X-Men ’97 has what Master of the Universe is missing
The Verge • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Marvel's X-Men ’97 season two and Mattel's Masters of the Universe film both aim to tap into nostalgia for iconic animated heroes, but differ significantly in their cultural relevance and fan engagement.
- X-Men ’97 season two features multiple teams of mutants stranded in different historical eras, battling the immortal villain Apocalypse, and blends storylines from various X-Men comics to expand its narrative.
- The success of X-Men ’97 is partly due to Marvel’s continuous cultivation of the X-Men brand through comics and TV shows, maintaining strong fan interest despite past film failures.
- In contrast, Masters of the Universe has struggled to maintain cultural prominence since the 1980s, contributing to its underwhelming box office performance, with $54.4 million earned against a $200 million budget.
- The Masters of the Universe film’s failure highlights Hollywood’s misinterpretation of trends, as Mattel’s attempt to explore themes like toxic masculinity hasn’t been enough to engage a broad audience beyond hardcore fans.