Warning! This article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 season 1.
X-Men ’97 has a vast character ensemble, meaning some are more likely to survive season 1’s ending than others. As was evidenced by the various character deaths in X-Men ’97 episode 5, the show is not afraid to kill off characters. Whether it be main characters like Remy LeBeau/Gambit, side characters like Jean Grey’s clone Madelyne Pryor, or smaller albeit no less integral players like Sebastian Shaw or Moira MacTaggert, X-Men ’97 season 1 has discarded characters unceremoniously to increase the stakes of the titular mutant team’s battles.
As was revealed in X-Men ’97 episode 7’s ending, these battles have been orchestrated by the villainous Bastion. Bastion’s various plans to defeat the X-Men have been extensive, and will likely bleed over into X-Men ’97 season 2’s story. Until then, X-Men ’97 episodes 9 and 10 will conclude season 1. With X-Men ’97 episode 8’s ending raising the stakes by bringing Professor X back into the fold, unleashing Magneto as a villain once more, and portraying Bastion’s threat via the Prime Sentinels, it is unlikely every character makes it out of season 1’s ending alive.
The following list is ranked most likely to survive to least likely.
11. Professor X
Charles Xavier’s Absence From X-Men ’97 Season 1 Makes His Death Highly Unlikely
The character least likely to die in X-Men ’97 season 1’s final two episodes is Professor X himself. For the most part, Professor X has been missing from X-Men ’97. Many assumed that this was due to Charles Xavier’s perceived death in X-Men: The Animated Series. However, it was revealed in X-Men ’97 episode 6 that Charles was healed by the technologically advanced people known as the Shi’ar. Although Xavier had plans to marry Empress Lilandra and lead the alien race alongside her, he received a psychic vision of the attack on Genosha and returned swiftly to Earth.
Charles finally touched down on Earth in X-Men ’97 episode 8’s final scene, setting up a major role for the former leader in the final two episodes of season 1. Given this setup, it is highly unlikely Charles dies before X-Men ’97 season 1 ends. His absence, return to Earth, and resumed leadership of the X-Men sets up too big a story for the character to be killed off shortly after returning, meaning Professor X is all but guaranteed to live to see X-Men ’97 season 2.
10. Storm
Storm’s Strong Likelihood To Survive X-Men ’97 Season 1 Is Linked To Xavier’s
Another X-Men ’97 character who will likely live through the final two episodes of season 1 is Storm. Like Xavier, Storm’s story has been a subplot of X-Men ’97 rather than a main story. Since losing her powers, Storm’s story has been absent from a lot of X-Men ’97 season 1 episodes, despite being the focus of episode 6. In this episode, Storm’s powers returned, and episode 8’s final scene teased her return to aid her former teammates.
Considering Storm has had such a small role in X-Men ’97 season 1, it is hard to imagine her being killed off in the final two episodes. The show has not given Storm enough of a focus to justify her death, and her character arc would simply feel underwhelming if this was the case. The primary reason for this is the regaining of her powers. Storm’s entire arc has centered around reconnecting with her mutant abilities. Therefore, killing Storm just after regaining her powers is unlikely from a story standpoint, meaning she likely survives X-Men ’97 season 1’s ending.
9. Jubilee & Sunspot
The Youngest X-Men Represent The Future Of The Team
As the youngest members of the X-Men, Jubilee and Sunspot are also unlikely to die in X-Men ’97 season 1’s ending. The two have been a package deal throughout X-Men ’97 season 1 thus far, experiencing everything together as they navigate young love, mutant powers, and Sunspot’s family. Killing off the youngest members of the team would be shocking, set narrative stakes, and establish Bastion as an even more credible threat, making Jubilee and Sunspot’s demise slightly more likely than Storm’s or Xavier’s.
That said, it is still very unlikely the two mutants will be killed. The reason for this is that both are being established as the future of the team. Jubilee has always held this role and is now helping Sunspot through his introduction to X-Men ’97. Sunspot has only just begun to unlock the extent of his abilities, meaning his death would be premature. With X-Men ’97 seasons 2 and 3 confirmed, Jubilee and Sunspot are expected to live on as the future of the titular team.
8. Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler Is Technically The Newest Member Of X-Men ’97’s Team
X-Men ’97‘s opening credits are the primary evidence supporting Nightcrawler’s survival in season 1. Since Gambit’s death, Nightcrawler has been a mainstay of the opening montage that runs through the primary members of the team. As such, Nightcrawler was officially confirmed as Gambit’s “replacement” in X-Men ’97.
As Gambit’s replacement, Nightcrawler will likely survive X-Men ’97 season 1. From a storytelling standpoint, it is unlikely the writers of X-Men ’97 would introduce a character as a replacement for someone who perished, only to kill the former a few episodes later. For this reason alone, NIghtcrawler is almost guaranteed to survive X-Men ’97 episodes 9 and 10. Similarly, Nightcrawler’s development as his own character only began in X-Men ’97 episode 5, meaning his story will unquestionably continue into season 2.
7. Jean Grey
Madelyne Pryor’s X-Men ’97 Fate Bodes well For Jean’s Survival
As far as X-Men ’97‘s main characters go, Jean Grey is the last whose death is leaning more towards unlikely than likely. The reason for this primarily links to Madelyne Pryor. Madelyne Pryor’s involvement in the show was revealed in X-Men ’97 episode 2 as the clone of Jean Grey. Madelyne and Jean’s lives have since been interwoven, with the two not knowing whether their memories from before X-Men ’97 are Madelyne’s or Jean’s. Despite this interconnected nature between the two, they were permanently separated when Madelyne was killed in the attack on Genosha in X-Men ’97 episode 5.
This death makes Jean’s death unlikely. Jean Grey is a mainstay X-Men character, meaning it is unlikely for her to cease being so. If Madelyne Pryor was still alive, it could have been written that Jean Grey was killed by Bastion only for Madelyne to rise and take her place as Marvel Girl in the X-Men. However, Madelyne’s death renders this improbable, as the show would then be without Marvel Girl in any form. For this reason, Jean will presumably be a character who continues into X-Men ’97 season 2.
6. Beast
The Emotional Weight Of Beast’s Potential Death Makes It More Likely Than Others
Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast is the first X-Men ’97 character whose death is somewhat more likely in season 1’s final two episodes. For the most part, Beast has been a character who is middle-of-the-road in terms of his importance to X-Men ’97. Unlike the more sidelined characters like Professor X and Storm or the more prominent characters like Cyclops and Magneto, Beast has had a healthy mix of screen time and background moments. This, alongside Beast’s integral nature to the infrastructure of the X-Men as a team, makes him an easily lovable character in most iterations.
The character’s beloved nature was proven by the reaction to Kelsey Grammar’s return as Beast in 2023’s The Marvels.
Due to how well-liked the character is, Beast’s death would provide X-Men ’97 season 1’s ending with a massive dose of emotional weight. If Beast were to die, it would arguably affect audiences more than most other characters, something that could add stakes to the fight against Bastion as Gambit’s did. While this is still the case, other characters in X-Men ’97 have more storytelling reasons for being killed in season 1’s final two episodes, warranting Beast’s place on this list as the 6th most likely character to perish.
5. Rogue
Rogue’s Death Could Be Tied To Gambit’s
One of the strongest character arcs in X-Men ’97 thus far has been Rogue’s. Her early episodes fleshed out her relationship with Gambit, as well as her brewing feelings for Magneto. This came to a head in X-Men ’97 episode 5 where it seemed Rogue and Gambit would live happily from then on, a reality that was marred by Gambit’s untimely sacrifice. Since then, Rogue’s rage and desire for vengeance have been thrilling to witness, though her arc could culminate in her death in X-Men ’97 season 1’s finale.
Due to Gambit’s death, Rogue would have more reason than anyone to seek out Bastion for revenge. This will likely lead to a dramatic confrontation between the two, with the other X-Men backing Rogue. If Rogue was killed in this conflict, the narrative benefit could be twofold. For one, Rogue’s sacrifice to save the X-Men from Bastion would work. On the other hand, X-Men ’97 could present Rogue’s death as her way of reuniting Gambit, ending their season 1 story in a suitably bittersweet way.
