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X-Men ’97 Season 2 Review (Episodes 1-3): Marvel’s Best Series Returns in Impressive Fashion

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Following one of the strongest debut seasons in Marvel Animation history, X-Men ’97 faced enormous expectations entering Season 2. Fortunately, the first three episodes prove the series hasn’t lost any momentum, delivering another thrilling blend of superhero action, emotional storytelling, and deep comic book lore.

Rather than easing viewers back into the world of the X-Men, Season 2 immediately picks up after the explosive finale of Season 1. With the team scattered across three different time periods, the opening episodes follow multiple storylines simultaneously while laying the groundwork for Apocalypse‘s rise.

It’s an ambitious approach, but one that largely succeeds.

Episode 1 centers on Cyclops, Jean Grey, and the future timeline, adapting elements from The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix. Their reunion with Nathan, better known as Cable, provides some of the strongest emotional moments of the season so far. The episode reminds viewers that beneath all of the time travel and mutant battles, X-Men ’97 continues to thrive because of its characters.

X-Men 97′ Season 2 [credit: Marvel Animation]

Episode 2 shifts gears with a fun, action-packed adventure featuring Cable, Jubilee, Sunspot, and the formation of a new X-Force. While the episode embraces the over-the-top style of the classic ’90s comics, it also explores the moral differences between Cable’s hardened worldview and Jubilee’s optimism. Their dynamic creates one of the season’s most entertaining character pairings.

The third episode may be the strongest of the bunch, taking audiences thousands of years into the past as Magnetoencounters a young En Sabah Nur, the mutant destined to become Apocalypse. Rather than presenting the iconic villain as a one-dimensional conqueror, the episode explores his origins in a surprisingly thoughtful way. The conversations between Magneto and En Sabah Nur are among the most compelling scenes in the series, adding emotional complexity to a character fans thought they already knew.

Visually, X-Men ’97 remains one of Marvel’s most impressive productions. The animation captures the spirit of the original 1990s series while elevating every action sequence with fluid movement, vibrant colors, and cinematic direction. Whether it’s mutant powers colliding on the battlefield or quieter emotional moments between teammates, every frame feels carefully crafted.

The voice cast also continues to shine, bringing authenticity and heart to these beloved characters. Even with multiple storylines unfolding simultaneously, each episode finds time for meaningful character moments that remind viewers why the X-Men have endured for generations.

The biggest criticism of these opening episodes is pacing. Episode 1 in particular moves through a significant amount of story in a short amount of time, and several of the timelines could have benefited from an extra episode to further develop their characters and emotional beats. It’s less a flaw in storytelling than a reminder that there’s simply so much happening at once.

X-Men 97′ Season 2 [credit: Marvel Animation]

Even so, those concerns do little to diminish what has been an outstanding start to Season 2. Marvel Animation has once again found the perfect balance between nostalgia and fresh storytelling, honoring classic comic arcs while keeping longtime fans guessing about what’s coming next.

Three episodes in, X-Men ’97 is already shaping up to be one of the year’s best animated series. If the remaining episodes maintain this level of quality, Season 2 has every chance of surpassing its already exceptional predecessor.

Verdict

X-Men ’97 wastes no time reminding fans why it became one of Marvel’s biggest success stories. While the opening episodes occasionally move too quickly through their ambitious storylines, the outstanding animation, emotional character work, and faithful adaptation of beloved comic arcs make for an exceptional return. After three episodes, Season 2 is firing on all cylinders.

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Comic Book Movies

Avengers: Endgame Reclaims Highest-Grossing Movie of All Time From Avatar

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Avengers: Endgame [marvel studios]

Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are back on top.

Avengers: Endgame has officially reclaimed its title as the highest-grossing movie of all time, passing James Cameron’s Avatar following the successful Avengers: Endgame Encore theatrical rerelease.

The 2019 Marvel Studios blockbuster has now earned approximately $2.925 billion worldwide, narrowly surpassing Avatar, which currently sits at approximately $2.923 billion globally.

It marks another chapter in a box office battle that has gone back and forth between the two films for years.

Avatar originally held the worldwide box office record for nearly a decade before Avengers: Endgame surpassed it during its historic theatrical run in 2019.

James Cameron’s sci-fi epic eventually took the crown back following another theatrical rerelease, pushing Endgame back into second place.

Now, Marvel has returned the favor.

Chris Evans as Captain America, Avengers: Endgame [marvel studio]

Disney and Marvel brought Endgame back to theaters with Avengers: Endgame Encore ahead of the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday. The rerelease has generated more than $126 million worldwide, enough to push the Avengers past the Na’vi once again.

