Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men ’97 episode 7
X-Men ’97 is chock-full of exciting Easter eggs and references, and X-Men ’97 episode 7 is no different. Featuring the aftermath of the Fall of Genosha, the mutants who remain are grieving the loss of so many lives at the hands of the Wild Sentinel that massacred the island nation. To that end, the X-Men and Rogue in particular begin to uncover the truth about who was behind the attack, resulting in some key reveals and major references to the original comics.
As seen in X-Men ’97 episode 7, the sinister players behind the Fall of Genosha are revealed, and it’s not just Mister Sinister whose involvement was teased at the end of X-Men ’97 episode 6. Beginning with Gambit’s funeral and ending with the surprise reveal that Magneto still lives, X-Men ’97 proves that its episodes truly don’t miss. To that end, here are 16 of the biggest Easter eggs and references from X-Men ’97 episode 7.
16. Thieves Guild
From Gambit’s New Orleans Past
At the beginning of X-Men ’97 episode 7, the majority of the X-Men are seen attending Gambit’s funeral. However, members of the Thieves Guild are present as well, including Remy LeBeau’s brother Bobby who was featured in the original animated X-Men series. As such, it’s a brief yet poignant cameo tying back to Gambit’s past in New Orleans. Likewise, Nightcrawler gives a truly heartwarming eulogy for Remy, identifying him as a true hero despite his darker past as a member of the aforementioned Thieves Guild.
15. Rogue’s Kamen Rider Kick
Classic Anime Inspirations
Rather than being present at Gambit’s funeral, Rogue decides to delay her grief by using his fists. Determined to find Henry Gyrich and Bolivar Trask, Rogue is featured attacking a US military base, swatting soldiers like flies in her focused rage. This also includes an impressive Kamen Rider-styled diving kick as Rogue dispatches several armored tanks, another epic example of X-Men ’97 taking much of its animation inspiration from classic anime elements.
14. Marvel’s General Ross
(And A Hulk Reference Too!)
Marvel’s General Thunderbolt Ross makes a surprise appearance in X-Men ’97, revealed to be the officer in charge of the base. The Incredible Hulk also gets a reference when Ross claims that the base was built to hold him. That only makes it more impressive when Rogue breaks into the base with very little issue, demanding to know where Gyrich is. In the MCU, Ross was most recently Secretary of State, though he’ll soon be revealed as the next President of the United States in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World (with Harrison Ford taking over the role from the late William Hurt).
13. Amelia Vought
Helping WIth Genosha’s Fallout
Aiding in the relief efforts on Genosha, Beast meets with Amelia Vought who’s seen helping the injured. Having the ability to turn matter into vapor, Amelia was featured as a member of the Acolytes in the original X-Men series on Magneto’s Asteroid M. She was also a former love interest of Professor Charles Xavier and would later be featured in the series’ final season where she helped the X-Men fight the Phalanx. Amelia was also present during the comics’ Fall of Genosha.
12. Trish Tilby & Beast
Over Before They Began?
Reporter Trish Tilby returns in X-Men’ 97 episode 7 where she has a key interaction with Hank McCoy’s Beast. Confirming their flirtation hinted at in X-Men ’97 episode 5, things seemed like they might progress into a true romance. However, Beast grows frustrated with Tilby after her comments about humanity and its fears over mutantkind. As such, this looks to be a nod to Beast and Trish’s similarly troubled relationship in the original comics.
11. Captain America Faces Off With Rogue
First Avenger Theme And Major Comics Reference
Rogue’s ongoing search for answers leads her to the same secret facility being investigated by none other than Captain America, having a brief appearance that features quite a few fun nods. Not only does a version of Captain America’s MCU theme play, but his motorcycle’s license plate AVN-A10 is a reference to 1967’s Avengers Annual #10 which features Rogue’s first-ever appearance in the comics. Likewise, Captain America is also voiced by actor Josh Keaton who also voices Steve Rogers in Marvel’s What If…?.
10. OZT
(Operation: Zero Tolerance)
Rogue eventually discovers the mysterious organization known as OZT, one that’s eventually revealed to be connected to Gyrich, Trask, and the surprise reveal of none other than Bastion. In the original comics, OZT stands for Operation: Zero Tolerance, a joint-global anti-mutant organization dedicated to wiping out mutantkind for good. On the page, OZT was the brainchild of Bastion, and the same looks to be true in the X-Men ’97 universe as well.
