X-Men: The Audio Drama brings the classic Marvel comic book series to life. The podcast is the creation of Karl Dutton. He specializes in creating audio dramas of comic characters. Dutton has also created podcasts based on the Power Rangers and Batman comics.

Comic book fans will appreciate Dutton's fidelity to the original X-Men series. The podcast story begins at Xavier's, where a new student, Jean Grey, has just begun her training. But news of an attack interrupts her schooling. It is the work of Magneto, Xavier's old friend, who seems to have turned evil. It's up to the students to stop him from reaching his goals.

Every week, the team of mutants fights and prevails against a force for evil. Listeners get to know the Vanisher and the Unstoppable Juggernaut. They fight back against the Brotherhood of Mutants. As the series continues, listeners meet Alex and witness Beast's genesis. Magneto is a constant on the show. Another supervillain faction, Dr. Bolivar Trask and his sentinel program, soon make an appearance. Elsewhere, Phoenix possesses Jean Grey and the X-Men find themselves trapped in Murderworld.

Compelling audio dramas need two things–great voice actors and excellent sound effects. Dutton understands this. The production values in X-Men are stellar. The choice of music and sound effects reflects the mood and setting. The voice actors are compelling, with a narration that strikes the right tone. Because of the excellent quality of the program, listeners can visualize the action, creating a rich experience. The podcast is a great instance of what people mean when they say the theater of the mind.

Podcasting has brought about a second golden age of radio. Serialized audio dramas are back. This time, updated technology means better sound effects. X-Men: The Audio Drama is a fantastic example of this phenomenon. The show will appeal to comic book lovers and Marvel fans alike. But audio drama fans might also consider giving it a chance.