By Chris Snellgrove | Published
When X-Men ’97 it started, it went in like a wrecking ball. At the time, superhero fatigue was so bad that many fans were worried whether Marvel (whose live-action films had already been a hit) still had the juice to create something amazing. Know that this was a revival of a very popular ’90s cartoon, and we were all terrified that the writers and illustrators would drop the ball and ruin an iconic part of our childhood. Fortunately, we had nothing to worry about: X-Men ’97 Season 1 was the best thing Marvel has done in years, providing episode after episode of stunning perfection.
In fact, it’s only a bad thing X-Men ’97 it was more of a wait. After the last episode aired back in 2024, we had to sit back and wait a few years for another season. It’s been a long wait, but I’m happy to report that it was worth it. The first three episodes of X-Men ’97 Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+, and the show picks up right where it left off, with half of the team stuck in the past and the other stuck in the future. Each episode raises the bar for superhero storytelling with epic episodes and some of the best character building in modern television.
When the Past Strikes Back
The layout of X-Men ’97 Season 2 begins with one part of the team (including Cyclops, Jean Grey, Morph, and Wolverine) thrown into a dystopian journey where the Apocalypse reigns supreme. There, they try to help young Nathan Summers (who has grown up to be Cable), fight the forces of the Apocalypse, and return home. Meanwhile, the rest of the team (including Professor X, Magneto, Nightcrawler, and Beast) is thrown into ancient Egypt, where Apocalypse is a traitor fighting a tyrant. There, Magneto gives him lessons about fighting the oppressors, which could lead to a revolutionary Golden Age or a brutal, endless Age of Apocalypse.
As you can imagine, both teams of X-Men are very smart, and they make allies that help them in their struggle to find (as Bishop says with recollection) “a return to the 90s.” But they also have a little help: Forge jumps into the future to help Cyclops and Jean’s team while Bishop jumps into the past to help Professor X and Magneto’s team. The real wild card is Cable, who makes up his X-Force team that includes himself, Psylocke, Archangel, Sunspot, and Jubilee. They investigate the Apocalypse in the present day, but encounter an unexpected enemy: X-Factor, a government-sanctioned mutant team led by Cyclops’ brother.
Redefining Future Shock
Love X-Men ’97 Season 1, Season 2 does a great job of wrapping comic book storylines into animated continuity in new and exciting ways. For example, the X-Force and X-Factor teams in this show will look familiar to any fan of the ’90s X-Men comics, but they have different origins, both formed due to the events of the previous season. IX-Factor is the government’s response to the disappearance of the X-Men, basically filling the void with their simple team of super-powered mutants. IX-Force is an action-packed, cable game that brings together a team with a mix of knowledge and skills needed to strike the Apocalypse when it least expects it.
There are other big nods to various eras of the X-Men comics, including Wolverine wearing the same evil bandana he wore in the comics after the adamantium was removed from his bones. Lots of young changes introduced to Grant Morrison’s New X-Men make appearances, including Quentin Quire and the Cuckoos. As predicted, future scenes get a lot of inspiration The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix miniseries, and the previous scenes are very interesting Rise of the Apocalypse miniseries. Fortunately, everything on screen makes sense in context, meaning you can easily follow along even if you’ve never read any of these comics.
Where Good Animation Meets Deadly Voice Killing
The word that works within X-Men ’97 Season 2 remains the best. The returning cast does a great job, but it’s arguably the newcomers who stand out the most. For example, Michael Johnston (of Infatuation fame) is excellent as Nathan Summers. Meanwhile, the new Big Bad has two perfect voice actors: Ross Marquand voices the growing Apocalypse from the future, while Adetokomboh M’Cormack voices a younger version, accompanied by En Sabah Nur. As for the returning cast, I’m impressed with Chris Potter’s Cable, and I wouldn’t be a gamer if I didn’t give a shout out to Jean Gray voice actress Jennifer Hale (she always will be. mine Commander Shepard).
In short, X-Men ’97 Season 2 is a more than worthy follow-up to Season 1. It’s firing on all cylinders, featuring beautiful animation and writing that truly honors these mutants and their twisted antics. The voice acting is fantastic, and each episode leaves you wanting more. The first three episodes are out now on Disney+; starting next week, the broadcaster will release one episode at a time. That can be frustrating if you’re a hobbyist. Trust me, though: this new season of X-Men ’97 is definitely it is worth the taste.
