Marvel’s animated series "X-Men '97" marks a triumphant return to the beloved '90s animated universe, blending nostalgia with fresh storytelling. Fans are treated to classic themes and characters, all while new narrative elements keep the story relevant and engaging. With the season finale fast approaching, it's clear that the stakes have never been higher. The series has delivered a compelling storyline through the first eight episodes, bringing back fan favorites like Magneto, Rogue, and Wolverine while introducing a new layer of complexity to their characters.

This article will delve deeply into the series up to episode 9, exploring how each episode builds the overarching storyline. We will dissect the penultimate episode, “Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 2,” highlighting major spoilers and Easter eggs before drawing parallels between the series and the comic book arcs that inspired it. Finally, we will theorize about what might unfold in the explosive series finale and what to expect in season 2. Warning: Spoilers ahead for episode 9 and potential spoilers for episode 10 and season 2!

Series Review Up to Episode 9

Marvel’s "X-Men '97," a revival of the beloved '90s animated series, picks up right where its predecessor left off, with a blend of classic nostalgia and new storytelling that appeals to fans old and new. Here’s a detailed review of how the series has progressed from episode 1 through episode 8.

Episodes 1-3: Loss and Legacy

The first three episodes set the tone for the series by exploring the aftermath of Charles Xavier’s departure from Earth and the leadership transition to Magneto instead of Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops.

Episode 1 - "Backlash": The X-Men face challenges from anti-mutant factions after the death of Gambit, a prominent member of their team. Magneto steps up as the new leader, creating a power vacuum and tension within the group.
Episode 2 - "Dangerous Decisions": Conflicts arise as Cyclops struggles with Magneto’s leadership style. The team grapples with a Wild Sentinel invasion of Genosha, a safe haven for mutants.
Episode 3 - "Fire Made Flesh": The focus shifts to the villain Mister Sinister, who uses Cable to create a rift between the X-Men, sowing distrust and chaos. Jean Grey and Cyclops’ relationship is tested as Jean confronts her clone Madelyne Pryor. In the comics, Madelyne Pryor first appeared in "Uncanny X-Men #168" as a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister, eventually becoming the Goblin Queen in the "Inferno" storyline (Uncanny X-Men #240-243).

Episodes 4-6: Rising Tensions and Shattered Dreams

These middle episodes showcase the unraveling of Xavier’s dream as Magneto’s methods and the rise of Bastion threaten mutantkind.

Episode 4 - "Remember It": Storm and Forge seek to reclaim Storm’s powers after she loses them in a battle against Sentinels. The episode ends with Storm regaining her abilities.
Episode 5 - "Return to Genosha": Magneto is betrayed by his trusted allies, and Genosha falls to Bastion's Prime Sentinels. Magneto barely escapes with Leech, who tragically dies, pushing Magneto further into hatred for humanity.
Episode 6 - "Resurgence": The X-Men regroup but face the threat of Bastion, who has taken control of key governments. Storm returns to the team in her new black costume, while Jean and Cyclops navigate rising tensions within the group.

Episodes 7-8: Unity and Conflict

The latter episodes intensify the internal and external conflicts as Xavier finally returns to Earth.

Episode 7 - "Dark Ambitions": Cyclops and Jean Grey lead a team to confront Bastion directly, while Wolverine and Rogue investigate the Brotherhood of Mutants. The team barely escapes after freeing Magneto from captivity.
Episode 8 - "A Reckoning": Charles Xavier crash lands at the X-Mansion and reassumes leadership. He gathers the X-Men to confront Magneto, who has unleashed an EMP across the globe, plunging the world into chaos.

Episode 9 Spoilers and Easter Eggs

Spoilers

Magneto’s Return to His Classic Costume: Magneto dons his iconic red and purple costume, complete with helmet, declaring war on humanity.
Formation of Blue and Gold Teams: Cyclops leads the Blue Team, consisting of Wolverine, Jubilee, Nightcrawler, and Xavier, while Storm and Jean lead the Gold Team of Beast, Forge, Cable, and Morph.
Asteroid M’s Resurrection: Magneto resurrects Asteroid M as a sanctuary for mutants and a staging ground for his war against humanity.
Magneto Confirms Leech's Death: He reveals that Leech, a young Morlock, died holding onto him during the Wild Sentinel attack on Genosha.
Rogue Joins Magneto: In a twist reminiscent of the "Fatal Attractions" storyline, Rogue joins Magneto following Gambit’s death.
Wolverine's Adamantium Ripped Out: Magneto rips the adamantium out of Wolverine’s body, leaving Logan gravely injured.
Onslaught Tease: Xavier’s mental assault on Magneto hints at the creation of Onslaught, a villain born from the psyches of both Xavier and Magneto.

