The latest episode of X-Men ’97 saw the return of Professor X, who was taken to the Shi’ar empire after he was believed to be killed by Henry Gyrich in the old series. The new X-Men ’97 introduces one aspect of Professor X’s life that neither X-Men: The Animated Show nor the Marvel films ever explored. Lifedeath – Part 2, episode 6 of the series, shows that the leader of the mutants is s*xually active.
The CBM movies and TV series touched upon the topic of superhero s*x only recently, leaving kids of the previous generations to believe that all superheroes were celibates. However, new positive changes came along as the genre started targeting a more mature audience.
Professor X’s Active S*x Life In X-Men ’97 Is A Welcome Change
From the tragic happenings at the end of episode 5 of X-Men ’97, the setting moved to the Shi’ar empire ruled by Lilandra Neramani. The Shi’ar empire is at war with the Krees and fans are introduced to the Shi’ar family dynamics. It is revealed that Professor X was brought here after the events of X-Men: The Animated Series.
In the original series, Professor X shared strong feelings for Lilandra, however, their bond was not much explored in the series. The studio believed at the time that showing Charles Xavier’s intimate romance would’ve worked against the character of a stoical and straight-up leader. However, X-Men ’97 has become more mature, and it even briefly discusses Xavier and Lilandra’s s*x lives.
In the opening scenes of the episode, Lilandra announces that she’s now engaged to Xavier, who’s healed after the attack. As the newly engaged couple are paraded in front of the empire, the royal announcement mentions Xavier as Lilandra’s “royal consort”. Xavier silently passes an NSFW comment on this announcement to the Empress, sharing, “Your man speaks as if I am your pet… not an entirely displeasing thought.”
Lilandra’s response is also as kinky as Xavier’s, as she says, “Hush now, beloved, you may bark later.” For some, it might come as a bit of a disturbing image, if you were the one to project Professor X as a mentor-like figure. However, the things in his private life is entirely his business and we do not intend to poke our noses into that.
The new revelation helps break the stereotype that wise powerful men have to maintain a certain-set decorum in their personal lives as well. The contradiction shown in Xavier’s case is a clever example of breaking this real-life stereotype.
X-Men ’97 Also Explores Intricacies Of Other Physical Relationships
The Cyclops-Jean Grey-Madelyne Pryor and the Rogue-Gambit-Magneto subplots have physical relationships at the center of them. In the first storyline, even serious topics like s*xual assault trauma are explored. Madelyne Pryor had a son with Cyclops when she was under the control of Sinister. Released from that control, she now faces memory disassociation and identity crisis, that a drugged s*xual assault victim may face. Showrunner Beau DeMayo shared on X:
“Don’t forget, Jean, who now faces the memory disassociation and identity crisis that many survivors of s*xual assault face. Sinister’s ‘your mind, your body, you have no choice’ was deliberate. His violation of, not saying when they’re switched, has turned her mind against itself.”
Rogue and Magneto share an intimate physical relationship since Magneto can touch her without her powers killing him. In episode 5, her longtime romantic tension with Gambit reaches a high point when she tells him, “You light up everything you touch, but never me,” to which he responds, “Some things are deeper than skin.” While Rogue gets the revelation that she should’ve chosen Gambit, tragedy strikes.
X-Men ’97 episode 7 will be released on April 24, 2024, on Disney+.
