12 Avengers Characters That Should Appear In X-Men '97

Fans of "X-Men: The Animated Series" are finally getting a proper follow-up to the beloved '90s cartoon. A direct sequel, "X-Men '97" will feature all of the original show's fan favorite heroes alongside some new faces. For many X-Men fans, "X-Men: The Animated Series" was their first exposure to the popular superhero team, and the show is often regarded as a landmark in superhero storytelling. It's possible (even probable) that it led to Fox's "X-Men" films getting the greenlight, which ultimately made the MCU a possibility.

Now that Disney owns the rights to the X-Men, "X-Men '97" will premiere on Disney+ alongside Marvel's other shows, both live action and animated. This gives the series a lot more leeway in terms of character rights. While "X-Men '97" will no doubt have its hands full with the massive roster of mutant superheroes and villains that comprise the X-Men, it would be interesting to see some characters that are not associated with the X-Men brand make appearances.

If that were the case, it wouldn't be the first time. Characters like Captain America and the Hulk appeared in "X-Men: The Animated Series" and "Wolverine and the X-Men," respectively. However, with so many characters now under the Mouse House's roof, the opportunities for crossovers and cameos are better than ever. Here are some Avengers characters that should appear in "X-Men '97."

Wanda and Pietro Maximoff popping up in "X-Men '97" should be a given. After all, the famous superpowered twins are the children of X-Men supervillain Magneto and have traditionally been portrayed as mutants in Marvel Comics. Moreover, both characters appeared in a couple of episodes of "X-Men: The Animated Series" and played larger roles in the subsequent animated shows "X-Men: Evolution" and "Wolverine and the X-Men."

Unfortunately, Wanda and Pietro — also known by their superhero names, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver — don't exactly have a simple relationship with the X-Men. Whether or not the characters are related to Magneto or even mutants at all is highly debated, with the canon having changed considerably since "X-Men: The Animated Series" was on air. While the twins began their run in the comics as founding members of the Brotherhood of Mutants, they spent a lot of time as members of the Avengers. In order to separate them from the X-Men brand, Marvel revealed in 2014 (coinciding with their introduction in the MCU) that the twins were not the children of Magneto. Instead, they gained their powers due to genetic tampering from the High Evolutionary.

That being said, the twins have a storied history with the X-Men, and — mutants or not — they deserve to have a team-up with the group they helped to form. Having Wanda and Pietro work with the Brotherhood would help tie them to their roots, and it would be a treat for X-Men fans.

Captain Britain is a name that might not be super familiar to a lot of Marvel fans, as he has yet to make any major live-action appearances. But this character, whose real name is Brian Braddock, is actually quite an important one in X-Men lore. Much of this stems from his relationship with his sister, Betsy Braddock, who was the first mutant to take up the mantle of Psylocke.

In Marvel Comics, Captain Britain is the title held by the appointed defender of the legendary kingdom of Avalon. Brian Braddock is the first hero to take on this mantle after he is empowered by the wizard Merlyn and tasked with keeping Avalon safe from otherworldly threats. However, in recent years, his twin sister Betsy has taken over his role as Captain Britain following his corruption by the sorceress Morgan Le Fey.

Betsy will likely be in "X-Men '97" as Psylocke (following her appearances in "X-Men: The Animated Series"), so it would make sense to have her twin brother also make an appearance. In fact, Brian was briefly seen in the "X-Men: The Animated Series" episode "The Starjammers," but he was never given a speaking role. "X-Men '97" should expand on the character and dive into his relationship with Betsy.

Star-Lord might seem like a strange choice to include in "X-Men '97" at first, but his inclusion could be warranted thanks to his relationship with a yet-to-be-introduced member of the X-Men. The member in question is Katherine "Kitty" Pryde, sometimes known as Shadowcat. In Marvel Comics, Kitty is one of the X-Men's most important members. She has been prominently featured in the comics since her introduction in 1980 and was portrayed by Elliot Page in "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past."

