Warning: This article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 episode 3, “Fire Made Flesh.”
Many changes were made to Marvel Comics’ Inferno storyline for its adaption into X-Men ’97 episode 3. Set outside the main continuity of the MCU, X-Men ’97 is instead continuing the storyline of X-Men: The Animated Series, which ran for five seasons between 1992 and 1997, and is also continuing the previous show’s pattern of adapting some of Marvel Comics’ most game-changing events into animation. While X-Men: The Animated Series dealt with such events as the Dark Phoenix Saga, the Age of Apocalypse, and Professor X’s departure, Marvel Studios Animation’s X-Men ’97 has now brought 1989’s Inferno storyline to life.
Marvel Comics’ Inferno event released between October 1988 and August 1989, and marked one of the most transformative and intense storylines for the X-Men. Inferno saw demons attack New York City, while Jean Grey’s clone, Madelyne Pryor, learned of her true nature and became the evil Goblin Queen, and Illyana Rasputin completed her transformation in Darkchilde. This massive storyline was adapted for X-Men ’97 episode 3, “Fire Made Flesh”, and though the broadstrokes of the storyline were retained, the limited timeframe of X-Men ’97’s episodes meant that the original Marvel Comics event was drastically changed for its animated series adaptation.
10. Limbo Has Nothing To Do With X-Men ’97’s Inferno
Demons In Marvel Comics’ Inferno Hope To Build A Bridge Between Earth & Limbo
Marvel Comics’ Inferno event began when Illyana Rasputin opened a portal from Limbo to Earth to allow the trapped New Mutants to safely return. This portal was held open by the demon N’astirh, allowing a horde of demons to invade New York City, led by N’astirh and S’ym. N’astirh planned to use Nathan Summers, the son of Madelyne Pryor and Cyclops, as a sacrifice to create a bridge between Earth and Limbo, though Illyana’s transformation into the Darkchilde banished all demons back to Limbo.
Removing Limbo From X-Men ’97’s Inferno Makes Sense
X-Men ’97 completely omitted Limbo from its adaptation of Inferno, which benefited the story immensely. Inferno is a difficult storyline to condense into one episode, so X-Men ’97 removed Limbo, N’astirh and S’ym to focus on Mister Sinister and Madelyne Pryor. Nevertheless, some of Pryor’s illusions in the X-Mansion did resemble the burning landscape of Limbo, perhaps offering a small reference for die-hard Marvel Comics fans.
9. Marvel Comics’ Inferno Demons Are Only Illusions In X-Men ’97
The Main Demons In Marvel Comics’ Inferno Are S’ym & N’astirh
Demons are of huge importance in Marvel Comics’ Inferno event, but Marvel Studios Animation decided to omit these complicated characters when adapting Inferno for X-Men ’97. That doesn’t mean demons don’t appear in “Fire Made Flesh,” as Madelyne Pryor’s assault on the X-Men within the confines of the X-Mansion presents itself as something of a horror movie. Pryor makes the X-Men witness their greatest fears, and they soon battle an onslaught of demonic visions, but these are only illusions.
Introducing Demons In X-Men ’97’s Inferno Would Have Complicated The Story
There simply wasn’t enough time in X-Men ’97’s episode 3 to introduce N’astirh and S’ym, and staging an all-out invasion of New York City would have stripped the story of its personal touches. Indeed, Marvel Studios has the opportunity to adapt a more comic-accurate Inferno in the live-action MCU, perhaps paying off years of teasing Mephisto’s MCU debut. However, for X-Men ’97, this would have only complicated the story even further.
8. Other Heroes Aren’t Included In X-Men ’97’s Battles
Marvel Comics’ Inferno Includes The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man & Daredevil
Since demons invade New York City in Marvel Comics’ Inferno, this doesn’t only garner the attention of the X-Men, but many of Marvel’s other heroes also get involved in the battle. 1989’s Inferno was a huge crossover event featuring the likes of the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Spider-Man and Power Pack, but X-Men ’97 omitted these heroes in lieu of delivering an X-Men-focused narrative. At its core, “Fire Made Flesh” explored the relationship between Cyclops, Jean Grey and Madelyne Pryor, and this didn’t need other heroes to make an impact.
