Spoilers Ahead for X-Men ’97 Episode 9 – Tolerance Is Extinction Part 2
The storyline of X-Men ’97 has reached anxiety-inducing levels after Charles Xavier, Magneto, and Wolverine brought viewers to the edge of their seats during the final moments of Episode 9. With one episode left in this season, fans are sure that the series is setting up a villain more dangerous than the Sentinel Bastion for Season 2. This villain, Onslaught, might also introduce one of the strongest mutants who becomes key to stopping this villain.
The character is none other than Franklin Richards, who will also bring along a Fantastic Four connection to X-Men ’97. Richards is the son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm. All these potential storylines increase the anticipation for Season 2 by several folds.
X-Men ’97‘s Onslaught Storyline May Also Pave The Way For A Fantastic Four Connection
In Tolerance Is Extinction Part 2, which was released on May 8, viewers got to see Magneto unleashing his wrath against humanity and the X-Men opposing him. In the episode, he rejects Xavier’s dream of a peaceful co-existence of humans and mutants. He leaves the others with Rogue and Roberto by his side. A team under Cyclops goes to Asteroid M to confront Magneto and prevent him from destroying the Earth’s electromagnetic field.
When Professor X sees Magneto is not backing down, he tries unsuccessfully to enter his friend’s mind. Wolverine also guts and injures Magneto. In return, Magneto begins ripping the adamantium metal from Wolverine’s skin. The storyline will continue in the final part, Tolerance is Extinction Part 3. However, those familiar with the comic storyline of Fatal Attractions know that Magneto fully rips the adamantium, seriously injuring Wolverine.
A vengeful Xavier mindwipe Magneto, however, the action has some serious ramifications. According to the comics, the dark side of Magneto’s psyche melds with Xavier’s mind. The worst parts of Magneto and Xavier combine to form a new villain named Onslaught. This villain in physical form becomes one of the biggest threats faced by the mutants.
As the series is about to set up Onslaught in the season finale potentially, a few crucial storylines from the comics become largely relevant. For one, the X-Men seek help from both the Avengers and Fantastic Four to stop the menacing villain. X-Men ’97 has already brought in Captain America and General Thunderbolt Ross in Episode 7. However, the Fantastic Four connection is expected to become more prominent in Season 2.
The series is expected to introduce one of the strongest mutants, who happens to be the son of the Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Franklin Richards, a powerful reality warper, may become the weapon of the good guys to fight Onslaught. In the comics, he encounters the villain not once but twice.
Franklin Richards Will Play A Crucial Role In X-Men Defeating Onslaught
Onslaught commits several inhuman acts and one of the worst things in his deeds is kidnapping Franklin Richards to manipulate him into reshaping reality. Fantastic Four and Avengers join the X-Men to stop him, and their plan is to destroy his physical form and then his psychic form. The heroes achieve their goal and destroy Onslaught for the time being, but many heroes including Franklin’s parents seemingly die in the process.
However, Franklin uses his true powers to create a pocket universe named Heroes Reborn. This universe is represented by a small ball that he carries with him and it contains all the “dead” heroes living in a different reality. They later return to their universe with the help of Franklin and Celestial Ashema.
In Onslaught Reborn #1, the menacing villain whose consciousness remained after his death returns when Scarlet Witch depowers Magneto and Professor X, among other countless mutants. He tries to get to Franklin once again by taking control of Mister Fantastic and Human Torch, but the plan is thwarted by the rest of the Fantastic Four. Franklin escapes to Counter-Earth, where Onslaught follows him.
The superheroes and villains decide to work together with Franklin to defeat Onslaught. In the end, Rikki Barnes uses a Fantasticar to send her, Franklin, and Onslaught through the Negative Zone barrier, trapping them. Franklin is able to return home and Barnes ends up on Earth-616. Onslaught is trapped in the Negative Zone.
It remains to be seen how much of these storylines would be adopted into X-Men ’97. However, the showrunners have proven to hold back on nothing and anything is possible in the series at this point. All nine episodes of X-Men ’97 are now available for streaming on Disney+.
