Warning: This article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 season 1.
Many burning questions were left unanswered at the end of X-Men ’97 season 1. Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 series on Disney+ continued the story of X-Men: The Animated Series, which previously ran for five seasons between 1992 and 1997, catching up with the X-Men team roughly a year after Professor X departed Earth to seek a cure for his ailment among the Shi’ar Empire. X-Men ’97’s ten-episode first season is widely regarded as one of Marvel Studios’ strongest projects, raising excitement for the X-Men’s live-action debut in the MCU, and making the upcoming X-Men ’97 season 2 even more highly-anticipated.
Premiering on March 20, 2024, X-Men ’97 hit the ground running, reintroducing the X-Men team from X-Men: The Animated Series in a vibrant new animation style, and pitting the team against some of Marvel’s most iconic X-Men villains. X-Men ’97 season 1 concluded with an epic three-part finale on May 15, 2024, which saw the X-Men battle both Magneto and Bastion, before being separated and displaced into different time periods of the past, present, and future. X-Men ’97 season 1’s ending set the stage perfectly for X-Men ’97 season 2, creating some huge mysteries and leaving many massive questions unanswered.
For the first two episodes of X-Men ’97, a newly-pregnant Jean Grey fought alongside her X-Men team members, probing Henry Gyrich’s mind using Cerebro in episode 1. However, X-Men ’97 episode 2 saw Jean Grey preoccupied with her labor and birth of her and Scott Summers’ son, Nathan. The end of X-Men ’97 episode 2 surprisingly saw a second Jean Grey arrive at the X-Mansion, and this supposed impostor was revealed to be the real Jean in episode 3, “Fire Made Flesh.”
“Fire Made Flesh” revealed that Jean had, at some point, been replaced with a clone created by Mister Sinister. Sinister planned for Jean’s clone and Cyclops to birth a child that he abducted and infected with a techno-organic virus. While Jean’s clone, Madelyne Pryor, broke free from Sinister’s control, it’s still unclear exactly when this swap occurred, meaning Jean Grey may not have been herself for several years.
Unlike in 20th Century Fox’s live-action X-Men franchise, X-Men ’97 all but sidelined Wolverine for most of the series. The clawed mutant was the subject of some powerful moments, however, most notably one at the end of X-Men ’97 episode 9, “Tolerance is Extinction – Part 2,” which saw him attempt to kill the now-villainous Magneto. Magneto survived this attack, but turned the tables, and proceeded to tear the adamantium out of Wolverine’s body, leaving the X-Men member seriously injured.
Wolverine was comatose for the entirety of X-Men ’97 episode 10, calling into question whether he will actually survive Magneto’s brutal attack. In Marvel Comics, Magneto removes the adamantium from Wolverine’s skeleton in 1993’s Fatal Attractions storyline, and Wolverine eventually awakens with his bone claws reinstated, thanks to his regenerative healing ability. This could occur in X-Men ’97 season 2, though Wolverine’s true fate will remain a question until then.
After being absent for the majority of X-Men ’97 season 1, Professor X was later revealed to be recovering among the Shi’ar Empire in episode 6, “Lifedeath – Part 2.” Once he learned of the attack on Genosha, Professor X returned to Earth just in time to witness Magneto sending an electromagnetic pulse around the world. This action marked Magneto’s declaration of war on humanity, bringing him and Professor X back at odds.
During Magneto’s attack in X-Men ’97 episode 9, Professor X tried to take control of his powerful mind, though he was blocked. Episode 10, however, saw Professor X being successful in this invasion, but this could have allowed the darkest corners of his and Magneto’s minds to combine into Onslaught, just as it does in Marvel Comics. Onslaught would make a formidable villain in X-Men ’97’s future seasons, but it’s unclear whether he has actually been created.
X-Men ’97 episode 10 ended with Magneto sending Asteroid M back into space, only for his former base of operations to mysteriously explode, sending the X-Men members aboard throughout time. Cyclops and Jean Grey found themselves in the distant future, where they met the Clan Askani and a young Nathan Summers, while Rogue, Nightcrawler, Beast, Professor X, and Magneto ended up in Ancient Egypt, crossing paths with En Sabah Nur, the future Apocalypse.
