X-Men Animated Series Toys: Toy Biz Originals and X-Men '97

X-Men toys from the animated series come in two groups: Toy Biz figures from the 1990s, a line that started in 1991, before the show premiered on Fox Kids in October 1992, and Hasbro’s 6-inch Marvel Legends figures made for X-Men ’97, the Disney+ continuation from 2024. Complete carded Toy Biz figures are the classic collector buy.

When did X-Men: The Animated Series air?

X-Men: The Animated Series premiered on Fox Kids on October 31, 1992, and its final episode aired on September 20, 1997. It ran for 5 seasons and 76 episodes. Marvel and Saban Entertainment produced it, and the South Korean studio AKOM did most of the animation.

The full series is also available on Disney+.

It belongs with Batman in our 1990s cartoon collectibles section. The two shows started on Fox Kids weeks apart in 1992, and our Batman: The Animated Series figures guide covers Kenner’s line for that show.

Did the Toy Biz figures come before the cartoon?

Yes. Toy Biz started its X-Men figure line in 1991. One collector archive describes the first wave as timed to the comics’ popularity and the coming animated series. The line kept adding new series for the rest of the decade.

This first wave reached stores about a year before the show, so it was not designed from the cartoon. Later Toy Biz series were on shelves through the show’s run, which is why collectors pair the two.

What should you check on a Toy Biz X-Men figure?

Toy Biz figures came with small accessories, and many had an action feature. A card back or checklist tells you what belongs with each one.

Condition, completeness and the card decide value. A loose figure with its accessories and a working feature is a fair buy; a carded first-wave figure in good shape is the collector piece.

Loose or carded: which Toy Biz figure should you buy?

A loose figure is the cheaper way to build a team, and it is the right choice for display on an open shelf. Check that it has its accessories and that the action feature still works, because those two things separate a complete figure from a played-with one.

A carded figure costs more and needs more care. The card and bubble are part of what you pay for, so look at the corners, the hang hole and the bubble edges in clear photos before you buy. Keep carded figures out of direct sunlight, which fades the card art and yellows the bubble over time.

If you want the whole first wave, build it loose first and replace figures with carded ones later. That spreads the cost and lets you learn the line before you pay for packaging.

What X-Men ’97 figures has Hasbro made?

X-Men ’97 premiered on Disney+ on March 20, 2024, and picks up where the 1992 series ended. Marvel Studios Animation produces it, and its first season of 10 episodes ran from March 20 to May 15, 2024. Hasbro started its Marvel Legends figures for the show before the premiere.

Both waves are 6-inch scale. Hasbro lists more than 20 points of articulation for each second-wave figure.

How do you tell an original from an X-Men ’97 figure?

The two lines also differ in scale. Hasbro’s figures are 6-inch Marvel Legends, built to stand with other Legends figures, while the 1990s Toy Biz figures were made as toys for play. Plan a separate shelf for each line, since the two styles look different side by side.

For a gift, a new boxed X-Men ’97 figure is the easy choice. A carded Toy Biz figure from the 1990s suits a collector who wants the original line.

Where do the X-Men figures fit in a collection?

Toy Biz figures sit in the same era as Kenner’s Batman line, and both make sense on one shelf. For storage and display cases, see our action figures guide. Production art from 1990s cartoons is its own field, covered in the animation cels guide.