Disney+/Marvel Animation
Contains spoilers for “X-Men ’97” Season 2, Episode 2 — “A Force to Be Reckoned With”
Marvel’s acclaimed animated series, “X-Men ’97,” kicks off with an introduction that will feel very familiar to longtime fans. The new series pays homage to the beloved ’90s “X-Men: The Animated Series” by maintaining the original theme music and structure, albeit with a fresh animation style and lineup of characters. However, the second episode of Season 2, titled “A Force to Be Reckoned With,” takes a bold step by replacing the iconic X-Men with the dynamic X-Force.
In this episode, titled “A Force to Be Reckoned With,” the spotlight is firmly on the X-Force. Led by Cable, voiced by Chris Potter, the team includes Psylocke, Archangel, and Jubilee, along with Sunspot, portrayed by Gui Agustini. Their mission is crucial: to locate the X-Men who find themselves scattered throughout various points in time. Meanwhile, X-Force faces the rising threat of X-Factor, a team led by Cyclops’ brother, who is also Cable’s uncle, Havok. Together, X-Factor and the government form an interesting alliance. This episode truly underscores the phrase, “X gon’ give it to ya!”
Paying homage to the enduring legacy of X-Force, the episode’s introduction cleverly swaps out the original X-Men characters for those featured prominently in the storyline. Crucially, the series wisely opts to retain the original and beloved theme music, understanding some traditions are simply too sacred to change.
X-Force was a highly influential superhero team in the ’90s
Marvel Comics
“X-Men ’97” finds its roots in its predecessor, “X-Men: The Animated Series,” which debuted in 1992 at a time when Professor Xavier’s mutants were riding a wave of massive popularity. In fact, the comic “X-Men” #1, released in 1991, became a sensation, selling over eight million copies. That same year, Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza’s “X-Force” #1 was no slouch either, achieving stunning success with over five million sales. The resonance of these stories is palpable, continuing to captivate audiences decades later.
A continuation of the New Mutants, the X-Force prided itself as the edgier version of the X-Men (with a lot more pockets and weapons). The team wasn’t composed of villains or antiheroes, but rather preferred to use excessive force when dealing with adversaries and problems. As a result, X-Force became popular in its own right and developed a fanbase, while its leader, Cable, also popped up in a few episodes of “X-Men: The Animated Series.”
Now, in “X-Men ’97” Season 2, the influential group finally gets its time to shine, even if it isn’t the same team that debuted in the pages of “X-Force” #1. Maybe a spin-off animated show is exactly what the doctor ordered, especially considering how most of the X-Force was eliminated from “Deadpool 2.”