Marvel Just Outdid A Notorious 30 Year Old X-Men Death To Repeat A Story-Telling Trick

Warning! This article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 episodes 1 & 2.

X-Men ’97 has outdone X-Men: The Animated Series’s tragic first episode with a narrative device that establishes the show’s whole tone. Marvel’s X-Men ’97 released two episodes on Disney+ when it debuted on March 20, 2024. These episodes, in many ways, mirror X-Men: The Animated Series two-part opening, “Night of the Sentinels: Part 1 & 2,” with potentially far greater consequences.

X-Men ’97 is a revival of the classic 1990s X-Men: The Animated Series, bringing back the classic line-up and recommencing the narrative just months after it originally concluded in 1997. X-Men ’97 has been glowingly reviewed, boasting a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, with a second season of X-Men ’97 already confirmed. Much of this success is based on its debut episodes, “To Me, My X-Men” and “Mutant Liberation Begins,” which have built upon the original show’s impressive legacy to craft a perfect modern update.

X-Men ’97 Copied Morph’s Death But Made It Even Bigger

Storm Losing Her Powers Functions In The Same Way As Morph’s Death

Storm losing her powers in X-Men ’97 season 1, episode 2, “Mutant Liberation Begins,” mirrors the tragic death of Morph in the first episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, “Night of the Sentinels.” Morph’s death was a pivotal moment, signaling the show’s commitment to serious storytelling. His demise served as a stark reminder that no characters, not even mutants, were safe from the perils they faced. It shattered the illusion of invincibility, adding depth to the series by exploring themes of loss and sacrifice. Morph’s sacrifice resonated deeply, establishing X-Men: TAS as a groundbreaking animated show unafraid to tackle mature themes.

Morph’s death reverberated throughout the series, leaving a lasting impact on both the characters. Storm losing her powers in X-Men ’97 serves as a poignant reflection of Morph’s death, echoing the show’s commitment to bold storytelling by proffering a comparably tragic debut. Three decades after Morph was killed, the idea of an Omega-level mutant like Storm being depowered carries even greater weight, emphasizing the vulnerability of characters once deemed invincible.

This narrative choice deepens the thematic resonance of X-Men ’97, confronting themes of identity, resilience, and the consequences of power loss. Just as Morph’s death heralded a new era of storytelling in the original series, Storm’s depowering in X-Men ’97 underscores the show’s continued dedication to challenging conventions and exploring the complexities of mutant existence. In fact, the ramifications of Storm losing her powers could be even more heartbreaking.

Why Storm Losing Her Powers Is Even More Tragic

Storm Losing Her Powers Has A Greater Effect On The Audience

As a central member of the X-Men team, Storm’s entire identity is wrapped up in her powers. Stripped of her powers in X-Men ’97, Storm becomes a shell of her former self, losing her sense of identity and her whole purpose. This is particularly pertinent considering Storm’s backstory, which saw Storm being worshiped as a goddess in Africa. Losing all of this renders Storm completely adrift, with little concept of herself remaining without her powers. This is true for many mutants, but Storm’s stalwart position in the team and strong fan base make it even more of a blow.

Morph was essentially an original character (though heavily based on Changeling), meaning that audiences had less of an emotional attachment than with Storm. While many characters mourn Morph until his reappearance, it is driven by the characters’ perspectives. Storm losing her powers resonates far more with audiences more familiar with her. At the end of X-Men 97‘s “Mutant Liberation Begins,” Storm boards a bus and leaves the X-Men. However, there’s a strong possibility that audiences will have to endure witnessing her torment and anguish as she learns to live without her powers and establish a new life for herself.

X-Men ’97’s Return Mirrors Night Of The Sentinels Repeatedly

X-Men ’97 Repeats Central Themes From X-Men: TAS

X-Men ’97’s first episode, “To Me, My X-Men” mirrors “Night of the Sentinels” in numerous other ways. Firstly, both episodes established a new sentinel narrative for their respective shows. Additionally, both Cyclops and Beast were introduced in a markedly similar fashion. Both X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97 depicted Beast working in his lab and hanging upside down from the ceiling while reciting poetry. Meanwhile, in both shows, Cyclops pretends to surrender to the Sentinels before shouting “Not!” and destroying a sentinel with his optic blasts.

Sunspot is taking over from Jubilee as the new, young mutant being introduced to the X-Men’s world as a conduit for the audience. With many parallels between “Night of the Sentinels” and “To Me, My X-Men,” X-Men ’97 is repeating the original show’s perfect introduction while establishing a new, more mature tone and proffering more dynamic action than was available in the 1990s. These similarities could, however, indicate that much like Morph’s death in X-Men: TAS, Storm losing her powers in X-Men ‘97 may not be permanent.