X-Men ’97 Hasn’t Featured Any Other Marvel Hero Cameos (Yet)
X-Men: The Animated Series featured cameos from other non-X-Men Marvel heroes, including Spider-Man, Nick Fury, War Machine, Captain America, Thor and Black Panther, among others. So far, X-Men ’97 hasn’t included any heroes from the wider Marvel Universe. However, the possibility is there for these characters to make appearances, which could tie X-Men ’97 further into the MCU’s multiverse.
7. The X-Men Don’t Kill The Marauders In X-Men ’97
N’astirh Manipulates The X-Men To Attack The Marauders In Marvel Comics
In one of Inferno’s most intense moments in Marvel Comics, N’astirh casts a spell over the X-Men which leads to the team tracking down and killing the Marauders. Marvel Comics’ Marauders were a team of assassins and warriors, often tasked with committing kidnappings, assassinations and mass murders, but seeing the X-Men gleefully kill them was still shocking. Thankfully, X-Men ’97 removed this sequence, and neglected to even mention the Marauders, who also didn’t appear in X-Men: The Animated Series.
The Marauders Have A Strong Mister Sinister Connection
The Marauders haven’t appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series or X-Men ’97, despite the group being formed by legendary X-Men villain Mister Sinister. Sinister plays a major role in Marvel Comics’ Inferno event and in X-Men ’97, as he created Madelyne Pryor, and experiments on her son, Nathan. Sinister wasn’t backed up by his team in X-Men ’97, however, but its possible the Marauders could debut in the series’ upcoming episodes.
6. X-Men ’97 Omits Illyana Rasputin From The Inferno Storyline
Illyana Rasputin Is A Major Part Of Marvel Comics’ Inferno Storyline
As well as omitting demons and the Marauders, X-Men ’97 also removes Illyana Rasputin from its Inferno adaptation. Illyana was pivotal to Marvel Comics’ Inferno, but without the exploration of Limbo and threat of demons, she simply wasn’t needed in “Fire Made Flesh.” While Marvel Comics’ Inferno does focus intensely on Madelyne Pryor, the story is really Illyana’s, as she struggles with her transformation into the Darkchilde, rule over Limbo, and eventual regression into a seven-year-old child, but X-Men ’97 ignored this aspect of the story.
Illyana Rasputin is the younger sister of X-Men member Colossus and X-Men villain Mikhail Rasputin, the former of whom is currently portrayed by Stefan Kapičić in Marvel Studios’ Deadpool franchise.
Illyana Rasputin Does Have A Cameo In X-Men ’97’s Inferno
Although Illyana Rasputin herself doesn’t appear in X-Men ’97 episode 3, her likeness does appear, as the shape-shifter Morph transforms into Illyana during battle with Madelyne Pryor. Morph fights Pryor with Illyana’s signature sword before transforming into her Magik form. Unfortunately, this does nothing to assuage Madelyne Pryor’s attack on the X-Men, but it was still a fun Easter egg from Marvel Comics’ event.
5. Nathan Summers Is Infected By Mister Sinister In X-Men ’97
Apocalypse Infected Nathan Summers With The Techno-Organic Virus In Marvel Comics
In X-Men ’97, it was revealed that Mister Sinister created Madelyne Pryor in the hopes of taking control of her son with Cyclops, Nathan Summers. Sinister wanted to experiment on Nathan to make him invincible, but the X-Men save him. Unfortunately, Sinister’s experiments left Nathan infected with a techno-organic virus, prompting Bishop to take him to the future on the hunt for a cure. In Marvel Comics, it’s actually X-Men villain Apocalypse who infects Nathan Summers with this virus, leading to his transformation into Cable.
Nathan Summers’ Name Has A Horrible Mister Sinister Connection
In Marvel Comics, Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor’s son is named Nathan Christopher Charles Summers, while X-Men ’97 episode 2 omitted Christopher. Nathan was gifted the name Christopher from Cyclops’ father, and the name Charles from Charles Xavier, a.k.a. Professor X. However, the name Nathan has darker roots, as Mister Sinister’s original name is Nathaniel Essex, proving just how deep his influence over Madelyne Pryor ran.
