X-Men ’97 episode 5’s brutal cliffhanger included the mystery of who attacked Genosha, yet one hidden detail may have provided the answer to this.

Warning! This article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 episode 5.

X-Men ’97 episode 5’s massive cliffhanger mystery may have had an answer provided by a subtle clue from one character. In X-Men ’97 episode 5’s ending, an army of Sentinels attack Genosha. Led by the massive Wild Sentinel, millions of mutants are tragically massacred, leading to destruction, tragedy, and the deaths of several X-Men ’97 characters.

This ending came as a major shock due to the mystery of who was behind the attack. Interestingly, X-Men ’97 episode 5’s Easter eggs potentially hinted at who was the perpetrator, from the comic links to characters like Cassandra Nova to the visible cameo of The Watcher from the MCU’s What If…?. However, an even bigger clue to the mastermind behind Genosha’s assault was subtly hidden in X-Men ’97 episode 5 as part of the conversation between Madelyne Pryor and Cable.

Cable’s Line To Madelyne Pryor Hints That A Major X-Men Villain Attacked Genosha

Cable’s brief appearance may have revealed that an X-Men villain has returned.

Just before the Wild Sentinel begins its attack on Genosha, Madelyne Pryor senses that Cable is nearby. She leaves the gala organized by the United Nations and finds a distressed Cable, who is telling everyone that they need to run. Cable grabs Madelyne by the shoulders and warns her of an unknown threat, soon revealed to be the Sentinels and the Wild Sentinel. Cable’s exact words to Madelyne are “You have to get everyone out. Now! He’s coming.” Cable is then sucked back into a time portal, and the attack on Genosha begins.

This conversation makes it clear that Cable knows something about the attack on Genosha, with one small aspect of his words to Madelyne hinting at a returning X-Men villain. The villain in question is Apocalypse, a major antagonist of X-Men: The Animated Series and a primary foe of the X-Men from Marvel Comics. In X-Men ’97 episode 5, Cable states that “he” is coming, not they or she. This hints that Apocalypse is behind the attack, as supported by several elements from the wider Marvel universe.

Cable’s Marvel History Further Supports Apocalypse’s X-Men ’97 Return

Apocalypse has long been the arch-enemy of Cable in Marvel Comics and the X-Men animated universe.

In Marvel Comics, Cable’s origin is tied directly to Apocalypse. Like in X-Men ’97, Nathan Summers is born to Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor before being infected with a techno-organic virus. X-Men ’97 somewhat changes Cable’s origins at this point, by having Bishop take Nathan to the future to find a cure for the virus. In Marvel Comics, Nathan is taken to the future by members of Clan Askani, the mortal enemies of Apocalypse in the future. Cable is raised as the prophesied leader of the Askani, taking on their fight and becoming the primary opposition to Apocalypse.

X-Men: The Animated Series Cable Appearances
Season and Episode Number

“Slave Island”
Season 1, Episode 7

“The Cure”
Season 1, Episode 9

“Time Fugitives, Part One”
Season 2, Episode 7

“Time Fugitives, Part Two”
Season 2, Episode 8

“Beyond Good and Evil, Part 1: The End of Time”
Season 4, Episode 18

“Beyond Good and Evil, Part 2: Promise of Apocalypse”
Season 4, Episode 19

“Beyond Good and Evil, Part 3: The Lazarus Chamber”
Season 4, Episode 20

“Beyond Good and Evil, Part 4: End and Beginning”

While X-Men ’97 slightly changes this origin, Cable’s many appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series proved he was dedicated to stopping Apocalypse. From his team-up with the X-Men in season 2 of the original show to his role in the four-part season 5 arc in which Apocalypse is seemingly defeated for good, some elements of Cable’s future remain consistent with the comics in that he is an enemy of the X-Men villain. These elements support the idea that Apocalypse was behind X-Men ’97 episode 5’s attack, with Cable specifically warning Madelyne about a “he.”

