2024 has been a complicated year for superhero fans. While it was dubbed as "the worst year for comic book movies" in over two decades, Marvel Cinematic Universe streaming options finally seemed to figure out how to stand on their own two feet. For Marvel in particular, it has been a year of high highs and very low lows.
From the comics to their streaming series, the company has made some brilliant moves in the last year. This was much needed after last year's series of flops. But there were also some major parts of the overall Marvel universe that we could have done without.
Here, we break down the four best decisions and moments from Marvel in 2024, along with three that never should have happened.
Best: Marvel brings back X-Men: The Animated Series
Although revivals and reboots are generally frowned-upon, X-Men '97 seems to be the exception. The series is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997), and while it didn't match the MCU live-action shows on Disney+ when looking at viewership, it has a 99% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Proof positive that viewership is not all that matters in television, a third season is already in the works, just months after the first season aired. The new show picks up where the original left off, with Charles Xavier off-world and the X-Men figuring out how to continue without him. The solution is that Magneto is now in charge, a set-up ripe for drama.
While the MCU has continued just barely dipping their toes into the mutant water, the company at large made a great choice by bringing back the beloved animated series. Critic David Reddish called it "Marvel’s best release in years. Yes, better than anything else in movies, live-action, streaming, or animation."
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