# Wolverine and the X-Men (TV series)
**Wolverine and the X-Men** (also styled *Wolverine & The X-Men*) is an American animated television series based on [Marvel Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-comics)' X-Men, in which [Wolverine](https://www.edgepedia.org/wolverine), rather than Professor Xavier or Cyclops, leads the mutant team. The series ran for 26 half-hour episodes in a single season, airing in Canada from September 2008 and on Nicktoons Network in the United States and the United Kingdom from January 2009, and it was not renewed.[1](https://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/62/62796/pressreleases/FINAL_Lionsgate_Marvel_Release_7-30-08.pdf) • [2](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/comparing-x-men-evolution-vs-wolverine-and-the-x-men.4690211/page-2)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | 26 half-hour episodes, one season[1](https://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/62/62796/pressreleases/FINAL_Lionsgate_Marvel_Release_7-30-08.pdf) |
| Production | Co-production with Toonz Entertainment Pte Ltd., Singapore, and First Serve International Ltd.; Lionsgate held United States home entertainment distribution rights[1](https://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/62/62796/pressreleases/FINAL_Lionsgate_Marvel_Release_7-30-08.pdf) |
| Broadcast | Canada from September 2008; Nicktoons Network in the United States and the United Kingdom from January 2009[2](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/comparing-x-men-evolution-vs-wolverine-and-the-x-men.4690211/page-2) |
| Premiere | "Hindsight, Part 1" and "Hindsight, Part 2" aired January 23, 2009[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wolverine_and_the_x_men/s01) |
| Premise | One year after an explosion destroys the X-Mansion and Professor X and Jean Grey vanish, Xavier contacts Wolverine from an apocalyptic future, and Wolverine reforms the X-Men to prevent it[4](https://insidepulse.com/2010/11/26/wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series-dvd-review/) |
| Main voice cast | Steven Blum as Wolverine; Clancy Brown as Mister Sinister[5](https://www.chud.com/26336/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/) |
| Reception | 67% Tomatometer from 6 reviews; 90% Popcornmeter from fewer than 50 ratings on Rotten Tomatoes[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wolverine_and_the_x_men/s01) |
| Home media | Complete series on DVD and Blu-ray from Lionsgate, 598 minutes, with 29 audio commentaries[5](https://www.chud.com/26336/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/) |
## Premise and story
The series departs from the usual origin-story opening for a superhero team. As the DVD Talk review notes, *Wolverine and the X-Men* opens instead with the team's destruction: an explosion destroys the [X-Mansion](https://www.edgepedia.org/x-mansion), and [Professor X](https://www.edgepedia.org/professor-x) and [Jean Grey](https://www.edgepedia.org/jean-grey) disappear.[6](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/45004/wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/) The action picks up a year later, with Senator Kelly's Mutant Response Division (MRD) waging a campaign against mutants, and Wolverine working to reform the disbanded X-Men when Xavier sends word from the future of an apocalypse the team must prevent.[7](https://www.comicsonline.com/2013/05/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wolverine_and_the_x_men/s01)
The central situation forces Wolverine into a leader's role while pushing Cyclops to the side, and the show examines how both men deal with being outside their comfort zones.[4](https://insidepulse.com/2010/11/26/wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series-dvd-review/) Beyond the present-day conflict with the MRD and Senator Kelly's mutant registration effort, the season draws on classic X-Men story elements: Wolverine launches a mission to rescue Professor X from the mutant island of Genosha, Rogue must decide where her loyalties lie, and a season-long thread involves a catastrophic future Xavier has warned Wolverine must never come to pass.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wolverine_and_the_x_men/s01) • [8](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/wolverine-and-the-x-men/episodes-season-1/1030021001/)
The first episode, "Hindsight, Part 1", was directed by Boyd Kirkland with story and script by Greg Johnson.[9](https://xmen-animated.fandom.com/wiki/Wolverine_and_the_X-Men) The season closes with a three-part finale, "Foresight", and its last episode ends with the revelation of [Apocalypse](https://www.edgepedia.org/apocalypse), a hook for a second season that was never made.[7](https://www.comicsonline.com/2013/05/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/)
## Production and broadcast
Lionsgate announced its acquisition of the United States home entertainment distribution rights in a July 31, 2008 press release, describing *Wolverine & The X-Men* as a co-production with Toonz Entertainment Pte Ltd., Singapore, and First Serve International Ltd., scheduled to air on Nicktoons Network beginning in January 2009.[1](https://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/62/62796/pressreleases/FINAL_Lionsgate_Marvel_Release_7-30-08.pdf) The series aired in Canada from September 2008 before its January debut on Nicktoons Network in the United States and the United Kingdom.[2](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/comparing-x-men-evolution-vs-wolverine-and-the-x-men.4690211/page-2)
ComicMix's review placed the series in its commercial context, observing that it was created to capitalize on the anticipated success of the Hugh Jackman Wolverine film.[10](https://comicmix.com/2010/10/20/review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/) The title itself reflects the focus: discussion of the show regularly notes that it is Wolverine-centric, with commentary both appreciating the writing and objecting that other team members receive less development.[11](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/which-show-did-you-like-better-x-men-evolution-or-wolverine-and-the-x-men.5320311/)
