Marvel’s X-Men ’97 was filled with unexpected twists and turns, yet it has been one glorious ride for all Marvel fans. After years of having a love-hate relationship with Fox’s X-Men movies, fans were hopeful that Marvel Studios would bring them a more comic-book-faithful version of the mutants after Disney acquired Fox.
Not only is X-Men ’97 faithful to the source but its nostalgic theme and ties with the original X-Men: The Animated Series make it one hell of a show to watch. With the season one finale approaching fast, creator and showrunner Beau DeMayo took to his X account to share a bit of assignment for fans of the show.
In his recent tweet, DeMayo revealed that every fan of the mutant tale should prep and watch these 6 episodes of X-Men: The Animated Series before watching the 3-part season finale, Tolerance is Extinction.
Season 1, EP 13
The Final DecisionSeason 4, EP 3 & 4
Sanctuary (parts 1 & 2)Season 4, EP 9 & 10
One man’s worth part 1 & 2Season 5, EP 9
Descent— Milky Way Hamptons (@justaboutmess) April 28, 2024
Season 1 | Episode 13—The Final Decision
Released back in 1993 and written by Robert N. Skir and Marty Isenberg, the episode deals with Senator Kelly being kidnapped and held captive by Magneto. The episode presents a cruel impediment, with Magneto trying to achieve superiority thanks to his belief that humans are inferior to mutants, the X-Men trying to achieve peaceful coexistence, while simultaneously battling the Sentinels trying to achieve global domination.
The episode eventually leads to the X-Men and Magneto teaming up and stopping Master Mold from replacing the Senator’s brain with a computer and a fierce battle against the Sentinels.
Season 4 | Episodes 3 & 4—Sanctuary
The two-part arc was written by Steven Melching, David McDermott (episode 3), and Jeff Saylor (episode 4) and first came out in 1995. The episode features Magneto growing extremely weary and tired of the constant battle to assume supremacy over the humans and offers to go live with all his mutants on the asteroid called Asteroid M. Wanting to escape from the hustle and bustle of human life, Magneto is ready, yet he is tricked by Fabian Cortez and launched into space.
While Cortez goes on to acquire control of Asteroid M and fires missiles toward the Earth in hundreds, Rogue goes on to help the X-Men. Magneto returns, and a battle ensues, destroying the missiles and the Asteroid M in the process.
Season 4 | Episodes 9 & 10—One Man’s Worth
From Richard Mueller (episode 9) and Gary Greenfield (episode 10), this two-part story arc deals with time traveling and alternate timelines. Trevor Fitzroy and Bantam travel back to 1959 in order to kill Professor X on the orders of Master Mold.
Creating an alternate timeline where a mutant-sentinel war has already destroyed everything, Bishop and Shard arrive to save everything. Yet things only get complicated with them teaming up with now-married Wolverine and Storm to stop Fitzroy.
Yet, still having failed, they all travel back to the future, a future that has already changed drastically. They finally manage to convince Forge to use his time-traveling machine to go back and save Xavier, and everything eventually goes back to normal, thus showing how crucial Professor X is to the world.
Season 5 | Episode 9—Descent
Released in 1997, written by Steven Melching and David McDermott, Descent shows the origin story of Mr. Sinister, a prime character in the Marvel universe. It again features time traveling as Professor X goes back to England’s Victorian Age to stop two scientists from experimenting on humans to turn them into mutants.
One of the scientists, Dr Nathaniel Essex, ends up creating a minion for himself and uses mutant organs to transform himself into Mr. Sinister. While Professor X tries to stop Essex from going too far, the deed is already done, and one of the most formidable villains of mutant-verse is born.
X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97 can both be streamed on Disney+. Tolerance is Extinction, the three-part season finale of X-Men ’97 will air on May 1,
