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. 

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 inciting incident for Scott and Storm determining 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, appropriately titled ‘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 is staying with Forge, who has saved her from drowning in the ocean and is nursing her back to health. 

Much of Lifedeath is about Forge’s guilt over his actions during the war and his role in developing the weapon that stole Storm’s powers. 

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, Xavier agrees to leave Earth with her when her name is cleared, and 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 try and 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 stems 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. That same story sees Forge design a device to restore Storm’s powers.

Comics that inspired X-Men ’97 Episode 7

Disney+

X-Men ’97 kicks off yet again with more nods to Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s iconic New X-Men run. 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, aka White Queen, is shown to be one of the few survivors of the Genosha massacre thanks to a sudden secondary mutation, an unbreakable diamond form. This also hearkens back to a similar scene in New X-Men #116. This moment is the catalyst for Emma joining the X-Men after years of being a teacher on satellite teams such as Generation X and eventually leads to her affair and relationship with Scott Summers.

The episode also finally introduces us to Bastion and OZT, the first official sign of the show’s take on Operation: Zero Tolerance. This storyline was the 1997 X-Men comics summer event and the first since the Avengers and Fantastic Four were splintered off into their own universe. In it, the android Bastion became a government agent, leading 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.

X-Men ’97 Easter eggs: All Marvel Comics & movie references explained | Ten best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | How old is Magneto? Age in X-Men ’97 and Marvel Comics explained | X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | X-Men: From the Ashes – New X-teams, costumes, & the fate of Xavier’s School | Sabretooth War: Everyone who died so far in Wolverine’s bloodiest story ever | Marvel Comics’ Blood Hunt reading guide: Spider-Man tie-ins, Morbius’ return & more