Warning: Major X-Men ‘97 Season 1 Finale spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
X-Men ‘97 Season 1 may have come to an end, but fans are still reeling from its epic finale. But aside from showing the arrival of Apocalypse and setting up the stage for X-Men ‘97 Season 2, it also resolves a longtime Spider-Man: The Animated Series cliffhanger with Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s brief appearance.
X-Men ‘97 Season 1 finale features several Marvel cameos that excite fans the most. From Iron Man to Captain America to Black Panther, a number of the fan-favorite superheroes are here. But though fans already saw Spider-Man’s cameo in Episode 8, Tolerance is Extinction – Part 1, he made his way to the reboot again in Episode 10, Tolerance is Extinction – Part 3.
This time, Peter Parker is not wearing his Spider-Man suit, and he has some company. To the surprise of many, he’s with MJ and the two watch in horror on TV as Asteroid M is about to hit the Earth while everyone around them is panicking. Though Flash Thompson is also with them at the time, the reunion between Peter and MJ is celebrated by many, finally tying the major loose end of Spider-Man’s ending after 26 years.
For starters, the final episode of Spider-Man, aired on January 31, 1998, saw Peter looking for the real MJ in the multiverse with Madame Web. In the third season finale, MJ fell into an interdimensional portal that the Green Goblin created. Though she later reappeared, Peter learned that the MJ he married was a clone that Miles Warren made. And though the series never revealed if Peter found MJ, the X-Men ‘97 Season 1 finale proved he had finally found the love of his life.
Will there be Spider-Man: The Animated Series reboot?
The calls for a Spider-Man: The Animated Series reboot have been stronger than ever after X-Men ‘97 creator Beau DeMayo confirmed that the Spider-Man who cameo in Episode 8 was from the original animated series. Though nothing has been confirmed about it yet, the character’s voice actor, Christopher Daniel Barnes, addressed the calls and cleared the speculations.
“I haven’t been contacted by anyone regarding this possibility, and I also currently have no connection to the X-Men ‘97 show,” he tweeted.
However, just like fans, he, too, is hopeful that the show will be revived and that he will get that “magical phone call” one day. He even quotes Stan Lee by saying they have to remain “true believers.”
“Maybe I’ll get that magical phone call, have to sign an NDA, and then go weirdly silent on the issue! Here’s hoping,” Barnes continued.
Alternatively, showrunner John Semper Jr. also expressed interest in continuing Spider-Man’s story through a revival. In a post on X, the series creator was asked if Spider-Man would be revived just like X-Men ‘97. And though he had no idea if it would happen, he was open to doing it.
“All they have to do is call me,” he said. “I'm here, and I'd certainly consider doing it.”
Though it remains to be seen if there will be a Spider-Man reboot, the possibilities are high now that Peter is reunited with MJ. If it happens, it may explain how Peter found MJ after trying to find her in the multiverse.
All 10 episodes of X-Men ‘97 Season 1 are now available on Disney+.
