X-Men ’97 Is Officially Adapting the Franchise’s Darkest Story

Warning: contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 #1

X-Men ‘97 is officially adapting one of the franchise’s darkest and most influential stories. To celebrate the premiere of X-Men ‘97 on Disney +, Marvel has released a special prequel comic, bridging the gap between shows. In addition, the comic will feature a story all its own, seeded in issue one, that closely mirrors one of the most important, and gruesome, storylines in X-Men history.

X-Men ‘97 was written by Steve Foxe and drawn by Salva Espin. In the wake of Henry Peter Gyrich’s attempt on Professor X’s life (as seen in the X-Men series finale), public sympathy for mutants is at a high for the first time ever. Mister Sinister is not happy with this development and sends the Nasty Boys out to fight the X-Men, hoping the ensuing fight will smear the team’s good name.

It fails, and Sinister decides he needs “new help.”

Turning to a video monitor, he watches Sabretooth and other villains–potential recruits for his army.

The X-Men’s Mutant Massacre Was a Defining Moment for the Franchise

It Led to More Major, Franchise-Busting Events

During its run from 1992 to 1997, X-Men brought to life numerous classic stories and characters, introducing them to a new generation, and its successor is keeping this tradition alive by adapting the “Mutant Massacre” crossover of the late 1980s. In this now-classic event, Mister Sinister unleashes a team of evil mutants on the sewer-dwelling Morlocks, resulting in mass casualties. The story ran through all the X-Men related books of the time as well as other select Marvel titles. The story was a massive hit with fans and critics, and paved the way for similar events in the future.

However, Foxe and Espin are putting their own spin on the story. Through a series of retcons, it was revealed that Mister Sinister sent the Marauders after the Morlocks as retribution against Dark Beast, but in this case, he is looking to destroy the X-Men’s reputation. The issue ends by implying Sinister will soon marshall a new team to fulfill his agenda. While he does not call the new recruits “Marauders,” they do share similar members, namely Sabretooth. Additional retcons gave Gambit a role in the event, but here Foxe and Espin wisely negate that.

X-Men ’97’s Mutant Massacre Will Be Different From the Original

But It Will Still Have The Same Emotional Impact

The original Mutant Massacre was one of the franchise’s darkest moments, with the death toll reaching into the hundreds. The Mutant Massacre was a sea change moment for the X-Men as well, as it helped usher in the era of the big, multi-title crossover. Foxe and Espin are setting up something similar in X-Men ‘97. The title is aimed at younger readers, meaning the action may be toned down a good deal, but the emotional heft and gravitas that was present in the original Mutant Massacre will still be very much present, as X-Men ‘97 adapts this dark story.

X-Men ’97 #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics