The second season of X-Men ‘97 is on its way to Disney+, bringing Marvel’s merry mutants back to the small screen. The season aims to pick up from the cliffhanger ending of Season One, with the X-Men lost in time.
To accompany the new season, Marvel Comics is publishing a Season Two companion comic, to enhance the narrative. Issue #1 is now on shelves, arriving a few weeks ahead of the show’s return, and picks up the story with Bishop, Forge, Sunspot, Jubilee, and Cable picking up the pieces following the X-Men’s disappearance.
Should you wish to know more about Issue #1 of X-Men ‘97: Season Two keep on reading. Below I’m highlighting 10 references and insights which appear in the issue and are linked to the X-Men ‘97 cartoon, as well as X-Men: The Animated Series, and the wider X-Men Universe.
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Losing the X Factor
Issue #1 of the comic opens up at the X-Mansion, which is officially closed. Here, Bishop and Forge enter into a discussion about the missing X-Men.
It has been six months since the team vanished without a trace, but while Forge believes they are dead, Bishop is convinced they are still very much alive. Not gone, merely missing in time.
As the two converse, Bishop makes reference to Forge’s former team, X Factor, who are now run by Val Cooper. Under Cooper’s watch, the team round up potentially dangerous mutants on behalf of the US government.
Fans of X-Men: The Animated Series will recall that Forge previously oversaw X Factor, as seen in the episode, ‘Cold Comfort’. Back then, the team included Havok, Polaris, Strong Guy, Multiple Man, Quicksilver, and Wolfsbane.
Since the conclusion of X-Men: The Animated Series and the beginning of X-Men ‘97, Forge and X Factor have seemingly parted ways. The team now have a new mission, and it’s one that Forge does not agree with.
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Dressing the part
As Bishop and Forge continue their conversation, there is a brief snapshot of Scott and Jean, and Magneto and Professor Xavier lost in time. In this panel, Scott and Jean can be seen wearing variations of their old X Factor costumes from the comics.
For those who aren’t familiar with X Factor’s early days, in the original comics Scott and Jean were founding members of the team. Back then, Scott wore a blue and white costume, while Jean’s costume was red and yellow.
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Rusty and Skids
As the story moves away from Bishop and Forge, Jubilee and Sunspot are re-introduced. The pair are in Central Park in New York City, attending a memorial for fallen mutants.
Two mutants introduced here are Rusty and Skids. Comic book fans will be familiar with this duo, who were introduced into the comics in 1986, via the pages of X Factor.
Rusty (Russell Collins) has the power to manipulate fire, while Skids (Sally Blevins) can create a personal, frictionless forcefield.
But it’s not just comic book fans who will know of Rusty and Skids. X-Men: The Animated Series fans with good memories may remember the pair briefly appeared in the episode, No Mutant is an Island.
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Enter: X Factor
After a scuffle takes place between humans and mutants at the memorial, X Factor arrive to take control of the situation. All of the members of the team previously established in X-Men: The Animated Series are present, with the exception of Quicksilver.
It is noted earlier in the issue (during the scene with Bishop and Forge) that Quicksilver and his sister the Scarlet Witch are off world. It’s possible Quicksilver is no longer part of the team, but it’s also possible he’s tied up with the Avengers and/or family business.
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The cure
Away from the scene with X Factor and Jubilee and Sunspot run into Sunspot’s mother. She tells her son she is disowning him unless “our investments into a cure bear fruit.”
This isn’t the first time a ‘cure’ for mutants has been discussed. Back in Season One of X-Men: The Animated Series, a supposed cure for mutants was created by Dr. Adler. However, it later transpired his cure was all a ruse, devised by Apocalypse and Mystique to help create Apocalypse’s Four Horsemen.
Either way, it appears (wealthy) non-mutants are now looking at new ways to remove mutants from the planet.
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The Alliance of Evil
Away from Jubilee and Sunspot and the story shifts to Cable who is keeping tabs on a trio of mutants: Stinger, Frenzy, and Timeshadow. These characters have not previously appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series or X-Men ‘97, but in the comics they are members of the Alliance of Evil.
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X Force?
Cable sets a trap for the Alliance, with help from Psylocke and Archangel. The Alliance presume the mutants will go easy on them, because that’s what the X-Men do, leading Cable to note: “We’re nothing like the X-Men.”
Could this be the beginning of Cable’s team, X Force?
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Clan Akkaba
During this scene, Cable also makes note of the Clan Akkaba. In the comics, Clan Akkaba is a secret society which has dedicated itself to safeguarding the legacy of Apocalypse.
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Super-prison
Heading towards the end of the issue, and as Rusty, Skids, and two other mutants, Random and Tempo are being transported in a prison van, Tempo mentions she is more than familiar with being imprisoned. Here she references The Raft.
In the comics, and as seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Raft is a prison for super-powered villains.
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Exodus
And as the issue concludes, Exodus is introduced. Initially introduced in the pages of X Factor, Exodus is a mutant who poses the power of telekinesis, telepathy, teleportation, immortality, and accelerated healing.
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