Warning: Contains SPOILERS for X-Men ‘97 #4! X-Men ‘97 is the groundbreaking continuation of the classic ‘90s animated series, as the character developments of every major X-Men hero and villain were utterly superb – including and especially Magneto. However, the show left one question lingering in regard to the Master of Magnetism: how did he get Xavier’s will? While it was implied that Magneto was simply contacted by Xavier’s attorney since he was named in his will, it turns out that wasn’t the case, as the real answer links a surprise villain.
In X-Men ‘97 #4 by Steve Foxe and Salva Espín, the X-Men are holding a baby shower for Jean and Scott at the Grey family house, when they are attacked by the Marauders. The gang of villainous mutants want to make the X-Men pay for defeating them in the previous issue, while also attempting to prove to their master, Mr. Sinister, that they’re still valuable servants.
In the end, the X-Men defeat the Marauders and go back to celebrating the parents-to-be, marking the end of the Marauders’ threat level (which is why fans didn’t see them in the X-Men ‘97 animated series). However, before this climactic prequel miniseries comes to an official close, the book leaves fans with the answer to how Magneto got ahold of Xavier’s will: the Hellfire Club gave it to him.
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X-Men ‘97 Creates More Mystery Surrounding Magneto Taking Over the X-Men
As previously mentioned, Magneto getting his hands on a copy of Xavier’s will wouldn’t have been hard, especially if Xavier wanted him to have it (indeed, he left Magnus the X-Mansion and the X-Men, so it’s a safe bet he wanted him to have it). However, by throwing the Hellfire Club into the mix, Marvel has muddled up what was otherwise a pretty straightforward plot point. The question is, why?
What was the Hellfire Club doing with Professor X’s documents? It’s not as though Xavier trusted them, which means Emma Frost and Sabastian Shaw obtained Xavier’s will against Charles’ wishes, and only in the hopes that it would serve their own purposes. So, why, then, did they just give it to Magneto, who likely would have gotten the will anyway? Well, upon looking back at the X-Men ‘97 animated series, the answer might be staring fans in the face.
The Hellfire Club Wanted to Ensure Magneto Led the X-Men for 1 Reason: Genosha
It seems the most logical reason why the Hellfire Club had Xavier’s will was to use it to serve their own needs one way or another. But then, after reading it and finding that Xavier left everything to Magneto, the Hellfire Club quickly ensured that Magneto got it. Magneto could ignore lawyers, but he would be forced to listen to the Hellfire Club, and they wanted Magneto to become the leader of the X-Men right away, so that there’d be no opposition upon forming the mutant safe haven of Genosha.
Shaw and Frost were two members of Genosha’s governing body, both of whom represented the Hellfire Club, which had a vested interest in establishing this mutant nation. The Hellfire Club needed to make sure Magneto was on board, as they couldn’t afford any wild-card mutants floating around – and that’s exactly what Xavier’s will did for them. Of course, that’s just the best guess, since the comic doesn’t go into that great detail. But what it does do is reveal how Magneto discovered Xavier’s will in X-Men ‘97, as well as this shocking link to the Hellfire Club.
X-Men ‘97 #4 by Marvel Comics is available now.
