Several members of the Avengers team in the MCU have already made cameo appearances in X-Men ’97, and more cameos are expected for the series’ future. Premiering on March 20, 2024, Marvel Studios Animation’s X-Men ’97 continues the story of X-Men: The Animated Series, which previously ran for five seasons between 1992 and 1997. The Animated Series’ X-Men team, including the likes of Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Beast, Morph, Gambit and Rogue, among others, returned in X-Men ’97, but they have also been joined by some familiar faces, some of whom have been featured on the MCU’s Avengers team.
Cameos from Marvel heroes outside the main X-Men team were always an important fixture in X-Men: The Animated Series, and this has thankfully continued in the X-Men ’97 revival. So far, only a handful of other heroes have appeared briefly in X-Men ’97, but these appearances have helped to solidify X-Men ’97 as a brilliant addition to the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, despite not being connected to the MCU’s wider storylines at all. Major cameo appearances were teased prior to X-Men ’97’s premiere, and it’s been great to see these hints pay off throughout the series, though even more are expected.
Marvel Comics’ Quicksilver is perhaps more closely associated with the X-Men, having been a mutant for decades before this was retconned in a 2015 storyline. Quicksilver and his sister, the Scarlet Witch, have also been prominent members of the Avengers, joining in 1965. The pair, portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen, joined the MCU’s Avengers in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, though Quicksilver’s appearance was short-lived as he sacrificed himself to save Hawkeye. While Quicksilver himself hasn’t appeared in X-Men ’97 yet, Morph transformed into the speedster superhero in episode 7, “Bright Eyes,” to battle Bolivar Trask’s Prime Sentinel.
While Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch haven’t actually appeared in X-Men ’97 yet, it’s very possible that the series could still feature these two iconic Marvel characters. X-Men: The Animated Series confirmed that Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are the children of Magneto, and the Master of Magnetism has had a massive role in X-Men ’97 as the leader of the X-Men team. Magneto’s increased role, and potentially-dark twist in episode 8, “Tolerance is Extinction – Part 1,” suggests his children could appear alongside him, bringing the animated versions of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch back into the popular series.
Similarly to Quicksilver, Bruce Banner’s Hulk hasn’t actually appeared in person in X-Men ’97, but he has been confirmed to exist in the universe of the animated series. The Hulk was a founding member of both Marvel Comics’ Avengers team in 1963 and the MCU’s Avengers team in 2012, and has become one of Marvel’s most recognizable and popular superheroes in the years since his debut. In X-Men ’97 episode 7, “Bright Eyes,” General Ross, voiced by What If…? voice actor Michael Patrick McGill, revealed he and his soldiers were holed up in a room designed to hold the Hulk.
There is precedent for the Hulk to still make an appearance in X-Men ’97, as he previously made a cameo appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series. However, instead of appearing in person, the Hulk was depicted as a holographic Danger Room simulation designed to take on the Juggernaut during the villain’s attack on the X-Mansion. Dr. Bruce Banner’s Hulk had a larger role in Marvel’s other animated shows during the 1990s, but seeing a savage version of the Hulk return in X-Men ’97 could help to quell audience concerns that the powerful hero has been “nerfed” in the live-action MCU.
X-Men ’97 episode 8, “Tolerance is Extinction – Part 1,” featured many cameos from a wide range of Marvel characters, but by far the most exciting was Spider-Man. Peter Parker’s Spider-Man joined Marvel Comics’ Avengers in 1991, but has had a much more crucial role in the MCU’s Avengers team since Tom Holland’s debut in Captain America: Civil War. Spider-Man’s appearance in X-Men ’97 episode 8, during Magneto’s electromagnetic attack on the Prime Sentinels, teased a bigger role for the wall-crawler in X-Men ’97’s finale, but could also have hinted at calls from Spider-Man: The Animated Series fans being answered.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series saw Christopher Daniel Barnes voice the titular Peter Parker between 1994 and 1998, running concurrently to X-Men: The Animated Series. Spider-Man and the X-Men crossed over into each other’s shows on several occasions, so the announcement that X-Men: The Animated Series would be revived led to speculation that Marvel’s other animated shows could be, too. Many want to see something along the lines of Spider-Man ’98 be produced by Marvel Studios Animation, and while nothing has yet been confirmed, Spider-Man’s cameo appearance in X-Men ’97 could hint at this hoped-for series actually being put into development.
