One major theory speculates that a powerful X-Men ’97 villain has been hiding in plain sight, but this has now been imagined in stunning MCU fan art.

Vibrant new MCU art brings to life one shocking villain theory, suggesting an enemy may have been hiding in plain sight throughout X-Men ’97. As a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series, which previously ran for five seasons between 1992 and 1997, Marvel Studios Animation’s X-Men ’97 has featured several returning villains from the original series. So far, the X-Men have battled Bolivar Trask, the Friends of Humanity, Mister Sinister and Mojo, while also facing new villains, including the X-Cutioner, the Adversary and Madelyne Pryor’s Goblin Queen. However, one iconic X-Men villain may have also been hiding in the background.

One major X-Men ’97 theory suggests that United Nations official Dr. Valerie Cooper could actually be the mutant Mystique in disguise. While X-Men ’97 is yet to provide confirmation, this theory has now been brought to life by previous X-Men: The Animated Series story artist Dan Veesenmeyer.

Veesenmeyer’s art imagines Valerie Cooper transforming back into Mystique in vibrant detail. Mystique’s mutant ability allows her to shape-shift into any form she desires, so while she hasn’t officially been seen yet in X-Men ’97’s released episodes, it’s very possible that Mystique could have been hiding in plain sight throughout the entire series.

What Makes Us Think Valerie Cooper Is Mystique In X-Men ’97?

Valerie Cooper is a new character for X-Men ’97, adapted from Marvel Comics’ Office of National Emergency liaison for mutant affairs Val Cooper. Voiced by original Jean Grey voice actor Catherine Disher, Valerie Cooper has appeared in several episodes of X-Men ’97 as an official of the United Nations and ally to the X-Men. However, her proximity to the X-Men has led some to believe that she could be more closely connected to certain members than has been confirmed, and since Mystique is Rogue’s adoptive mother, it makes sense that the mutant would want to keep tabs on her daughter.

X-Men ’97’s Jean Grey is now voiced by Jennifer Hale, who has voiced the likes of Black Cat, Ghost, Mary Jane Watson, Wolverine and the X-Men’s Jean Grey, Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel and Mantis in various animated Marvel projects since the 1990s.

Throughout X-Men ’97, Valerie Cooper has appeared in the moments before tragedy strikes. Episode 2, in which Cooper attended Magneto’s trial, saw Storm depowered during a battle with the Friends of Humanity, while Cooper’s next appearance on Genosha heralded the Sentinels’ attack in X-Men ’97 episode 5. This could simply be coincidence, but eagle-eyed viewers may have also spotted Cooper’s bright blue eyes shifting to a shade of yellow in moments of high stress, making them clearly reminiscent of Mystique’s natural yellow eyes, suggesting the mutant may have replaced the United Nations operative prior to the start of X-Men ’97.

There is precedence for this to happen in Marvel Comics, as Valerie Cooper previously oversaw Mystique’s former Brotherhood of Mutants while the group was operating as the Freedom Force. After the X-Men villain Shadow King occupied Cooper’s mind and tried to get her to shoot Mystique, Cooper instead shot herself, and while recovering, Mystique impersonated her to attempt to defeat the Shadow King. The connection between Valerie Cooper and Mystique is clear, so it would be a great choice to reveal this exchange having already happened prior to X-Men ’97, bringing the popular shape-shifting villain back into Marvel’s animated universe.