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atreyu_hibiki
Reviews
X-Men: Evolution (2000)
Taking the original concept and expanding.
Many reviewers, I've noticed, are bashing this series by comparing it to the previous show and movie.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with them.
The original concept of the X-Men was, "a team of high school-age mutants learns how to effectively control their powers in a world that fears their kind". The fact that "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters" had a student body of five seemed to bother no-one. Over the years, the team became more about superheroics than anything else, and wonderful characters came and went. Most of the new characters were age-matched to the current age of the rest of the team, although some of them were younger, like Kitty.
This series essentially takes the base concept and revisualizes it. It utilizes characters from throughout the comics' timeline, placing them together in a regular high school, with the Xavier Institute as an extracurricular, well, institute. It only utilizes characters that make sense as high schoolers, and uses characters that make more sense as teachers as such.
Thus, Logan (who's essentially ageless) and Ororo (ever the serene commander) become teachers. Hank (the shakespearean Beast) joins them as a teacher in season 2. Kurt, Kitty, Scott, Jean, and Rogue show up in youthful forms. Only Kurt and Rogue were actually "aged down", the others are the ages they were when they first appeared in the comics. Spyke is new, and he was a useful character for a bit, but I don't think he has that much long-range value. To each their own. Kitty (Shadowcat) has never had a good codename, but this is the one to go with if any. The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants went through an equal mix'n'match process, using Toad and Quicksilver from Magneto's, and Blob, Avalanche, and Rogue from Mystique's. It's quite clever in it's usage of known and new characters, too. Everyone has their base personality entirely intact, with room to grow through the series. And they are growing.
All in all, call it "Alternate Universe" and give it an A for well-doneness. Compare it to anything pre-existing and try to connect the storylines, forget it. It's not supposed to. Atreyu, signing off.