Summary
X-Men ‘97may have set up one of the scariest foes the mutant team has ever faced to appear in season 2. The first season revived theX-Menanimated series, continuing the story from where it left off in the late 1990s and making it more mature, allowing the content to age with the fans who grew up with the show. It was overwhelmingly well-received, ensuring that more seasons are on the way.
Throughout the first season ofX-Men ‘97, the mutants faced many of their biggest foes, including Bastion, Mr. Sinister, the Goblin Queen, and even Mojo. Magneto is one of their greatest antagonists, and the first season covered many of his stories, like his relationship with Rogue, leading the X-Men, and seeing him rip the adamantium from Wolverine’s body. However, his actions toward the end ofthe season may have set in motion the emergence of one of the X-Men’s scariest comic book villains: Onslaught.
HowX-Men ‘97Set The Stage For Onslaught
X-Men ‘97covered events from the “Fatal Attractions” storyline. Magneto detonates an EMP around the world, resulting in widespread disasters and death. While his anger is motivated by the tragic attack on Genosha, the X-Men are still motivated to act, traveling to Magneto’s Asteroid M to confront him. When they are unable to contain his ire, a battle ensues, and the severity grows dire for all involved.Wolverine looks to end the fight, capitalizing on an opening to stab Magneto with his adamantium claws. Magneto’s retaliation is brutal, as he rips the metal from Wolverine’s skeleton, leaving him near death.
Charles Xavier invades Magneto’s mind while his helmet is off to stop the carnage. In a last-ditch effort, Xavier wipes Magneto’s mind to end the fight.However, in doing so, Professor X absorbs a portion of Magneto’s evil, which is poised to become important down the line.Magneto is bested, and with theX-Men scrambling to handleWolverine’s injuries and Bastion’s further plans, the moment plays as part of the action, and it is quickly forgotten. However,it lays the groundwork for Onslaught.
Who Is Onslaught In TheX-MenUniverse?
Onslaught first tormented the X-Men from the shadows, sending heralds to fight them. He even pulls Jean Grey onto the Astral Plane for a confrontation, where he exposes her to Xavier’s dark secrets. This prompts Jean to use her powers with Xavier, which reveals the horrifying truth: Charles Xavier is Onslaught. The truth is thatthe evil fromMagneto’s mind wipe combined with Xavier’s subconscious to create a sentient psionic entity known as Onslaught, who was set to become a plague upon the X-Men.
Onslaught easily bests theX-Men in their first physical encounter, making short work of the team and setting about his plan. He gets the two most powerful mutants on Earth, X-Man and Franklin Richards, who may be poised for an MCU debut inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Onslaught uses them to strengthen himself, and ultimately, a confrontation ensues that sees other Marvel heroes involved, with the Hulk smashing Onslaught’s armor. This unleashes his invulnerable energy form, and his malevolent plan is revealed:Onslaught intends to wipe out all of humanity, leaving only mutant beings and himself.
The way the X-Men must deal with Onslaught’s plan is bleak, yet knowing the outcome, they still accept the responsibility. The heroes aiding in their fight jump into Onslaught’s energy field, absorbing its powers, with the X-Men then causing an explosion that seesthe other Marvel heroesmaking the ultimate sacrifice.While they saved the world, the X-Men are still seen as having killed Earth’s heroes, which included several Avengers and The Fantastic Four,pitting the team against impossible circumstances.
Why The Onslaught Storyline Should Be Part ofX-Men ‘97Season 2
X-Men ‘97has been picking and choosing stories to adapt, working them into their own continuity. The “Fatal Attractions” storyline told in the first season directly results in the events of Onslaught in the comics. The show also combined the season finale with the “Operation: Zero Tolerance” arc, which didn’t occur until after Onslaught in the comics. The series included stories fromseveral decades ofX-Mencomics, like the destruction of Genosha, which wasn’t until the 2000s, meaning the show can navigate several storylines for the next season in whatever order works best. However,the pieces for Onslaught are already in place.
With Magneto’s mind wipe, his evil has already passed to Xavier’s subconscious, meaning the creation of Onslaught is underway.Furthermore, he poses a massive threat to the X-Men, which can serve as emotional arcs and action set pieces for the season. The final episode of the season took particular care in showing other Marvel heroes within their universe, setting the stage for those who may need to sacrifice themselves to stop Onslaught. This could present one of the most complex challenges for the X-Men and one of the darkest storylines for the show.
Given that Onslaught is an enemy that begins from the shadows, it’s possible to tease him throughout the season, antagonizing the team from afar. Characters like Post, a herald of Onslaught, could be used to help seed the villain throughout episodes before he finallytakes on the X-Men. He also has numerous phases, proving that a lengthy story throughout the season can cover ever-increasing stakes and carnage. His tease could even be lengthy, pushing his full reveal into season 3. No matter howX-Men ‘97chooses to handle Onslaught, the show has already laid the groundwork for the character’s appearance, which could see the mutants take on a truly dark foe in season 2.
