X-Men 97 is finally here now that fans of the original 1992 animated series can rejoice! I was curious as to why Marvel wanted to resurrect the series. I thought it was going to somehow connect to the What If? series for their haphazard multiverse storyline. That’s not the case here. It is a direct sequel to the original series, nothing more, nothing less. I had to do some homework to watch the previous series for this one, so I’ve got a good grasp of what goes on here. So here’s what I think after watching the last four episodes. 

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(L-R): Beast (voiced by George Buza), Rogue (voiced by Lenore Zann), Morph (voiced by JP Karliak), Cyclops (voiced by Ray Chase), Wolverine (voiced by Cal Dodd), Gambit (voiced by AJ LoCascio), and Bishop (voiced by Isaac Robinson-Smith) in Marvel Animation’s X-MEN ’97. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.

The story is set directly sixteen months after the events of the original series ‘Graduation Day’. The X-Men are still fighting prejudiced factions of humanity while trying to come to grips with the death of Professor Charles Xavier at the hands of Henry Glyich. Magneto re-enters the picture as he now assumes the leadership role of the X-Men as written in Xavier’s will.  

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Jubilee (voiced by Holly Chou) in Marvel Animation’s X-MEN ’97. Photo courtesy of Marvel Animation. © 2024 MARVEL.

It’s a pretty cool start to what will be a blast from the past. The animation is as fluid and peppery as the original. The characters are pretty great as well, with new developments being formed underneath the weight of tragedy and the dawn of a new age for both mutants and humans alike. Four episodes in, and things got pretty shocking, exciting, and dark to say the least. We’ll see how things fare as we have eight episodes left in X-Men 97.