Marvel Announces X-MEN ’97 Season 2 Prelude Comic That Bridges the Gap Before the Show Returns
Fans waiting for the next chapter of X-Men ’97 are about to get a pretty cool surprise before the animated series returns. Marvel is expanding the story with an official prequel comic that picks up right where the first season left off and sets the stage for the upcoming Season 2.
The first season of X-Men ’97 debuted on Disney+ in 2024, bringing back the beloved world of X-Men: The Animated Series. The revival followed legendary mutants like Jean Grey, Scott Summers/Cyclops, and Ororo Munroe/Storm as they dealt with new threats while carrying the legacy of Charles Xavier’s dream.
With Season 2 expected to premiere this summer, Marvel Comics has revealed a five-issue limited series that will bridge the gap between seasons and help explain what happens after that wild ending.
The comic is titled X-Men ’97: Season Two and comes from writer Steve Foxe and artist Salva Espin, the same creative team that previously worked on the prelude comic for Season One. The first issue will feature cover art by Todd Nauck, along with variant covers by Jhony Caballero, Natacha Bustos, and Dan Jurgens.
According to Marvel, the story connects directly to the events fans watched in the show and builds toward the next chapter of the animated saga.
The official description reads: “X-Men ’97: Season Two will lead directly from the end of the acclaimed first season to the start of the upcoming season two, setting the stage for the time-sprawling saga that awaits viewers, exploring the season’s biggest plot threads, and spotlighting the major new characters—and teams—joining the cast.
“Extinction-day has come and gone, and your favorite X-Men are lost in time! Spinning out of Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97 series, follow the X-Men left behind in a world that hunts and hates mutantkind! Can they survive? And just where – or when – are the X-Men now?! No X-Men ‘97 fan can miss this one!”
Foxe is clearly excited to keep exploring this version of the mutant universe. He shared: “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.
“We got to work closely with the series team to make sure this comic is a vital, additive experience for our mutants—what’s left of the X-Men, anyway…”
Instead of waiting for the show to explain everything, this comic will dig into the fallout and explore the chaotic situation the team finds themselves in before the new episodes begin.
X-Men ’97: Season Two #1 hits comic shops on June 3, 2026. Marvel has not revealed the exact premiere date for Season 2 yet.
Source: Marvel