Question: Is there an animated show which is better than X-Men ‘97 right now? Answer: No.
The cartoon series – a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series – is firing on all cylinders at the moment and is easily one of the greatest pieces of television of 2024. Not only does it provide oodles of entertainment, but it is truly exciting!
X-Men ‘97 is also a show filled with in-jokes and references galore! Each episode doesn’t just tell a story, it is jam-packed with hidden Easter eggs which relate to the comics, the Marvel Universe, and so much more beyond!
Have you missed some of these Easter eggs? Well, don’t worry, you can still catch up!
On this blog I’ve provided a run-through of all the references and in-jokes in the first seven episodes: ‘To Me, My X-Men‘ (E1), ‘Mutant Liberation Begins‘ (E2), ‘Fire Made Flesh‘ (E3), ‘Motendo/Lifedeath: Part One‘ (4), ‘Remember It‘ (E5), ‘Lifedeath: Part Two‘ (E6), and ‘Bright Eyes’ (E7). So, if you think you’ve overlooked something important, be sure to take a look.
Today I’m moving onto episode eight: ‘Tolerance is Extinction – Part One’. Below you will find a whole heap of nods, winks, and hidden information which is dotted throughout this eighth episode of X-Men ‘97.
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Roll credits
First up, and as with every episode of X-Men ‘97 it is always worth casting your eye over the opening credits of the show to look for little details or changes which might appear. Each week the opening credits are tweaked slightly, to add or remove characters and scenes, so it is very important that you don’t skip the intro!
This week, the changes are minimal but there is something of note. For the first time in weeks Professor Xavier is given an onscreen credit!
Having sat out of the credits for the majority of episodes, this onscreen credit signals that Xavier is finally back amongst the X-Men! He doesn’t reappear until the final moments, but after an extended absence he’s back!
Hurrah!
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Hidden threat
And now onto a brilliant Easter egg which is hidden in the opening credits. It is an Easter egg which has been hidden in the credits of EVERY EPISODE since the show started!
*Pause for dramatic effect*
As the credits are drawing to a close, we are shown the iconic sequence in which the X-Men and Magneto are seen running towards each other locked in battle. It is a sequence which requires little explanation as it appears every week in the opening credits, so every X-Men fan will be more than familiar with it.
But this week this scene holds extra significance!
*Another pause for dramatic effect*
X-fans will know that in between the two sets of warring mutants are a collection of generic humans who are caught up in the middle. Thing is, these humans aren’t generic!
The human characters seen in the credits also appear in ‘Tolerance is Extinction – Part One’ as Sentinel/human hybrids known as Prime Sentinels. Yep, there are hidden Sentinels in the credits, they’ve been there every week, and it has taken until Episode Eight for all to be revealed!
Bravo.
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Time warped
Moving away from the credits now, and as the episode begins, Cable/Nathan Summers is at the X-Mansion, where he is conducting some target practice. Watching from a nearby window is Cyclops and Jean Grey.
As the pair get into a discussion about Cable/Nathan they make a comment about how the time-travelling mutant is from a different time period to the time-travelling mutant, Bishop. But this comment isn’t just an off the cuff remark, it actually tracks with established continuity from X-Men: The Animated Series.
In the original show, Bishop is from 2055. However, Cable is from the year 3999.
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Utopia/dystopia
With Cable currently working with the X-Men in 1997, he uses his knowledge of the future to provide the team with much-needed intel about their new foe: Bastion. According to Cable, Bastion is responsible for an evolutionary war which lasts for 300 years and sees humans evolve into the Sentinel-human hybrid Prime Sentinels.
During Cable’s discussion, a few flash forwards of the future are shown. One of these flash forwards includes a scene depicting two unnamed mutants, who are slaves for the Prime Sentinels.
These two mutants have previously appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series, via the episode ‘Days of Future Past – Part One’. In an alternate timeline, the mutants work with Wolverine in a dystopian future controlled by Sentinels.
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Familiar faces
Other familiar faces seen during this flash forward scene include two mutants: Polaris and Rachel Summers. Polaris previously appeared in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode, Cold Comfort, while Rachel Summers (daughter of Jean Grey and Cyclops) was briefly seen in the four-part epic storyline, ‘Beyond Good and Evil’.
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Nexus event
And now for something very important.
If you’ve been wondering why a time traveller such as Cable (or even Bishop) didn’t stop the mutant massacre on Genosha (as seen in the episode, ‘Remember It’), ‘Tolerance is Extinction – Part One’ provides an explanation – and it’s a real doozy!
The attack on Genosha is a Nexus level event, which means it is a fixed moment in the timeline. It doesn’t matter what anyone does to try and alter it, the event will always happen meaning it can’t be stopped.
So, if you were hoping someone would go back in time to save Gambit and all the other mutants from dying on Genosha, then I’m afraid your hopes have been in vain. No one can stop the massacre as it will always happen, and this means Gambit will remain dead (well, for now anyway).
