This article contains comments from individuals criticizing gender identity and Queer representation.

Summary

• X-Men '97 is facing controversy for introducing non-binary representation through the character Morph, but this criticism is unfounded.
• The X-Men have always dealt with "woke" topics and represented marginalized communities in Marvel Comics.
• The live-action X-Men reboot in the MCU will also address social injustices, as they are integral to the X-Men's storylines and should be discussed.

Marvel has been the subject of controversy after the release of the first trailer for the revival of X-Men: The Animated Series, which ran between 1992 and 1997, was also put into development and is set to premiere on Disney+ on March 20, 2024, picking up where the series' fifth season ended.

Several voice actors from X-Men: The Animated Series will be returning in the cast of X-Men '97, including Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, and George Buza reprising their roles of Wolverine, Rogue, and Beast, respectively, among others. The first X-Men: The Animated Series' finale, which saw Professor X leave Earth and his X-Men team behind. Despite excitement among nostalgic fans, however, X-Men '97 has already become the subject of controversy, as some have criticized the series and Marvel Studios for being too "woke."

X-Men '97's Ridiculous Woke Controversy Explained

"Woke" criticisms have emerged from new reveals about X-Men '97's cast of characters, specifically after Morph, a member of the X-Men team and a close friend to Wolverine in the original series, was confirmed to be non-binary in the X-Men '97. While some consider this to be a major change to the popular character, Morph's mutation allows them to shape-shift, completely changing their physical appearance into any form, which s the character being non-binary. This is a relatively inconsequential change to the character in the grand scheme of things, but declaring Morph to be non-binary has curiously angered some.

Following X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo's reveal of Morph's new gender identity, discussions have emerged on social media, with some criticizing the change as Marvel Studios pandering to "wokeness." In common vernacular, "woke" means to be aware of social issues and injustices, including racism, sexuality, and gender identity. While being aware of these issues is a positive thing, "woke" has come to be seen as a slur against those who are active in combating social injustices. This term has been aimed at Marvel Studios following the reveal of Morph's gender identity, with some vocal fans attacking Marvel for the change.

Some have suggested that the X-Men have never been Queer, which is simply not the case:

Others have noted that gender identity issues weren't at the forefront of conversations in the 1990s, so X-Men '97 won't be a true sequel if it integrates these issues into the series:

Others have taken a much more blunt and offensive direction, suggesting that it's Disney's control over X-Men '97 that has made these changes:

While some have suggested that Morph being revealed to be non-binary would make X-Men '97 "unwatchable":

There has also been the insinuation that Morph's new gender identity may hint at a relationship between Morph and their close friend, Wolverine, despite there being no basis for this in Marvel Comics or in X-Men: The Animated Series:

Indeed, many have been fighting back against this surge in criticism, with some noting that DeMayo revealed Morph would be non-binary at SDCC 2022 when X-Men '97 was first announced, so the current surprise is unfounded. Many have also pointed out that Marvel Comics' X-Men have always been switched on to social issues, and, in fact, this forms the entire basis of their existence. Morph being revealed to be non-binary in X-Men '97 will change nothing about the character, but will provide important representation for audiences and will underline exactly what made the X-Men so relatable in Marvel Comics.

The X-Men Have Always Been "Woke"

These criticisms of "wokeness" have emerged among a vocal minority, while many others have praised the decision for bringing new representation to the MCU and for ing what makes the X-Men so brilliant in Marvel Comics. The fact of the matter is, X-Men storylines have always focused on "woke" topics, and the team's have demonstrated this same representation over the years. The X-Men were first introduced to Marvel Comics in 1963's The X-Men #1, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby to be an allegory for racism in the United States at the height of Civil Rights movement.

In much the same way that Black communities have seen discrimination, Marvel Comics' X-Men have experienced the same, being hated, segregated, and killed due to their differences from "normal" humans. Marvel Comics has always used the X-Men to deal with social injustices such as racism, antisemitism, sexism, religious disparities, and LGBT+ issues. This can be seen through the introductions of heroes such as Storm, who is widely regarded as the first major Black female superhero, Northstar, Marvel Comics' first openly gay superhero, and Iceman, who received widespread media attention after coming out as gay in 2015.

In 2022, Marvel Comics introduced the X-Men's first transgender hero, Escapade, while popular characters such as Mystique, Daken, Shatterstar, Karma, Destiny, and Kitty Pryde, among many others, also identify as Queer. Even Deadpool, whose MCU debut in Phase 5's Deadpool & Wolverine is highly-anticipated, is pansexual, as confirmed by Marvel Comics creator Fabian Nicieza in 2015. The X-Men's Marvel Comics history makes new complaints about Morph's gender identity seem all the more ridiculous, and with the X-Men set to be rebooted in the live-action MCU in the coming years, angry viewers must get used to seeing this fantastic representation on-screen.

The MCU Can't Avoid Making The X-Men Political

While X-Men '97 is set to continue X-Men: The Animated Series' storyline in animation on Disney+, Marvel Studios will also be rebooting the X-Men into the live-action MCU. Much like X-Men '97, the MCU's live-action X-Men also won't be able to avoid being "woke" and political, as social injustices are at the root of many X-Men storylines. This has always been the case, both in Marvel Comics and in 20th Century Fox's live-action franchise, though changes in society since the 2000s will likely allow Marvel Studios to represent even more communities and minority groups than Fox ever could.

2024's Deadpool & Wolverine is set to introduce many new mutants to the MCU, though Marvel Studios' official X-Men team line-up hasn't yet been revealed. It's very likely that this line-up will feature characters representing a huge number of communities, however, with key X-Men such as Storm, Iceman, Sunfire, and many more potentially being adapted into live-action. Discrimination and the focus on social issues are core aspects of practically every X-Men storyline, so these simply won't be able to be avoided in the MCU or in X-Men '97, and frankly shouldn't be, as these issues need to be discussed.

X-Men '97 season 1 premieres on Disney+ on March 20, 2024, and will contain 10 episodes.

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