X-Men '97 Season 2 has ended, and while Apocalypse has been defeated, the series delivered another heartbreaking death amid a largely happy ending for the heroes.
In one last-ditch effort to save Gambit, Rogue travels to En Sabah Nur's "Ship" with Beast and Nightcrawler. Confronting the Celestial who inhabits the craft, the mutant learns that the only way to save Remy LeBeau's life is to sacrifice her own. To defeat Apocalypse, she needs God-like power to stop him and receives it in exchange for promising the ancient cosmic being her death.
As the X-Men and X-Force clash over what to do with Gambit (yes, that was Morph transforming into Doctor Octopus from Spider-Man: The Animated Series), Cable fires a shot and hits the Cajun square in the forehead. However, that kill shot doesn't work, and Apocalypse now has full control over Gambit's body.
Fortunately, Rogue arrives and makes short work of the villain, using her power absorption abilities to exorcise Apocalypse from Gambit's body. She traps his essence inside a special gem and gives it to Cable for safekeeping. Their happy ending appears short-lived, and sharing a kiss as her Celestial powers fade, Rogue braces herself to make the ultimate sacrifice so that Remy can live.
Nothing happens, and Beast then shows up with Nightcrawler's Bible in hand, but no sign of the teleporting elf himself. In a flashback, we learn that Nightcrawler appeared before the Celestial and took his sister's place.
"I know they will grieve," Kurt Wagner says, "but I also believe, in time, my memory will be a seed from which new ones will grow. Each day is a new blessing to share with one another." Asked how he can be so certain his end will bring forth life, Nightcrawler replies, "Because I have faith."
That's yet another big death in X-Men '97, and one that somewhat confirms fears that the series is relying heavily on killing off key characters to lend emotional weight to stories. With Nightcrawler and Magneto both gone, the show is left with some big shoes to fill...fortunately, the post-credits scene features a huge return.
In the stinger, we find Mystique in Valerie Cooper's office, rifling through files that suggest we'll see the Brotherhood of Evil mutants again, including Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. The shape-shifter kills Cooper and takes her place, leaving her in a dangerous position of power heading into Season 3 (her target seems to be the United States, not specifically the X-Men).
To make matters worse, a radio broadcast confirms that Graydon Creed has been elected the new President of the United States. He despises mutants, and there's no Nightcrawler around to help him see the error of his ways this time.
Things look bleak for the X-Men heading into Season 3, and when it comes to future villains, everyone from Xorn to Onslaught and the aforementioned Brotherhood are strong possibilities. Nightcrawler's death, meanwhile, appears permanent, and human/mutant relations will surely only worsen with Mystique posing as Cooper.
What did you think about the X-Men '97 Season 2 finale? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.