X-Men ’97 is nearing the end of its first season on Disney+, but if you can’t get enough of Marvel’s merry mutants, you should check out the comic book series that bridges the gap between the original animated series and this new revival. Preorders for the physical edition of the prelude X-Men ’97 comic series are live now at Amazon for $16 ahead of its November 26 release. But if you can’t wait that long, there is a way to start reading today.
Dubbed X-Men ’97: Great X-Pectations and written by Steve Foxe–though Charles Dickens would probably be pleased with the allusion to his classic novel–the four-issue arc features art by Salva Espin and Matt Milla as well as eye-catching lettering by Joe Sabino.
The comic series chronicles what the rest of the beloved ’90s X-Men cast have been up to in the time between the final episode of the original animated series to the beginning of the Disney+ show. Evil Eugenicist Mr. Sinister and his Nasty Boyz are also present, so you can bet someone is going to get a face full of optic beams that can barely be contained by a ruby quartz visor.
The 112-page trade paperback will be printed on nicer paper with better overall durability for multiple reads, but you can check out the individual issues long before Great X-Pectations releases in November. The first two issues of X-Men ’97 are available now. The third issue releases on May 22 and the fourth and final issue drops on June 26. You can buy physical copies of each issue at your local comic book shop. The trade paperback will be printed on nicer paper with a more durable binding.
Alternatively, you can pick up digital versions to read on your tablet, smartphone, or computer via Amazon. The first issue costs $5, while the other three are $4 each.
Comixology Unlimited subscribers can save 15% on each issue. If you’re unfamiliar with Comixology, it’s an Amazon-owned subscription service that grants access to over 45,000 comics and manga for only $6 per month. New Comixology subscribers can get a free 30-day trial to the service.
X-Men ’97 comic book series
There are plenty of other interesting books fans of X-Men ’97 should check out. X-Men: The Art and Making of The Animated Series is available for $38 (was $50) at Amazon; this coffee table book chronicles the development of the original X-Men animated series (1992-97) from the perspective of series showrunners Eric and Julia Lewald. There are several omnibus editions of previous comic book series inspired by the animated series that released last year, too:
