X-Men '97 debuts on Disney+ to universal acclaim

The X-Men have made their long-awaited return to Disney+, and it's like they never left!

X-Men '97 premiered this week on Disney's streaming service and those who worried that the updated series couldn't live up to its predecessor can rest easy. With 33 reviews so far, Season 1 of X-Men '97 sits at a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Critics Consensus reads:

"Pulling off the x-traordinary feat of staying true to its beloved predecessor while charting a path forward for the franchise, X-Men '97 is simply x-cellent."

And for those who don't trust reviewers, you can look to the equally impressive 93% Audience Score.

X-Men '97 picks up where the original series ended back in 1997. With Professor X gone, the X-Men now face dangerous new challenges.

As of right now, only the first two episodes of Season 1 have been released. And while it's still early, they paint a promising picture of what's to come this season.

For many, X-Men: The Animated Series is the ultimate X-Men adaptation. The original series, which aired from 1992 through 1997, was praised for its ability to faithfully adapt the many different storylines from the comics.

To this day, the Dark Phoenix storyline in The Animated Series is hailed by many as the best version of that storyline. Additionally, the series was praised for its voice cast, mature storytelling and more. And while the animation may not measure up to today's standards, they were great at the time.

Living up to the beloved original series is no easy feat, but it sounds like X-Men '97 has not only been able to capture that nostalgic feeling of The Animated Series but also pave its path forward as its own thing.

Episodes 1 and 2 — "To Me, My X-Men" and "Mutant Liberation begins" — are now streaming on Disney+. New episodes drop weekly every Wednesday.