But what does this have to do with Star-Lord? While fans of the MCU might think that Star-Lord only has eyes for Gamora, things are quite different in Marvel Comics. Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde spent quite some time as a couple when she joined up with the Guardians of the Galaxy. The two even became engaged and Kitty began going by the moniker Star-Lady. While the relationship didn't last, it is still an important part of both characters' legacies.

If "X-Men '97" wanted to finally introduce the character of Kitty Pryde into its universe, introducing her alongside Star-Lord could be the way to go. Her time traversing the galaxy with him could be a great way to explain her absence, while also getting a fun cameo out of one of Marvel's most charming outlaws.

In Marvel Comics, Wolverine made his first ever appearance in the teaser panel of 1974's "The Incredible Hulk #180." In the next few issues, the Hulk travels to Canada, where he must battle the supervillain Wendigo. He meets Wolverine, and the two team up to stop Wendigo, but after the villain's defeat, Wolverine turns on the Hulk, and the two nearly-invincible superheroes battle it out until Hulk finally gains the upper hand.

Because of the popularity of this storyline, and the fact that it marked Wolverine's first appearance, a lasting rivalry between the Hulk and Wolverine was formed. The two are often at odds, and fans are always looking forward to the next time the two get to battle it out. As such, the storyline has been adapted several times. Marvel published a mini-series that took place in the "Ultimate Universe" titled "Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk," and there was a 2009 animated film titled "Hulk vs. Wolverine." Even the show "Wolverine and the X-Men" had an episode dedicated to the rivalry.

For all the versions of this fight that have played out on screen or on the page, the Hulk has yet to go up against Wolverine in the universe of "X-Men: The Animated Series." Introducing Hulk in "X-Men '97" would be a great way to relive one of Marvel's greatest match-ups, and it would be a chance for Wolverine to settle the score.

Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel, wasn't even around when "X-Men: The Animated Series" premiered in 1992. While she wouldn't be introduced until 2013, over twenty years later, she might just be the perfect person to join the cast of established X-Men heroes. Since her debut, the popularity of the character has been steadily climbing, with a recent spike in interest over the past few years thanks to her starring roles in the "Marvel Rising" series, the "Marvel's Avengers" video game, and the live-action "Ms. Marvel" show on Disney+. It's the latter that might make her such a great addition to "X-Men '97."

Traditionally, in Marvel Comics, Kamala has been portrayed as an Inhuman. She gains the power to stretch her limbs and reform her body after coming into contact with the Terrigen Mist, like most Inhumans. However, the show changes these origins. In "Ms. Marvel," Kamala gains her powers thanks to a magic bangle she inherits from her grandmother. But, in a surprise twist, it turns out that she is only able to use the bangle because she's a mutant.

With Marvel looking to relaunch Ms. Marvel as a mutant in the MCU, her inclusion in "X-Men '97" could go a long way towards helping rebrand the hero. An appearance could also incorporate elements of her relationship with Cyclops from Marvel Comics, in which she has a close friendship and bond with the time-displaced X-Men hero.

Black Panther's marriage to the X-Men hero Storm is one of Marvel's most well known and divisive romantic relationships. In the comics, Storm and Black Panther first met as teenagers. Storm was living on the streets of Cairo at the time, and T'Challa was traveling the world. After being reunited years later, the two fell in love and got married, with Storm becoming the queen of Wakanda. Like many comic book relationships, the marriage didn't last, but Storm's time as T'Challa's wife forever ties her to Wakanda.

Unfortunately, this relationship is unlikely to play out in live action any time soon thanks to the untimely passing of T'Challa actor Chadwick Boseman. However, it would definitely be interesting to see a Black Panther and Storm arc play out on screen, and "X-Men '97" could be the perfect place for that. While it would be a disservice to separate Storm from the X-Men for too long, a multi-episode arc where T'Challa takes Storm to Wakanda could introduce an interesting dynamic to the follow-up show.