Although Doctor Strange hasn’t yet appeared in person in X-Men ’97, episode 8, “Tolerance is Extinction – Part 1,” saw Beast mention the Masters of the Mystic Arts. Doctor Strange didn’t join Marvel Comics’ Avengers until 2010, but proved crucial to the titular team’s mission in the MCU’s live-action Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, making his potential appearance in X-Men ’97 even more exciting. Doctor Strange previously made several brief appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series, but Beast’s mention of the Masters of the Mystic Arts and Kamar-Taj could tease Doctor Strange and Wong’s return in X-Men ’97’s upcoming episodes.
X-Men ’97 episode 8, “Tolerance is Extinction – Part 1,” saw Cable reveal more about his appearance in the moments before the attack on Genosha. Although he had tried to stop the attack, he failed time and again. Beast explained that he couldn’t alter the events of X-Men ’97 episode 5, “Remember It,” as the attack on Genosha is an Absolute Point in time. This concept was first heard in Marvel Studios’ What If…?, as Christine Palmer’s death was an Absolute Point. Doctor Strange transformed into Strange Supreme to save Christine, but breaking this Absolute Point destroyed his entire universe.
Tony Stark’s Iron Man is one of the most beloved superheroes in Marvel’s history, thanks in part to Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of the hero in the MCU. Despite being so prominent, Iron Man hasn’t been seen or spoken about at all in X-Men ’97, but episode 8, “Tolerance is Extinction – Part 1,” included a tease that the superhero exists in X-Men ’97’s world. Jean Grey, Cyclops and Cable find a box of toys in Bastion’s childhood home in X-Men ’97 episode 8, and among these belongings is a poster promoting the Stark Expo, proving Iron Man is around.
Although Tony Stark’s Iron Man appeared in several other animated shows during the 1990s, including Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk and his own Iron Man animated series, the hero never made an appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series. Back in the 1990s, Iron Man wasn’t one of the most popular Marvel Comics heroes, which perhaps didn’t constitute an appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series. However, Tony Stark’s increased popularity following Robert Downey Jr.’s depiction of Iron Man means he is more likely to show up during X-Men ’97, which could perhaps even reunite him with Peter Parker’s Spider-Man.
The most prominent appearance of an Avenger in X-Men ’97 came during episode 7, “Bright Eyes,” when Steve Rogers’ Captain America intercepted Rogue on her mission to hunt down Henry Gyrich and Bolivar Trask. While other Avengers have only briefly been seen, or have simply been mentioned in passing, Captain America had a key role in X-Men ’97, as he provided Rogue with crucial information for her mission. He also urged her to stop, however, and refused to directly help her, as her anger was drawing too much attention, perhaps setting up a conflict between the Avengers and the X-Men.
While urging Rogue to stop hunting Gyrich and Trask, Captain America suggests that his “team” would be better suited for bringing in the villains. While unconfirmed, it’s very possible that this team is, in fact, the Avengers, which could set up even more superhero cameos in X-Men ’97’s upcoming episodes. Some have theorized this could be laying the foundation for X-Men ’97’s adaptation of Avengers vs. X-Men, though it may take some time for this event to be set up properly. In the meantime, X-Men ’97’s finale may feature Captain America’s return as the leader of the full Avengers team.
Many Avengers from Marvel Comics have previously made cameo appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series and Marvel’s other animated shows in the ’90s, meaning it’s possible the Avengers could return in X-Men ’97. As well as Captain America, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Doctor Strange and the Hulk, this could include Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel, perhaps as Captain Marvel now, Daredevil, Thor, the Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Vision, War Machine, She-Hulk and many more. These potential cameo appearances in X-Men ’97 could make the series’ highly-anticipated final two episodes the most star-studded adventure for the animated X-Men and Avengers teams.