X-Men comics that inspired X-Men ’97 explained

If you’ve been an X-Men fan for life, then X-Men ‘97 hits harder. That’s because many of the episodes are fairly direct adaptations of the original X-Men comics.

In the same way the original X-Men animated series adapted stories from the ‘70s, X-Men ‘97 is adapting classic X-Men tales of the ‘80s and ’90s.

There’s a lot of surprising direct callbacks here to all-time classic storylines. If you enjoyed tales like Days of Future Past, E for Extinction, or Fatal Attractions, you’ll find a callback.

If you’re curious if you missed any or just want to get caught up, here are the comics that inspired Marvel Studios’ X-Men ‘97. 

Comics that inspired X-Men ‘97 Episode 1

Disney

Because so much of the first episode, ‘To Me, My X-Men,’ is meant to wrap up elements from the previous episode, there’s not a lot here that comes from comics. 

Cyclops contemplating his role as team leader is an ongoing theme in the comics. Perhaps the most recognizable example is Uncanny X-Men #201, in which he and Storm duel to determine who will lead the team. In that instance, Cyclops actually loses and leaves the team with Madelyne. 

The incident that incited Scott and Storm to determine who should lead is Xavier being taken to space by Lilandra to recover from an illness. That event is from Uncanny X-Men #200, which is much more important in episode 2. 

Comics that inspired X-Men ‘97 Episode 2

Marvel Comics

The bulk of this story, where Magneto is put on trial for his crimes, is based on 1985’s Uncanny X-Men #200, ‘The Trial of Magneto.’ In the story, Magneto faces an international trial for his crimes. Ultimately, the charges are more or less dismissed, with Magneto agreeing to take charge of the X-Men. 

Storm losing her powers is from Uncanny X-Men #185. Here, she and Rogue are trying to save a boat after a mishap caused by Rogue, who had absorbed Storm’s powers. Henry Peter Gyrich, using a neutralizer designed by Forge, attempts to take Rogue’s powers. However, he misses and hits Storm instead. 

Comics that inspired X-Men ‘97 Episode 3

Most of X-Men ‘97 episode 3 is an adaptation of Inferno, a story in which Madelyne Pryor makes a deal with the demons of Limbo to find her kidnapped son. This leads to Madelyne becoming the Goblin Queen after discovering she is a clone of Jean Grey. 

Cyclops’ sending his son to the future stems from 1991’s X-Factor #68. In the comics, Nathan is infected with a techno-organic virus and transported to an alternate Earth, where he is raised to be a soldier who battles Apocalypse. He actually returns to the present in New Mutants #86 as Cable, which was released two years before this issue. 

Comics that inspired X-Men ‘97 Episode 4

‘Lifedeath’ is a somewhat-earnest adaptation of the story of the same name from Uncanny X-Men #186. In the issue, Storm, who has lost her powers the issue before, is staying with Forge, who has saved her from drowning in the ocean and is nursing her back to health. 

Comics that inspired X-Men ‘97 Episode 5

Magneto’s becoming the leader of Genosha stems from the 1999 mini-series Magneto Rex, in which the UN gives him the island to foster a mutant nation. 

Magneto and Rogue’s relationship is inspired by an arc where they’re in the Savage Land together, notably explored in Uncanny X-Men #274. The two nearly form a romantic relationship, but Rogue leaves when she sees Magneto still willing to kill. 

The destruction of Genosha and the Wild Sentinel design originates from E is for Extinction. Running in New X-Men #114-116, the story sees Cassandra Nova force the son of Bolivar Trask to make a new Sentinel to destroy Genosha as a means of getting back at Charles Xavier. 

Comics that inspired X-Men ’97 Episode 6

Xavier and Empress Lilandra have a long, on-again, off-again romance in the comics. They first meet after months of psychic rapport in Uncanny X-Men #105 when she flees to Earth, having been accused of treason by the Shi’ar.

In Uncanny X-Men #117, believing the X-Men were killed fighting Magneto, Xavier agrees to leave Earth with her when she assumes the role of empress. He returns in Uncanny X-Men #131 without Lilandra after learning about the Shi’ar prophecy of the Phoenix Force.

Xavier and Lilandra’s relationship is strained by the events of Dark Phoenix Saga, but the two occasionally reunite. The relationship is finally irrevocably broken when Cassandra Nova possesses Xavier’s body and upends the Shi’ar empire.

A devastated and confused Lilandra comes to Earth to assassinate Xavier in New X-Men #133, after which the Shi’ar declare their marriage annulled and the mutant race beyond saving.

Xavier’s golden Shi’ar battle armor is from Uncanny X-Men #275. He wears it to disguise himself as The Warlord.

Storm tending to a wounded Forge is from Uncanny X-Men #226, though in that story, Forge is wounded because she stabbed him, believing he was trying to open a portal to hell. In the same story, Forge designs a device to restore Storm’s powers.

Comics that inspired X-Men ’97 Episode 7

Disney+

More nods to Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s iconic New X-Men run start this episode off. The X-Men return to Genosha to search for survivors and reckon with the trauma and horror of its devastation, much like it occurs in New X-Men #116.

