X-Men: The Animated Series

An absolute must-watch for any fan, X-Men: The Animated Series is a timeless classic. It set out to take the stories straight from the comics and bring them to life on the screen, and along the way it kicked off an entire generation of superhero cartoons as a result.

This incarnation of the X-Men features an iconic line-up with plenty of fan favorites making appearances throughout the show. The series starts off with the unforgettable two-part pilot episode, “Night of The Sentinels,” and doesn’t slow down for a single episode. Viewers will get to see titanic clashes of some of the all-time baddies of the X-mythos, including Juggernaut, Magneto, and Apocalypse.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that it aired on Saturday mornings — the show doesn’t shy away from dark tones and thought-provoking storylines. Drawing from some of the most celebrated runs in the comic’s multi-decade in print, the show is viewed by many as setting the standard for every X-Men series since. It takes the archetypes of the characters we know and love and, with an absolutely world-class performance by the voice actors, and plays them to the hilt. Gambit is every bit the grinning, card-slinging scoundrel, Wolverine is at his best at being the best, and Ororo (aka Storm) is the vision of an unflinching and electric goddess of the rains and winds.

X-Men explores many of the foundational themes of the X-Men itself: Intolerance, war, feeling like an outcast and more while still maintaining an energetic dynamic, memorable dialogue and explosive action that truly feels straight out of the comics.

All of that and it still has time for a theme song that shreds harder than a pair of adamantium claws.