This X-Men 97 article contains spoilers.
Henry Peter Gyrich
Few humans have annoyed the X-Men like Henry Peter Gyrich.
Polaris
Even by X-Men standards, Polaris has a convoluted history.
She first appeared in 60s X-Men issues as just another mutant who could control metal.
Polaris also has a long romantic history with Havok, especially when the two served in X-Factor together.
Rachel Summers
The other major mutant in the future scenes rivals Polaris for confusing histories.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
Rachel is the daughter of Scott Summers and Jean Gray.
Hes also a master sorcerer and genius inventor, making him a formidable figure in the Marvel universe.
With so many accomplishments, its easy to see why Dooms most defining quality is his unbridled arrogance.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
Thats Baron Helmut Zemo, the chief antagonist inCaptain America: Civil War, played by Daniel Bruhl.
The Baron Zemo ofX-Men 97has a lot more in common with his comic book predecessor.
Zemos most devious plan occurred when the supervillainOnslaughtkilled the Avengers and the Fantastic Four.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
Juggernaut
X-Men 97has kept Xavier largely off-screen, as he convalesces withLilandra in Shiar space.
This villain is Xaviers step-brother, the son of his mothers second husband Kurt Marko.
The two boys grew up as rivals, which only increased when Xaviers mutant abilities manifested.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
Omega Red
Of course the Russian mutant Omega Red appeared in the originalX-Men: The Animated Series.
In fact, Omega Red appeared in four episodes ofTAS.
Silver Samurai
Close watchers might recall the Silver Samurai as the chief antagonist of 2013sThe Wolverine.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
The version that briefly appears inX-Men 97is a more complicated figure.
While Nina always supported Roberto, Emmanuel worried about how a mutant son would affect his reputation.
They manipulated the bigoted Emmanuel to gain access to his wealth and potentially influence Sunspot and other young mutants.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
Eventually, Emmanuel died, leaving his money to Roberto.
X-Men 97gives us a radically different take of Nina.
She supports Roberto as long as he doesnt upset her social standing.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
However, she has a complex history that deserves more explanation.
The simple answer might be that the horror of Genosha and Bastion forced her to change her mind.
The X-Men have always fought to realize Xaviers dream of coexistence between humans and mutants.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
And yet, not even that stopped humanitys attacks, prompting an extraordinary response.
That reminder comes into play in the final moments, when Val Cooper/Mystique frees Magneto.
The EMP destroys the Prime Sentinels that almost defeated the X-Men.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
But its clear that Magnetos actions have larger worldwide consequences, even if we dont see them yet.
Will the consequences be as bad as those inUltimatum?
As a result, tsunamis destroy many American cities, including New York, and drown thousands.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
If thats not bleak enough, the rest of the story mostly consists of other characters dying gnarly deaths.
Dormammu pops off the head of Doctor Strange.
Magneto snaps Xaviers neck and tears apart Wolverine before Cyclops blows his head off.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
And yes, the Blob eats the Wasp, until he gets his head bitten off by Giant Man.
Lets hopeX-Men 97steers clear of those comics.
X-Men 97 is streaming now on Disney+.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
Photo: Marvel Animation.
