The latest episode of X-Men ’97, “Tolerance is Extinction Part I,” was chock-full of Marvel Comics cameos. Some have never even appeared in the X-Men: The Animated Series universe before now. Let’s break down each of them, and what we think they mean for the future of the series.
Rachel Summers
The most important cameo came early on. As Cable tells the X-Men the history of his future, he explains how Bastion’s plan resulted in his timeline. In one of the images we see, we witness how the surviving mutants in Bastion’s future are used as slaves to humanity. Among them is a telekinetic/telepathic young woman named Rachel Summers. She’s the (as yet) unborn daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey. Raised in the dystopian Days of Future Past timeline, she was one of the remaining mutants who were reconditioned by Sentinels to be mutant hunters called Hounds. The tattoos on her face are the signature of the Hound program.
In the comics, Rachel breaks free of her programming, goes back in time to our present, and becomes an X-Man. She even absorbs part of the Phoenix force, taking after her mother. Eventually, she goes thousands of years to the future, where she founds the Clan Askani. This is the same group that took in baby Nathan Summers. When Cable says a rebel from his time sent him back, we have a hunch he means his half-sister Rachel. We doubt this cameo is the last time Rachel Summer appears in X-Men ’97. Especially with all the hints of the Phoenix returning in the show’s credits.
Polaris (Lorna Dane)
Also in the same dystopian future is an older version of the magnetically-powered Polaris. She’s being used as slave labor by humans just like Rachel. In the X-Men: TAS continuity, Lorna Dane was a former member of the X-Men in the early years. She had a romantic relationship with Iceman/Bobby Drake. We later see her as part of the government organization X-Factor in the episode “Cold Comfort.” Although not touched on in the series, she is the daughter of Magneto, half-sibling of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.
One of the X-Men’s deadliest human enemies, Reverend William Stryker, appears in a “blink and ya miss him” cameo. We see him on a TV news show, predicting a war between humanity and mutants. In the comics, Stryker was an anti-mutant televangelist, who was the primary villain in the 1982 graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills.
That story was adapted into live-action in 2003’s X2: X-Men United. In that film, Stryker was reimagined as a military general, not a preacher. Actor Brian Cox portrayed him in the film. Stryker as a younger military man appeared in X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men: Apocalypse played by Josh Helman.
Doctor Doom
The next big cameo is the first official appearance by Doctor Victor Von Doom in a Marvel Studios project. He appears on a monitor talking to Bastion, presumably from his castle in Latveria. He admits to his complicity in the Genoshan attack, however, the level of war crimes committed by Bastion disgusts him. Doom seems to regret allying himself with him, before cutting off the feed. To Victor Von Doom, someone like Bastion is quite beneath him.
Baron Helmut Zemo
Baron Helmut Zemo, sporting his classic comic book-accurate face mask, also pops up on one of the monitors talking to Bastion. He seems far less remorseful than Doom about what’s been happening. This minor cameo could be hinting that Zemo and his Masters of Evil, usually Captain America and Avengers villains, might be fighting the X-Men in the future. Or maybe the Avengers and the X-Men team up against Zemo? Our heads are spinning at the thought.
The Silver Samurai
When Magneto unleashes his power and shifts the polarity of the Earth, we see electricity go out all over the world. In Japan, we get a quick look at a long-time Wolverine enemy. Looking out of a high-rise window is the mutant gang leader Silver Samurai, whose real name is Keniuchio Harada. Silver Samurai appeared in the classic X-Men: The Animated Series episode “The Lotus and the Steel.”
Omega Red
In Russia, we see a government facility that looks like a nuclear power plant. As Magneto’s wave cuts the power across the world, we see that held in suspended animation in this scientific research base is the mutant operative Omega Red. With the power out, Omega Red awakens, and will probably break out of the lab looking for Wolverine soon. Omega Red appeared in four X-Men: The Animated Series episodes over the course of five seasons.
