X-Men ’97 Season 2 Doesn’t Shy Away From Season 1’s Most Brutal Twist

Image: Marvel

The opening chapters of X-Men ‘97 season 2 have arrived on Disney Plus, finding our heroes fractured across the timeline. Following a season 1 finale that saw the team split between Ancient Egypt and the 40th century, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Most notably, Wolverine is grappling with the absence of his signature adamantium, relying instead on raw bone claws. While they possess a rugged, visceral appeal as he battles mechanical threats in a grim future, they lack the legendary durability of his bonded metal skeleton and are prone to splintering under pressure.

If you’re wondering how the iconic mutant lost his metallic edge, a quick refresher on the climax of season 1 is in order.

The origins of Logan’s vulnerability

Image: Marvel

In the high-stakes finale of X-Men ’97, Magneto triggered a global blackout to neutralize a Sentinel onslaught, leaving death and chaos in his wake. Viewing Magneto’s actions as an unforgivable act of war, Wolverine attempted to intervene, only for the Master of Magnetism to retaliate by agonizingly ripping the adamantium from his skeletal structure.

This harrowing sequence is a faithful adaptation of a seminal moment in Marvel history. In 1993’s X-Men Vol. 2 #25, Magneto exacted the same brutal vengeance on Wolverine, resulting in one of the medium’s most shocking displays of violence, masterfully illustrated by Andy Kubert.

Image: Marvel

The “Fatal Attractions” storyline, crafted by Fabian Nicieza and Scott Lobdell, redefined the character for years to come. In the comics, Wolverine remained without his adamantium for six years. During this period, while physically compromised, he found that shedding the heavy metal actually enhanced his mutant biology—sharpening his senses and augmenting his healing factor. This transformation also unleashed a more feral side of Logan, a character evolution that X-Men ‘97 is clearly eager to explore.

Whether the series keeps Logan in this vulnerable state for the duration of the season remains to be seen. It offers a compelling opportunity to witness how the X-Men’s fiercest fighter adapts when his greatest asset is gone, and whether his adversaries will exploit this newfound weakness.

X-Men ’97 season 2 is streaming now on Disney Plus.

Source: Polygon