Easter Eggs

Storm's New Costume in the Opening Credits: Storm’s title card reflects her new black costume.
Professor Xavier's Return: Xavier’s title card returns for the first time in the series.
Classic '90s Teams: The formation of Blue and Gold Teams is a nod to the classic comic lineups.
Morph Transforms into the Hulk: Morph transforms into the Incredible Hulk, confirming his existence in the animated Marvel Universe.
DeMayo's Diner: A reference to the series director Beau DeMayo.
Magneto's Wild Sentinel Throne: Magneto’s throne is fashioned from the remains of the Wild Sentinel that destroyed Genosha.

Parallels from the Comics

"X-Men '97" draws heavily from several iconic X-Men comic storylines:

Fatal Attractions (1993)

In "Fatal Attractions" (X-Men #25, Uncanny X-Men #304, Wolverine #75), Magneto’s actions lead to Wolverine’s adamantium being ripped from his body after he stabs Magneto. Xavier wipes Magneto’s mind, leading to the creation of Onslaught. In the series, episode 9 parallels this plotline with Magneto’s EMP and Xavier’s psychic attack.

Operation: Zero Tolerance (1997)

"Operation: Zero Tolerance" (Uncanny X-Men #346-349, X-Men #65-70) features Bastion’s plan to eradicate mutants using Prime Sentinels. The series closely mirrors this storyline, especially in the depiction of Bastion’s assault on Genosha.

E Is for Extinction (2001)

In Grant Morrison’s "E Is for Extinction" (New X-Men #114-116), Cassandra Nova unleashes a Sentinel army that decimates Genosha. The fall of Genosha in episode 5 echoes this grim storyline, complete with Magneto barely surviving.

Onslaught Saga (1996)

The Onslaught saga (X-Men #53-54, Uncanny X-Men #334-335) focuses on the emergence of Onslaught, a being born from the psyches of Xavier and Magneto. Episode 9 hints at this, with Xavier’s mental attack on Magneto potentially sowing the seeds of Onslaught’s creation.

Madelyne Pryor Arc (1983-1989)

The series explores the Madelyne Pryor arc through Mister Sinister’s manipulative schemes. In the comics, Madelyne Pryor first appeared in "Uncanny X-Men #168" and became the Goblin Queen in the "Inferno" storyline (Uncanny X-Men #240-243). In "X-Men '97," Jean Grey confronts Madelyne, highlighting the clone's role in disrupting Jean and Cyclops’ relationship.

Episode 10 and Season 2 Predictions

Episode 10 Predictions: Tying Up Loose Ends or Leaving Us Hanging?

The final episode of "X-Men '97," titled "Tolerance Is Extinction - Part 3," is poised to deliver an epic conclusion to the first season. Here’s what could transpire in episode 10:

X-Men vs. Bastion and Mr. Sinister Showdown: The X-Men will likely unite against Bastion and Mr. Sinister. Their combined forces, alongside the fractured mutant community, will have to face the genocidal threats of Bastion's Prime Sentinels and Sinister's sinister machinations.
Resolution of Xavier and Magneto's Conflict: Charles Xavier and Magneto’s philosophical differences have reached a boiling point. The finale could see Xavier attempt to bring Magneto back from the brink of war, or lead to a final showdown between them. This resolution may hint at the creation of Onslaught.
Wolverine's Recovery and Feral State: After Magneto's brutal attack in episode 9, Wolverine will likely be in a weakened state. Episode 10 could explore the aftermath of his injury, showing him at the mercy of his feral instincts or teasing his journey to recovery.
Magneto's Continued War Plans: Despite potential negotiations with Xavier, Magneto may proceed with his plan to form the Acolytes, setting up a lingering conflict that will carry into season 2.
Rogue and Magneto's Alliance: Rogue joining Magneto complicates the X-Men's dynamics. Her alliance with Magneto could remain strong in the finale, establishing an ongoing tension with the rest of the team.

While Marvel will likely provide some resolution to the season’s core conflicts, it’s expected that viewers will be left eagerly awaiting season 2. Key storylines, such as the rise of Onslaught, Wolverine’s feral journey, and Bastion’s lingering threat, will likely not be fully resolved, creating anticipation for the next chapter.

Season 2 Predictions:

Wolverine’s Feral Journey

In the comics, after losing his adamantium, Wolverine’s healing factor goes haywire, transforming him into a feral beast (Wolverine #75-90), he retreats into the wilderness, coming to terms with his identity and battling Lady Deathstrike, Cyber, and Sabretooth. "X-Men '97" could explore this journey, leading to a more primal Wolverine storyline in season 2.

