Warning: contains potential spoilers for X-Men ’97 #1!
Marvel’s mutants battle Magneto and each other, in a special first look at the prelude to the hotly anticipated X-Men ‘97 animated series. The forthcoming show, which will air on Disney +, is a continuation of the beloved 1990s X-Men cartoon. Marvel will release a special, four-issue miniseries that will serve as the official prequel to the cartoon, showing what the team has been doing since the show ended.
The X-Men ‘97 prelude comic will be written by Steve Foxe and drawn by Salva Espin, and Marvel shared a first look on their website. In the unlettered preview pages, shared below, Magneto is attacking an unnamed city. The X-Men try to stop him, but he is too powerful for them. Later, the X-Men return to the X-Mansion, where tensions between Cyclops and Wolverine are about to come to a head.
After another page of the X-Men in action, the preview concludes with a glimpse at Storm’s new look.
Marvel’s Classic X-Men Cartoon Defined the Mutants For a Generation
The Show Mirrored Storylines in the Comics
The preview perfectly invokes the spirit of the classic X-Men cartoon. Airing from 1993 to 1997, the show helped introduce a generation to Wolverine, Storm, Rogue and the rest of the X-Men. Since the show ended, there have been various attempts at continuing its story, but they have been confined to the comics. X-Men ‘97 is the first on-screen continuation, as well as the first X-Men production made by Disney. The first trailer for X-Men ‘97 drew considerable acclaim from fans and critics, and helped generate considerable buzz for the show.
X-Men ‘97 will reunite many of the voice actors from the original show, as well as make some changes to the mutant lore. Perhaps the biggest change, as seen in the trailer, is that Magneto is now running the school. Professor X’s voice can be heard in the trailer, saying he is turning everything over to Magneto. The trailer did not elaborate on this any further, and while there is a precedent for “good guy” Magneto in the comics, it is unclear if that is what has truly happened here.
X-Men’s New Neo-Mutants Reveal Magneto’s Terrifying Endgame for Mutantkind
Magneto has always fought for the safety, security and prosperity of all mutantkind, which is why his Neo-Mutant legacy in X-Men canon is so tragic.
Why Did Professor X Turn the School Over to Magneto?
Has Magneto Truly Become a Good Guy?
Judging from the preview pages, it hardly seems that Magneto has turned over a new leaf. He is attacking a city, using his powers to fling cars and cause destruction, hardly the actions of an ally of Xavier’s. Yet more pressing than the threat of Magneto is the tension between teammates. Cyclops and Wolverine almost come to blows. The two have a long history of antagonizing each other in the comics, but their exchange in the preview is extremely heated. As X-Men ‘97 begins, the team must not only defeat Magneto, but overcome internal strife.
X-Men ’97 is on sale March 27 from Marvel Comics!
X-Men ’97 #1 (2024) | |
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