X-Men ‘97 episode 6 features quite a few new and returning characters.
This X-Men 97 article contains spoilers.
Where only big nerds knew aboutGambitorDeadpoolin the 90s, now theyre household names.
Professor Charles Xavier
Okay, most people reading this article know who Charles Xavier is.
One of the most powerful mutant telepaths in existence, Xavier established himself as a leading academic on genetics.
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Anyone who watchedX-Men TASknows about Xaviers backstory.
Credit: Marvel Studios
However, that series ended with Xavier near death.
Although expansionist as any other empire, the Shiar have a chance for peace, thanks to Empress Lilandra.
Lilandra hopes to reverse her brothers destructive ways, reimagining the Shiar Empire as a diverse and peaceful regime.
Credit: Marvel Studios
That connection will likely pull him back into space and will pull the Imperial Guard down to Earth.
Like her brother DKen, Deathbird has a thirst for violence and Shiar supremacy.
With DKen gone and the progressive Lilandra in power, Deathbird returned to claim the throne.
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Over the years, Deathbirds allegiances shifted from enemy to ally of the X-Men and back again.
But for the most extreme conflicts, the Shiar have superheroes a whole legion of super-heroes in fact.
Led by Gladiator, the Imperial Guard is the elite fighting force of the empire.
Credit: Marvel Studios
If some of those Imperial Guard members feel familiar, they should.
As inX-Men 97, the Imperial Guard began as a noble but oppressive team.
However, those whodorecognize him know what a big deal he is.
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Thats Vulcan, aka Gabriel Summers.
If that last name stands out, it should.
Gabriel is the brother of Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Alex Summers (Havok).
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Vulcan became emperor of the Shiar, but nearly leads the civilization to ruin before hes deposed.
On the other, he believes in the supremacy of the Shiar and struggles to accept Lilandras vision.
Araki serves as Chancellor of the Shiar, handling the day-to-day governing of the empire.
Credit: Marvel Studios
To be sure, Ronan displays similar motivations in the comics.
However, most stories portray Ronan as far more reasonable and noble than his big screen appearance suggest.
At his core, Ronan believes in justice.
Credit: Marvel Studios
The animatedX-Menseries have mostly put Forge in the background.
He remained a background nuisance throughout the original series, butX-Men 97seems ready to push Sinister into the limelight.
Mutants became an obsession for Essex, especially the Summers family.
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Injecting himself with the mutant gene, Essex became Mister Sinister.
InX-Men: The Last Stand, the legendary Bill Duke plays Homeland Security chief Bolivar Trask.
InX-Men: Days of Future Past, Trask is an inventor in the 1970s, played byPeter Dinklage.
Credit: Marvel Studios
Despite the vast physical differences in these portrayals, Trask remains the same across all adaptations.
Hes the scientist who invented the Sentinels, the massive robots that hunt mutants.
Trask appeared throughoutTAS, but has just been a minor player inX-Men 97.
X-Men 97 is streaming now on Disney+.
