Following the success of X-Men ’97‘s first season back in 2024, the show returned for a second season in 2026. The new season picked up the story from where its predecessor left off, with the X-Men scattered through time, trying to find a way back home.
In some respects, it was business as usual for X-Men ’97, with compelling storytelling, lots of action and adventure, and plenty of mutants. However, eagle-eyed viewers will tell you there were some notable changes, including an expansion to the team!
And due to all the expansions throughout the second season, X-Men ‘97 would feature 15 official team members across the course of its nine episode run. In addition, it would also showcase an extra team (i.e. X-Force), who made it into the opening credits during the second episode of the season, as well as a bonus team (X-Factor) who also made it into the credits, but not quite in the same way – I’ll explain below.
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!
Want to know who all 15 members of the X-Men are? Well, here you go…
According to the opening credits the official members of the X-Men in X-Men ‘97: Season Two include:
- Cyclops
- Jean Grey
- Storm
- Wolverine
- Morph
- Magneto
- Rogue
- Beast
- Nightcrawler
- Professor Xavier
- Bishop
- Forge
- Polaris
- Jubilee
- Sunspot
Official members of X-Force in X-Men ’97: Season Two
In addition to the characters listed above, the following five mutants were officially established as members of X-Force. This list is based on the opening credits of the second episode of the season, ‘A Force to Be Reckoned With‘.
- Cable
- Archangel
- Psylocke
- Jubilee
- Sunspot
Official members of X-Factor in X-Men ’97: Season Two
And in addition to X-Men and X-Force, X-Factor also appeared in Season Two, and got a sort of semi-official appearance in the opening credits to the episode, ‘Survival of the Fittest‘. The team doesn’t get a roll call, but they do pop up in the credits, taking the place of the mutant villains (Magneto, Emma Frost, etc) who usually appear as the credits come to an end.
- Havok
- Polaris
- Multiple Man
- Strong Guy
- Wolfsbane
- Siryn
- Val Cooper
Here’s how it all breaks down with the X-Men and then X-Force (and X-Factor)…
__
Cyclops
Scott Summers aka Cyclops is the leader of the X-Men and an original team member. His membership predates the events of X-Men ’97 and X-Men: The Animated Series, and is arguably one of the most iconic mutants in Marvel history.
__
Jean Grey
Second on the list is Jean Grey, who joins Cyclops as 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, and was cloned by Mister Sinister.
__
Storm
Ororo Munroe is an omega level mutant with the power to control the weather and is the third team member of the X-Men, as well as a stand-in leader in Cyclops’ absence. Storm has been a member of the X-Men since before the events of X-Men: The Animated Series.
__
Wolverine
Wolverine aka Logan is one of the team’s fiercest and most-loved members. His skeleton is laced with the indestructible metal, which was grafted onto his bones by the Weapon X Program, and he is formerly a member of Alpha Flight and Team X.
__
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, then brainwashed by Mister Sinister. Morph tentatively re-joined the team before the end of the show, before becoming a returning team member in X-Men ‘97.
__
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 until the events of X-Men ’97. He temporarily remained on the team during Season Two, before being killed by Apocalypse.
__
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 and most popular players. Rogue joined the team prior to the events of X-Men: The Animated Series, and is one of X-Men ’97‘s most compelling characters.
__
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 team mates. The Beast’s brute strength is nothing compared to his impressive intellect, while his way with words sets him apart from the rest of the team.
__
Nightcrawler
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 during Season One. Nightcrawler remained on the team for the show’s second season.
__
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 re-joined his X-Men during the first season of X-Men ‘97, and founded X-Corps during the season season of the show.
__
Bishop
Having previously worked with the X-Men on numerous occasions in X-Men: The Animated Series, it’s odd that it took so long for Lucas Bishop to join the team, but with X-Men ‘97, he did! Bishop remained a teammate for the second season.
__
Forge
Forge worked with the X-Men during the first season of X-Men ’97 but never made it onto the team as an official member. All that changed for Season Two, when he finally made it onto the opening credits.
__
Polaris
Although she was established as a former member of the X-Men back in X-Men: The Animated Series, Polaris only appeared briefly on the show (and back then it was as a member of X-Factor). Polaris returned for X-Men ’97‘s second season, leaving X-Factor and re-joining her old team mates as a member of the X-Men.
__
Sunspot
Introduced during Season One of X-Men ‘97, Sunspot aka Roberto Da Costa became an honorary (but not official) member of the X-Men for the show’s first season. However, for Season Two he joined the team in an official capacity with the episode, ‘Survival of the Fittest‘.
__
Jubilee
And finally, introduced in the very first episode of X-Men: The Animated Series, viewers watched Jubilee grow up on screen. She remained an active member of the X-Men for years, before leaving the team during the second season of X-Men ’97 to become a member of X-Force.
__
And here’s how X-Force breaks down…
Cable
The time-travelling mutant known as Cable, aka Nathan Summers, has a long history with the X-Men having worked with the team on multiple occasions during the events of X-Men: The Animated Series. For X-Men ’97, Cable founded his own black ops team known as X-Force.
__
Archangel
Initially introduced during the first season of X-Men: The Animated Series, the winged mutant Archangel has crossed paths with the X-Men multiple times, usually when Apocalypse is around. During the second season of X-Men ’97, Archangel resurfaced, joining X-Force in the process.
__
Psylocke
After appearing very briefly in X-Men: The Animated Series, Psylocke pretty much disappeared from the lives of the X-Men. She returned in Season Two of X-Men ’97 to become a member of X-Force.
__
Sunspot
Before becoming an official member of the X-Men in the opening credits, Sunspot was credited as a member of X-Force in the credits for ‘A Force to Be Reckoned With‘.
__
Jubilee
Temporarily leaving the X-Men to become a member of X-Force, Jubilee was officially credited as a member of the black-ops team in ‘A Force to Be Reckoned With‘.
__
And here’s how X-Factor breaks down…
Havok
Although it hasn’t been officially revealed yet in the series, Havok is Cyclops’ brother. He has been a member of X-Factor since the team’s inception in X-Men: The Animated Series.
__
Polaris
At the beginning of Season Two of X-Men ’97, Polaris is a member of X-Factor. She leaves to join the X-Men in the episode, ‘Danger.exe.’
__
Multiple Man
With the ability to create multiple copies of himself, Multiple Man is a force to be reckoned with. He is also a long-standing member of X-Factor.
__
Strong Guy
Another long-standing member of X-Factor, Strong Guy has been part of the team since the X-Men: The Animated Series episode, ‘Cold Comfort‘.
__
Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane is yet another long-timer, who first popped up on the team during X-Men: The Animated Series.
__
Siryn
Joining the team as Polaris’ replacement, Siryn made her debut in ‘Survival of the Fittest‘. This powerful mutant with a sonic scream is also Banshee’s daughter.
__
Val Cooper
And the final member of X-Factor is Val Cooper, the Government liaison who replaced Forge as chief co-ordinator of the team.
__
__
Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about X-Men ’97. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment