Long before shows like Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, and Steven Universe popularized serialized story arcs in cartoons, animated shows based on superhero comics were already doing it. And the very first superhero cartoon to try directly adapting iconic story arcs from the comics was none other than X-Men: The Animated Series.
This beloved cartoon originally ran from 1992 to 1997, lasting five seasons for a total of 76 episodes. A revival series, X-Men ‘97, is slated to premiere on Disney Plus next year, picking up where the original left off. So in honor of its impending return to TV, here are just a few of the greatest storylines from X-Men: TAS.
Days of Future Past
Quite possibly the most iconic X-Men storyline of all, The Animated Series adapted the comic book story only 12 years after its original 1981 publishing — long before the 2014 movie of the same name. But like the live action film version, the animated “Days of Future Past” two-parter (which composes episodes 11 and 12 of Season 1) faithfully adapts many iconic elements from the original comic. There’s a glimpse of a dystopian future where the Sentinels have nearly exterminated mutantkind, and a lone time traveler goes back in time to stop the dark future from coming to pass by stopping Mystique from carrying out an assassination.
However, Mystique’s target isn’t Sentinel creator Bolivar Trask like in the film version, but rather the mutant-hating Senator Robert Kelly, who moviegoers may remember from the original X-Men film. Additionally, Mystique isn’t a solo agent, but rather operating alongside the Brotherhood (namely, Pyro, Avalanche, and Blob) like in the comics. That said, the cartoon also makes some changes of its own: for one thing, the time traveler isn’t Wolverine like in the movie or Kitty Pryde like in the comics, but rather Bishop, who initially believes that the X-Men are the assassins he must stop. Additionally, Bishop isn’t the only visitor from the future — the super-Sentinel Nimrod follows him to the past, making it a distinctly Terminator-esque antagonist. And in one final twist, Mystique and her Brotherhood are operating on the orders of Apocalypse, who hadn’t even been introduced yet in the comics back when the original “Days of Future Past” was published.
The Phoenix Saga
If “Days of Future Past” is the most famous X-Men story, then the Phoenix Saga is undoubtedly a close second. Non-comic readers are likely more familiar with the story’s less-than-stellar film adaptations in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and 2019’s Dark Phoenix, in which Jean Grey becomes the villainous Dark Phoenix soon after her Phoenix powers awaken. But in the original comics, Jean spent quite some time as a hero after initially becoming the Phoenix, and X-Men: TAS reflects this in its adaptation, leaving the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix Sagas as two distinct storylines.
As in the original comics, the Phoenix is not an alternate personality of Jean Grey, but a psychic alien entity that possesses her, granting her immense cosmic power. In fact, this arc is one of the most faithful comic adaptations in the entire series, leaning into the space opera aspects of the Phoenix Saga as the X-Men become involved in the political strife of the Shi’ar Empire, teaming up with the space pirates known as the Starjammers to defeat the tyrannical Emperor D’Ken and his Imperial Guard.
The Dark Phoenix Saga
Like the original Phoenix Saga arc, X-Men: TAS’ take on the Dark Phoenix Saga is a remarkably faithful adaptation of the comic that inspired it. While Kitty Pryde once again isn’t featured, lesser-known characters line Dazzler and Mastermind feature prominently. This arc follows the comic storyline of Emma Frost and the Hellfire Club (referred to here only as the Inner Circle, this is still a kids’ show after all) attempting to mind control Jean so they can command the power of the Phoenix. But of course, their scheme backfires, and Jean is transformed into the rampaging Dark Phoenix. The storyline culminates in a climactic battle between the X-Men and the Shi’ar Imperial Guard over Jean’s fate — but unlike in the comics, Jean survives.
Beyond Good and Evil
This epic four-part Season 4 finale was originally intended as the conclusion of the entire series, and it shows. Instead of adapting a comic storyline, this arc is a fully original story that puts the fate of all of time and space on the line. Apocalypse enacts his grandest plan yet, enlisting the aid of Mister Sinister, Mystique, Sabretooth, and even Magneto in order to remake all of existence in his image. To stop him, the X-Men must team up with Cable, Bishop, Archangel, Psylocke, and more. It’s an ultimate battle against Apocalypse to save reality itself — X-Men stories don’t get much cooler than this.
The Phalanx Covenant
A showdown to save time and space might be a tough act to follow, but the two-part Season 5 premiere sure does its best. “The Phalanx Covenant”, like the comic of the same name, sees the X-Men going up against the titular Phalanx — a race of techno-organic aliens who seek to assimilate all life in the universe, much like the Borg from Star Trek or the Cybermen from Doctor Who. To put a stop to this alien invasion, the X-Men are forced to team up with both Magneto and Mister Sinister, two of their deadliest nemeses. Enemies joining forces against a common foe is always fun to see, and this arc is a classic example.