## Voice cast
The cast list for the complete-series release includes Steven Blum as Wolverine (with additional roles) and [Clancy Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/clancy-brown) as [Mister Sinister](https://www.edgepedia.org/mister-sinister), alongside [Charlie Adler](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlie-adler) as Mojo and the Reavers and Tamara Bernier as Mystique, among many others.[5](https://www.chud.com/26336/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/) Rotten Tomatoes' cast credits for the season also list Steve Blum, Chris Edgerly, Jennifer Hale, Michael Ironside, Danielle Judovits, and Phil Morris among the voice performers.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wolverine_and_the_x_men/s01)
## Home media
Lionsgate released the series on home video both as individual volumes and, in 2010, as a complete-series set on DVD and Blu-ray. The CHUD review of the complete set records a running time of 598 minutes, a not-rated classification, an MSRP of $23.99, and special features including 29 audio commentaries with the show creators, two featurettes, English 5.1 and Spanish 2.0 [Dolby Digital](https://www.edgepedia.org/dolby-digital) audio, and a trailer gallery.[5](https://www.chud.com/26336/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/) The complete-series release was described as both the complete first season and the complete series, since the show was canceled.[4](https://insidepulse.com/2010/11/26/wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series-dvd-review/)
## Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 holds a 67% Tomatometer from 6 critic reviews and a 90% Popcornmeter audience score from fewer than 50 ratings.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wolverine_and_the_x_men/s01) The site's sampled critics were mixed to positive: Brian Lowry, writing in Variety, called the program reasonably good fun for X-Men aficionados but said its reliance on past movie and comic references and occasionally stiff animation blunted the appeal; IGN's Dan Phillips gave the season finale 9/10; Den of Geek's James Hunt praised the wide use of characters major and minor drawn from the comics; and Common Sense Media gave 4/5, noting enough depth to appeal to older fans.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wolverine_and_the_x_men/s01)
Home-video reviewers were largely favorable. PopGeeks judged the 26 episodes a satisfying epic that pays off subplots established early on, while conceding a few weaker filler episodes, and recommended the set.[12](https://popgeeks.com/wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series-dvd-review/) ComicsOnline called it an almost flawless animated series and scored it 4.5 out of 5.[7](https://www.comicsonline.com/2013/05/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/) A 2026 TVLine ranking of the five X-Men animated series described it as perhaps not as fully developed as earlier series but generally a hit with X-Men fans.[13](https://www.tvline.com/2172575/x-men-animated-shows/)
**Place among the X-Men series.** The show occupies a middle position in the franchise's animated history. Forum comparisons with *X-Men: Evolution* found it closer to the characters and concepts of the comics, while judging Evolution's animation more fluid and its character development broader across the team.[14](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/comparing-x-men-evolution-vs-wolverine-and-the-x-men.4690211/) Its single season has kept it a frequent subject of calls for revival, and the unmade Apocalypse storyline at its cliffhanger ending is regularly cited by fans as the season the show never got to make.[7](https://www.comicsonline.com/2013/05/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/)
## References
1. [Lionsgate press release, July 31, 2008: Lionsgate Acquires Home Entertainment Distribution Rights to the All-New Marvel Animated Television Series "Wolverine & The X-Men"](https://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/62/62796/pressreleases/FINAL_Lionsgate_Marvel_Release_7-30-08.pdf)
2. [Comparing X-Men: Evolution vs. Wolverine and The X-Men, Page 2, Anime Superhero Forum](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/comparing-x-men-evolution-vs-wolverine-and-the-x-men.4690211/page-2)
3. [Wolverine and the X-Men: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wolverine_and_the_x_men/s01)
4. [Wolverine and the X-Men: The Complete Series – DVD Review, Inside Pulse](https://insidepulse.com/2010/11/26/wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series-dvd-review/)
5. [DVD Review: Wolverine and the X-Men – The Complete Series, CHUD.com](https://www.chud.com/26336/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/)
6. [Wolverine and the X-Men: The Complete Series, DVD Talk](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/45004/wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/)
7. [DVD Review: Wolverine and the X-Men – The Complete Series, ComicsOnline](https://www.comicsonline.com/2013/05/dvd-review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/)
8. [Watch Wolverine and the X-Men Online, Season 1, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/wolverine-and-the-x-men/episodes-season-1/1030021001/)
9. [Wolverine and the X-Men, X-Men Animated Wiki (Fandom)](https://xmen-animated.fandom.com/wiki/Wolverine_and_the_X-Men)
10. [Review: 'Wolverine and the X-Men The Complete Series', ComicMix](https://comicmix.com/2010/10/20/review-wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series/)
11. [Which show did you like better – X-Men: Evolution or Wolverine and the X-Men?, Anime Superhero Forum](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/which-show-did-you-like-better-x-men-evolution-or-wolverine-and-the-x-men.5320311/)
12. ["Wolverine and The X-Men – The Complete Series" DVD Review, PopGeeks](https://popgeeks.com/wolverine-and-the-x-men-the-complete-series-dvd-review/)
13. [All 5 X-Men Animated Shows, Ranked, TVLine](https://www.tvline.com/2172575/x-men-animated-shows/)
14. [Comparing X-Men: Evolution vs. Wolverine and The X-Men, Anime Superhero Forum](https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/comparing-x-men-evolution-vs-wolverine-and-the-x-men.4690211/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Comic-book and superhero television series › Marvel television series*
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