• Title: X-Men: The Animated Series
• Format: DVD x 12
• Release: 2009 – 2010
• Country: UK / Region 2
• Certificate: PG
• Aspect ratio: 4:3
• Contents: X-Men: Season One – Vol One and Vol Two, X-Men: Season Two – Vol One and Vol Two, X-Men: Season Three – Vol One, Vol Two, Vol Three, and Vol Four, X-Men: Season Four – Vol One and Vol Two, and X-Men: Season Five – Vol One, and Vol Two.
• Audio: Season One, Season Two, and Season Three Vol Two – English, German, Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish; Season Three Vol One, Three, and Four – English and German; Season Four – English and German; and Season Five – English.
• Features running time: Over 27hrs

During the 1990s, one of my favourite television shows was X-Men (aka X-Men: The Animated Series). The cartoon show – which first hit screens in 1992 – followed the story of a group of mutants, who fought evil in a world that hates and fears them.

Upon making its debut, X-Men quickly became a smash-hit around the world. This in turn raised the profile of the comic book characters and ensured the cartoon was followed by a slew of tie-in merchandise, including a collection of VHS tapes featuring episodes from the show.

For a few years, those tapes were a big deal, as they provided X-Men fans with the opportunity to revisit episodes from the series at will. The tapes were also the only official release of X-Men on home video, until a select few DVDs began to show up at the beginning of the ’00s.

However, those DVDs were selection box-style offerings, usually themed around a character or storyline. One release collected together the Phoenix Saga, while another featured a selection of Wolverine episodes.

For fans, it was great to finally have X-Men on DVD, but this small smattering of episodes wasn’t enough. We wanted the full series on disc – all five seasons and all 76 episodes!

Well, it took a while, but over in the UK a now-defunct distributor called Clear Vision heard the fans. And in 2009 and 2010, Clear Vision released the entire series of X-Men across 12 DVDs.

The DVDs included two volumes for Seasons One, Two, Four, and Five, and four volumes for Season Three. Each volume contained anywhere between five and eight episodes, offering plenty of X-Men action in the process.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to pick up the DVDs at the time of their original release, but thanks to the secondary market, I now own all 12. And all it took was a bit of patience and a good rummage through the shelves of CEX.

X-Men: The Animated Series is difficult to come by on disc because the discs were deleted years ago (and Clear Vision no longer exists), but owning them isn’t impossible. You just need to keep your eyes open and hunt them down.

Anyway, the point of this post is to highlight these out-of-print, but not forgotten DVDs from Clear Vision. So, if you’re not familiar with them, then keep reading for all the details about each season/disc.

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Season One

So, first up is Season One which was split into two volumes. The first volume contained seven episodes, while the second contained six episodes.

The episodes and synopsis for each volume is as follows:

Vol One

‘Born into a world that fears and distrusts them, mutants struggle for equality with humans. The X-Men believe it is a battle worth fighting for. But while some mutants work for peace, others wage a secret war to eliminate humans and seize power for themselves.

‘This DVD includes the first seven episodes from the Marvel animated series: Rogue, Storm and Gambit come face to face with the Sentinels. Professor Xavier discovers the Sentinels are machines designed by the human military to exterminate all mutants! Meanwhile, another mutant is about to enter the battle… Magneto!’

The episodes on this volume include:

• Night of the Sentinels – Part One
• Night of the Sentinels – Part Two
• Enter Magneto
• Deadly Reunion
• Captive Hearts
• Cold Vengeance
• Slave Island

Vol Two

‘The struggle for equality with humans continues for Professor X and the X-Men. Meanwhile, there remain those mutants who wish to solver the problem by taking over control for themselves.

‘This DVD concludes Season 1 of the Marvel animated TV series: Apocalypse lures the mutants to Muir Island with the promise of a cure for their mutations… including Rogue! Gyrich, Magneto and the X-Men find themselves on the same side against Master Mold… or are they?’

The episodes on this second volume include:

• The Unstoppable Juggernaut
• The Cure
• Come the Apocalypse
• Days of Future Past – Part One
• Days of Future Past – Part Two
• The Final Decision

As you can see from the images above, each disc is housed in colourful, striking packaging with artwork that features iconic characters from the show (Beast, Wolverine, Gambit etc). This artwork is then carried over onto the discs, which feature a slight variation on the cover image.

You’ll also notice the outer DVD case is silver, rather than the standard black. Early editions of these DVDs had silver cases, while later runs switched to black.

When tracking down and putting together this entire collection of DVDs, seven of the volumes came with silver cases, but five did not. To ensure some consistency on my shelves, I did a bit of upcycling to ensure all had silver cases.