9. Strong Guy
A Member Of X-Factor
Strong Guy appears in X-Men ’97 as well, helping with the relief efforts on Genosha. Handing Roberto Da Costa a few boxes of supplies, he tells the young mutant to bulk up for the war that’s coming. A member of Forge’s X-Factor, Strong Guy can rechannel kinetic energy into physical strength and had a brief appearance in the original X-Men series. He was also briefly referenced in a photo of the entire X-Factor team owned by Forge in X-Men ’97 episode 5, though it’s unclear if X-Factor is still an active team or if they at some point disbanded.
8. Emma Frost’s Diamond Form
A Reference To the Comics’ Fall of Genosha
Discovered to still be alive underneath the rubble in X-Men ’97 episode 7, it’s revealed that Emma Frost has developed her secondary mutation during the traumatic massacre. Beyond her telepathic abilities, Emma can now turn her skin into pure diamond, making her even more powerful than she already was. This mirrors the comics where Emma Frost’s secondary mutation similarly developed after witnessing the Fall of Genosha.
7. Rogue & Nightcrawler
Canonical Half-Siblings
X-Men ’97 episode 7 features a truly heartwarming moment between Rogue and Nightcrawler. Giving Rogue the chance to finally grieve both Gambit and Magneto, it’s a strong reminder that she and Kurt are brother and sister. Canonically half-siblings, they both share the same mother in Mystique who’s seemingly yet to be featured in X-Men ’97. That said, there are theories that Raven Darkholme has actually been playing the role of the UN’s Val Cooper since the show’s premiere.
6. Bastion
Born From Nimrod And Master Mold
Teased when Rogue touched Gyrich, Bastion is revealed in full by the end of X-Men ’97 episode 7. Confirmed to be behind Genosha, Bastion is in league with Mister Sinister and is preparing to unleash a new breed of cybernetic humans known as Prime Sentinels. A villain from the original comics, Bastion is the dark combination of Master Mold and the future’s Nimrod Sentinel. Just like in X-Men ’97, Bastion is also the one hybrid behind OZT and is revealed to have Magneto by the episode’s end, perhaps looking to turn the Master of Magnetism himself into one of these new Sentinels.
5. Nimrod Sentinel
Mutantkind’s Dark Future
Nimrod was also teased when Rogue touched Gyrich’s mind. Not only does the Nimrod Sentinel explain the future Sentinel technology seen by the X-Men at the episode’s end, but he also explains Bastion’s existence and Cable’s return to the present. In what is likely a paradoxical loop, Nimrod is perhaps responsible for his own creation, having created Bastion in the present along with Master Mold who in turn will motivate the creation of Nimrod in the future. As such, one can imagine that Cable has come to the present in an attempt to break this loop.
4. Pingo Doce
Classic Drink From The MCU
With the OZT lab and Prime Sentinels housed behind a door disguised as a vending machine, Morphs selects a can of Diet Pinto Doce to open it. Hilariously, Pingo Doce is the same soda Stan Lee drank in his MCU cameo seen in The Incredible Hulk. A guava-flavored drink, Pingo Doce can be ordered by MCU fans who visit Disney’s California Adventure and Avengers Campus.
3. Poor Man’s Oppenheimer
“I Am Become Death…”
Immediately after Morph calls Bolivar Trask the “Poor Man’s Oppenheimer”, Trask quotes the very same line from J. Robert Oppenheimer following the creation and donation of the Atom Bomb: “Now I Am Become Death”, himself quoting Hindu scripture. To that end, Trask explains that he only ever wanted his Sentinels to protect humanity from dangerous mutants. Instead, he’s now likening his situation and guilt to Oppenheimer’s after witnessing the massive destruction seen on Genosha at the hands of the “Wild Sentinel”.
2. Various MCU Companies
Stark, Hammer, And More
During the X-Men’s battle with Trask who’s revealed to be a Prime Sentinel, various companies are featured from Marvel Comics and the MCU. This includes Roxxon, Stark Industries, Hamer Industries, and Vistacorp. Da Costa International is featured as well, the company owned by Roberto Da Costa’s family.
1. Morph Transforms Into Quicksilver
Pietro Maximoff
During the same battle with the Trask Sentinel, Cyclops tells the X-Men that they can’t hold back after Rogue was taken out with one hit. In response, Morph transforms into Pietro Maximoff’s Quicksilver, super-speed and all. In the animated X-Men universe, Quicksilver is best known for being a member of X-Factor, though the original X-Men series did feature an episode involving both Quicksilver and his sister Scarlet Witch learning that Magneto was their biological father. In live-action, Quicksilver has been featured in both the Fox X-Men movies and in the MCU.
zaNew episodes of X-Men ’97 release Wednesdays on Disney+
