Warning: contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 #1!
When fans meet Storm in X-Men ‘97, she is sporting a new look, and Marvel’s official prequel comic explains why. The continuation of the hit cartoon, X-Men ‘97 debuted to high ratings and immense praise. The team has experienced a lot since the original show ended, and Marvel’s new prequel comic fills in the gaps of this “lost year,” and in issue one, fans learn why Storm adopted her new appearance.
X-Men ‘97 #1 is written by Steve Foxe and drawn by Salva Espin. The X-Men have just busted up a Friends of Humanity cell, who were planning to attack Dazzler at one of her concerts later that evening. A few members, including Jubilee and Storm, decide to go see Dazzler’s show. As they prepare to leave, Storm unveils her new look, complete with mohawk. Jubilee calls it a “punk rock” look, which Storm was going for.
Storm goes on to say that with a new millennium coming, it called for a new look.
Storm’s “New” Apperance Has Deep Franchise Roots
Storm Was Going Through a Period of Upheaval
Storm’s new look is a shout-out to the classic era of the team. The original X-Men cartoon as well as X-Men ‘97 succeeded thanks to their fidelity to the source material, regularly adapting popular storylines and characters. During Chris Claremont’s heyday on the team in the 1980s, he and artist Paul Smith gave Storm a new look. In 1983’s Uncanny X-Men #173, Storm ditched her classic look for a new one, the centerpiece of which was a mohawk. The look was popular, and Storm retained it for the remainder of the decade–and now it is appearing in X-Men ‘97.
However, X-Men ‘97 has flipped the script on Storm’s reasoning for adopting a new look. During Claremont and Smith’s tenure, Storm experienced a crisis of faith, which inspired her to change her hair and style of dress. In the comics, in addition to the mohawk, Storm began wearing black leather, in an outfit vaguely reminiscent of biker gear, another sign of her change in attitude. It was a dark time for Storm, but she pulled through it, emerging a better hero than ever before.
Related
Storm Proves Why She’s A Better X-Men Leader Than Magneto & Professor X
Storm’s leadership on the planet Arrako and in the Genesis War shows how she has perfectly synthesized the teachings of Professor X and Magneto.
X-Men ’97 Gives A More Positive Reason for Storm’s Change
But Storm is Still Cutting Loose
Marvel’s new X-Men ‘97 prequel comic subverts Claremont and Smith’s story by giving Storm more positive reasons for shaving her head. X-Men ‘97 jettisons the angst and drama that surrounded her change of appearance in the comics. In the prequel comic, Storm wanted something new–and a mohawk was the best way to do this. Storm does not change her entire look in this issue, however, and retains the all-white uniform she wore in the original cartoon. Storm is still cutting loose with her new X-Men ‘97 look, but this time it is for far better reasons.
X-Men ’97 #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
X-Men ’97 #1 (2024) | |
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