About X-Men 97 Season Two #1
Previously on X-Men
When Xavier left Earth for space, Magneto, sworn enemy of the X-Men, was given control of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Initially distrusting him, the team gradually began to work with their former foe – until a devastating terrorist attack by Bastion and the Master Mold on the mutant island of Genosha threatened this tentative peace.
Gambit heroically sacrificed himself in the attack, while Magneto, enraged by the destruction, plunged the Earth into a global blackout. Xavier returned, and along with the X-Men was able to defeat Magneto on his outer-atmospheric base, Asteroid M – but not before the asteroid fell to Earth and exploded. Now the world presumes these heroes dead… when in reality, the X-Men have been split up and scattered to different points in the timestream.
X-Men 97 Season Two #1 Personnel
Writer: Steve Foxe
Artist: Salva Espin
Colorist: Matt Milla
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover Artists: Todd Nauck & Rachelle Rosenberg
Are the X-Men dead?
If you’ve been pining away for more animated X-Men tales after season 1’s cliffhanger then you’re in luck because this new series picks up immediately where the cartoon left off. With the X-Men gone, who sacrificed themselves for the good of human and mutantkind, there are numerous factions left to pick up the pieces that Cyclops and co left behind.
Bishop and Forge believe the answer lies in time travel while Sunspot and Jubilee believe the answer to filling the X-Men void is grieving for their fellow mutants. While at a vigil for their fellow comrades, a gang of anti-mutant protesters harass the mutants there including two newcomers – Rusty and Skids. Unfortunately for the mutant-hating mob, when Brotherhood of Evil Mutants alumni Avalanche and Pyro reveal themselves to be part of the crowd – all hell breaks loose.
Seasoned fans of X-Men: TAS will notice Forearm and Random amongst the rioters – two mutants best known for cameos in the episode “Secrets, Not Long Buried.” Personally, I’ve always loved Random’s mutant power.
X-Factor ruin the Party
Fearing for the safety of humans and mutants alike, Jubilee does what she can to disburse the crowd when X-Factor arrive via jet. Havok, Polaris, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy and Multiple Man quickly make fast work of the rioting mutants. Allowing for Jubilee and Sunspot to make a swift exist during the ensuing chaos.
Navigating New York through a series of back alleys, Sunspot’s mother emerges out of a limo – to reveal that she has to disown him and cut off his finances – for the good of the family and their business portfolio. As she begins to jump back into her limousine, she mentions that Sunspot will be welcomed back into the family if they ever discover a cure
This angers Jubilee who wants to use her powers to blow out a tire as the limo drives away or just… anything really – but Sunspot stops her. Telling her there’s no use. After all, this is a woman who previously handed him over to the sentinels. She’s a lost cause. As they comfort one another, and unbeknownst to them, Cable is watching this all play out from afar.
Cable just can’t Let Go!
Later that night, three mutants – Stinger, Tower and Timeshadow are on their way to a nearby bar – to meet one of their contacts. Unfortunately for them, they’re under surveillance by Cable and his team. When the three of them reach the bar they realise their contact is bound and gagged – and they’ve walked straight into a trap. Cable and his team, revealed to be Psylocke and Archangel, quickly take them out.
Cable tells them he knows they’re part of Clan Akkaba, followers of Apocalypse, and that he intends to learn from them how Apocalypse plans to return. Stinger calls his bluff but she doesn’t know just how far Cable will go to rid the world of Apocalypse. Seems like he has torture in mind!
Meanwhile, in the X-Factor prison van, Avalanche, Pyro, Forearm, Random some other mutants which also includes Rusty and Skids – are on their way to some kind of governmental facility. Although, we don’t know where, it couldn’t be any worse than being forced to listen to Multiple Man’s “we’re like the X-Men, only better” rhetoric. As Rusty and Skids plead to be released, an energy blast forces the prison truck off the bridge before the same energy raises the truck back up onto the bridge, removing the prisoners of their shackles and shaking them free of their confines.
Two unknown mutants quickly make fast work of Multiple Man, seemingly knocking him out. Only for the newly freed mutants to look into the sky, met by a bellowing voice coming from Exodus. A powerful mutant looking to recruit them as his followers.
What did you think of this X-Men comic book issue?
What do you think Exodus has in store for Rusty and Skids? Will Bishop travel into the far-off future (again) to try and find Cyclops and Jean? Will we ever see Wolverine again?
Let me know in the comments.
