X-Men '97 Season 2: 12 New Characters You Need To Know About
X-Men ‘97 (2024) was an absolute blast and a terrific revival of the beloved X-Men (1992) animated series. While there have been plenty of adaptations of Marvel’s mutants since then—with X-Men Evolution (2000) being an especially fun reimagining of the premise—it was especially exciting to see the classic takes on the characters come back. The first season ended on a massive cliffhanger, with the team splintered across the timestream.
Now, Season 2 is on the horizon and could push the franchise into bold new directions. The trailer for the season promises plenty of action, lots of drama, and even a couple of key returning or new characters from across X-Men history. While some appear to just be cameos like Marrow and Boom-Boom, and plenty of returning faces like Forge and Emma Frost alongside the more established X-Men, there are a few who the trailer teases could play more important roles in the new season. Here are the 12 new characters you need to know before X-Men ‘97 introduces new versions of them (and maybe you want to binge the first season on Disney+ in anticipation for the second?)
Archangel
A founding member of the X-Men in the comics, Warren Worthing III’s alter ego as Angel actually appeared in a memorable storyline in X-Men. When he falls under the sway of Apocplayse, Angel is transformed into the blue-skinned Archangel, even briefly serving as the villain’s Horseman of Death.
This story was adapted in the original X-Men animated series, so it’s no surprise he’s returning for the new Apocalypse-heavy storyline. Warren has appeared in a few other adaptations over the years, like X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), the latter of which also featured his transformation into Archangel. The trailer indicates that Archangel will fully be aligned with the X-Men again this season, meaning he’s likely going to get another shot at bringing down his old master.
Psylocke
One of the most iconic X-Men characters of the ‘90s, Psylocke is also one of the most confusing. The simple explanation for the character, especially as she appeared in the original animated show and in X-Men: Apocalypse, is that she’s a trained ninja with psychic abilities. The comics version is far more complicated.
The British (and Caucasian) sister of Captain Britain, Betsy Braddock, joined the X-Men in the ‘80s. During the the “Siege Perilous” storyline, she was captured by the Hand—a ninja clan who appeared most recently in the trailers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)—and had her mind swapped into the body of the Japanese assassin Kwannon. The characters have since been restored to their original bodies in the comics, but don’t expect that story to be adapted into X-Men ‘97.
Polaris
One of the most intriguing characters to be featured in the trailer, the inclusion of Lorna Dane, aka Polaris, is a potentially big deal for X-Men ‘97. An early recruit to the X-Men in the comics, Polaris has control over magnetism—just like her long-lost father, Magneto.
While she was previously seen in the original X-Men cartoon as a member of X-Factor, the trailer for Season 2 indicates that she has a more important role to play in the new season. If anything, this Polaris could even take some cues from the version who served as a main character in The Gifted (2017), where she became a leader of the underground mutant movement and wrestled with the legacy that her father had left for her.
Iceman
Although he isn’t featured in the trailer in person, a clear reference to Bobby Draka suggests that Iceman could come into play in the season in some form. A founding member of the X-Men, Iceman was only briefly seen in the original X-Men cartoon before it was revealed that he had left the team in fear after his girlfriend Lorna was hurt on a mission.
Although Iceman has been the star of a cartoon before as part of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends (1981), seeing Bobby take the spotlight again could be really interesting—especially because the character has been able to come out of the closet in the comics and has become one of Marvel’s most prominent gay heroes. Something similar could happen in X-Men ‘97.
Colossus
One of the more somber moments in the trailer references the slaughter of Genosha from Season 1, suggesting that Piotr Rasputin, aka Colossus, was actually on the island alongside his sister, Illyana. While Colossus can be seen cradling her amongst the rubble and her picture can be spotted alongside other victims of violence against mutants—suggesting one of the stars of The New Mutants (2020) won’t be alive in the new seasons—Colossus seems to have survived the battle. Colossus is one of the more prominent bulky X-Men, a role that reflected his appearance in the original cartoon. However, with the Acolytes being teased out for the new season, it’s very possible that the show will follow cues from the comics and turn the heroic figure into the conscience of Magneto’s followers.
