Only one week left until the end of X-Men ’97 and based on what we saw happen in this penultimate episode, the ninth of the season, we are not prepared for what may be coming.
For those who read the comics, the events that happened during the clash between the group led by Xavier and Magneto had already been outlined since last week, but now it seems that they are being confirmed, especially with Wolverine’s fate at the end of the episode. No one is safe and other X-Men suffer from this.
Xavier’s return in X-Men ’97
At the end of the eighth episode, seeing what is happening on Earth, Charles Xavier returns and summons his X-Men. The professor then seeks out President Kelly and asks him to trust the X-Men to defeat Magneto and put an end to the blackout that he is causing on the planet.
Magneto brings back Asteroid M and invites the X-Men to stay with him there, since, according to him, Xavier might abandon them again. Rogue remembers what happened in Genosha and switches sides. She is followed by Roberto, Sunspot, who was betrayed by his own mother.
Xavier’s plan is to divide the group into two groups, Blue and Gold, so that one goes after Bastion and Mr. Sinister and the other after Magneto.
Jean Grey’s sacrifice and Cable’s real power
In combat, Jean Gray fights Mister Sinister outside the Bastion base. She is attacked by Cable, who is mind-controlled by the villain. Although the heroine manages to withstand the explosions caused by Scott’s son’s weapons and tries to convince him that his mind is possessed, Nathan reveals that he also has powerful psychic activities like his mother, Madelyn Prior.
Without much to escape, Jean links her mind with Cyclops and tells him she loves him. Moments later she disappears into the energy released by Cabelo. The clash between the two is pure anime and has one of the best visuals of the entire first season.
The big question is: did Jean die? Moments after the scene, Scott states that the group trying to defeat Bastion needs more time. Does he still feel her presence or is this just another act of hope from the X-Men leader?
Magneto x Wolverine: Fatal Attraction
It is at this moment, when Scott shoots his energy beam at Professor Xavier, so that he stops attacking Magneto, that the most shocking scene of the episode takes place.
On Asteroid M, Charles tries to reason with his former friend so he can end the blackout on Earth, but the conversation is in vain. During the clash between the two, Wolverine ends up managing to take off Magneto’s helmet and then Xavier attacks his mind to defeat Magnus once and for all. It is at this time, right after Jean’s possible death that Cyclops shoots the Professor. You can see the shock in Scott’s eyes when he saw what Xavier was doing to the villain.
Magneto puts the helmet on Charles, so he can’t use his powers, and says, “You’re a traitor to your race.” It is at this moment that Wolverine sticks three claws into the Master of Magnetism’s back, stabbing him in the back. “Logan, this fight has finally come to an end,” says Magneto before using his powers on Wolverine and violently ripping out all the adamantium from his body.
The final scene of the episode is a direct reference to the Fatal Attraction arc from the comics, but Logan counted on Jean’s help so that her healing factor could help him recover. With her possible death, will the X-Men survive?
New Avenger uniforms and Easter eggs
As indicated in the episode’s teaser clip, the X-Men started using new uniforms, once they went to the base on Muir Island, as the Xavier Mansion had been destroyed.
Logan wears the Wolverine costume inspired by his look from the Uncanny X-Men comics, while Cyclops and Jean wear the classic uniforms. Jubilee wears the outfit he bought in the last episode, along with his yellow jumpsuit. Cable also gets new clothes, complete with the joke: “What did you expect? Black Leather?”, a reference to dialogue from the 2000 X-Men film.
Another good reference in the episode is Metamorpho transforming into the Hulk. This is another Avenger who appears in this first season. Could this mean something for the future of the series or even for the finale next week? We’ll find out in a week.
X-Men 97 brings back classic characters like Cyclops, Jean Gray and Wolverine. In addition to these, we have the return of Beast, Gambit, Jubilee, the Brazilian mutant Sunspot, Morfo, Storm, Vampir and Magneto, who will be the team leader. Forge, Nightcrawler and Cable, also confirmed as part of the cartoon, are absent, as is the villain Mr. Sinister.
The production will continue the story of X-Men: The Animated Series, a classic cartoon from the 1990s, with the presence of members of the original cast returning. Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Adrian Hough, Christopher Britton, Catherine Disher, Chris Potter, Alison Sealy-Smith and Alyson Court will return.
Jennifer Hale, Anniwaa Buachie, Ray Chase, Matthew Waterson, JP Karliak, Holly Chou, Jeff Bennett, AJ LoCascio are also in the cast of the series, produced by Beau DeMayo and Charley Feldman, and directed by Jake Castorena.
Writers Eric and Julia Lewald, and director Larry Houston, all from the original series, will be consultants on the revival. The project is made by Marvel Studios.
The story of X-Men 97 takes place a few months after the end of the original series, whose conclusion shows Professor Xavier leaving Earth to return to the Shi’ar world and be with Lilandra, after suffering an assassination attempt, being shot by Henry Gyrich. Despite this hope, Xavier apparently died in space, and the X-Men need a new leader. As a result of his death, a moment of sympathy arises between humans and mutants, and within this new era, Nathaniel Essex, Mr. Sinister, comes up with a plan to destroy the team once and for all.
X-Men: The Animated Series is available on Disney+, where X-Men 97 has been showing since March 20.
Tags: XMen Penultimate chapter shows prepared
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