4. Nathan Summers Is Being Cared For By Bishop In X-Men ’97
Nathan Is Taken To The Future By Sister Askani In Marvel Comics
After being infected by the techno-organic virus in Marvel Comics, Nathan Summers is taken to the future by Sister Askani. Askani promised he could be saved in the future, but wouldn’t be able to return, yet Cyclops still chose to send him away and save his life. A similar story plays out in X-Men ’97, only it’s the time-traveler Bishop who takes Nathan Summers to the future. Cable, Nathan’s future persona, was featured in X-Men: The Animated Series, so he’ll likely return in X-Men ’97.
X-Men ’97 Has Changed Cable’s Origin Story
Nathan Summer’s backstory has been changed significantly in X-Men ’97, not least because he hardly grows at all before being taken to the future. In Marvel Comics, these events occur when he’s a young boy, not practically a newborn. Nathan was also initially created by Mister Sinister as the perfect weapon to use against Apocalypse, but this seems to have been ignored in X-Men ’97.
3. Mister Sinister Takes Over (& Destroys) Xavier’s School In Marvel Comics
Magneto Remains In Control Of The X-Mansion In X-Men ’97
At the end of “Fire Made Flesh,” Mister Sinister seems to simply skulk away into the shadows, perhaps setting him up for a return in the series’ upcoming episodes. However, at the end of Marvel Comics’ Inferno, the X-Men meet Mister Sinister at the X-Mansion, which the villain promptly blows up. The explosion of the X-Mansion thankfully doesn’t cause any casualties, though this causes a huge problem for the X-Men and other mutant superhero teams, including X-Factor.
Magneto’s New X-Men ’97 Role Suits Him
Mister Sinister was able to infiltrate the X-Mansion in Marvel Comics’ Inferno as Magneto, the X-Men’s new leader, was distracted by the demonic threat. X-Men ’97 has also explored Magneto as the leader of the X-Men, following Professor X’s departure from Earth in X-Men: The Animated Series. While there have certainly been teething issues, Magneto’s new role seems to be the perfect fit for him, as he is finally taking his heroism seriously.
2. Cyclops Kills Mister Sinister In Marvel Comics’ Inferno
Mister Sinister Survives X-Men ’97’s Inferno
Following the destruction of the X-Mansion in Marvel Comics’ Inferno, Cyclops responds by blasting Mister Sinister into many pieces, apparently killing the villain. This is later revealed to be a ruse, with Sinister faking his death, but for a time, the X-Men considered themselves safe from Mister Sinister’s evil machinations. This sequence of events didn’t occur in X-Men ’97 episode 3, as Mister Sinister simply walked away from the X-Men after Nathan Summers was saved.
Mister Sinister Has Been Set Up As An Ever-Present Threat To The X-Men
Mister Sinister’s survival at the end of “Fire Made Flesh” may have set him up to be the perfect long-running villain in the rest of X-Men ’97. Sinister is one of the X-Men’s most iconic adversaries in Marvel Comics, and made recurring appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series, so shouldn’t be killed off. Marvel Studios should take note of this, and keep a live-action Mister Sinister in the MCU around for a number of years.
1. Madelyne Pryor Dies In Marvel Comics’ Inferno
Madelyne Pryor Doesn’t Take Her Own Life In X-Men ’97
Madelyne Pryor also doesn’t make it out of Marvel Comics’ Inferno event alive. In the climax of Inferno, Madelyne Pryor wills herself to die, hoping to take Jean Grey with her, but a piece of the Phoenix Force inside Pryor spares Jean. This breaks Pryor’s mental hold, and reverts New York City to normal, though a piece of Pryor survived in Jean and set out for revenge against Mister Sinister. This didn’t unfold in X-Men ’97, as Madelyne Pryor survived the events of “Fire Made Flesh.”
What’s Next For Madelyne Pryor In X-Men ’97?
This established an exciting new storyline for Madelyne Pryor in X-Men ’97, as she departed the X-Mansion and set off on her own. When Madelyne Pryor mysteriously returned in Marvel Comics, she became the Hellfire Club’s Black Rook, and later as the Red Queen. This means there are many possible storylines Marvel Studios Animation could explore for Madelyne Pryor in future X-Men ’97 episodes.
New episodes of X-Men ’97 release every Wednesday on Disney+.
