Summary
X-Men ‘97season 2 has the chance to redeem an omega-level mutant that the 20th Century Fox movies depowered. Upon its announcement,X-Men ‘97was expected to be a needless albeit potentially fun reboot of the 90s animatedX-Menshow. As ofX-Men ‘97episode 10’s ending, however, it became clear that the show was a resounding success. With all the political subtext, fantastic action, great characters, and compelling family dynamics of the Marvel Comics franchise,X-Men ‘97broke Marvel review recordsas the highest-rated MCU project of all time.
This reception has naturally caused a great deal of excitement forX-Men ‘97season 2’s confirmed story. As well as the reviews for the show, the way the story left off raised anticipation for a continuation of these characters in theupcoming MCU TV show. InX-Men ‘97season 1’s ending, the titular team was left scattered through time, reckoning with the return of Apocalypse.This led toteases of other X-Men characters being introduced in season 2, with one potential inclusion givingX-Men ‘97the opportunity to redeem an omega-level mutant from prior iterations.
X-Men ’97 Season 1’s Finale Teased Iceman’s Inclusion In Season 2
Bobby Drake Could Appear In Future X-Men ‘97 Seasons
As alluded to,X-Men ‘97season 1 ended with the core members of the team scattered through time after destroying the crashing Asteroid M and saving Earth. This led one ofX-Men ‘97’s newest team members, Forge, to begin a search for the missing mutants. However, it was revealed that Forge’s search was in vain, leading Bishop -X-Men ‘97’s time-traveling mutant - to appear and explain that they need to stop looking for where their missing friends are and start looking at when they are.
While this moment is an obvious tease for the future of the show, severalX-Men ‘97episode 10’s Easter eggsare hidden in the scene. At Forge’s base, he has a wall of mutants behind him. The faces of the missing X-Men are hung on the wall, marked as missing in action. Some other mutants are included, such as Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, and are listed as off-world. Interestingly,there are some mutants that are indicated to be available for Forge’s new X-Men teamin light of the core members’ absence, one being Bobby Drake a.k.a. Iceman.
X-Men ’97 Teases 8 New X-Men Team Members For Season 2 In 1 Scene
The X-Men team may be presumed dead after the end of X-Men ‘97 season 1’s finale, but a new line-up might have already been teased for season 2.
Iceman Is An Omega-Level Mutant, Which The Fox Movies Failed To Show
The Live-Action X-Men Movies Failed To Show Iceman’s True Power
The tease of Iceman’s inclusion alone is enough to raise excitement, an excitement that is doubled when remembering how the Fox live-actionX-Menmovie timelinetreated the character. From watching the live-actionX-Menfilms, one would be forgiven for assuming Iceman was a lesser-powered mutant in comparison to characters like Storm, Magneto, Jean Grey, and Professor X. However,in Marvel Comics, Iceman is an omega-level mutantlike those mentioned, ranking him among the most powerful heroes in the X-Men roster.
Throughout his many live-action appearances, this potential was not realized. Iceman rarely used his powers in combat, with only a few shorter scenes showcasing his potential. Some of the more powerful moments involved Bobby freezing a missile to render it inert, and battling Sentinels inX-Men: Days of Future Past. Besides these scenes and a few other minor action beats, the true extent of Iceman’s powers was not realized, especially given his nature as an omega-level mutant.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
July 31, 2025
In a similar way to how the live-action movies sidelined Rogue, Storm, and Cyclops, they did the same to Iceman. In Marvel Comics, Iceman was a founding member of the X-Men and has long been vital to many stories. In the live-action films, though, Bobby’s primary character development was relegated to being Rogue’s love interest. Outside of his connection to Rogue, Iceman’s character and the upper limits of his powers were rarely the focus of his film iteration.
In Marvel Comics, Iceman’s powers were described as slowing down matter until it freezes to a limitless extent, to the point where Bobby covered New York City in ice, and even froze parts of literal hell.
X-Men ’97 Season 1’s Treatment Of Omega-Level Mutants Bodes Well For Ice Man
The Characters Of Storm, Jean Grey, And Magneto In X-Men ‘97 Prove The Show Can Do Iceman Justice
If Iceman indeed has a role inX-Men ‘97season 2, the treatment of other omega-level mutants in season 1 proves his character will receive the respect it deserves.InX-Men ‘97season 1, the creators of the show made sure to put a distinct spotlight on omega-level mutants, with each one having incredibly powerful moments throughout the show. The first of these came inX-Men ‘97episode 1 via the show’s depiction of Storm. During a battle with the Sentinels, the X-Men were overpowered, leading Scott Summers/Cyclops to call in Storm.
The omega-level mutant immediately changed the tide of the battle, with lightning blasts powerful enough to turn the Sahara desert into glass and a tornado that instantly defeated leagues of Sentinels. As one ofX-Men ‘97’s most powerful mutants, Storm’s feats of strength continued in the three-part finale, as did Jean Grey’s and Magneto’s. Jean Grey unleashed the remnants of the Phoenix Force inX-Men ‘97episode 9, taking apart a powerful villain like Mister Sinister on a molecular level.
Using the strong magnetic field at the North Pole to amplify his powers, Magneto temporarily set the human race back by hundreds of years.
Concerning Magneto, the hero-turned-villain-turned-anti-hero unleashed an EMP blast inX-Men ‘97episode 8. Using the strong magnetic field at the North Pole to amplify his powers, Magneto temporarily set the human race back by hundreds of years. His overly powerful EMP blast destroyed much of humanity’s society that relied on technological advancement, proving his omega-level credentials correct. The treatment of each of these characters bodes well for the potential inclusion of Iceman inX-Men ‘97season 2, which will hopefully do justice to the true extent of his mutant abilities.
10 Most Impressive Displays Of Power In X-Men ‘97 Season 1
X-Men ‘97 has put to screen some of the best adaptations of mutant powers ever, with the X-Men and their villains getting some incredible scenes.
Forge’s New X-Men Team Has Two Other Incredibly Powerful Mutants
Two Other Mutants Could Take The X-Men Team To New, Powerful Heights
Interestingly, Iceman is not the only highly powerful mutant teased to be part of Forge’s new X-Men team. One other example is Exodus a.k.a. Bennet du Paris. Born as a 12th-century knight, Exodus was such a powerful mutant that he was once an ally of Apocalypse. Exodus eventually turned his back on his master, joining Magneto in the modern era. Exodus’ powers are nearly limitless, from omega-level telekinesis and telepathy to enhanced durability, speed, strength, the ability to shoot psionic blasts, psionic vampirism, healing factors, and much more. This makes Exodus one of the most powerful mutants in Marvel history.
While not an omega-level mutant herself, Emma Frost is another teased on Forge’s board as a potential X-Men candidate. Omega-level mutants are often defined by their myriad powers, such as Exodus or Jean Grey, who have multiple high-powered abilities. Although Frost does not have enough abilities to render her omega-level, her telepath abilities specifically are omega-level. She has been known to rival Charles Xavier at times and is an expert at using telepathy as a weapon. If Iceman, Exodus, and Emma Frost joined the team inX-Men ‘97season 2, the power level of the mutant team would rise tenfold.
X-Men ‘97
Cast
X-Men ‘97 is the direct continuation of the popular 1990s animated series X-Men: The Animated Series. Taking up where the third season left off, Marvel’s revival brings back famous mutants such as Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, and Nightcrawler, who fight villains like Mr. Sinister, the Sentinels, and the Hellfire Club.