Sorry.
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Enter: Stryker
As the episode continues, a TV news report reveals that Professor Xavier is alive. The news soon turns to commentary from those who are opposed to mutants and for a brief moment William Stryker is seen on screen as part of a discussion about a possible human/mutant war.
Stryker hasn’t previously appeared in X-Men ‘97 and he didn’t appear in X-Men: The Animated Serieseither, however he is a familiar face to X-Men fans. In the comics, he is a villain who first appeared in the classic graphic novel, ‘God Loves, Man Kills’, while in the live-action X-Men movies he is the man responsible for grafting adamantium onto Wolverine’s bones.
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The Mystique connection
And now for a quick reminder.
In ‘Tolerance is Extinction – Part One’ Nightcrawler mentions that the shapeshifting mutant known as Mystique is a mother to both him and Rogue. This is true and is something which was previously established in X-Men: The Animated Series.
However, while Mystique is Nightcrawler’s biological mother, she is not Rogue’s biological mother. Mystique adopted Rogue and took her under her wing after she was kicked out of her home by her father (as detailed in the episode, ‘A Rogue’s Tale’).
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X-Rated
And now onto an observation.
As seen in this week’s episode, Magneto is being held in Mr. Sinister’s laboratory, where he has been stripped and chained to a cross. This cross is shaped like an ‘X’ which is of course an obvious visual nod to the X-Men.
But this ‘X’ is also something which has appeared previously in the comics. The front cover to issue #251 of The Uncanny X-Men features Wolverine in a similar pose.
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More than a number
Sticking with Magneto for a moment and while the master of magnetism is chained up, a number can be seen on his arm. This number – which is branded into his skin – was given to Magneto when he was a child, and is a reference to the Nazi concentration camps.
The number reads: 214782. This is the same number which Magneto has branded into his skin in the live-action X-Men movies.
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Robo-origins
Moving away from Magneto, and as Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Cable go in search of Bastion they are led to his childhood home. As they explore the property, a few trinkets from his youth can be seen.
Amongst these trinkets is a Stark Expo poster. The poster is a nod to Tony Stark aka Iron Man, but it also includes an image of a robot which is not too dissimilar to Rosie the Robot from futuristic cartoon series, The Jetsons.
A Machine Man toy can also be seen here. Machine Man is an android super hero (and sometime Avenger) from the Marvel Universe.
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X-M 52
Look closer and during this same scene there is an object with the reference code: X-M 52 written on it. This code number is a nod to X-Men Vol 2 Issue #52, which marked the first appearance of Bastion in the comics.
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Blast from the past
As Cable and Co are looking at Bastion’s belongings, Cable picks up a photograph of a young Bastion alongside his parents. Do you recognise Bastion’s mother? You should!
Bastion’s mum previously appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series via the time-altering storyline, ‘One Man’s Worth’. Bastion’s ma is the waitress who appeared briefly in a diner scene and who disapproved of the romantic relationship between Wolverine (a white man) and Storm (a black woman).
In the episode, a future version of Wolverine and Storm from an alternate timeline, travel back to 1959. Here they meet a young Charles Xavier and cross paths with the Sentinel named Nimrod, which essentially sets up events that lead to the Bastion/Prime Sentinel storyline in X-Men ‘97.
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Cameos ahoy!
And now onto some cameos, which are a highlight of ‘Tolerance is Extinction – Part One’ and include brief appearances for Doctor Doom, Baron Zemo, Silver Samurai, and Omega Red. You’ll also have noticed Spider-Man pops up in the episode for a cameo… and this is a cameo worth noting!
Why? Because this is the first time Spider-Man has properly appeared in the X-Men ‘97/X-Men: The Animated Series continuity, outside of his own show!
You may recall, back during the 1990s, Spidey had his own cartoon series which featured a crossover appearance from the X-Men. You may also recall Spidey’s hand briefly appeared in an episode of X-Men: The Animated Series.
But outside of this, the character has been largely absent from the X-Universe. However, by slotting him into this week’s episode, it seems entirely possible we will see more from the webbed wallcrawler in the fullness of time.
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Morphin’ time!
And speaking of cameos, in this week’s episode Morph transforms into the Juggernaut! For those who need a reminder, the Juggernaut previously appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series (multiple times) and is Charles Xavier’s half-brother.
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Magneto unleashed
And finally, as the episode draws to a close, Magneto releases an electro magnetic pulse which shuts down power on Earth and stops the Prime Sentinels from causing further destruction.
The EMP tactic is something which Magneto has used in the comics – specifically in X-Men Vol 2 Issue #25. In this issue, Magneto uses an EMP which causes mass deaths and destruction, leading Professor Xavier and the X-Men to attack and incapacitate him in a memorable showdown which has huge ramifications for Wolverine.
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