4. Wolverine
The Fan-Favorite Character Could Go Out In A Blaze Of Glory
Similar to Beast, Wolverine is a character who has long been a fan-favorite. From his rise to prominence in the live-action Fox X-Men movies to his usage in X-Men ’97, Wolverine is a character who is simply easy to root for. Although he was somewhat sidelined in X-Men ’97‘s earlier episodes, episode 8 was a fantastic showcase for Logan as he and Nightcrawler were instrumental in defending the X-Mansion and a wounded Rogue. This showcase could continue into X-Men ’97 episodes 9 and 10, climaxing in his sacrifice.
If Wolverine received a heroic focus in X-Men ’97 episodes 9 and 10, his smaller story in the preceding episodes would suddenly become worth it. Dying at the hands of Bastion to save his teammates, mutants, and potentially the relationship between humans and mutants would undoubtedly be impactful given Logan’s fan-favorite status. This would make for a compelling story to tell for Wolverine and pave the way for another variant’s appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine‘s MCU story, making his survival of X-Men ’97 season 1 less probable than those above him.
3. Cyclops
Scott’s Death Could Bring His X-Men ’97 Character Arc Full Circle
For much of X-Men ’97 season 1, Cyclops’ character arc has surrounded him taking on the burden of leading the X-Men. This has been offset by the growing pains of fatherhood that were only bolstered by Cable’s appearance in X-Men ’97 episode 7. That said, X-Men ’97 episode 8 made it clear that Cyclops’ troubles with fatherhood and leadership go hand-in-hand, as Scott struggles to learn from Professor X’s example of being a good father, mentor, and leader to his team members.
Professor X’s return also supports Scott’s death, as the X-Men would still have a leader should Cyclops sacrifice himself in X-Men ’97’s finale.
2. Morph
Morph’s Lack Of Screentime Makes Their X-Men ’97 Death Likely
Perhaps the most underutilized character of X-Men ’97 has been Morph. While their shape-shifting abilities have provided plenty of great cameos from the likes of Quicksilver, Psylocke, or Illyana, Morph has had little in the way of character development. Aside from a potential X-Men ’97 romance between Morph and Wolverine and the former’s comedic relief, the shape-shifting mutant has, unfortunately, been a less integral character than many might have hoped.
In Marvel Comics, Morph is actually Kevin Sydney, a.k.a. Changeling, a short-lived adversary of the X-Men, but this was changed for 1992’s X-Men: The Animated Series.
This could lead to Morph’s death in X-Men ’97. Unlike other sidelined characters like Wolverine or Storm, it is simply the truth that Morph is less of a beloved character, meaning their death might not cause as much emotional resonance as other characters’ would. That said, Morph’s death could be a catalyst for the other X-Men. It is clear Morph is beloved among the X-Men ’97 characters, especially Wolverine. With Morph and Mister Sinister having a bitter rivalry and the latter working for Bastion, Morph could be killed by Sinsiter, which galvanizes the team into action for the final battle.
1. Magneto
The Most Likely Casualty Of X-Men ’97 Season 1’s Ending Is Magneto
After X-Men ’97 episode 8’s ending, Magneto has several reasons why he is the most likely character to die in season 1’s ending. In the final two episodes, Magneto will likely return to his old ways, that being the extremist outlook that humans and mutants cannot coexist. This was teased by X-Men ’97 episode 8’s “Magneto was right” scene, with Magneto’s worldwide EMP blast likely affecting humanity in several adverse ways. As such, he is likely to be more antagonistic to X-Men under Charles’ renewed leadership in X-Men ’97 season 1’s final two episodes.
As such, Magneto is rendered the most likely victim of X-Men ’97 season 1. His extremism could be portrayed as the point of no return. Magneto has tried to do things Charles’ way but now sees no other choice, potentially forcing the X-Men to kill him as he cannot be redeemed. This would be equal parts tragic and justified, given the immense complexity and fantastic writing of Magneto’s character. With Charles returning in X-Men ’97 episode 8, Magneto’s death would provide emotional weight, high stakes, a compelling ending, and importance for Charles in picking up the pieces in future seasons.
