Warning! This article contains major spoilers for X-Men ’97 episode 7.
The popular Marvel mutant Emma Frost receives a new history for one of her iconic powers in X-Men ’97. Emma Frost debuted in the famous Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont and John Byrne as a villainous, high-ranking, member of the Hellfire Club. Frost is, notably, one of the Marvel Universe’s most powerful telepaths, with her abilities rivaling those of Charles Xavier. Emma Frost has a second ability, however, which is not used quite as often but has nevertheless been featured in many of her onscreen appearances, with strong implications that the power lacks the same origin as the comics.
Emma Frost appeared in the original X-Men: The Animated Series, playing a notable role in the show’s adaptation of The Dark Phoenix Saga as a member of the Inner Circle – the show’s new name for the Hellfire Club. Like her comic counterpart, the “White Queen” of the Inner Circle manipulated Jean Gray when she was possessed by the Phoenix Force. Frost has returned in X-Men ’97 as an influential citizen of Genosha, now a safe haven for mutants ruled by Magneto, who refers to Frost and her fellow Inner Circle member Sebastian Shaw as “eclectic social climbers.”
Emma Frost seemingly dies in the X-Men ’97 episode “Remember It,” when a new version of Master Mold attacks Genosha and massacres its citizens. Two episodes later, “Bright Eyes” sees the X-Men travel to Genosha to assist its devastated populace. Among the massacre’s survivors is Emma Frost, who avoided being crushed to death by rubble thanks to a secondary mutation – her diamond form. Similar to the durable forms of fellow Marvel characters Colossus and The Thing, Frost’s diamond form not only protects her but also enhances her other physical abilities, such as her strength and stamina.
Notably, Emma Frost’s diamond form is introduced in X-Men ’97 as a stress-induced secondary mutation. Frost appears to have been unaware of the ability before the Genosha massacre and seems as surprised by her survival and newfound ability as the X-Men are. This is a notable change from the comics, however, though it remains closer to the source material’s origin than other adaptations of Emma Frost, who simply introduce her as already having the secondary ability.
The Sentinel massacre in Genosha and Emma Frost’s development of a secondary mutation both reference a dark 2001 story arc from New X-Men. After a devastating Wild Sentinel attack on Genosha that wipes out much of the nation’s mutant population, Emma Frost is contacted by Cassandra Nova, a villainous mutant who secretly orchestrated the massacre. Nova promises Frost that she will survive further attacks and, using her telepathic abilities, “unlocks” Emma Frost’s secondary mutation. Frost’s diamond form has become as definitive as her telepathic abilities, though the mutations, fascinatingly, conflict with each other.
In the Marvel Comics universe, Emma Frost’s diamond form grants her superhuman durability, strength, and stamina, but it has one critical drawback – Frost cannot use her potent telepathic abilities when in diamond form. Moreover, the ability has an adverse effect on Frost’s personality, reducing her ability to empathize, leaving her callous and clinical. Despite this, Emma Frost’s diamond form affords her enhanced resistance to the telepathic abilities of others, even if she cannot access her own mental powers in diamond form.
Naturally, as one of the most popular Marvel mutants, Emma Frost has appeared in numerous X-Men adaptations, including live-action films. Frost had an ambiguous live-action debut in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine as the sister of Kayla Silverfox (the film’s version of Silver Fox). While the film credits her as “Emma,” it is unclear if she is truly Emma Frost or simply inspired by her, as she displays Frost’s diamond form in the film’s third act. Frost makes a more prominent appearance, however, in X-Men: First Class, as a villainous member of the Hellfire Club.
In both cases, Emma Frost’s diamond form is not presented as a secondary mutation that she developed from stress or telepathic unlocking but rather a natural ability. Despite this, First Class keeps the diamond form’s key weakness, with Frost unable to use her telepathic abilities while using her secondary power. Unsurprisingly, X-Men ’97 has, thus far, presented the most comic-accurate iteration of Emma Frost and her iconic secondary mutation.