X-Men: The Animated Series Hinted At Apocalypse’s Return

The potential rise of Apocalypse has been unexplored since X-Men season 5.

While many, including the X-Men within the show, assumed Apocalypse was defeated in X-Men: The Animated Series season 4, the character’s return was teased in season 5. In the episode titled “The Fifth Horseman,” Apocalypse is revealed to be trapped in the Astral Plane and enlists Fabian Cortez – a villain in Marvel Comics – to kidnap Jubilee as his next host. By the end of the episode, Apocalypse’s return is seemingly halted, and the X-Men leave, but not before the villain uses Fabian Cortez himself as a host.

After this point, Apocalypse was not shown again in X-Men: The Animated Series, leaving the teases of his return unexplored. As such, X-Men ’97‘s status as a continuation of the show means the teases of Apocalypse’s return could be featured. While many could be forgiven for assuming this storyline would occur in X-Men ’97 season 2, Cable’s appearance before the attack on Genosha could hint that Apocalypse’s continued villainy is close at hand.

A Marvel Comics Story Could Hint That Apocalypse Has An Ally

Another theory surrounding X-Men ’97 episode 5’s villain could hint at an evil team-up.

Aside from the hints that Apocalypse was behind Genosha’s massacre in X-Men ’97 episode 5, perhaps the most common theory is that Cassandra Nova was the perpetrator. In Marvel Comics, Cassandra Nova is the evil twin sister of Charles Xavier/Professor X. However, Cassandra is not Xavier’s biological twin and is instead a Mummudrai clone. The Mummudrai, also known as the anti-self, are beings of the Astral Plane that can directly copy a host body and imbue it with the Mummudrai’s evil, malicious intent.

Note：Cassandra Nova has been rumored as the villain in the upcoming MCU movie, Deadpool & Wolverine.

In Marvel Comics, it is said that every being must fight a Mummudrai at birth to see whether good or evil will prevail. Charles Xavier won his fight against the Mummudrai, seemingly destroying it with his latent mutant abilities. However, the Mummudrai survived and became Cassandra Nova, an equally powerful yet dark counterpart to Professor X. Seeking revenge on her brother, Cassandra manipulated a member of the Trask family and committed genocide against the nation of Genosha using an army of Sentinels, killing 16 million mutants.

This story naturally links to the events of X-Men ’97 episode 5. Many assume that Cassandra is behind the attack given its similarities to her massacre of Genosha in Marvel Comics. While this could be the case, Cable’s appearance and words that “he is coming” seem to lend credence to Apocalypse being the X-Men ’97 villain. That said, it could be revealed that Apocalypse and Cassandra Nova have teamed up in X-Men ’97 due to their shared goal of killing the X-Men, forming a double-act that will prove to be an incredibly difficult fight for the titular team.

X-Men ‘97 May Have Set Up A Major Villain Team

Two more X-Men villains could join Cassandra Nova and Apocalypse.

With the potential threat of a Cassandra Nova and Apocalypse team-up in the works, two other X-Men ’97 villains could make this evil duo into a team. As evident in X-Men ’97 episode 5, the attack on Genosha was spearheaded by Sentinels. Cassandra Nova’s attack in the comics was aided by Bolivar Trask’s cousin, given the Trask family’s connection to the creation of Sentinels. In X-Men ’97 and X-Men: The Animated Series, a prevalent villain is Bolivar Trask himself, who – alongside Henry Gyrich – created the Sentinel program to exterminate mutants.

Given the Sentinel’s role in the attack on Genosha, the involvement of Gyrich and Trask is also hinted at. As these two people also desire to destroy the X-Men, it could be the case that Apocalypse, Cassandra Nova, Gyrich, and Trask all teamed up to attack Genosha. This would form the basis of a formidable villain team, one that could last throughout the remainder of X-Men ’97 season 1’s story. Furthermore, these villains could continue into X-Men ’97‘s future seasons, all spawning from the tragic attack of Genosha that hinted at Apocalypse’s return.