'X-Men '97: Season Two' Prelude Comic Bridges the Animated Cliffhanger

Marvel Comics launches 'X-Men '97: Season Two,' a five-issue prelude to the second season of the hit Disney+ animated series, by writer Steve Foxe and artist Salva Espin. The series picks up directly from Season One's time-scattering cliffhanger and spotlights new characters joining the cast.

The X-Men are lost in time, and Marvel Comics has the story of what happens next. Ahead of the second season of Marvel Animation's X-Men '97 arriving on Disney+ this summer, writer Steve Foxe and artist Salva Espin are reuniting for X-Men '97: Season Two, an official five-issue prelude comic series.

Extinction-day has come and gone, and your favorite X-Men are scattered across time. The prelude spins directly out of Season One's era-spanning cliffhanger, following the mutants left behind in a world that hunts and hates them. The series leads directly into the events of Season Two, sets up the season's biggest plot threads, and spotlights the major new characters and teams joining the animated cast.

The Creative Team Reunites

Foxe and Espin previously collaborated on the X-Men '97 prelude for Season One, and cover artist Todd Nauck is also back for the new series. The returning creative team means continuity with the first prelude, which filled in gaps between the original 1990s X-Men: The Animated Series and the 2024 revival.

"I feel exceptionally grateful that Salva Espin, Matt Milla, and I get to tell more stories fleshing out the world of X-Men '97! Everyone who watched Season One knows the team left us one heck of an era-spanning cliffhanger, and our prequel for Season Two doesn't take any cheats or shortcuts around that wild status quo." — Steve Foxe

Foxe added that the team worked closely with the TV series staff to make sure the comic is "a vital, additive experience for our mutants—what's left of the X-Men, anyway."

Key Details and Variant Covers

Why the Animated Series Still Matters

X-Men '97 arrived on Disney+ in 2024 as a direct continuation of the iconic 1990s series and became one of the most critically acclaimed Marvel Animation projects in years. Its first season ended with a time-displacing cliffhanger that scattered the team, leaving fans desperate for answers that Season Two will finally provide. A prelude comic that takes the cliffhanger seriously—rather than retconning or short-cutting it—is exactly what longtime readers want.

What This Means for Marvel Fans

If you're a X-Men '97 viewer who wants every scrap of story before Season Two drops, this five-issue series is essential reading. It also makes a natural companion to the current X-Men ongoing in 616 continuity, and—much like the Season One prelude—serves as an entry point for animation fans who don't usually pick up comics. Preorder X-Men '97: Season Two #1 at your local comic shop for its June 3 release.