Warning! This article contains spoilers for X-Men '97 episode 2.
Summary
- X-Men '97 episode 2 sets up new Marvel stories, characters, and consequences, continuing from the beloved animated series.
- Cyclops leads X-Men amid Magneto's resurgence, while Storm loses her powers in a tragic twist, shaping the team's future.
- Jean Grey's clone, Madelyne Pryor, hints at a major X-Men villain's storyline, while Magneto's new approach hints at a change of heart.
voice actors from X-Men: The Animated Series returning, X-Men '97 is continuing almost instantly from where the former series left off. With Charles Xavier now gone, the burden of leading the X-Men and striving for a world in which humans and mutants can coexist falls on Cyclops' shoulders as the hero galvanizes his team amid the resurgence of Magneto.
10 X-Men: The Animated Series Episodes To Watch Before X-Men '97
In preparation for Marvel’s X-Men ’97 revival, several episodes from X-Men: The Animated Series are essential viewing to understand the new series.
As the wait for the Marvel TV show will include. From the set-up of a major Marvel villain to the change of heart of another and the birth of an iconic mutant, X-Men '97 episode 2's ending is chock-full of huge reveals.
Cyclops & Jean Grey’s Baby Teases A Major Mutant Connection
The birth of Scott and Jean's child sets up the origins of a classic X-Men mutant.
One of the biggest moments in X-Men '97 episode 2 is the birth of Cyclops/Scott Summers and Jean Grey's child. As Cyclops and the other X-Men are defending Magneto at the latter's trial, Wolverine is tasked with rushing Jean Grey to the hospital as she enters labor. Eventually, Rogue and Cyclops reach Jean's hospital and help deliver her baby. While Jean being pregnant is a different hint at a major storyline altogether, the baby who was named Nathan Charles Summers is actually another major X-Men mutant: Cable.
Cable has appeared at length in several iterations of X-Men stories, from Josh Brolin's depiction in Deadpool 2 to the animated version in the original X-Men: The Animated Series. Cable's various appearances in the original series held some inconsistencies with his Marvel Comics storyline, though some hints were included that the mutant of the future was the son of Jean Grey and Scott Summers. While these hints were included in the original show, it seems as though X-Men '97 will delve into Cable's origins on a deeper level, with the future mutant being born in episode 2's ending.
X-Men: The Animated Series Cable Appearances |
Season and Episode Number |
|---|---|
"Slave Island" |
Season 1, Episode 7 |
"The Cure" |
Season 1, Episode 9 |
"Time Fugitives, Part One" |
Season 2, Episode 7 |
"Time Fugitives, Part Two" |
Season 2, Episode 8 |
"Beyond Good and Evil, Part 1: The End of Time" |
Season 4, Episode 18 |
"Beyond Good and Evil, Part 2: Promise of Apocalypse" |
Season 4, Episode 19 |
"Beyond Good and Evil, Part 3: The Lazarus Chamber" |
Season 4, Episode 20 |
"Beyond Good and Evil, Part 4: End and Beginning" |
Season 4, Episode 21 |
Storm’s X-Men ’97 Power Loss Explained
The Omega-level mutant has been heartbreakingly altered.
Another massive development found in X-Men '97 episode 2's ending concerned the character of Storm. In a bid to defend Magneto from the onrushing forces of the Friends of Humanity, Storm jumps in front of a mysterious new weapon fired by the so-called X-Cutioner. After being hit by the projectile, Storm reveals that she can no longer feel the breeze or the moisture in the air as she used to. In a tragic twist, the weapon causes Storm to lose her mutant abilities, something that Hank McCoy a.k.a. Beast implies is permanent.
In X-Men '97 episode 2, the projectile fired from the weapon was originally intended for Magneto. Given the crimes Magneto committed against humanity in X-Men: The Animated Series, the vengeful Friends of Humanity sought to rob the mutant of his powers once and for all. With Magneto positioned as the X-Men's leader as of X-Men '97 episode 1's ending, Storm took the bullet for Charles' old friend. This resulted in the aforementioned power loss, forcing Storm to leave the X-Mansion as she no longer knows where she fits in.
The collars use radiation to suppress mutant abilities, with the X-Cutioner's weapon in X-Men '97 episode 2's ending firing a concentrated dose of the same radiation.
Concerning exactly how Storm lost her powers, Hank reveals that the technology comes from the power-dampening collars used throughout X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97. The collars use radiation to suppress mutant abilities, with the X-Cutioner's weapon in X-Men '97 episode 2's ending firing a concentrated dose of the same radiation. This causes Storm's cells to change, removing her powers on a seemingly permanent basis. Whether the power loss will persist remains to be seen, though it seems a major plot point of X-Men '97 will surround restoring Ororo Munroe's mutant abilities.
Jean Grey’s Clone Sets Up A Massive X-Men Villain
The final scene of X-Men '97 episode 2 established a major comic book storyline.