Emma Frost is one of the few survivors thanks to a sudden secondary mutation, an unbreakable diamond form. This moment is the catalyst for Emma joining the X-Men after years of being a teacher on satellite teams, and eventually leads to her affair and relationship with Cyclops.

The episode also finally introduces us to Bastion and OZT. Operation: Zero Tolerance was the 1997 X-Men summer event that sees Bastion lead a government-sanctioned army of Prime Sentinels–humans who have been transformed into Sentinels via implants.

The final moments of the episode also reveal Magneto has survived the destruction of Genosha. He similarly managed to survive the attack in the comics, though he went into hiding and was believed dead for a period of time.

Comics that inspired X-Men ’97 Episode 8

Scott, Jean, and Cable visit Bastion’s childhood home and learn about his relationship with his family. Bastion’s origin is detailed in Machine Man/Bastion Annual ’98, where Cable and Machine Man learn he appeared as a fully-grown man with amnesia and was taken in by the well-meaning Rose Gilberti. Rose survives Bastion’s machinations in the comics, unlike her X-Men ’97 counterpart.

There are many nods to Operation Zero Tolerance, including the Xavier Institute being largely destroyed in the attack by Prime Sentinels. However, Cable destroys it in the comics in an effort to prevent Bastion from accessing the mansion’s technology.

Much like in the comics, Jubilee becomes the first victim of Operation: Zero Tolerance, captured in the event’s opening issues. Bastion eventually manages to capture another five X-Men–Storm, Cyclops, Wolverine, Cannonball, & Phoenix–and also has Professor Xavier in custody.

The episode ends with Magneto creating a worldwide EMP that shuts down the Prime Sentinels. He does something similar in X-Men #25, part of the Fatal Attractions storyline.

In Fatal Attractions, Magneto is kept off Earth by a planetwide mesh designed by Forge at the request of S.H.I.E.L.D. to disrupt Earth’s magnetic field. Magneto circumvents it by blasting the entire planet with an EMP that throws the world into a blackout.

Comics that inspired X-Men ’97 Episode 9

Xavier’s return from space and the rift it leaves between him and Cyclops calls back to Xavier’s return in X-Men #129. While the tensions in the series are focused on Xavier wanting Cyclops to have a life beyond the school, the comic is more focused on Xavier’s misplaced belief that Cyclops was failing the team.

The bulk of this episode is more of a Fatal Attractions adaptation, including Xavier facing the temptation to stop Magneto permanently. A key visual of the storyline–Wolverine having the Adamantium ripped from his body–is replicated almost exactly as it was in the comic for the final shot of this episode.

The team’s new costumes are based on a few looks from throughout history.

• Cyclops and Storm’s costumes are from Giant-Size X-Men #1. In the comics, Cyclops eventually switches his out for the blue-and-white X-Factor costume, while Storm next wears the famous mohawk and biker gear she picks up during Wolverine’s wedding.
• Jean gets her classic Marvel Girl look from the ’60s. It’s perhaps best known today as what she wore during her death in Dark Phoenix Saga, though she briefly wore it during the Krakoa Era.
• Starting in the ’70s and throughout the ’90s, Xavier wore the olive-colored jumpsuit seen here whenever he joined the team in the field.
• Wolverine’s brown costume is introduced in Uncanny X-Men #139; while no in-universe reason is given for the change, it marks the character’s transition into a new era as an X-Man after years of tension on the team.
• Cable’s is a riff on his late ’90s costume, which is perhaps best known for its appearance in Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

Comics that inspired X-Men ’97 Episode 10

Magneto and Xavier’s discussion on mutants and revealing their powers to each other is a play on their first meeting, first depicted in Uncanny X-Men #161. While they are both working at a medical facility at the time in the comics, they only reveal their powers to each other while being attacked by Hydra.

Bastion’s more cybernetic appearance is based on his Uncanny X-Force appearances long after Operation: Zero Tolerance was disbanded. The new look was explained as Bastion being revived by the Purifiers, who attached his severed head to a Nimrod model Sentinel.

Scott and Jean in the future is from 1994’s The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix. The story saw Scott and Jean’s alternate reality daughter, Rachel, bring their minds to the future in new bodies, where they had the opportunity to raise Nathan before he became Cable.

Forge’s board of missing and presumed dead mutants is based on the iconic cover of Uncanny X-Men #141, the first part of the storyline Days of Future Past. On the cover, the poster depicts mutants who have been captured or slain by Sentinels.

The show’s post-credit scene teases not only Apocalypse but the notion of Gambit returning as the Horseman of Death. This is from a post-House of M story where Gambit became Death in a bid to help Apocalypse restore the endangered mutant species.

All episodes of X-Men ’97 Season 1 are available now on Disney+, and X-Men 97 Season 2 is currently in production. If you’re curious about more X-Men ’97 content, then read up on all the X-Men ’97 Easter eggs we could find or read about the ten best X-Men comics.