X-Men '97 Season 2 Finale: All 13 Easter Eggs, References, & Major Marvel Cameos

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men ’97 season 2, episdoe 9

X-Men ’97 season 2 has reached its epic conclusion with a major finale episode pitting multiple teams of mutants against each other and Apocalypse himself. Likewise, the episode is also filled with a collection of fun Easter eggs and references, along with some surprise Marvel appearances thanks to the one and only Morph.

After Gambit’s dark transformation into the Horseman of Death, X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 9 reveals that Apocalypse’s spirit remains within Remy LeBeau, prompting both X-Factor and X-Force to try and kill Gambit while the X-Men are still trying to find a way of stopping En Sabah Nur without killing their friend. However, there are plenty of cool nods and references teasing X-Men ’97’s future along the way.

From familiar characters, classic references, and solid parallels to the page, X-Men ’97 season 2’s finale doesn’t disappoint with its Easter eggs and fun ties. With that in mind, here are all 13 major Easter eggs, references, and Marvel cameos featured throughout X-Men ’97 season 2’s final episode.

All The Biggest & Best Easter Eggs, References, And Marvel Cameos In X-Men ’97 Season 2 Episode 9

Nightcrawler Death In X-Men '97 Season 2 Finale

“Survival Of The Fittest” — X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 9’s title is “Survival of the Fittest”. It’s a very poignant title considering it’s the primary philosophy of Apocalypse and the Celestial who gave him his power. “Survival of the Fittest” is also a core tenet of En Sabah Nur in the original comics.

X-Factor and X-Force United — The finale of X-Men ’97 season 2 sees Valerie Cooper and X-Factor allying with Cable and X-Force. After failing to put down Gambit in the previous episode, Cable is determined to fulfill his comics-accurate destiny of defeating Apocalypse and saving billions, no matter the cost. As such, it’s no surprise that X-Factor and X-Force would align to take on the X-Men, as various iterations of both teams have joined forces in the comics before.

Sentinel Squad O*N*E — The new X-Men ’97 season 2 finale also debuts Sentinel Squad O*N*E (Office of National Emergency). In the comics, Valerie Cooper proposed a government-sanctioned team of Sentinel robots retrofitted as piloted mech suits, allowing the US to rely less on the Avengers, Fantastic Four, or X-Men.

On the page, Tony Stark helped create this new Sentinel team, while James Rhodes had direct command and served as an instructor. One has to wonder if the same is true in this animated continuity. After all, X-Men ’97’s first season did feature a cameo from Iron Man, and the series is still part of the wider animated universe of the 90s (which Stark was indeed a part of).

Cerebra — Following Cerebro going rogue and attacking the X-Men in previous episodes of X-Men ’97 season 2 (which also mirrored the comics), Professor Xavier is shown in the finale using Cerebra, an upgraded mutant-detection and advanced computer system developed by Hank McCoy’s Beast.

Rogue vs Celestial — Rogue cutting a deal with Eson and receiving Celestial power to save Gambit in X-Men ’97 season 2’s finale was a definite surprise for the animated series. However, it also feels like the ironic inverse of when Rogue once absorbed the powers and abilities of several different mutants and heroes to fight a Celestial in the comics.

Doc Ock — It wouldn’t be an episode of X-Men ’97 without Morph transforming into a surprise Marvel character. For the finale, we get to see Morph fighting members of X-Factor alongside Wolverine as none other than Doctor Octopus, looking exactly like the villain does in the classic Spider-Man animated series from the 90s (which very much deserves its own revival series).

Given their own penchant for jokes and quips and the fact that Morph transformed into Spider-Man himself in earlier episodes of X-Men ’97 season 2, it feels safe to say that Morph likely sees the Webslinger as a kindred spirit.

Wolverine’s Impressive Sword Skills — During the fight with X-Factor and X-Force, Wolverine is shown dueling with Psylocke, taking one of her katanas and holding his own quite well. This connects to the years Logan spent in Japan, having studied the way of the samurai and becoming a master swordsman in the Marvel Universe. He even trained under the Silver Samurai, who has briefly appeared in both seasons of X-Men ’97 (both as the real deal and as a Morph transformation).

Mister Fantastic — Appearing for just a brief second, Morph also transforms into Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic in the new finale episode. Morph made use of Mister Fantastic’s elasticity previously in X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 6, using Reed’s arms as jump ropes for the younger students at Xavier’s School.

“My X-Men…” — Fully possessing Gambit by the finale’s ending, Apocalypse uses his power to corrupt all of the X-Men, intending to rip Xavier apart with his own students and referring to them as “My X-Men…”, a dark nod to the classic “To Me, My X-Men!” line often heard from both Xavier and Cyclops.

Graydon Creed Becoming President — After Rogue saves Gambit, Apocalypse is defeated, and Nightcrawler’s tragic surprise death after cutting his own Celestial deal so that Rogue could live, the finale’s post-credits scene reveals that Graydon Creed has been elected as the next President of the United States. Unlike in the comics, where Graydon was shot and killed at a rally announcing his candidacy, it seems he’ll actually be elected in X-Men ’97’s continuity. However, the shooter in the comics was none other than Mystique, his own mother.

Mystique’s File — It just so happens that Valerie Cooper is shown looking at Mystique’s file while watching the news about Graydon Creed’s imminent presidency, suggesting that a major collision between mother and son is in the works.

Brotherhood of Mutants — Mystique’s file lists known associates connected to the Brotherhood of Mutants (many of whom have already been confirmed for X-Men ’97 season 3). This includes classic members like Pyro, Avalanche, Blob, and Toad. However, the file also has The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, making this the second time an X-Men ’97 finale has teased the Maximoff Twins/Children of Magneto. With Magneto currently dead and his other daughter Polaris rejoining the X-Men, perhaps the time has come to bring back Wanda and Pietro?

Valerie Cooper Twist Confirmed — Last but not least, Valerie Cooper is shown getting shot by her own doppelgänger to close out X-Men ’97 season 2’s finale before this other Cooper transforms into Mystique, declaring her intentions to go to war with the United States (further supporting a mission to kill her own president-elect son).

Additionally, this also supports the long-held theory since the very beginning of X-Men ’97 season 1 that Raven Darkholme’s Mystique had been posing as Cooper, just like she has in the comics. That said, this seemingly indicates that Raven is just now replacing Cooper despite all the clues and bits of foreshadowing, though perhaps there were brief moments where she posed as Cooper (like Genosha).

All episodes of X-Men ’97 season 2 are now streaming on Disney+ from Marvel Studios.