Undoubtedly the biggest reveal of X-Men '97 episode 2's ending is the introduction of Jean Grey's clone. After reading Storm's goodbye letter to the X-Men, Jean deliberates with the other over what to do about Ororo's situation. Morph states that Storm will soon come to regret her decision and return before a knock at the door seemingly proves the shape-shifting mutant correct. However, Morph and the X-Men do not find Storm on the other side of the door, but an exhausted Jean Grey who insists she needs the X-Men.
In the comics, Madelyn Pryor is a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister in a bid to continue the latter's genetic experiments.
This is the final scene in X-Men '97 episode 2's ending, as Cyclops and Jean herself look on in shock at the other version of the latter. While those unfamiliar with X-Men stories from Marvel Comics will be naturally confused, the source material includes several story threads that reveal who Jean Grey's clone in X-Men '97 is: Madelyne Pryor. In the comics, Madelyn Pryor is a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister in a bid to continue the latter's genetic experiments.
Interestingly, Pryor was not mentioned at all in X-Men: The Animated Series, though some hints at her origins included Mister Sinister insisting that Jean and Scott were the keys to evolving mutant-kind as he desired. In the comics, Scott is suspicious of Pryor's similarities to Jean from the beginning, falling in love with the former as the latter was believed dead. When Jean was revived, Cyclops abandoned Madelyne which saw her descent into villainy. Becoming the Goblin Queen, Madelyne lived on as a recurring villain of the X-Men.
The abandonment of Madelyne by Scott saw her also lose her child, providing further motivation for her villainous ways.
Despite this being Madelyne's story in the comics, X-Men '97 episode 2's ending sets up a somewhat different adaptation of the character. For one, it seems as though none of the X-Men are aware Jean has a clone. In the comics, the X-Men knew of Madelyne - albeit not her true origins as a clone - whereas X-Men '97 shows the mutants as being unaware of who she is. Madelyne's absence from X-Men: The Animated Series explains this and sets up an intriguing story full of revelations for X-Men '97's future.
Where Madelyne's inclusion could become even more dramatic is through the newly-born Nathan. In the comics, Nathan was born to Scott and Madelyne, not Scott and Jean. With Scott seemingly unaware of Jean's clone in X-Men '97, it could be revealed that the person he thought was Jean was actually Madelyne. This would adapt the idea from the comics that Cable is Madelyne's child, though with an added layer of emotional depth as Cyclops thought it was Jean who birthed Nathan.
Is Magneto Really A Good Guy Now? X-Men ’97’s Villain Change Explained
The long-standing villain of the X-Men may be on the path to good.
An interesting development of X-Men '97 is the idea that Magneto is dedicated to carrying out Charles' dream. The trailer for the show teased that Charles left everything to Magneto, but by X-Men '97 episode 2's ending, this is seemingly a positive development for the titular team. While many assumed this would brew conflict, Magneto seems committed to bettering human-mutant relations in honor of Charles. This initially causes a deal of distrust between Magneto and the X-Men, though the ending of X-Men '97 episode 2 may prove that the former villain has indeed changed his ways.
Magneto is rarely depicted as outright evil in Marvel Comics, often teaming up with the X-Men against greater threats, as portrayed in X-Men '97.
Through his diplomacy with the United Nations, his sparing of the X-Cutioner, and his leniency against the other judges, Magneto put words into action. In doing so, Magneto not only changed the public's perception of him, but the X-Men's too. Despite this seeming change of heart, it remains to be seen how long it lasts. Magneto's relationship with Charles is incredibly complicated, meaning it makes sense that the latter's wish changed the former for the better. That said, Magneto's past nature is not so easily changed, potentially hinting at more drama concerning Erik Lehnsherr's character in X-Men '97 season 1.
The United Nations Begins Helping Genosha
Human-mutant relations take a massive step forward in X-Men '97.
Through Magneto's new methods, X-Men '97 episode 2's ending provided a massive change in human-mutant relations. Throughout X-Men: The Animated Series, the fictional country of Genosha served as a safe haven for mutants once it was taken over by Magneto. Thanks to Magneto's actions in X-Men '97 episode 2, the United Nations took steps to involve Genosha in the organization. This marks a positive change in the relationship between humanity and mutant-kind, one that seems to further prove Magneto is committed to Charles' dying wish.
X-Men ’97 Is Setting Up A Controversial Marvel Comics Relationship
Another X-Men love triangle may be coming in X-Men '97.
Finally, the last tease of future storylines found in X-Men '97 episode 2's ending involves Rogue and Magneto. In Marvel Comics, the two have had a relationship at different points, to controversial results. It seems as though X-Men '97 will try its hand at adapting this divisive relationship, with episode 2 hinting at trouble brewing between Rogue, Magneto, and Gambit. Rogue and Gambit have long been an item in the animated universe, and Magneto's newfound trust in the X-Men could prove to dislodge this if X-Men '97 episode 2's ending is anything to go by.
New episodes of X-Men '97 release every Wednesday on Disney+.
X-Men '97 is the direct continuation of the popular 1990s animated series X-Men: The Animated Series. Taking up where the third season left off, Marvel's revival brings back famous mutants such as Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, and Nightcrawler, who fight villains like Mr. Sinister, the Sentinels, and the Hellfire Club.
- Creator(s)
- Beau DeMayo
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