-Men: Evolution
was the second animated series to be based on Marvel Comics'
popular comic book title, The Uncanny X-Men. Following on the
heels of the successful X-Men animated series, which ran for
five seasons, X-Men: Evolution took place before the original
series, at a time when most of the mutant students were
newly-arrived at Professor Xavier's School for Gifted
Youngsters.For those unfamiliar with the story backdrop,
'mutant' is a term for people who are born with one or more
superhuman abilities due to an aberration in their genetic
makeup. The X-Men were a group of mutant superheroes, feared
by the common man, yet instrumental in protecting the very
society that shunned them.
The wheelchair-bound Professor Charles Xavier, himself a
mutant telepath, ran his School for Gifted Youngsters in
Westchester, New York. The students at his school were all
outcasts who knew since early adolescence that they had
unusually remarkable abilities. His goal was to gather these
special people and train them to harness their unique
abilities in a positive way, and to oppose other mutants who
chose to abuse their special powers for selfish reasons.
The main themes of the show were unfair discrimination and
segregation. The common people feared and persecuted the
mutants, good and evil alike, simply because they were
different. Some mutants wanted to ignore and rise above their
discriminators, while others wanted justice and a means of
retaliation.
X-Men: Evolution didn't follow the comic's canon as
faithfully as X-Men did. The characters were much the same,
but the series had its own independent storyline. The series
slowly introduced new students Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Rogue
and a newly created character named Spyke. Storm, Cyclops,
Wolverine and Jean Grey acted as teachers and mentors to the
younger students. In the show's second season new recruits
Iceman, Boom-Boom, Wolfspane, Berzerker, Multiple Man,
Sunspot, Magma, Cannonball, and Jubilee joined the mansion,
and the school got a new teacher; the Beast. Once again,
Professor Xavier's main nemesis was Magneto, the Master of
Magnetism, who recruited his own mutants to support his agenda
against humanity.
During the course of its run, the show introduced a bevy of
mutants who played supporting roles in the storylines. As the
series progressed, the storylines took on a darker and more
ominous tone, introducing the mutant Apocalypse and his
diabolical plans for the world. After four successful seasons
the series concluded, leaving with it the premonition of an
uncertain future for mutants.
