Pablo Torre Finds Out – “A Long-Awaited X-Men ’97 Breakdown, with Mina Kimes and David Dennis Jr.”

Podcast: Pablo Torre Finds Out
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Mina Kimes, David Dennis Jr.
Date: May 21, 2024
Summary prepared for those who haven’t listened, spoilers included.

Episode Overview

This lively, nostalgia-fueled conversation dives deep into the cultural, creative, and emotional impact of “X-Men ’97,” the Disney+ animated series continuing the 1990s classic. Host Pablo Torre gathers fellow superfans Mina Kimes and David Dennis Jr.—all age 38 and products of the original cartoon’s heyday—to analyze the new series and its resonance with fans who grew up alongside these characters. Major themes include generational fandom, comic vs. screen adaptations, character evolutions, the series’ mature subtext, and pointed commentary on the shortcomings of the current Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Enduring Pull of X-Men (00:29–07:29)

• The trio reveals they’ve all resisted skipping the iconic intro, with Kimes recalling her son scolding her for nearly skipping it.

  “He yelled at me in a way that children should not yell at parents. And I just let it slide because it was fair.” – Mina Kimes [00:39]

• Each host laments the long gap since the original show ended in 1996, relating how “X-Men” shaped their childhoods more deeply than the Avengers comic properties that now dominate pop culture.

  “We just watched the Marvel Cinematic Universe take over Hollywood...with a franchise that I didn’t care about because I was too worried about X-Men.” – Pablo Torre [03:53]

• Dennis echoes this:

  “When the cinematic movies were coming out... I remember being like, who cares? These are the dorky Avengers. Like, they are the B team.” – David Dennis Jr. [04:30]

Nostalgia and Connection: Why X-Men Still Hits (07:29–09:45)

• Discussion about how the original animated series and comics were foundational, blurring together in their memories; there's a consensus that “X-Men: The Animated Series” was the “Endgame” of their youth.

  “X-Men the cartoon was the Endgame for us, like every Saturday morning for years.” – David Dennis Jr. [09:02]

• They marvel that the new series triggers long-dormant memories and reconnects them with formative feelings.

Iconic Characters: Glow-Ups and Evolutions (09:45–14:14)

• Universal childhood favorite: Wolverine, described as “a kid’s idea of the coolest person on Earth.” [11:01]

• Storm also a childhood favorite; both are noted as being “slow played” in the new series, with Wolverine sidelined for much of it until his shocking adamantium scene—faithful to the legendary X-Men #25 comic panel.

  “Frame for frame, kind of tried to recreate that.” – Pablo Torre [11:52]

• This trauma is recalled viscerally by Dennis:

  “Most traumatic moments of my life before 13. Watching Magneto do this...” – David Dennis Jr. [12:33]

Writing and Thematic Depth: Mature, Relevant, Heavy (14:14–21:54)

• Kimes and Dennis praise the show’s willingness to go dark and deep, referencing multiple mature themes, dense comic arcs, and trauma—unfiltered for today’s adult viewers who grew up with the original.

• The show is credited for condensing major comic arcs (“Inferno,” “E is for Extinction,” “Executioner’s Song,” etc.) without feeling bloated.

• The group discusses Professor X’s strategic ineptitude:

  “Why do you take Wolverine to go fight the master of Magnetism?...Proving to be a more terrible person.” – David Dennis Jr. [14:14]

• The handling of the classic Magneto vs. Xavier philosophical split is highlighted. The show literalizes the “Magneto was right” meme, bringing radical themes to the surface:

  “It’s the only sane thought... Magneto was right enough.” – Magneto (show quote) [15:40–16:00]

• Kimes describes early understanding of X-Men as kids in “Malcolm X vs. MLK” terms, alluding to the deep minority-rights allegory.

  “He wasn’t as stupid or naive... in this series.” – Mina Kimes [16:16]

Character Redemptions & Risk-Taking (16:59–24:17)

• Cyclops receives rare praise; described as “the best Cyclops that’s ever been by far.” [17:00]
• Highlighted standout moments:

  “Goosebumps when [Cyclops] said that...” – Mina Kimes [18:00] “We're getting Malcolm Summers... a little hint of the Malcolm X Cyclops.” – David Dennis Jr. [17:15]

• Banter on the cartoon’s infamous horniness—now even more explicit—and complex relationships (Morph’s genderfluidity, the Wolverine-Jean-Morph dynamic, and the canon throuple).

Magneto’s Radicalization & Political Parallels (24:17–31:01)

• Magneto is unanimously praised as the most compelling character, with Dennis and Torre fully “on his side” post-Genosha genocide:

  “I'm on Magneto’s side... he was the guy I was rooting for the most...” – Pablo Torre [27:34]

• The show is commended for earnest, deliberate commentary on genocide, oppression, and minority experience, referencing “Genosha” as an especially heavy moment for marginalized fans.

