When X-Men ‘97 hit television screens in 2024, something was very clear: This was a show keen to embrace change. Not only would storylines be big and bold and reflect an on going evolution of the series, but characters would also come and go.
Unlike the show’s predecessor, X-Men: The Animated Series, which pretty much kept the team line-up consistent for years, X-Men ‘97 would have a revolving cast. Sure, there would be key players who would appear week-in, week-out, but the team would continually expand and retract as and when needed.
And due to all the expansions and contractions throughout the first season, X-Men ‘97 would feature 13 official team members across the course of its ten episode run. In addition, it would also showcase four honorary team mates, who weren’t officially part of the team line-up but were as good as.
Oh, and if you’re wondering what makes a character an official team mate it’s pretty simple: If they received an on-screen credit during the opening titles then they were officially an X-Man! If they didn’t, then they were an honorary member.
Want to know who all 13 members are? Well, here you go…
Official X-Men in X-Men ‘97: Season One
- Cyclops
- Jean Grey
- Storm
- Wolverine
- Rogue
- Gambit
- Bishop
- Jubilee
- Beast
- Morph
- Professor Xavier
- Magneto
- Nightcrawler
Honorary X-Men in X-Men ‘97
In addition to the 13 characters listed above, the following four characters were honorary X-Men during season one of X-Men ‘97:
- Madelyne Pryor
- Cable
- Forge
- Sunspot
And here’s how it all breaks down…
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Cyclops
Cyclops aka Scott Summers is the leader of the X-Men and the first of the 13 team mates during season one. Cyke is an original member of the team, with his membership predating the events of X-Men: The Animated Series.
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Jean Grey
Second on the list is Jean Grey, who is also an original member of the X-Men. During her early years (prior to the events of X-Men: The Animated Series) Jean adopted the alias, Marvel Girl, while in more recent times she became the cosmic entity known as the Phoenix.
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Storm
Storm aka Ororo Munroe is an omega level mutant with the power to control the weather and is teammate No. 3. Storm has been a member of the X-Men since before the events of X-Men: The Animated Series.
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Wolverine
Formerly a member of Alpha Flight and Team X, before joining the X-Men (prior to the events of X-Men: The Animated Series), Wolverine aka Logan is one of the team’s fiercest members. His skeleton is laced with the indestructible metal, Adamantium, while his mutant powers include the ability to heal.
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Rogue
With the ability to absorb the memories, skills, and powers of anyone she touches, Rogue is one of the X-Men’s most powerful players and is teammate No. 5. She joined the team prior to the events of X-Men: The Animated Series, having previously worked with Mystique.
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Gambit
Having been a part of the X-Men since before the events of X-Men: The Animated Series, the card-throwing ragin’ Cajun known as Gambit is member No.6. Or at least he was, until he died saving countless lives during the mutant massacre on Genosha.
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Bishop
Having previously worked with the X-Men on numerous occasions in X-Men: The Animated Series, it’s odd that it’s taken this long for Lucas Bishop to join the team, but with X-Men ‘97, Bishop finally makes it! He is teammate No. 7.
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Jubilee
Introduced in the very first episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, viewers watched Jubilee grow up on screen. She has remained an active member of the X-Men for years, and therefore a long-running and valued member of the team.
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Beast
Joining Cyclops and Jean Grey as one of the original members of the X-Men, the Beast aka Dr. Henry McCoy, is one of the longest serving X-Men. His brute strength is nothing compared to his impressive intellect, while his distinctive blue fur sets him apart from the rest of the team.
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Morph
The shapeshifting mutant known as Morph joined the X-Men shortly before the events of X-Men: The Animated Series, but left the team after being ‘killed’ in action (Spoiler: Morph didn’t die). Morph tentatively rejoined the team before the end of the show, before becoming team member No. 10 in X-Men ‘97.
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Professor Xavier
As the founder of the X-Men you’d think Professor Charles Xavier would be a continuous member of the team, but following an attempt on his life during the final episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, Xavier left the team. After a period of absence he eventually rejoined his X-Men in X-Men ‘97.
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Magneto
Despite joining forces with the X-Men on a couple of occasions in X-Men: The Animated Series, Magneto was not a member of the team in an official capacity. However, all that changed in X-Men ‘97 when the Master of Magnetism temporarily led the X-Men in Xavier’s absence.
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Nightcrawler
And finally, after appearing in a couple of episodes of X-Men: The Animated Series, teleporting mutant, Nightcrawler, aka Kurt Wagner, finally got added to the team line-up in X-Men ‘97 to become official teammate No. 13. There was no huge announcement, Nightcrawler simply joined the team following the massacre on Genosha.
And now onto the honorary members…
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Honorary members
The following four characters were not given on-screen credits, so are not officially part of the team line-up, but they pretty much should be!
Madelyne Pryor
First up is Madelyne Pryor – the identical clone of Jean Grey, and the biological mother of Nathan Summers aka Cable (see below). Madelyne was technically part of the team line-up, when she unknowingly replaced Jean, but she didn’t get an on-screen credit for her troubles.
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Cable
The time-travelling mutant known as Cable, aka Nathan Summers, has a long history with the X-Men having worked with them on multiple occasions in X-Men: The Animated Series. However he did not get an official on-screen credit in X-Men ‘97, making him an honorary member only.
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Forge
Forge is the next honorary member of the team. Forge worked with Storm, as well as the X-Men on X-Men ‘97, BUT he was not given an on-screen credit so is not an official part of the line-up.
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Sunspot
And finally, the last honorary team mate is Sunspot, aka Roberto Da Costa. Introduced at the beginning of X-Men ‘97, Sunspot is the newest recruit to the X-Men, yet he doesn’t get an on-screen credit!
Should Sunspot have been given a credit in the opening titles? You bet – especially as he joins the team in the final episodes of season one, but alas he remains honorary for now (sorry).
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