The world of Mutant X finds the Genomex corporation secretly experimenting with genetics in the hopes of curing illness and ending disease, but instead produces super-powered mutants. Genomex is now hunting every mutant that was created and released into the world. A scientist, Adam Kane (John Shea), who had been head of the Genomex project, joins with an underground group of mutants in an effort to stop them. Each of these mutants possesses a different power: Shalimar (Victoria Pratt) is a feral mutant with the instincts and strength of a Tiger. Brennan (Victor Webster) can control electricity and shoot lightning from his hands. Jesse (Forbes March) can change his density, allowing him to walk through walls or turn as hard as stone. Emma (Lauren Lee Smith) is a psionic mutant who is telepathic.

In the final episode of Mutant X: Season One, Genomex falls under the control of Gabriel Ashlocke (Michael Easton), a powerful and psychotic psionic mutant who presents an even bigger threat to the Mutant X team than William Stryker wannabe, Mason Eckhart (Tom McCamus) . Mutant X: Season Two picks right up where this episode left off, with the team trying to stop Ashlocke, one of the many mutants produced by Adam's experiments, whose genetic code is unstable, making him more dangerous, but also killing him. Adam wants to try and find a cure for his condition, something the team can't understand, but they still let him try. In between battles with Ashlocke, the team encounters trouble and learns more about their still evolving powers.

The episodes included on this two disc set are:

Disc One
Episode 201: "Past as Prologue": Ashlocke revives an ancient Alchemist to try and find a way to prolong his life.
Episode 202: "Power Play": A rogue Colonel takes over a military installation threatening the world with nuclear holocaust.
Episode 203: "Time Squared": Ashlocke finds a mutant with the power to send others through time. The team must stop him from going back to change the present.

Disc Two
Episode 204: "Whose Woods These Are": A Killer is loose in the woods, and it can infect other mutants with a virus that drives them to kill.
Episode 205: "The Future Revealed": Ashlocke lures the team away and captures Adam, forcing him to find a cure.

The Saturn Award-nominated, Mutant X, is another outlet for Marvel to tie-in their mutant franchise. It showcases the same conventions, as well as, the emotional angst of their comic books. Everyone is highly self-aware, pondering their sense of identity and feelings about living in a world that hates Mutants. While the story lines are acting won't win them any awards, Mutant X does benefit from having a very talented production team, providing for excellent looking sets, costumes, special effects and even some on-location shooting.

As expected, there are lots of fight scenes, and everyone knows martial arts. However, the wirework is well done and the fights themselves seem to be shorter while coming more frequently. Watching the team of Mutant X do their thing is really the highlight of each show. Everyone just seems to be so immersed in the world of the show, that many times the interactions between the characters, and how their powers develop, compliment or negate the others often supercedes the overall storyline.

The DVD:

Picture: The Mutant X episodes are presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1 aspect ratio). Colors are bold and crisp, even in some darker scenes.

Audio: This DVD set features a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track, which sounds pretty good. There are no real problems to speak of, except the dialogue did seem a little quiet in comparison to the show's music.

Extras: The only extra found on Disc One, is an interview with John Shea. Shea's comic book pedigree is up to snuff, as he is probably best known as Lex Luthor from Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. In the interview, he fills in the Mutant X history and talks about the evolution of his character. This is very helpful for those that are new to Mutant X and have not seen the show's first season. Disc Two has two featurettes, one on the fight choreography and one on the make-up effects used in "Whose Woods These Are." Both discs contain the Original TV Promos for each episode, Image Galleries from the episodes and trailers for other ADV releases.

Conclusion: While ADV has gotten off to a good start by releasing this Second Season of Mutant X in 5-6 Episode blocks, it's still a long way from the Complete or even Half Season offerings from most of the other Studios. Season Two would eventually cost a consumer over $80.00. While Mutant X does bring an interesting twist to the world of television sci-fi, it pales in comparison with it's movie brethren. Fans of the show will appreciate the high-quality transfer and the few extras on this set, but you should probably limit this to a rental as the final price is too much to recommend buying.