• Kimes points out the compelling depiction of moderate politicians in the series, exemplified in a scene with President Kelly and Cyclops:

  “If Genosha had looked more human, you would be more focused on death tolls over polls.” – Cyclops [32:36]

• The show doesn’t shy away from showing Avengers’ inaction as a deliberate metaphor.

Allegory, Allegory, Allegory: X-Men's Minority Metaphor (31:07–35:16)

• They discuss the irreversible nature of comic genocide (Genosha “locked in across multiverses”) and why it’s so harrowing for those who recognize themselves in X-Men allegories.
• The “Prime Sentinels” plot is critiqued as over-the-top, but the hosts admit it has uncomfortable real-world resonance.

Comparing X-Men ’97 to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (33:20–36:19)

• Broad MCU fatigue is voiced, with Torre lamenting the decline into overwrought CGI and complexity:

  “They soared over a low bar as well.” – Pablo Torre [33:54]

• Kimes praises “X-Men ’97” for clear, impactful fight choreography, unlike cluttered MCU action.

Character Glow-Ups & Interpersonal Dynamics (37:41–40:38)

• Jubilee and Jean Grey are specifically called out for redemption; the new series gives them depth and agency.
• The Storm/Jean Grey friendship and Magneto/Storm dynamic provide fresh relationship avenues.

Villains, Tone, and Emotional Payouts (40:38–46:48)

• Bastion—the season’s big bad—is discussed as a serviceable, if not iconic, villain.
• Wandering into meta, the panel applauds the orchestral rendition of the theme song after Gambit's death as an example of emotional nuance and respect for viewer investment.

Marvel’s Lessons: Story & Character, Not Just Spectacle (43:10–47:06)

• The trio’s big takeaway is that writing, character, and emotional resonance trump empty spectacle:

  “When it comes to making content, stories, writing are what matters. That's why this series was great.” – Mina Kimes [43:10]

• Dennis and Torre decry the MCU’s focus on humor and “meme moments” over narrative sincerity, urging a return to the emotional core and superpower spectacle that originally set X-Men apart.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On skipping the intro:
  “The percent of people who click skipped intro has to be sub 10%.” – Mina Kimes [00:34]

• On childhood X-Men fandom:
  “X Men The cartoon was Endgame for us, like every Saturday morning for years.” – David Dennis Jr. [09:02]

• On Wolverine’s appeal:
  “Wolverine was a kid’s idea of the coolest person on Earth.” – Mina Kimes [11:01]

• On Professor X’s choices:
  “Professor X... is proving to be, like, a more terrible person. He's already a terrible person in comic books. He's more terrible by the day in X Men 97.” – David Dennis Jr. [14:14]

• On Magneto’s philosophy:
  “The only sane thought you can have... Magneto was right enough.” – Magneto [15:40–16:00]

• On Cyclops’ transformation:
  “He's the best Cyclops that's ever been by far.” – Mina Kimes [17:00]
  “You’re ungrateful...Thank God, because it’s the only reason you people are still alive.” – Cyclops (show quote, chilling delivery) [17:36]

• On the series’ horniness:
  “X-Men, fundamentally, is an incredibly horny franchise and an extremely horny cartoon that children probably should not have been exposed to…” – David Dennis Jr. [21:54]

• On Magneto’s emotional pull:
  “Magnino was right. Definitely has a stronger case than Thanos was right.” – Mina Kimes [27:50]

• On Marvel’s current struggles:
  “They soared over a low bar as well.” – Pablo Torre [33:54]
  “Give me characters I care about… I care about the characters, and I just think we've sacrificed a lot of that for the big moments.” – David Dennis Jr. [44:08]

Noteworthy Timestamps

• [00:29] – Start of X-Men ’97 confessionals and nostalgia
• [03:53] – MCU/Avengers discussion and their generational impact
• [11:01] – Wolverine’s dominance in childhood fandom
• [11:52] – Wolverine’s adamantium scene and comic reference
• [15:40–16:00] – Magneto’s “was right” monologue, the mutation metaphor
• [17:00] – Cyclops’ transformation and iconic quotes
• [21:54] – The "horny" thesis on X-Men 97
• [27:00] – Magneto’s radicalization after Genosha
• [32:36] – Cyclops challenges political inaction directly
• [33:54] – MCU’s recent disappointments contrasted with X-Men 97
• [37:41] – Jubilee, Jean Grey, and other “glow up” arcs
• [43:10] – Lessons for Marvel: writing and character above all

Final Thoughts: The Call for More

The episode closes with Diego, Mina, and David desperate for more “X-Men ’97,” expressing hope that Marvel and animation more broadly will heed the lessons from its runaway success: better stories, deeper characters, and faithfulness to the spirit that made these heroes matter.

"Thank you for reliving our childhood together. I just want more. That's all I want now. I just want more of this." – Pablo Torre [47:06]

For fans and newcomers alike, this rich breakdown gives a playful yet incisive guide to X-Men ’97 and why it might just be the most vital Marvel screen adaptation in years.