Warning! This article contains major spoilers for X-Men ’97 episode 7.
X-Men ’97 episode 7 revealed that a major character survived previous events, begging the question of how this is possible. The ending of X-Men ’97 episode 6 teased that Charles Xavier was returning to Earth, though the show picked up with the other X-Men in the aftermath of Genosha’s massacre. Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean, Rogue, and the other members of the team were shown aiding the people of Genosha while hunting down Bolivar Trask to find out who was responsible for the deaths of X-Men ’97 episode 5.
With such a vital story being told, X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending possessed shocking reveals. For one, it was confirmed that Mister Sinister was not the sole perpetrator of Genosha’s attack. X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending included Bastion, a common Marvel Comics villain who created the Prime Sentinels to defeat the X-Men. Bastion’s plan, and the Prime Sentinels, were all part of X-Men ’97‘s story, as was the shocking reveal that a character thought dead is actually alive.
At the end of X-Men ’97 episode 7, Bastion tells Mister Sinister that he is keeping a secret. It is quickly revealed that this secret is Magneto, shown to be imprisoned by Bastion, and restrained by a power-dampening collar. This confirms that Magneto did not die in X-Men ’97 episode 5 as many thought. In the episode, Bastion is shown preparing Magneto for the next stage of the former’s plan, teasing dark proceedings for X-Men ’97‘s three-part season 1 finale.
Bastion explains to Magneto that heat can soften things down, including human skin follicles. Bastion says that this allows things to be much easier once he has to get to work, meaning his creation of Prime Sentinels using human hosts. The scene is admittedly creepy in tone, giving Bastion an incredibly threatening demeanor over a mutant as powerful as Magneto.
Another burning question about Magneto after his survival was confirmed in X-Men ’97 episode 7 is what Bastion wants him for. The answer to this question is likely a dark one, linking to Bastion’s Prime Sentinels. In Marvel Comics, the Prime Sentinels are essentially sleeper agents who have no idea of their nature until activated by a nanotech implant. In X-Men ’97, Bastion could turn Magneto into one of these Prime Sentinels, sending him back to the X-Mansion before unleashing his abilities on the team.
This would make for a formidable foe, combining the technological prowess of the Prime Sentinels with the Omega-level abilities of Magneto. On an even darker note, Bastion could use Magneto to create another X-Men villain, linked to Charles Xavier. X-Men ’97 showed Bastion taking an interest in Xavier, potentially hinting that Onslaught could be featured in the show. Onslaught is a psychic being that had the combined abilities of Charles and Magneto in the comics. X-Men ’97 could change his origin somewhat, making Onslaught a Sentinel that combines the two powerful mutants’ abilities.
This reveal at the end of X-Men ’97 episode 7 naturally raises the question of how Magneto survived the attack on Genosha. The ending of X-Men ’97 episode 5 saw Magneto and the Morlocks targeted by the giant Sentinel. The Sentinel seemingly exploded Magneto and the Morlocks, even stating that an Omega-level mutant had been terminated. This implied Magneto had been killed, though X-Men ’97 episode 7 revealed this was all part of Bastion’s plan.
As is now known, Bastion has control over the Sentinels in X-Men ’97‘s universe. Bastion wanted the X-Men to believe Magneto was dead, only to capture him for his sinister plans. As such, it is likely that Bastion controlled the Sentinel, simulated the explosion, and captured Magneto in the ensuing chaos. The common theory that the Morlocks, particularly Leech, saved Magneto is likely not true as a result, especially with Leech’s fate being unknown after X-Men ’97 episode 7.
Despite Magneto’s survival serving as a shocking twist in X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending, the previous installment hinted that this was the case. In X-Men ’97 episode 6, Charles Xavier was shown living among the Shi’ar. At one point, Charles used his telepathic powers to induct the Shi’ar leadership into a vision that simulated a classroom. However, Charles’ vision turned sour, with his psychic abilities warning him of the tragedies that have recently taken place on Earth, such as Genosha’s attack.
This vision was manifested by the Shi’ar people in Charles’ lesson turning into skeletons. Eventually, a giant Gambit skeleton appeared above Charles, prompting the former leader of the X-Men to return to Earth. Interestingly, this vision did not include Magneto’s skeleton. With Magneto and Charles having such a strong bond, one would think the latter’s psychic abilities would warn him of the former’s death as well as Gambit’s. The fact that Magneto was not present in this vision implied he was alive, as was confirmed by X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending.