ASTONISHING X-MEN: DANGEROUS review by Captain Video
Would someone who is not a reader of "graphic novels" or "comics" appreciate a pan/scan series of the Amazing X-Men? I didn't know so I thought I would give it a go for two reasons. (1) I love all forms of animation (2) I am a fan of Joss Wheadon.ASTONISHING X-MEN: DANGEROUS is a video series of the x-men comics done by Joss Wheadon. As with most stuff by Joss, it is entertaining on many levels. It has the big picture question that makes you think, it has an interesting story arc that neatly ties the episodes together and it is full of whit and humor.
As an outsider to the world of the X-men, I was worried that I might not be able to follow the characters and the intricacies of that world. However I was suprised that no prior knowledge of the x-men universe was required.
The story revolves around a dangerous enemy that was attacking from within the school, an enemy that knew all the weaknesses and strengths of each mutant. When the students are trapped and in mortal danger, the x-men must work together to defeat an elusive and dangerous enemy.
At the philosophical level, the series examines what it means to be conscious, moreover, if a piece of technology is sentient, is it alive? Does it have rights? Or is it just a piece of hardware that can be turned off and on and used anyway we feel like?
The writing is well done and the characters are witty, there is at least one or two laugh out loud moment in each episode usually a one liner digg at the expense of one character or another.
The panel by panel animation is always an interesting way to tell a story. Perhaps growing up on this style of animation is what primed us for the Ken Berns effect in documentaries. The "fill in the gaps" mode of watching the storyboard does lead to a certain type of engagement of the viewer that is different than a fully animated show.
Overall, the ASTONISHING X-MEN: DANGEROUSseries is fun to watch for both fans and newcomers of the X-men.
6 out of 10 Jackasses blog comments powered by Disqus
