Overall, the animation was better. It also featured iconic team members like Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Kitty as regulars. Kitty never once appeared on the 90s show, which always seemed like a glaring omission, maybe one. X-Men '97 will eventually rectify.
At the time, no network believed X Men like an animated series. It was producer Margaret Loesch who successfully launched Fox Kids in the X Men concept in the second attempt, in 1992. He cited the massive sales figures for X Men #1 as an example of the popularity of IP. No executive believed it X Men, but Loesch staked his reputation on making Marvel's Mutants huge. He was right, and the rest is history. Although X-Men: The Animated Series as produced bore little resemblance to “Pryde of the X-Men,” the unique cartoon got a second life. His designs and concepts were the basis of the popular Konami X Men arcade game, also released in 1992.
As different as both shows were, they had one big thing in common. Both pilots featured a POV character who was a girl discovering her mutant powers, and is our eyes and ears in this new world. In the 90s series, she was Jubilee. We could easily see this approach, which began in “Pryde of the X-Men,” translated into the eventual X-Men MCU. It's too good and obvious a storytelling device. In the end, we wouldn't be surprised if the MCU X-Men movie opens with a teenage girl approaching the gates of a certain mansion located at 1407 Graymalkin Lane. But for now, it seems X-Men '97 is going to pay homage to this forgotten iteration of Xavier's students.
Originally published on March 22, 2022.
