BY MATT TUCK
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR X-MEN ’97, EPISODE FIVE
After a weaker X-Men ’97 entry, the series took a dark turn this week, but what was that thing?
Following Jubilee and Sunspot’s fun-filled adventure in the Mojoverse, the show became deadly serious in episode five. After Rogue agreed to become Magneto’s Genoshan queen, thus breaking Gambit’s heart, all seemed well for the X-Men (minus Gambit). There were cameos galore as the X-Men explored Genosha’s island paradise, which seemed to parallel the mutant nation of Krakoa from the comics. Just when everyone was ready to party for the big gala, the sentinels attacked.
We should have seen it coming. Anytime things are going too well for heroes, something bad is about to happen. This was the X-Men ’97 equivalent of the “Red Wedding” from Game of Thrones. Sure enough, Genosha was decimated by sentinels, including one powerful, three-headed monstrosity that managed to kill Magneto, Gambit, and a host of other mutants. So what was it?
WILD SENTINELS
Introduced in New X-Men #114, those were Wild Sentinels that wiped out Genosha. You’ll recognize that issue as it’s been getting the collecting rub from Deadpool & Wolverine due to Cassandra Nova’s first appearance. The idea behind Wild Sentinels is that they are meant to adapt, evolve, and sustain themselves. As we saw in the show, they are a bit scarier than the typical sentinels. Chances are X-Men ’97 viewers will meet the Wild Sentinel Master Mold in episode six.
RELAX, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO STAY DEAD…MAYBE
Between the Multiverse and time travel, the X-Men ’97 writers have the most convenient plot devices at their fingertips. While all seems grim now, a quick adventure through time will undo everything. In fact, Cable briefly appeared in the episode, arriving too late to stop the desolation. Most likely, he and/or Bishop will make another trip into the past to either prevent the Wild Sentinels attack or warn the X-Men soon enough to mount a defensive.