Separating the X-Men throughout time has laid the foundations for several storylines to be explored in X-Men ’97 season 2. However, it remains to be seen exactly why this happened, as this could all be a part of Apocalypse’s great plan, or even because of some cosmic intervention aboard Asteroid M. How the X-Men traveled in time, and what adventures they’ll embark on in their new time periods, will surely be revealed in X-Men ’97 season 2.
The time traveler Cable had a major role in X-Men ’97’s three-part finale, as he was revealed to have traveled back in time to prevent Bastion’s Operation: Zero Tolerance. This wasn’t the first time Cable had been seen in the series, as X-Men ’97 episode 2 featured the character’s birth, as Cable is the adult version of Nathan Summers, Scott Summers and Madelyne Pryor’s son. Nathan Summers’ evolution into Cable has never been revealed, however, but X-Men ’97 season 2 could finally provide this information.
X-Men ’97 episode 10 ended with Cyclops and Jean Grey traveling to the year 3960 AD, where they met the Clan Askani and a young Nathan Summers. This young version of their son already had his metal arm, perhaps a side effect of the techno-organic virus that Mister Sinister infected him with. However, X-Men ’97 season 2 may finally feature Nathan’s full evolution into Cable.
While most of the X-Men were shown to be in different time periods at the end of X-Men ’97 season 1’s epic finale, the whereabouts of three members of the team haven’t been revealed. Cyclops and Jean Grey are in the future, while Rogue, Nightcrawler, Beast, Professor X, and Magneto are in the past, but it’s unclear where, or when, Storm, Morph, and Wolverine are. This is something that X-Men ’97 absolutely needs to address.
At the time of Asteroid M’s explosion, all three were aboard, with Wolverine still comatose, Morph at his bedside, and Storm having been attempting to slow the asteroid’s plummet to Earth. This means the trio have likely been sent to another time, similarly to their X-Men teammates, but it is unclear where they might have ended up. Presumably, they’re in another time connected to Apocalypse, but only X-Men ’97 season 2 can answer this question.
Neither the Scarlet Witch nor Quicksilver appeared properly in X-Men ’97, though images of the Maximoff twins did appear on Forge’s board of mutants at the end of X-Men ’97 episode 10. Six months after the disappearance of the X-Men, Forge compiled a board of known mutants, including the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, but while many were presumed dead, Magneto’s children were labeled as being “off world,” raising the question as to where exactly the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver might be.
During Professor X’s invasion of Magneto’s mind in X-Men ’97’s finale, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver appeared in his visions. This, along with the twins’ appearance on Forge’s board, hints at a bigger role for them in the future, though their whereabouts are still unknown. One theory suggests they may be in the Inhuman city of Attilan on the moon, teasing the Inhumans’ debut in X-Men ’97 season 2.
Alongside the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and the presumed dead members of the X-Men on Forge’s board in X-Men ’97 episode 10 were eight new mutant characters with no labels whatsoever. These characters have been theorized to potentially form a new X-Men team in X-Men ’97 season 2, led by Forge and the time traveler Bishop. This new team, comprising Magik, Colossus, Shadowcat, Emma Frost, Exodus, Dust, Iceman, and Havok, could help to save the original X-Men team in the future.
The appearance of these names on Forge’s board could, of course, simply be Easter eggs to the wider world of X-Men ’97’s animated universe. However, Bishop seems to hint at Forge recruiting these characters for a new X-Men team. Only time will tell if these characters actually come together, particularly since some, including Emma Frost and Exodus, are villains, so this could lead to exciting developments in X-Men ’97’s future.
X-Men ’97 season 1’s finale overtly set up the ancient villain Apocalypse as the primary antagonist of X-Men ’97 season 2. The X-Men in Ancient Egypt met a young En Sabah Nur, while the Clan Askani formed in the future to battle the villain in their own time period. Apocalypse was also shown in the present day, scouring through the rubble of Genosha before coming across a playing card that once belonged to fallen X-Men member Gambit. The villain must be planning something for season 2, but it’s unclear exactly what.