How many of us still enjoy the good times we had on weekend mornings when we poured a bowl of cereal and turned on Fox Kids to see what Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and the gang were up to? Well, fans are left feeling nostalgic as the first two episodes of Kevin Feige’s latest X-Men ‘97 brought back iconic characters like Jean Grey and Cyclops. Disney Plus finally started airing the much-awaited animated series a few hours ago.
What has surprised fans the most, though, is that maybe Kevin Feige—the man behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe—has actually persuaded them that Cyclops will be the next big thing in the franchise. Despite being the founding member of the X-Men, the character was given little screen time in earlier X-Men adaptations.
Kevin Feige’s X-Men ‘97: Cyclops Steals the Show and Fans’ Hearts
Cyclops, aka Scott Summers, has long been a fan favorite in the X-Men universe. Despite being the leader of the team and having a wide range of skills, he has frequently been eclipsed by Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman in live-action flicks.
But Kevin Feige, 50, appears to be ready to change all that. Cyclops dominates the first two episodes of X-Men ‘97, highlighting his leadership abilities, powers, and complex personality. While the group still faces opposition from narrow-minded mutant haters such as the Friends of Humanity, Cyclops (voiced by Ray Chase) has assumed the role of de facto leader. His friendship with Jennifer Hale’s character, Jean Grey, becomes vital and fascinating in the first two episodes.
Well, he seems to have already been heralded by many as the MCU’s next Chris Evans, best known for his role as Captain America. Fans are confident that the MCU will treat Cyclops “the same” as it did Captain America and Star-Lord, two leaders of their respective teams, who were already treated with “great arcs”. Let’s hear some of the few fans’ tweets via X:
Considering how they already gave great arcs for both Captain America and Star Lord, two leaders of their respective teams, I have no doubt they will do the same with Cyclops and probably Reed Richards.
— Alexandre Frauches (@AlexandreFrauc3) March 20, 2024
To be fair, Fox set a VERY low bar with respect to Cyclops.
— Jack Fisher (@MarvelMaster616) March 20, 2024
Kinda happy that he was treated better since Fox and Wolverine and the X-Men treated him dirty.
— Julian “Jules” Rhaney🎮 (@MrJulianR1) March 20, 2024
My boy cyclops was stunting on’em. Though the executioner was putting them hands on him. Lol
— Doeskiyoski (@Brandos_o_s) March 20, 2024
I became fan of Cyclops since the animated series -i didn't like Wolverine's attitude-, so it was a let down when they make Wolverine lead character and Cyclops somewhat a less imposing figure….
— Leon Ortz (@LeoNOrtZ) March 20, 2024
Feige, a self-professed X-Men fan, has set out to bring Cyclops to the forefront of the series. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the Marvel boss said that the X-Men are as “solid and as rich” as any character concept that exists.
Wolverine Has Overshadowed Cyclops In X-Men Flicks
Though there are a lot of intriguing members of the X-Men, Wolverine is typically the first person that comes to mind. He became an icon thanks to Hugh Jackman, and the role has even spawned solo movies for him. Other characters have suffered as a result of his excessive attention, especially Cyclops, who leads the team as one of the main leaders in the comic books.
In the original X-Men, James Marsden played the role of Cyclops, the team’s commander. Though he is not a newcomer, one might not be aware of that, given all the attention paid to Wolverine.
As one of the most important X-Men, Cyclops ought to play a major part in the MCU that focuses on his leadership qualities and character development. Given how he was treated in the first two X-Men ‘97 episodes, it appears that the MCU is taking the lead in giving other mutants the much-needed attention they deserve.
The X-Men, including Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Beast, Jubilee, and Morph, will all be explored in the series.
While the public saw the first two episodes of the series on Disney+, three episodes were sent to critics for their general assessments. The show is “a fun throwback to those pre-MCU days”, according to THR.
According to Variety, the show provides a link between the past and the present. IGN described the series as “the best kind of nostalgic exercise”, while Empire described it as “as sharp, shiny, and frankly frickin’ cool as Wolvie’s adamantium claws” in their review. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series debut received a flawless rating. The Tomatometer is at 100% as of this writing, with an audience score of 93%.
Disney+ is now offering the first two episodes of X-Men ‘97 for streaming, with new episodes arriving every Wednesday.
