In the latest episode of X-Men ’97, viewers were left hanging on a tense cliffhanger that mirrors a classic moment from ’90s X-Men comics. But the episode’s ominous foreshadowing goes beyond its gripping final scene.
Warning: Spoilers for X-Men ’97 episode 9 ahead.
In this episode, Wolverine, Cyclops, Professor Xavier, and Nightcrawler confront Magneto on Asteroid M, urging him to repair the damage he caused to Earth’s magnetic poles with his powers. Despite Wolverine successfully removing Magneto’s psychic-dampening helmet, Xavier hesitates to take control of Magneto’s mind, allowing Cyclops to intervene to protect Jean Grey battling Mister Sinister and the Sentinels back on Earth.
The confrontation ends with Magneto surviving a vicious attack from Wolverine and retaliating by forcibly removing the adamantium from Wolverine’s skeleton, leaving him gravely wounded. This devastating turn of events hints at a significant character arc for Wolverine, reminiscent of events from the comics.
However, it’s the events preceding Magneto’s assault on Wolverine that hold the most ominous implications for a potential second season of X-Men ’97. In the comics storyline “Fatal Attractions,” after Magneto’s brutal act, Xavier is driven to use his psychic abilities to erase Magneto’s memories, ultimately leading to the creation of the powerful villain Onslaught.
Onslaught, a psychic entity born from the fusion of Xavier and Magneto’s minds, poses a grave threat to the entire Marvel Universe. In the comics, defeating Onslaught required the sacrifice of several iconic heroes, including members of the Avengers and Fantastic Four, who were believed to be dead for a significant period.
The absence of these heroes left a void in the Marvel Universe, leading to drastic consequences for both mutants and non-mutants alike. If X-Men ’97 is indeed hinting at the arrival of Onslaught, it spells trouble not only for mutants but for the entire reality they inhabit.
With only one episode left in X-Men ’97 season one, airing on Disney Plus on Wednesday, May 15, fans are eagerly anticipating how the storyline will unfold and what it means for the future of their beloved characters.