This upcycling simply involved picking up some silver replacement cases off eBay. The cases were inexpensive, and made a huge difference in helping these second-hand DVDs ‘pop’ on my shelf.

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Season Two

Next up is Season Two, which is also split into two volumes. The first volume contained six episodes, while the second contained seven episodes.

The episodes and synopsis are as follows:

Vol One

‘The uneasy coexistence between mutants and humans continues. The X-Men find themselves battling new and powerful mutants; but the attackers are becoming more cunning, picking on the X-Men one by one.

‘This DVD includes the first half of Season Two of the Marvel animated TV series: Mister Sinister lays traps to destroy the X-Men using the tormented Morph… even Professor X and Magneto fall into Sinister’s snare! Can Wolverine, Jubilee and the X-Men join colossus to battle the ultimate living weapon: Omega Red?’

The episodes on this volume include:

• Till Death Do Us Part – Part One
• Till Death Do Us Part – Part Two
• Whatever It Takes
• Red Dawn
• Repo Man
• X-Ternally Yours

Vol Two

‘Human-mutant relations worsen as a plague threatens to consume all mutant-kind. The X-Men are divided as powerful enemies find ways to pit them against each other, testing their strengths to the limit.

‘This DVD completes Season 2 of the Marvel animated TV series: Bishop travels from the future to fight the mutant plague. Maniacal Mojo creates the ultimate X-Men TV show. Mister Sinister uses Xavier and Magneto to lure the X-Men to his Savage Land where they immediately lose their powers!’

The episodes on this volume include:

• Time Fugitives – Part One
• Time Fugitives – Part Two
• A Rogue’s Tale
• Beauty and the Beast
• Mojovision
• Reunion – Part One
• Reunion – Part Two

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Season Three

Onto Season Three now, which is split into four volumes, because in terms of the episode count this is a much bigger season. The first volume contained seven episodes, while volumes two to four contained six episodes.

The episodes and synopsis are as follows:

Vol One

‘One of the most acclaimed animated series in television history, X-Men explodes onto DVD for the first time ever in complete chronological order. With stories adapted from the original comic books, enjoy this classic Marvel legacy as the X-Men continue their unstoppable battle against evil aliens.

‘This DVD includes the first seven episodes from Season Three of X-Men… Wolverine collides with an ex-lover bent on revenge… in an incredible twist, Xavier turns against his charges… meanwhile only Jean Grey can save the universe from disaster!’

The episodes on this volume include:

• Out of the Past – Part One
• Out of the Past – Part Two
• The Phoenix Saga – Part One: Sacrifice
• The Phoenix Saga – Part Two: The Dark Shroud
• The Phoenix Saga – Part Three: The Cry of the Banshee
• The Phoenix Saga – Part Four: The Starjammers
• The Phoenix Saga – Part Five: Child of Light

Vol Two

‘The longest-running Marvel comics-based show, X-Men, reaches the halfway point in this complete DVD collection. Our team of superhuman mutants continue their battle against evil aliens and efforts to preserve human relations, while unexpectedly encountering some old friends.

‘This DVD includes the next six episodes from Season Three of X-Men… the plot thickens as Cyclops quits but Jean Grey is not lost… The X-Men encounter fearsome mutant Apocalypse and founding team member Iceman… whilst the series concludes with Storm kidnapped in a two-part thriller.’

The episodes on this second volume include:

• No Mutant is an Island
• Obsession
• Longshot
• Cold Comfort
• Savage Land, Strange Heart – Part One
• Savage Land, Strange Heart – Part Two

Vol Three

‘The latest DVD in the X-Men collection continues this classic piece of Marvel history as one of the most successful TV animated series ever. The dark side of Jean Grey’s personality is unleashed in the chilling four-part Dark Phoenix Saga.

‘This DVD includes another six episodes from Season Three of X-Men… Jean Grey is transformed into the insane Dark Phoenix… Cyclops is torn by emotion with the return of his father… and the X-Men battle to save the Juggernaut.’

The episodes on this third volume include:

• The Dark Phoenix – Part One: Dazzled
• The Dark Phoenix – Part Two: The Inner Circle
• The Dark Phoenix – Part Three: The Dark Phoenix
• The Dark Phoenix – Part Four: The Fate of the Phoenix
• Orphan’s End
• The Juggernaut Returns

Vol Four

‘As this long-running animated series enters its peak years on television, X-Men Season Three is completed on DVD. With many stories heavily influenced by the original Marvel Comics, the X-Men constantly struggle to preserve the already strained relations between humans and mutants.

