After just two seasons, it’s clear that X-Men ’97 is a huge success. The show brilliantly continues the story of the original cartoon, making it enjoyable for longtime fans and new viewers alike. It also boasts stunning visuals thanks to its unique blend of 2D and 3D animation, and the writing effectively captures the serious and impactful tone of the classic X-Men comics.
It’s clear X-Men ’97 is a hit: Marvel has already renewed it for two more seasons and considers it a key priority. This raises the exciting possibility that the show could even surpass the length of the original cartoon! Luckily, there’s no shortage of fantastic X-Men storylines to explore, and given the quality so far, seeing them adapted into animation would be incredible.
Planet X
Grant Morrison’s famous work on New X-Men reached a peak with the “Planet X” storyline. It shockingly revealed that Xorn, a new member of the X-Men, was actually Magneto in disguise! He’d joined their ranks to carry out a huge plan: flip Earth’s magnetic poles and take over humanity. This twist led to Jean Grey’s death, which wasn’t undone for nearly two decades. Given how X-Men ’97 has been handling Magneto’s character, it would be fantastic to see this storyline adapted in the show.
It’s true that things got complicated after Grant Morrison stopped writing the comic – there was a strange storyline where Xorn pretended to be Magneto. If the X-Men ’97 show were to adapt the “Planet X” story, it could either skip this confusing part or cleverly incorporate it by acknowledging Magneto’s established death during his battle with Apocalypse. Either way, “Planet X” would be a fantastic storyline for the series, and hopefully the creators will consider something similar.
House Of M
“House of M” is arguably the most significant story in X-Men history, and for good reason. The concept of Scarlet Witch reshaping reality to make mutants the dominant species was brilliantly imaginative, leading to exciting new versions of familiar Marvel characters. The shocking twist – that most mutants would lose their powers – was truly iconic. This event dramatically altered the direction of the X-Men for years, and its effects are still being explored in the comics today, more than two decades later.
The events of “House of M,” which impacted the entire Marvel Universe, offer a great opportunity for X-Men ’97 to introduce characters from other classic ’90s Marvel shows and even later ones. Just hearing Scarlet Witch say her famous line, “No more mutants,” would be exciting for fans. The first season of X-Men ’97 already hinted at Scarlet Witch’s involvement, and “House of M” could provide a satisfying conclusion to her storyline if she appears.
X-Men: Messiah Complex/Messiah War/Second Coming
If X-Men ’97 were to cover the “House of M” storyline, it would logically follow with adaptations of “X-Men: Messiah Complex,” “Messiah War,” and “Second Coming.” These stories center on Hope Summers, the first mutant born after the events of “House of M,” who represents a potential resurgence for mutantkind. Not only is Hope a compelling character, but these arcs also feature dramatic shifts in allegiances as heroes are pushed to their limits – all of which would translate well into an animated series.
Adapting the “House of M” storyline would drastically alter the direction and mood of X-Men ’97. A trilogy starting with “X-Men: Messiah Complex” would offer a refreshing reset, restoring optimism to the series – even featuring a character named Hope. This approach could be a really enjoyable way to tell that story, and it would be fantastic if they did.
Avengers Vs. X-Men
The 2012 event Avengers vs. X-Men is well-known – and often criticized – for pitting Marvel’s two biggest teams against each other. While it’s a familiar conflict, bringing that tension to X-Men ’97 could create compelling drama, and would be an excellent way to bring the Avengers into the show’s world. Plus, the original storyline led to the popular idea that Cyclops had a point, and exploring how he reached those conclusions would appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers.
Beyond just being a good story, Avengers vs. X-Men actually resolves the plot threads started in House of M. The story ends with mutants being restored to the population, which means X-Men ’97 could adapt House of M and then conclude the whole arc with Avengers vs. X-Men. This would provide a fantastic, dramatic finish to a series of compelling stories, and hopefully, the show will explore that possibility.
Honorable Mentions
- Onslaught: Seeing the appearance of Xavier’s all-powerful evil doppelganger would be incredible in animation, and Onslaught himself would make for a great final villain in one season. The only reason this is an honorable mention is that it’s heavily implied that X-Men ’97 is already setting up Onslaught.
- AXIS: The classic crossover is technically an Avengers and X-Men event, and just like in the comics, it would be a lot of fun to see the morality of X-Men’s heroes and villains swapped for a while.
- Age of X-Man: The story could be a fun mini arc that sets up a lot of future events in one season, not unlike the purpose it served in the comics, and while Nate Grey doesn’t exist in the show’s continuity, it wouldn’t be impossible to find a way to fit Cable into the role.
The Krakoan Age
The last ten years of X-Men comics have been dominated by the ‘Krakoan Age,’ and with good reason. Seeing the mutants finally create their own nation was deeply satisfying for fans, and it allowed writers to explore their abilities and history in new ways. What made this era especially compelling was its moral ambiguity – the heroes forming alliances with villains and making questionable choices created a lot of tension. When things inevitably came crashing down, the consequences were dramatic and impactful.
The recent ‘Krakoan Age’ storyline revitalized the X-Men and mutants, making them more popular than they’ve been in years. Though the way the story unfolded wasn’t perfect, the central concept – and how it dramatically altered their world – was truly impressive. It was a unique narrative, and with ‘X-Men ’97’ continuing for multiple seasons, adapting elements of this storyline in season 3 or 4 would be a fantastic fit.
2026-07-28 19:38