X-Men '97 Officially Debuts Its X-Force. All Members And Powers Explained

One of Marvel’s most important mutant teams, X-Force, finally makes its debut in the X-Men ’97 universe. X-Men ’97 season 1’s finale leaves the mutant heroes divided across time following the devastating fallout of “Tolerance Is Extinction.” Heading into X-Men ’97 season 2, the remaining mutants left in the present, led by Forge, Bishop, and other survivors, will scramble to rebuild Professor X and Magneto’s broken dream and locate their lost family, with Apocalypse standing as a new, unexpected obstacle.

Since X-Men: The Animated Series introduced its adaptation of mutantkind, an extensive web of specialized factions and alliances have shaped this universe. Beyond the X-Men’s primary roster, X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97 have expanded into the tragic underbelly of the Morlocks, who seek refuge in the subterranean tunnels of Manhattan, as well as the original iteration of the government-funded X-Factor and Wolverine’s rivals Alpha Flight. From the isolated, prehistoric wilderness of the Savage Land Mutates to the imperial ranks of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard and the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, this interconnected world thrives on diverse teams and groups.

Oddly enough, one of Marvel’s most famous X-Men offshoots has taken a while to make its proper debut in this continuity, only assembling officially for the first time thirty-four years after the original animated series premiered.

Cable Assembles The X-Force Ahead Of X-Men ’97 Season 2

X-Men ’97: Season Two #1; Written By Steve Foxe; Art By Salva Espin & Mat Milla

X-Men ’97 season 2 officially premieres on Disney+ on July 1st. However, the story begins one month before, as the X-Men ’97: Season Two comic prelude kicks off the next wave of events. Six months after Magneto’s Asteroid M tragedy, humanity and mutantkind are still recovering from what they call E-Day, and tensions keep rising. This crisis leads mutants to divide into groups to fight back or gain control. In X-Men ’97: Season Two #1, the Alliance of Evil and Clan Akkaba join forces while X-Factor attempts to uphold “law and order.” Meanwhile, Cable’s X-Force watches from the shadows.

X-Men: The Animated Series laid the groundwork for X-Force long before its heroes shared a formal team banner. Cable debuted early as a heavily armed, mystery-shrouded soldier from a dystopian future, locked in a brutal personal vendetta against Apocalypse and completely detached from Xavier’s traditional peaceful philosophy. Soon after, Warren Worthington III underwent his tragic transformation at the hands of Apocalypse, and Psylocke eventually debuted in the “Beyond Good and Evil” quadrilogy, where she first showcased her telepathic martial arts prowess while working alongside other lone-wolf heroes.

X-Force Will Play A Key Role In X-Men ’97 Season 2

Cable Promises To Be More Relevant In Season 2 Than In Season 1

In X-Men ’97 Season 2, X-Force seems to be the definitive frontline defense for a world left entirely unprotected in the wake of E-Day. As established in the X-Men ’97: Season Two #1 comic prelude, Cable wastes no time capitalizing on this power vacuum, actively recruiting Archangel and Psylocke into a militant, proactive strike team apparently designed to neutralize mutant threats before they lead to tragedy. And according to the first tease of the second issue, this hardened trio will quickly expand their ranks by welcoming Jubilee and Sunspot, two young X-Men eager for a more aggressive approach to survival.

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X-Force’s first major trial involves a series of street-level interventions against opportunistic factions like the Alliance of Evil, an organization eager to exploit the post-Bastion chaos for their own destructive ends. However, they won’t limit themselves to black ops missions. Cable and Bishop’s time-travel knowledge will be key to making contact with the time-displaced X-Men and helping them face the young En Sabah Nur. Considering the current X-Force line-up, Archangel and Psylocke’s presence doesn’t seem to be a coincidence. Apocalypse’s new wave of Horsemen may eventually include Warren Worthington III and Betsy Braddock, known Horsemen in X-Men mythos.

What do you think X-Force will do in X-Men ’97 season 2?

X-Men ’97: Season Two #1 is now available from Marvel Comics.

X-Men ’97: Season Two #2 is available July 1st from Marvel Comics.