“Ako si Wolverine! Ikaw si Storm. Tapos siya naman si Cyclops.”

If you grew up in the 90s, chances are you’ve said one of these lines when you were a kid. X-Men: The Animated Series was one of the pillars of 1990s pop culture. And the franchise’s latest iteration, X-Men ‘97, may have just become the savior that Marvel has been searching for since Avengers: Endgame. As the recently completed first season weaved chilling character arcs into its stunning storytelling, X-Men ‘97 has proven to be more than just a feel-good throwback. 

It’s a masterpiece that has been making fans foam at the mouth—as they get zealous to break down the show’s Easter eggs. But heck, this article will keep it simple and list eight moments in X-Men ‘97 that lit up a fire inside us like we were kids again. It’s like traveling back in time, getting blown away by the heroes’ powers, and arguing with your playmates so you get to “become” your favorite mutant. “Hinde! Ako dapat si Wolverine!” 

Spoilers ahead! You’ve been warned. 

All-star Morph

Morph is a shapeshifter who can also mimic the physical abilities of a mutant he imitates. Boy, did he put that to good use. 

He became Archangel when he needed flight. He got the steel body of Colossus when they were under attack. He also took on the stretchy form of Mister Fantastic and the lightning speed of Quicksilver. But the moment that takes the cake is when he turns into The Incredible Hulk and served a “Morph Smash!” to their foes. Morph is an all-star team just by himself.  

Badass good guys

The early episodes showed Cyclops looking like a savvy field commander for the X-Men, far from the softie depicted in the movies. When their plane got dismantled mid-flight, Cyclops used his optic beams to break his fall and land safely—no parachute needed. Other X-Men had their moments, too. 

Storm wiped out an army of Sentinels with a tornado. Wolverine and Nightcrawler displayed their fighting flair and fended off Prime Sentinels despite being outnumbered. And then there’s Rogue, who stood up to Captain America.

Two deaths?!

This one did make fans shriek — but not in a good way. Episode 5, arguably the season’s best, showed death-defying acts by Magneto and Gambit in the attack of Genosha. It was a tormenting episode that showed how a genocide of mutants unfolded. Both Gambit and Magneto gave their all to defend their kind, and they were pushed to the limit. 

The episode, called “Remember It,” ended with Rogue crying over Gambit’s dead body. Magneto was nowhere to be found. It was only revealed two episodes later that the Master of Magnetism stayed alive but was abducted.  

An array of villains

Episode 8 showed Bastion, the show’s main villain, speaking with other antagonists named Dr. Doom and Baron Zemo. Silver Samurai and Omega Red also make their own appearances. All four villains had little time on the screen, but their presence leaves fans asking, “What could these bad guys have up their sleeves? 

A bigger X-Men team?

The show had countless moments showing members of the X-Men from various points in time. None are more exciting than the scene in Episode 10 that showed Daniel Forge’s ongoing search for the missing X-Men. 

Magneto-maniac

“Why is Magneto suddenly mutant MVP?” 

Gambit posed this question in the series. Frankly, Magneto may have been the MVP of X-Men ‘97, outshining all other characters. Magnus was crazy (and powerful) enough to give Season 1 its twists. 

For one, Magneto manipulated the Earth’s magnetic poles to shut down the ENTIRE world. The move stopped the Prime Sentinels, which were programmed to obliterate mutants. Sounds heroic? Nope, because Magneto’s electromagnetic act also shut down hospitals and sent airplanes crashing.

And if that wasn’t crazy enough, Magneto also did the unthinkable with Wolverine—using his powers of magnetism to rip the adamantium from Logan’s body. 

Will he be crazier in Season 2? 

Intro is a “living” thing

The show has a distinct intro for every episode. Each small change in detail is a nod to the ongoing story, enough to make any fan giddy. It’s a nice touch by creator Beau DeMayo and team. If you’ve been watching but skipping the intro, you can still correct your mistake. Go for a re-watch and keep an eye out for Jean Grey, Storm, and Bishop, among others. 

Crossover Cameos

Captain America isn’t the only Marvel superhero to make a cameo in the series. Spider-Man, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Daredevil, Cloak and Dagger, Psylocke, and Black Panther all appeared on screen. 

Those could mean nothing, or something. One thing remains to be sure: X-Men ‘97 has done the heavy lifting for Marvel—and it is primed to continue doing so in the next few years.