Spider-Man
Oh yeah,then there’s this guy. You might have heard of him. Yes, the amazing Spider-Man himself appears in a silent cameo as the power shuts down in New York City. Former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau Demayo confirms via social media this is the very same wallcrawler who starred in Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the ‘90s, which crossed over with X-Men: TAS. Could this be leading to a revival of that show too? We have our suspicions.
The revival begins a year after the loss of Xavier during the original series' finale. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Wolverine, Rogue, Beast, Gambit, and Jubilee return as members of the X-Men, now led by their former adversary Magneto.
The revival begins a year after the loss of Xavier during the original series' finale. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Wolverine, Rogue, Beast, Gambit, and Jubilee return as members of the X-Men, now led by their former adversary Magneto.
X-Men '97 will be taking place long after the original five X-Men grew apart. Only Beast, Cyclops, and Jean Grey are still tied to the team, as Iceman and Angel have long since gone on to other prospects.
During X-Factor #16–24, the character is presumed dead after losing his wings and apparently killing himself in a plane crash. Angel was dramatically revamped as a character, given a new costume, blue skin, and metallic wings which could fire blades.
More importantly, X-Men '97 has nudged Cyclops (Ray Chase) back to the forefront and restored his greatness as one of the X-Men's premiere members as well as team leader.
At first, I was just excited about the character Forge in X-Men 97, and then I watched episodes 4 and 6. In the episodes, Storm and Forge battle a demon of sorts, and then in episode 6, Storm and Forge literally talk about in-depth themes surrounding colonization, fighting your demons and more.
Why Iceman Doesn't Speak In Top Gun: Maverick - IMDb. Val Kilmer's Iceman character in Top Gun: Maverick has minimal dialogue due to the real-life impact of his battle with throat cancer. The actor communicates through an artificial voice box, adding emotional depth to his appearance.
The character introductions end with Nightcrawler popping up, first within a reflection on the blade of one of the swords he's carrying, then teleporting onto his logo and leaping up and slashing at the screen with said swords. He later reappears when the X-Men run past the Xavier mansion.
The Award-Winning Actor Was Diagnosed With Throat Cancer In 2015. Val Kilmer's own battle with throat cancer severely impacted his ability to speak, and the actors illness was incorporated into the Iceman Top Gun story for his appearance in the sequel.
Rogue's ability to fly permanently comes from absorbing Captain Marvel's powers, including flight and super strength. This absorption happened after Rogue's confrontation with Carol Danvers, leading to a significant change in both characters.
Storm has been stated to be an Omega-Level Mutant. Her potential is as of yet unrealized, and on one occasion the Super Giant stated that Storm was an "Omega-Level Mutate", grouping and targeting her with Omega-Level mutants such as Iceman and Rachel Grey. Her Omega-Level status was eventually confirmed.
With enough preparation, Apocalypse would have a surprisingly decent chance at beating a Gauntlet-free Thanos. Apocalypse has trained and fought wars for centuries, mastered many forms of combat and magic, and all of that could very well be enough to topple Thanos, especially if he didn't have the Infinite Gauntlet.
In the second-season premiere, it was revealed that shortly after his death at the hands of the Sentinels, Morph's body was recovered by Mister Sinister, who revived and brainwashed him by placing mind control implant in his brain.
His consciousness was transferred to a clone body, which not only saved his life but gave him functional legs again. More recently, Xavier returned to life in the body of the mutant Fantomex in Charles Soule and Michael Del Mundo's Astonishing X-Men #6.
In 1987's X-Factor #14, by Louise Simonson and Walter Simonson, Angel's original wings were amputated in a plot by the nefarious Cameron Hodge. After being abducted by Apocalypse, Warren officially became Death, and later Archangel, in the classic X-Factor #23, by the Simonsons.
After killing those who took his organic wings, he reverted to his original Angel form. It's since been revealed that whenever under stress, his Archangel abilities can return, though he lacks complete control over this more aggressive form.
His father then makes the decision to remove his son's wings since it's the only way he thinks Angel will come to his side. However, Nathaniel Essex, also known as Sinister, persuades Angel into becoming one of his experiments, and bonds metallic sharp wings into Angel's back, thus turning him into Archangel.
Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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