Even though Fox Kid’s X-Men set a high precedent for superhero adaptations in the 1990s, the 2000s were marked by interesting reinterpretations like X-Men: Evolution. The latter is notable for giving the popular mutants a high-school makeover. Most of the lead characters are teenagers figuring out their powers and abilities, while seasoned veterans like Wolverine, Storm, and Professor Xavier serve as their teachers.
While the show offered much more depth to some characters with the ‘teen angst’ angle, it also underdelivered in terms of the development of a few others. All in all, the cult series still deserves praise for its willingness to experiment and mildly deviate from the comics.
Improved On: Jean Grey
The ‘Dark Phoenix saga’ has become synonymous with Jean Grey’s existence, being repeated over and over in comics and films. X-Men Evolution’s high-school approach allowed her character to grow more before her dark metamorphosis, which was eventually teased in the last season. Further, her romance with Cyclops is also more fleshed-out. Otherwise, despite being one of X-Men’s most popular couples, they appear to be too distanced from each other.
Because of her often-unstable bursts of energy, Jean was shown as losing battles because of her uncontrollable power. As a result, it would be Storm or Wolverine who would save the day. X-Men: Evolution gave enough space for Jean Grey’s character to grow as a heroine in her own right.
Worsened: Mystique
With her shape-shifting abilities and changing loyalties, Mystique is one of the franchise’s strongest and most mysterious characters. Her portrayal in X-Men: Evolution, however, might make her seem a tad bit one-dimensional, as she’s often shown to be subservient to Magneto.
In the comics, other members of the Brotherhood of Mutants like Toad and even his own children Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are extremely obedient to Magneto. But, as for Mystique, she is shown as a master of her own will and hardly bows down to anyone. In fact, at one point, Mystique had formed her own branch of the Brotherhood that included Pyro, the Blob, Rogue, and Avalanche.
Improved On: Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler is often depicted as a shy individual who carries several insecurities and fears. The teleporting mutant is similarly depicted in the animated series as a teenager who’s conscious about the way he looks and often masks his blue skin with an Image Inducer created by Professor Xavier. This device allows him to appear as anything he wants, granting him the ability to walk freely in public.
His character is, however, not introverted in front of everyone and has his own share of fun. For instance, once he and Kitty Pryde piggybacked on the X-Jet when Wolverine flew to fight Sabretooth in Canada. While messing around in a lab, he also accidentally entered the Middleverse in which Forge was trapped.
Worsened: Magneto
Magneto isn't necessarily a bad character in the 2000s series, but, when compared with his comic-book incarnations and his arc in X-Men: The Animated Series, he falls flat. Magneto is somewhat weaker in this version, as his decisions focus more on collateral damage than strategy. In fact, it’s his strategic brilliance that can often give him an upper hand over foes like Charles Xavier.
He’s reduced to a caricature, instead, who often relies on destroying public property to prove his point instead of any moving monologues to convey his radical ideologies on mutant domination. While The Animated Series’ Magneto was unparalleled, his variant in Wolverine & The X-Men comes close.
Improved On: Cyclops
In the initial X-Men films, Cyclops was belittled as a side character who was either envious of Wolverine or just bothered about Jean Grey’s mental wellbeing. Such themes were present in the comics, too, that either portrayed him as a troubled lover or an emotionless leader. X-Men: Evolution allowed him to grow as a good leader.
This version of Scott Summers was less obsessive of Jean Grey and less uptight towards the rest of the team. Even though he’s always seen as the ultimate leader of the team, Wolverine gets the credit, at least in the popular imagination. But, Evolution’s Cyclops gets enough opportunities where he takes charge.
Worsened: Forge
Forge has always been a guest star in X-Men-related media, with Wolverine & The X-Men being a notable exception. In X-Men: Evolution, he appeared in the season one episode "Middleverse." He’s shown to be a tech-savvy teenager who accidentally got stuck in a ghost dimension since the 1970s. With Nightcrawler’s help, he’s able to teleport out of his state of captivity.
His presence failed to leave a mark, and the episode wasn’t that notable, as the series was still establishing its atmosphere by then. The one redeeming aspect in Forge’s guest appearance might be his multi-tooled robotic hand, a possible reference to his comic-book avatar’s prosthetic hand.
Improved On: Wolverine
Wolverine is often shown as a lonely character who has his own fair share of pain and loss. However, he still tiptoes in other mutant’s issues and can often agitate them. A major case in point is the love triangle between him, Jean Grey, and Cyclops. Considering that X-Men: Evolution’s Wolverine is a mentor while Jean and Cyclops are students, this romantic angle is automatically omitted.
His own personal backstories are touched upon, but other characters get enough space to grow on their own, without being in the shadow of the adamantium-clawed mutant. Of course, the orange costume seemed like a breath of fresh air in his aesthetic while serving as an indirect homage to his brown suit in the comics.
Worsened: Storm
Much like Wolverine and Beast, Storm is also shown as a mentor character. But, this gives her lesser screentime, and it reduces her action scenes despite her intense weather-altering powers. Her nephew, Spyke, an original character created for the show, gets to have more footage, instead.
A few episodes like "African Storm" try exploring her origin story, but Spyke’s scenes deviate the narrative away from her. Maybe if Storm was shown as one of the peers of the younger students like Cyclops, her arcs could have been explored better.
Improved On: Rogue
Rogue might actually draw mixed reviews. Some found Rogue to be less comic-accurate as compared to the 90s animated series, while some positively received her updated gothic look in Evolution. Because of the extreme nature of her powers that often transmit through physical touch, her conscious and reclusive persona made sense.
The show otherwise provided an origin story that was loyal to the source material. She’s introduced as Mystique’s adopted daughter who joins the Brotherhood of Mutants, but she eventually quits when she finds out she’s being used as a potential weapon. Such instances provide depth to her character, as they add to her trust issues with everyone around her.
Worsened: Colossus
Despite his super-strength, Colossus has never got enough character development in his on-screen ventures. As he’s largely reduced to a henchman to Magneto and the Brotherhood, Evolution doesn’t explore much of his origin story in Russia or his future romance with Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat).
Introduced as an anti-hero who’s just manipulated by Magneto to go against the X-Men, he attempts to move towards Xavier’s team after mutants like Wolverine convince him to join the good fight. In most of his episodes, Colossus goes through this mental dilemma leading to a monotonous routine.