‘X-Men ’97’ Forged Replicate on Season 2, Cameos & Time Travel at Comedian-Con

Written by: Vanessa Young

On Friday, July 24, the power was buzzing in Room 6A because the Marvel Comics to Screen: X-Men ’97 panel kicked off with Lenore Zann (Rogue), Cal Dodd (Wolverine), producers Julia Lewald, Eric Lewald, Larry Houston, Brad Winderbaum (Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios), and C.B. Cebulski (Editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics). The nostalgic affair was moderated by Devan Coggan (Editor at Marvel.com), making this a totally Marvel “family reunion.” From nostalgic origins to deep-cut Marvel lore, listed below are the highlights and largest takeaways from the panel.

30 Years of Mutants: A Legacy Reborn

When X-Men: The Animated Series first debuted in 1992, nobody on the group predicted it might launch a world phenomenon — least of all of the voice expertise.

“I had no clue who the hell the X-Men were, or the comics, or Wolverine,” recalled Dodd. “I walked in and said, ‘What am I reading for?’ They said, ‘Wolverine.’ I said, ‘Is this an animal cartoon?’… Then they said, ‘So, you’re ready to read? I read the line, and luckily, they phoned me the next morning, and said, ‘We would love to have you be Wolverine.”

Zann shared how effortlessly she slipped again into her character after many years away: “Playing Rogue is like pulling on a pair of very fine, well-worn gloves that are very comfortable. When I walked into the booth and said my first line, I just went, ‘Aha. There she is, she’s back.’”

For unique sequence writers, the Lewalds, returning alongside director Houston felt like a long-overdue household reunion. “We were all siphoned off in our different silos. We were writing from home, not major studio offices. And Larry was with all the artists, and they were in a separate place, and here we are getting to be together.
It’s like a family reunion in the best way possible,” Eric defined.

Apocalypse, Time Travel, and the Origins of Age of Apocalypse

With Season 2 delving deep into Apocalypse, the writers mirrored on how the animated sequence and Marvel Comics have maintained a symbiotic relationship for over three many years.

Julia and Marvel’s Cebulski recalled how the 1995 comedian occasion Age of Apocalypse was instantly influenced by the animated present’s basic storyline, “One Man’s Worth”: a story exploring an alternate universe the place Charles Xavier was killed in his youth.

Now, “X-Men ’97” continues that custom by pulling freely from many years of comedian runs, seamlessly translating storylines into the present’s signature ’90s Saturday morning cartoon continuity.

Evolution: Introducing X-Force and New Teams

One of the most important crowd-pleasing moments of the panel was the showcase of the present’s title sequences, together with a particular X-Force variant intro directed by Houston. Featuring character designs closely impressed by iconic comedian artist Frank Quitely, the sequence highlights new group dynamics, together with Psylocke, Jubilee, and Polaris.

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Cebulski shared a touching second concerning creator reactions to the present: “The day the trailer hit, I had dinner scheduled with Frank Miller. Well, when he came to dinner, and he had seen it, he could not stop raving about it, and just how happy he was with the respect that had shown his work, and so many other creators feel that way, and see their work reflected in this new format, and something that’s so beloved by so many people outside of comics, and that is pulling them back into comics. I think that’s where the real part of the symbiotic relationship is.”

Deep-Cut Cameos and Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs

The panel highlighted the fan-favorite custom of hiding background particulars and Marvel Universe cameos all through the sequence:

• Zann identified a delicate element in Season 1, Episode 7. Inside Captain America’s hideout, a bike leaning towards the wall bears the license plate “AV 10,” a nod to Avengers #10, Rogue’s very first comedian guide look.
• A menu board in a Season 2 arcade scene lists “chili fries,” instantly referencing Jubilee’s well-known line when saying goodbye to her foster dad and mom within the 1992 pilot.
• Houston admitted that again within the ’90s, each background character cameo was unauthorized. He was instructed to not do it however as a fan, he knew that’s what folks needed to see. 

Looking Ahead: New Seasons in Development

The largest shock was studying the group was not solely engaged on season 3, however season 4 as properly. The dialog centered round season 1 and a couple of, “But the story continues. You haven’t asked if you are already working on not just season 3, but season 4 is already in the world,” Julia mentioned. The cheers within the crowd had been virtually deafening. Marvel seems to have a variety of religion in persevering with and rising this present for them to not solely announce season 3, however 4 as properly.

The editors “are working together to find those moments of dance between the raindrops,” the group shared, teasing that upcoming episodes will characteristic a serious Wolverine storyline written by the Lewalds, alongside deeper dives into comedian storylines that weren’t attainable in the course of the unique ’90s run attributable to time and funds constraints.

As the panel wrapped up, the message from the solid, crew, and Marvel was clear: X-Men ’97 is proof that lightning can strike twice and followers needs to be very enthusiastic about its future.