Pennace, Chamber, Quentin Quire
A shot of Polaris using her powers in the trailer actually contains three big debuts for the series, which sets up an entirely new generation of characters to factor into the season. Among them is Pennace, whose distinctive red form can be seen behind Polaris. Monet St. Croix was a founding member of Generation X alongside Jubilee, a powerful young mutant who has become a major fan favorite in the comics. A wealthy socialite whose haughty nature covers up a lot of personal baggage, Monet has many abilities, including flight, telepathy, strength, and the ability to shift into a powerful armored red "Pennace" form. Given her tense dynamic with Jubilee in Generation X, she’ll hopefully get some time to bounce off the young X-Man in the new season.
Another founding member of Generation X, Chamber, is one of the more visually distinctive members of his generation of X-Men characters. Jono Starsmore is a powerful telepath whose abilities manifested explosively when he was a teenager—ripping open his chest and destroying his jaw. A morose teenager, Chamber has gone through a lot in the comics but has maintained his status as a fan favorite thanks to his distinctive design and unique power signature, eventually becoming an X-Man. While it’s exciting to see him at all in the show, it’s also worth mentioning that in modern X-Men comics, he’s formed a romantic relationship with his old classmate Jubilee—which could be adapted into the animated show as a rival with Sunspot for her affections. There’s also a chance that his distant relations to Apocalypse could come into play, but given the obscurity of that storyline even among comic fans, it seems unlikely.
One of the most unexpected additions to X-Men ‘97 is definitely Quintin Quire, aka Kid Omega. Introduced in the 21st century during Grant Morrison’s celebrated run on New X-Men, Quire is an Omega-Level Mutant—meaning his telepathic powers have no discernible limit. Introduced as an antagonistic student who set off a riot at the Xavier School, Quire was eventually given a shot at redemption and has become a snarky but consistent member of the franchise ever since. He’s remained a rabble rouser since then, however, often bristling against the rest of the team even as his powers make him an invaluable ally. Quire’s inclusion suggests more characters from later in the franchise’s history will be appearing in the series—something also consistent with the next character on this list.
Danger
Like Quire, Danger was introduced more recently than many of the characters who were featured in the two animated shows. Debuting as part of Joss Whedon’s run on Astonishing X-Men, Danger is the personification of the Danger Room inside the mansion. Upgraded with Shi’Ar technology, she was given consciousness but kept locked up by Charles Xavier.
While the show may drop that aspect of the character—given that it was part of a string of revelations about Xavier that made him nearly impossible to sympathize with—Danger could easily become the next figurehead of the Sentinel program now that Bastion is dead. However, she has also found a more complicated relationship with the heroes in the comics, even serving with the team for a time after her initial villainous storyline. This suggests she could do something similar in the new show.
Exodus
One of the more exciting additions to the show, Exodus is also an Omega-Level Mutant. A powerful psionic from the Crusades who was locked away for centuries by the immortal Apocalypse, Exodus was eventually freed by Magneto and became his chief Acolyte. He even became the leader of the team when Magneto was indisposed, which is likely his role in the new show.
Notably, the trailer positions him directly against Nightcrawler, which makes sense. Even beyond their complex animosity from the recent X-Men comics, both of them are deeply religious Christians—but with very different views on how their faith should shape their lives and impact others. Exodus’ power set, unique perspective, and connection to two of the show’s biggest antagonists make him one of the new characters most likely to really impact the series.
Mother Askani
One of the most powerful and important figures in Cable’s future, Mother Askani’s appearance in the trailer reinforces the importance of Cable’s storyline in the show. Mother Askani is a powerful psychic in the distant future who leads the Clan Askani, the last resistance against Apocalypse. She briefly appeared in the climax of Season 1 of X-Men ‘97, but she likely has a far more important role to play this time around.
She’s also notably Rachel Summers, the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from the dystopian “Days of Future Past” universe that inspired X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Although that full fate might not be expanded in the show, it wouldn’t be surprising to get some teases or revelations about her true connection to the Summers/Grey family line.
Rama-Tut
One of the wildest inclusions in the trailer isn’t even technically a mutant. Rama-Tut is the pharaoh seen briefly in the trailer, serving as the lord of ancient Egypt before the man who would become Apocalypse led a resistance against him. Rama-Tut is also another alias for Kang the Conqueror, the time-traveling Avengers villain who appeared in Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (2010) and made his MCU debut in Loki (2021) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).
A version of Rama-Tut was even seen in the post-credits of that film, although the reshuffling of the property behind the scenes removed him from his initial role as the Thanos replacement for the franchise. Don’t expect Rama-Tut to remain in the show long, but it’ll be interesting to see if his alter ego as Kang comes into play in the future storylines.
