Yes, ‘X-Men ’97’ Is Better Than Most of the MCU Right Now

I grew up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I was 8 when The Avengers came out, and it changed everything. I remember rewatching Captain America: The Winter Soldier like five times in one week. Infinity War was a cultural event in my friend group. For years, Marvel could do no wrong.

But around Phase 4, something changed. The movies started feeling rushed or half-baked. Then they added all the Disney+ shows and it just became too much. Every new character needed their own origin story, every storyline had to connect to ten other things. I stopped caring. Not because I didn’t love the characters, but because it all started feeling like homework.

But I’ve Always Loved the Old Cartoons

Even before the MCU, I was obsessed with old-school Marvel shows. The ‘90s Spider-Man cartoon was my favourite thing as a kid. I had no idea what was going on half the time but I was locked in. Same with the original X-Men animated series, though I caught more reruns of that when I was older.

So when X-Men ’97 dropped, I checked it out out of curiosity. I didn’t expect much. I definitely didn’t expect it to be one of the best things Marvel has made in years.

‘X-Men ’97’ Actually Has Something to Say



What makes X-Men ’97 so good is that it doesn’t treat you like a passive viewer. It assumes you’re paying attention. It also respects its characters, which the MCU sometimes forgets to do. Cyclops is finally interesting. Jean is more than just “the love interest.” Magneto’s arc is complicated and makes you think. He’s leading the X-Men, but you never forget who he used to be.

The show isn’t scared to go dark either. Major characters die. Mutants are hunted down and exploited. There’s real tension. It feels like the stakes matter again.

And it's not just edge for the sake of it. The social themes actually feel relevant, such as race, power, belonging, government control, without being corny or forced. You don’t get that kind of conflict in most MCU content these days. It's either world-ending chaos or a side quest.

The Animation and Pacing Just Work



The animation looks like the old show but better. They kept the art style intact, which helps with the nostalgia, but the fight scenes and facial expressions are way more dynamic. There’s actual weight to the action.

Pacing-wise, it doesn’t waste your time. Every episode pushes the plot forward. No filler, no cameos for the sake of cameos. It’s focused. Which honestly is so refreshing after watching Phase 5 stumble all over the place.

This Is What Marvel Should Focus On

X-Men ’97 is proof that Marvel doesn’t need to go bigger. It just needs to go smarter. Tell tighter stories. Write characters like people, not just memes or brand extensions.

I didn’t think a rebooted cartoon would remind me why I loved Marvel in the first place. But it did. It’s better than most of the MCU right now.

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