X-Men The Animated Series Season 4 - Volume 1   Starring (voice): Cedric Smith, Cathal J. Dodd, Norm Spencer and Iona Morris Clear Vision RRP: £14.99 MAR1021 Certificate: PG Available 19 October 2009

Professor X, Beast, Storm, Cyclops, Rogue, Gambit and Wolverine return for another round of animated adventures from the 1994 version of X-Men. The format of seven 20-minute episodes is maintained, with four of them incorporating two 2-parters (with a total running time of 2 hours, 25 minutes). As I mentioned in my review of Season 3 Volume 4, this series carries none of the magic or rolling structure of the Spider-Man series from the same period. Additionally, the opening theme sequence is pretty ridiculous, and the majority of scenes are rushed to the point that the location switches before the current conversation has ended.

Nevertheless, the stories in this bunch are significantly better than the last. One tells of an alternative future when Professor X has been killed, and Wolverine and Storm are overrun by Sentinels. Proteus is an unstoppable mutant who escapes from a research centre. Two separate episodes feature Nightcrawler, in my opinion the most fleshed-out mutant character in the X-Men universe. The idea of a German blue devil-look-alike, with a tail, who can teleport but is devoutly religious (but not a cultist), is inspired. In the first, a monastery harbours Nightcrawler from frightened and angry villagers. In the other, Nightcrawler searches for his mother, with devastating consequences.

Episodes titles are: Nightcrawler, One Man's Worth - Parts 1 & 2, Proteus - Parts 1 & 2, Family Ties, and Bloodlines.

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Ty Power