‘This DVD includes the final six episodes from Season Three of X-Men… The mutant team come up against foremost enemy Magneto… the Sentinels make a dramatic return… and problems become personal as Xavier loses his mind and Cyclops turns human.’

The episodes on this fourth volume include:

• A Deal with the Devil
• Sanctuary – Part One
• Sanctuary – Part Two
• Xavier Remembers
• Courage
• Secrets, Not Long Buried

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Season Four

Onto Season Four, which is back to two volumes. The first volume contained seven episodes, while volume two contained eight episodes.

Before I jump ahead and provide the episode titles and synopsis for each volume, let me take a second to highlight the artwork on the rear of each DVD case. As you can see, each DVD includes images taken from the episodes.

These releases could have been bog-standard sets, with limited imagery, but Clear Vision really went to town on the design. One of the highlights of these X-Men DVDs is just how good they look.

And now onto the volumes…

Vol One

‘One of the most-viewed Saturday morning programmes in television history, X-Men spans the peak years of 1995 and 1996 with this DVD release. Serious themes of family values and religion are tackled, as a war between mutants and humans rages, with the X-Men caught in the middle.

‘This DVD includes the first seven episodes from Season Four… The X-Men face the demonic Nightcrawler… It’s a race back to the future to prevent the death of Professor Xavier… and family relations are strained for Proteus and Magneto.’

The episodes on this volume include:

• Nightcrawler
• One Man’s Worth – Part One
• One Man’s Worth – Part Two
• Proteus – Part One
• Proteus – Part Two
• Family Ties
• Bloodlines

Vol Two

‘One of the most-viewed Saturday morning programmes in television history, the X-Men story continues with this DVD release. Human-mutant relations reach their lowest point and Apocalypse threatens a new order in the four-part saga Beyond Good and Evil.

‘This DVD includes the last eight episodes from Season Four of X-Men… Wolverine is close to breaking point and quits the X-Men to find himself… The search for love proves frustrating for Rogue and Cyclops… in a terrifying climax Apocalypse battles Cable for control of time.’

The episodes on this volume include:

• Weapon X, Lies, and Videotape
• Lotus and the Steel
• Love in Vain
• Have Yourself a Morlock Little X-Mas
• Beyond Good and Evil – Part One
• Beyond Good and Evil – Part Two
• Beyond Good and Evil – Part Three
• Beyond Good and Evil – Part Four

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Season Five

And now onto the fifth and final season, which is once again divided into two volumes. Season five is shorter than all the previous seasons, so each volume contains just five episodes a-piece.

It’s also worth noting at this point that Seasons Four and Five were a little harder to come by or were more expensive to buy on the secondary market. I’m not entirely sure why, but I imagine these DVDs were originally sold or produced in smaller quantities.

I certainly feel like this would be the case with Season Five, which is not a good season of X-Men and therefore less popular in general. I will champion the show at every opportunity, but Season Five is not good.

Anyway, the episodes and synopsis are as follows:

Vol One

‘The amazingly successful Marvel Comics-based show, X-Men, enters its final season. The penultimate release in this historic collection features more dramatic sagas, whilst a series of unlikely mutant alliances help combat the continued threat to human safety.

‘This DVD includes the first five episodes from Season Five of X-Men… Mister Sinister and Magneto team up with the X-Men to save Earth… Storm’s wedding plans are thrown into disarray… and the dangerous resurrection of Apocalypse is nearly complete.’

The episodes on this volume include:

• Phalanx Covenant – Part One
• Phalanx Covenant – Part Two
• Storm Front – Part One
• Storm Front – Part Two
• The Fifth Horseman

Vol Two

‘The longest-running and most acclaimed Marvel Comics-based show, X-Men, is completed with the final DVD release. This essential collection bows out with revamped animation and a series of mutant adventures past and present.

‘This DVD includes the last five episodes from Season Five of X-Men… A star-spangled line-up sees Wolverine and Captain America take on Red Skull… the human race is under threat with the birth of Mister Sinister… and will the X-Men bid a painful farewell to their mentor Professor Xavier?’

The episodes on this volume include:

• Jubilee’s Fairytale Theatre
• Old Soldiers
• Hidden Agendas
• Descent
• Graduation Day

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To date, this set of X-Men DVDs is the only complete set available on Region 2 DVD. A company by the name of Walk Entertainment did release some X-Men episodes on DVD after Clear Vision fell by the wayside, but to the best of my knowledge this wasn’t the full series (it was more of a budget range too).

As X-Men has not been re-released on DVD in its entirety since, and is unlikely to receive a new DVD release these days, if you can play Region 2 DVDs and you want to watch the episodes on disc, this is your best option. Clear Vision did a good job with this set and it feels like something you want on your shelf.

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