Marvel Rewrites Apocalypse’s Origin with Infinity Stone in ‘X-Men ’97’ Season 2

‘X-Men ’97‘ Season 2 has been subtly paving the way for one of the most significant retcons in the series’ history, and episode four has finally brought it to light. The “Rise of Apocalypse” storyline has taken the time-lost X-Men on a journey through ancient Egypt, the distant future, and various other locations, but the show’s unexpected dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s cosmic elements caught everyone off guard.

Indeed, the time-lost X-Men ventured back to ancient Egypt with the aim of preventing the emergence of Apocalypse, one of their most formidable foes. Instead, they encountered Eson the Searcher, a Celestial who still wielded the Power Stone in this timeline. This pivotal detail alters everything fans believed about ‘X-Men ’97’ and Apocalypse’s role within the broader Marvel universe.

Eson utilized the Power Stone to transform the enslaved Egyptian man En Sabah Nur into Apocalypse, assigning him a mission to embody the end of all things. This haunting dialogue reframes Apocalypse not merely as a villain who sought power, but as a being created for a cosmic purpose he never chose.

The comic book version of this narrative also incorporates Celestial technology, with Apocalypse’s body sustained by bionic armor from the alien Celestials, necessitating rest for rejuvenation over extended periods. ‘X-Men ’97’ honors this foundation while adding a sharper, more mythic quality for the screen.

Longtime fans had reason to anticipate this development, as the comics have indicated that Apocalypse was chosen by the Celestials for this very purpose, which explains his possession of Celestial armor and technology. What the show introduces is the Infinity Stone itself, a piece of MCU lore that elevates a mutant legend to a grander scale.

Traditionally, the comics utilize mysterious forces known as Life and Death Seeds to describe how the Celestials mutate and resurrect individuals, but ‘X-Men ’97’ has replaced that concept with the Power Stone, suggesting that other Infinity Stones may also play a role. This creative decision is significant, forming a direct link between the animated mutant universe and the cosmic elements familiar to fans from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’

Marvel has hinted for years that Infinity Stones could trigger mutations within the main MCU timeline, potentially clarifying why mutants are only now appearing on the big screen. Fans may recall that in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ Hydra used the Mind Stone to grant Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver their abilities.

According to the in-universe reference book The Wakanda Files, Hydra specifically targeted Sokovia for experimentation due to the locals’ genetic markers believed capable of activating superpowers, although most test subjects perished before Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver emerged as the exceptions. The first Marvel Studios Visual Dictionary even suggested that the Mind Stone may not have altered the twins but merely unlocked something dormant within them.

This theory aligns perfectly with Apocalypse’s transformation in ‘X-Men ’97,’ raising intriguing questions about whether other power sources could similarly trigger mutations. This directly connects to Ms. Marvel’s exposure to cosmic energy, marking her as the MCU’s first officially confirmed mutant. Suddenly, a decades-old animated villain is significantly impacting live-action mutant lore.

The implications of this retcon became starkly evident in the recent episodes. In the climactic showdown between Magneto and a newly empowered Apocalypse, who appears to wield the Power Stone from the Celestial buried within the pyramid, the villain demonstrated just how formidable he has become by killing Magneto while Professor X looked on helplessly.

This is a striking reversal of the comics, where Magneto famously dismantles Apocalypse during the Age of Apocalypse event. This animated version of the confrontation serves as a genuine shock for longtime readers. ‘X-Men ’97’ even accomplished something the comics never did, having Apocalypse kill Magneto with surprisingly little resistance.

There remains a possibility that Magneto could return, as ‘X-Men ’97’ has already established time travel as a key narrative device. It seems unlikely that Forge and Bishop would leave such a significant loose end unresolved. Given how the show has handled other major deaths, nothing about Magneto’s fate feels permanent at this point.

The Infinity Stone twist is not the only element of MCU continuity woven into Apocalypse’s revised backstory. The Pharaoh overseeing En Sabah Nur’s enslavement and subsequent uprising is revealed to be Rama-Tut, a variant of Kang the Conqueror.

Rama-Tut is determined to stop En Sabah Nur, fearing that the enslaved man will disrupt his quest for a hidden temple built by immortal star gods, a structure that could bestow godlike power upon its possessor. Professor X glimpses this temple while probing the mind of a character named Logos, and an ominous voice warns Xavier that whoever finds it is “where the end begins.”

This line could pertain to Kang, Apocalypse, or something even more significant lurking in the shadows. Regardless, ‘X-Men ’97’ has demonstrated its willingness to reshape decades of established mutant history to serve a much larger cosmic narrative.

With Magneto dead, Apocalypse harnessing Celestial power on a scale never before seen in the comics, and Kang lurking in the background, how far do you think ‘X-Men ’97’ will go in redefining Apocalypse’s legacy before this season concludes?