Character Development During the Bone Claw Era

The "bone claw" era of Wolverine’s character development spans from "Wolverine #75" (1993) to "Wolverine #145" (1999). Here’s a closer look at how Logan's character evolved during this time:

Dealing with Trauma: After losing his adamantium to Magneto in "X-Men #25," Wolverine struggled with the psychological trauma of becoming a “mere mortal.” As his healing factor struggled to keep up with his wounds. Upon healing from the initial trauma of losing his adamantium, he became increasingly feral. The loss of his metal coating pushed Logan to rely more on his cunning and instincts.
Death of Cyber and Battles with Sabretooth:
- Cyber’s Death: In "Wolverine #95," Cyber is killed by the villain Genesis, who removes his adamantium skin in a plan to bond it to Wolverine’s skeleton. Genesis’ scheme ultimately fails, and Cyber dies as a result of his injuries.
- Sabretooth: In "Wolverine #90," Logan’s brutal confrontation with Sabretooth showed a darker side to his character. He defeated Sabretooth, leaving him severely wounded and without the ability to heal quickly.
Becoming a Horseman of Apocalypse:
- Wolverine is eventually captured by Apocalypse and brainwashed into becoming the Horseman of Death in "Wolverine #145-147." Apocalypse restores Logan’s adamantium skeleton to increase his fighting prowess. Wolverine eventually breaks free from Apocalypse’s control and returns to the X-Men.
Feral Evolution and Redemption:
- During this time, Wolverine becomes more primal, his healing factor enhancing his senses and physicality while also driving him closer to an animalistic state.
- Ultimately, this era allowed Wolverine to undergo significant personal growth, regaining his humanity and reaffirming his loyalty to the X-Men. His journey through ferality, redemption, and struggle against Apocalypse laid the groundwork for future storylines involving his past and identity.

The bone claw era lasted six years in real-world time (1993-1999), spanning pivotal storylines that deeply influenced Wolverine's character development

Onslaught’s Rise an Important Storyline in the Comics

The rise of Onslaught in Marvel Comics is a landmark event that changed the landscape of the Marvel Universe. The storyline begins with "X-Men #53" and "Uncanny X-Men #334," where hints of the powerful villain emerge as Charles Xavier's darker psyche starts to merge with Magneto’s following Xavier's psychic attack on Magneto in "Fatal Attractions" (X-Men #25). This melding gives birth to Onslaught, a malevolent entity with the combined abilities of both Xavier and Magneto.

The story picks up momentum with the "Onslaught: X-Men" one-shot, where Onslaught reveals his intentions to conquer humanity and begins by imprisoning Franklin Richards, the son of Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Sue Storm (Invisible Woman). This act leads to the involvement of the Fantastic Four and other heroes. The arc unfolds across multiple series, including:

X-Men Titles:
- "X-Men #53-54"
- "Uncanny X-Men #334-336"
- "Cable #34-36"
Avengers Titles:
- "Avengers #401-402"
- "Fantastic Four #415"
- "Iron Man #332"
Crossovers and Miniseries:
- "Onslaught: Marvel Universe"
- "Onslaught: Epilogue"
- "X-Men: Road to Onslaught"
- "Incredible Hulk #444-445"

In these issues, Onslaught amasses an army of Sentinels and launches an attack on New York City, bringing the X-Men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four together. The culmination of the arc in "Onslaught: Marvel Universe" sees the non-mutant heroes—including the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hulk, and others—sacrifice themselves to weaken Onslaught and ultimately destroy him. This act leads to the "Heroes Reborn" storyline, where the heroes are reborn in a parallel universe.

The event significantly impacts characters like Franklin Richards and Nate Grey (X-Man), Omega Level Mutants who both play key roles in fighting Onslaught. In the aftermath, Marvel explores the fallout through series like "Onslaught: Epilogue" and "Heroes Reborn."

Magneto’s Continued War

With Rogue by his side, Magneto will likely continue his war against humanity, possibly forming the Acolytes, as seen in "Fatal Attractions" (Uncanny X-Men #304). This would further divide the mutant community, creating internal conflict for the X-Men.

Bastion’s Final Assault

Despite Magneto’s EMP, Bastion’s Prime Sentinels could regroup for a final assault, as in "Operation: Zero Tolerance" (Uncanny X-Men #346-349). The X-Men will need to unite to stop this genocidal plan.

Conclusion

"X-Men '97" has masterfully balanced nostalgia with modern storytelling, making it a compelling series that appeals to a broad audience. With the season finale and a second season already confirmed, the series promises to delve deeper into the rich X-Men mythology, exploring the complex relationships and conflicts that have made these characters iconic. Whether it’s Wolverine’s feral journey, the rise of Onslaught, or Magneto’s continued war, "X-Men '97" remains a thrilling entry in Marvel’s animated universe.

"X-Men '97": Episode 9 Review, Easter Eggs, Predictions for the Finale & Season 2