X-MEN VS X-MEN: The Great Adaptations

Comic books and superheroes have greatly impacted our culture, from the DC comics like Superman and Batman, to Stan Lee’s  Marvel comics like the Avengers and Spider-Man. Comic books have been one of the central cultural phenomena that have impacted the world.  Now, fast-forwarding to 2025, numerous comic book franchises have been adapted to the big screen and streamed on our Disney, Netflix, and Hulu subscriptions, particularly The Walking Dead, The Avengers, and, of course, my main topic, The X-Men. 

The X-Men specifically have been a cult classic for many generations. It has been adapted into various film and television versions, with some adaptations praised by audiences for their continuity, creative liberty, and staying true to their beloved characters. In contrast, others have been criticized for leaning into predictable tropes such as the love triangle between Scott, Jean, and Logan (AKA: Wolverine) and cutting out iconic characters like Jubilee, Gambit, and Emma Stone, and changing major characteristics to Iconic characters like Rogue, Kurt, and Kitty Pryde, specifically The Fox adaptations, ranging from 2001-2017.

The Fox Adaptations, in particular, have been mixedly received by fans because the films deviated from the source material and took too many creative liberties, such as changing the Iconic costumes, including Wolverine’s to and an edgy black ensemble, which appeared cool for first viewers of the X-Men but left many die-hard fans disappointed, especially with exclusion of Gambit and Jubliee who were no where to be seen in the films, and the time jumps like Future past. X-Men United left many fans confused as they were shown two different X-Men teams. Lastly, the relationship dynamics between the X-Men seemed rushed and forced, except for Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine. All the other characters seemed one-dimensional and faded into obscurity, according to critics and fans. 

In the first movie, The X-Men, released in 2001, as well as Dark Phoenix in 2016, the romantic relationship between Scott, Jean, and Wolverine presented itself as more of an ego battle of who gets the girl rather than a real intimate connection between Jean and Scott, and emotional anguish between Jean and Logan. Making the love triangle superficial rather than tragic, which brings me to another adaptation. X-Men Evolution. 

X-Men Evolution is an animated television series made by Film Roman Studios, released in the year 2000.

The series garnered wide attention from younger Gen Z and slightly older millennial fans, similar to the Fox adaptations. It also took creative liberties and delved into character development and relationships, particularly the relationship between Jean, Scott, and Logan. In the First episode (Strategy X),  and episodes 2 and 3 (X-implulse) and (Rouge recruit), the audience immediately notices that Scott and Jean aren’t adults but rather teenagers attending Bayville High School, and Logan is an adult, already establishing their relationship as not romantic but mentor and student, training them to better versions of themselves, fro drilling them in the danger room, to even prompting Scott to ask Jean out in season 3, episode 5 (Blind Ally) which seemed fatherly and heartfelt, something new.

Additionally, the series also focused on Scott and Jean's budding romance as well as in-depth introductions of other characters, like Kurt, an awkward kid with a heart of gold, Kitty, an impulsive girl who could phase through walls, but couldn’t help love, Rogue, a conflicted goth teenager with the fear of connecting to people, and an at first Brotherhood member,  reluctantly joins the X-Men after she breaks free from manipulative Mystique, and Strom, who acted like mother figure to the teenage confused X-Men and Charles supporter and Logan’s rock, a choice many fans praised, because the portrayed the X-men as family, an essence the fox adaptions couldn’t capture, which is why the series was so well received, in fact it won 3 day time Emmy awards, it was even the first to introduce iconic character X-23, (AKA: laura Kinney) Logan’s daughter, which Fox also later adapted her in Hugh Jackman’s and Dafnee’s Keens award winning movie: Logan.  

So one may ask, where can we go from here, considering the performances of the X-Men adaptations, with the new recent adaptations like Deadpool and Wolverine, and the titular series X-Men 97. Audiences want adaptations that are true to the source material, but they also want something new, such as the introduction of unknown X-Men characters like Daken, AKA: Wolverine’s son and Laura’s half-brother. Legion, Charles Villiinous and powerful telepathic son, and Romulus, a crazy psychotic mutant similar in power to Wolverine, who could put Thanos to shame, all character that are currently unexplored, fans are even calling for a new love interest for Logan or to just focus on his fatherhood, exploring his dynamics with Laura, Gabby, Daken and his adoptive children Jubliee and Rouge.

Overall, fans aren’t against adaptations; they want adaptations that are true to the source material and have creative liberties taken that could add on and expand the world they love. That’s why X-Men Evolution was loved so much; it focused on family, which was the core message of the X-Men, rather than an edgy one-dimensional team from Fox. So, adapting comics and making creative liberties aren’t necessarily wrong; it’s great marketing, even, but it’s how it’s handled, and it’s how it’s carried out.  If producers adapt a book, a comic franchise, or anything from a second source material with half effort, it will never be accepted fully by fans, and that’s just the reality. Only when fully invested can something amazing be created, just like the X-Men 97,  X-Men Evolution, and yes, even Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan, and X-Men Days of Future Past.

(written by: Isaiah Martinez)