In a world where comic book adaptations are either too loyal or too blasé to the source material, X-Men ’97 strikes the absolute perfect balance. Its second season has played fast and loose with a few well-known storylines, mostly subverting expectations where it suits the story. Even though small details may change, the animated series retains the soul of the X-Men’s strangest adventures — and that continues in its latest episode.
While X-Men ’97 mourns the demise of Magneto (and continues to tease the audience with the potential rise of Onslaught), Season 2 Episode 6 pits the titular team against a new, if lesser-known villain. Magneto’s fall in ancient Egypt inadvertently brings on the rise of a subversive threat, which Professor Xavier and his students must rally to defeat. Ironically, it also springs out of Xavier’s best intentions, forcing our heroes to learn another painful lesson.
