Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 Season 2 streams new episodes weekly on Disney+ starting July 1, 2026.
Synopsis
The second season of the American animated television series X-Men ’97 is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team X-Men. The series is a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997), continuing the story of the X-Men. In the season, the X-Men are scattered throughout time—from Ancient Egypt to the far future—and must find their way back to the 1990s to stop Apocalypse. It is produced by Marvel Studios Animation, with Beau DeMayo as head writer and Jake Castorena as supervising director.
Review
Right, buckle up, because this week’s X-Men ’97 comes with a side of Marvel Rivals hype and a whole lot of magnetic energy (sorry, not sorry). Let’s jump headfirst into Season 2, Episode 6 and all the juicy details that came with it, shall we?
If you’re tuned into fandom Twitter (X? Whatever we’re calling it these days), you already know this week’s episode was teased in Marvel Rivals, and it put Polaris front and centre. I’ve seen countless tweets, posts, and TikToks about her, and it’s clear she’s angling for a spot in that elite band of characters like Wanda, Agatha, Sue Storm, who command an absolutely rabid fanbase. They have legions of dedicated parody accounts and fan accounts, gassing them up, and I can see Polaris joining that group. She also drops an all-timer of a line, “I’m not even at full power,” right after absolutely wrecking shop, and it got a proper smirk out of me.
This episode plants a flag on Polaris as a character we should be watching, literally and figuratively. Her powers are genuinely spectacular here, all crackling green energy and effortless devastation, and combined with how hard she’s being teased in Marvel Rivals, it’s a clear sign she’s heading for playable character status. I am fully here for it. She would be brilliant. We also get more of her lore, being Magneto’s daughter, and it’s fascinating watching the show quietly build her up as one to watch.
This week did lean a little fillery, and normally that wouldn’t bother me, but with seasons this short, I want every single episode wall-to-wall with plot. No room to coast. Small thing, but I love how the intro keeps subtly evolving week after week. Nice touch, keeps you on your toes. The Danger Room really comes into its own this week, literally. I was quite surprised at this plot point, and I loved it. The one thing the X-Men use to learn being used against them? Genius move.
We see Charles reliving the trauma of losing Magneto in the Danger Room, and it’s gutting stuff, raw and unflinching. Speaking of which, Charles has relocated the school to a new area, and it’s genuinely fascinating seeing what the X-Men roster looks like beyond the icons we know and love: Jean, Storm, Scott, and co. New faces, a new class, it’s always a treat watching them evolve. And in this new era? Storm becomes headmistress. Fully deserved, fully here for it.
And finally, we get a juicy cliffhanger that brings another character into the fold…no spoilers here, but it’s clear from here on out we’re in for an emotional time. Buckle up.
Verdict
Some might argue this is a slightly filler episode, but I’d say it’s saved by a magnetic (yes, I went there) Polaris showcase and some genuinely gutting Charles material. With such a small number of episodes in a season, I can see the critique, and I’d prefer the show not waste precious time.
That said, X-Men ’97 continues to be a testament to the power of animation. It’s so ambitious with what it’s trying to achieve, you can’t help but be impressed. Season 2 continues to deliver against its lofty expectations, and I am seated and ready for everything it is about to throw our way.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