The performance also shows that audiences remain interested in Marvel’s biggest team-up event more than seven years after its original release.

Endgame served as the culmination of more than a decade of Marvel Cinematic Universe storytelling, bringing together heroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Spider-Man, Black Panther and many more for the final battle against Thanos.

Marvel is hoping to recapture that massive event-film atmosphere with Avengers: Doomsday.

Anthony and Joe Russo are returning to direct the upcoming Avengers film, which will once again assemble characters from across the MCU. Robert Downey Jr. will also make his highly anticipated return to the franchise, this time portraying Victor von Doom instead of Tony Stark.

The success of the Endgame rerelease could be an encouraging sign for Marvel heading into Doomsday, demonstrating that audiences are still willing to turn out for an Avengers-scale theatrical event.

For now, however, Avengers: Endgame can once again call itself the biggest movie in box office history — at least until Avatar gets another opportunity to take the crown back.

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Vincent D’Onofrio Says Goodbye to Kingpin as Daredevil: Born Again Prepares to End

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Vincent D'Onofrio as Kingpin [marvel]

Vincent D’Onofrio is preparing to say goodbye to Wilson Fisk, better known as Kingpin, following news that Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again will conclude with its upcoming third season on Disney+.

The actor took to X on September 23 to reflect on his time with the series, thank fans for their continued support and share his excitement for the final season, which is expected to arrive in 2027.

D’Onofrio wrote, “You stuck with us and I like to think we stuck with you,” before teasing that the final season will feature “some very cool stuff.”

He also shared a heartfelt message about the character he has portrayed for more than a decade.

“I love that character Fisk. Always will.”

The actor concluded his message by suggesting he was moving on to other projects while reminding fans that Season 3 is still on the way.

Vincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin [marvel]

D’Onofrio first appeared as Wilson Fisk in Netflix’s Daredevil in 2015, opposite Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock. He later reprised the role in Marvel’s Hawkeye and Echo before returning as a central antagonist in Daredevil: Born Again.

The series’ conclusion also comes amid a major behind-the-scenes change. Showrunner Dario Scardapane is departing during post-production on Season 3 after his contract with Marvel Studios was not renewed.

While D’Onofrio’s message certainly sounds like a farewell to Kingpin, Marvel has not confirmed whether the character could return in another MCU project. For now, fans have one final season of Daredevil: Born Again to look forward to in 2027.

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Disney+ Scraps Live-Action ‘Gargoyles’ Reboot From James Wan and Gary Dauberman

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Disney’s long-awaited attempt to bring Gargoyles into live action has officially come to an end.

The planned Gargoyles live-action series is no longer moving forward at Disney+, according to Deadline. The project had been in early development with Gary Dauberman and James Wan’s Atomic Monster attached.

Original Gargoyles co-creator Greg Weisman revealed the fate of the project during a recent interview with Comics Online.

“That’s dead,” Weisman said when asked about the live-action project. “I have no idea about animation, but there are no current plans for live-action.”

A source close to the project subsequently confirmed to Deadline that the series was no longer moving forward.

The live-action adaptation was first reported in 2023, with Dauberman, whose credits include It, Annabelle Comes Homeand The Nun, set to write, executive produce and serve as showrunner. Wan and Michael Clear were attached as executive producers through Atomic Monster.

The proposed series would have centered on Goliath, the legendary gargoyle warrior who awakens from a centuries-long curse and finds himself protecting modern-day New York City alongside police detective Elisa Maza.

Gargoyles

The original Gargoyles animated series debuted in 1994 and followed a clan of ancient gargoyles who turn to stone during the day and come alive at night. After spending roughly a thousand years trapped in stone, the group awakens in modern-day Manhattan and becomes a team of nighttime protectors.

The series developed a passionate following thanks to its darker storytelling, mythology and serialized approach, which helped distinguish it from many other Disney animated shows of the era.

Its voice cast included Keith David as Goliath alongside Salli Richardson, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Ed Asner, Jeff Bennett, Bill Fagerbakke and others. The original show ran from 1994 through 1997.

For years, fans have hoped Disney would revisit the property, with multiple potential adaptations and revival rumors surfacing without ultimately reaching the screen.

While the live-action version is now officially off the table, that doesn’t necessarily mean Gargoyles will remain dormant forever. Weisman specifically said he does not know what Disney may have planned on the animation side, leaving open the possibility that the franchise could eventually return in another form.

For now, however, fans hoping to see Goliath and the Manhattan Clan make the jump into live action will have to keep waiting.

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