10 Marvel Comics That Help Set Up X-Men ’97 Season 2

According to the report, X-Men ’97 keeps drawing on Marvel comics as it moves into its second season, blending material from the years between the original animated series and the revival. That approach fits a show that has already shown it can turn uneven source material into sharp, entertaining television while still honoring the mutant corner of Marvel history.

The article notes that the first few episodes of season 2 even joke about getting back to the 1990s, a line that lands differently for comic fans who remember how rocky that decade could be for the X-Men line. After Chris Claremont’s long run ended in 1991, the franchise went through a less consistent stretch before later creative teams reshaped it again in the early 2000s. Still, the period was not without bright spots, and several of those stories are now feeding the new season.

Among the comics highlighted is X-Men: The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix from 1994, one of the titles tied to the show’s current direction. The report frames the season’s inspiration list as a mix of strong, strange, and occasionally over-the-top mutant adventures, reflecting the range of material X-Men ’97 is willing to mine. That willingness to adapt less celebrated comics alongside beloved ones has become part of the series’ appeal.

Overall, the article positions season 2 as another example of the show’s ability to find television-ready energy in Marvel stories of varying quality. Rather than relying only on the most famous X-Men arcs, X-Men ’97 is pulling from a broader comic-book history, giving longtime fans plenty to revisit while keeping the animated series rooted in the era it celebrates.

Source: menshealth.com