After the events of Episode 5, ‘X-Men’ 97 left fans of Marvel feeling emotionally drained. The show’s creator has since spoken out about the devastating occurrences.
At the start of X-Men ’97 Episode 5, titled ‘Remember It’, it seemed like it would be a joyous occasion. The conflicts appeared to have been resolved and it appeared that Genosha would finally be accepted into the United Nations.
Regrettably, the situation does not unfold as intended when a Master Mold sentinel suddenly appears and unleashes a fatal assault, claiming the lives of hundreds of mutants. Among the casualties are two X-Men: Magneto and Gambit. The episode concludes with Rogue holding Gambit’s lifeless form, uttering “I can’t sense him,”before fading to black.
This episode has been compared to the Infinity War moment of the show and has been likened to the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones. DeMayo, who was terminated by Marvel right before the premiere of X-Men ’97, has released a statement addressing the episode.
During an Instagram story, he explained that he had a lot of questions and would momentarily break his silence to answer them. He mentioned that Episode 5 was the main focus of his pitch to Marvel in November 2020. His idea was to have the X-Men reflect the journey that anyone who grew up watching the original show has experienced since being children in the 90s.
“In our eyes, the world was a safer place where even a character like Storm would dismiss skin-based racism as ‘quaint’ in ‘One Man’s Worth.’ We believed that the world was straightforward with clear distinctions between right and wrong, and that issues of identity and social justice had simple solutions.”
DeMayo also mentioned that 9/11 was a significant moment not just for the world, but also for his personal journey. He reflected, “It was during 9/11 that I decided to come out to my family and came to the realization that not everyone would embrace me for who I am.”
In Episode 4, Jubilee discovered that reality can be both terrifying and unsettling. Like myself, she turned to rewatching old episodes of the original cartoon for comfort and a sense of familiarity. However, as Roberto cautioned Jubilee, there is a risk in dwelling on the past and holding onto nostalgia. We must be careful not to hold onto a fixed identity, as Cyclops and Jean are realizing, as it can hinder our growth and make us blind to unexpected futures.
It seemed that Gambit’s story was heading in a specific direction. The choice of a crop top was deliberate in order to make him more appealing to others. His action of removing his shirt was also planned. He had a reason for telling Rogue that anyone would endure her hand in a dance, even if it wasn’t him suffering. Unfortunately, tragic events such as 9/11, Tulsa, Charlottesville, and the Pulse Nightclub shooting serve as a reminder that too many stories are cut short. I have personally experienced the joy of partying at Pulse, my favorite club, and have countless fond memories of the beautiful white lounge. Like Genosha, it was a safe haven for me and others like me to let loose and be ourselves
For more information on X-Men ’97’s release schedule, as well as the possibility of Gambit’s death leading to his transformation into a Horseman of the Apocalypse, please visit our website.
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