Spider-Man is one of Marvel's most prolific superheroes, so it should come as no surprise that he has quite a few ties to the X-Men. While Peter Parker is not a mutant, having famously gained his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider, he has long maintained a close friendship with many members of the X-Men. Chief among these is Wolverine: Spider-Man and Wolverine have a relationship that stems back to 1976's "Marvel Team-Up Annual Vol. 1." They've had their ups and downs, but they have ultimately remained friends over the years and even had a 2010 miniseries, "Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine," dedicated to the team-up.

In the comics, Wolverine states in his will that he wants Spider-Man to become a faculty member at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, teaching ethics to young mutants. In "Spider-Man and X-Men," Parker fulfills this request, tying him even closer to the X-Men. Elsewhere, in Marvel's Ultimate Universe, Spider-Man develops a romantic relationship with Kitty Pryde. In this universe, the two are together for quite some time before Spidey rekindles a romance with Mary Jane.

With so many ties to the X-Men, and the character's widespread popularity, Spider-Man would be a fantastic addition to "X-Men '97." It wouldn't be his first animated team-up with the X-Men, either: He joined forces with Iceman and Firestar in "Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends" and he actually made a brief cameo in "X-Men: The Animated Series." Fans would no doubt love it if he played a larger role in the sequel show.

The Fantastic Four might not traditionally be associated with the Avengers, though all four members have spent time on the superhero team. That being said, their relationship with the X-Men might be just as important. The Fantastic Four are often referred to as Marvel's "First Family." Their family dynamic is often the driving force behind the team, which is traditionally made up of Reed Richards, his wife Sue Storm, her brother Johnny Storm, and Reed's best friend Ben Grimm. When it turns out that Reed and Sue's son, Franklin Richards, is not only a mutant but an omega level mutant (Marvel's name for the most powerful mutants), things get a lot more complicated.

The question of whether Franklin belongs with his family or under the care of mutants has created a lot of tension between the Fantastic Four and the X-Men over the years. Franklin always had difficulty controlling his reality-altering abilities, and many mutants believed he would be better off being looked after by his own people. Reed, not wanting to let his son go, fought back against this idea. Things changed when Krakoa became a haven for all mutants: It was revealed that Franklin was not born a mutant, but used his reality-altering abilities to make it appear that he had the X-Gene in order to fit in. Even so, including Franklin (and his family) in "X-Men '97" would be an interesting way to put two famous superhero teams at odds, making for a great story arc.

Marvel's Hercules may have just made his first live-action appearance in 2022's "Thor: Love and Thunder," but the character has a long and storied history in Marvel Comics. Based on the hero from Greek mythology, he has frequently been portrayed as a rival of Thor. He is also a longstanding member of the Avengers. However, it's an alternate universe version of the character that would make a great addition to "X-Men '97."

In 2013's "X-Treme X-Men Vol. 2 #7," readers are introduced to an alternate universe version of Hercules who falls in love with Wolverine. After discovering Hercules' feelings for Wolverine, Zeus banishes them both to the pit of Tartarus, as he believes that he should be the only god allowed to have relations with mortals. This leaves Wolverine and Hercules trapped in the dungeon for years, where they have to battle Titans and demons.

This storyline would be an amazing addition to "X-Men '97." Not only would the battle in the Tartarus be amazing to watch, but it would bring one of Marvel's most underrated romances to light. Introducing Wolverine and Hercules' relationship would finally give Wolverine an on-screen love story with a true equal (both in affections and lifespan) and put an end to the tired Wolverine/Cyclops/Jean Grey love triangle that never seems to go anywhere.

During its San Diego Comic-Con 2022 panel, Marvel showed off some images from "X-Men '97," delighting fans with the nostalgic character designs. One image, which featured a line-up of villains ranging from Mr. Sinister to Sebastian Shaw, included the popular anti-hero Emma Frost. Over the years, Emma Frost has grown to be one of the X-Men's most prominent and popular characters, and with Jonathan Hickman's "Dawn of X" relaunch, her role in mutant society has become all the more important.

So, with Emma Frost seemingly playing an important role in "X-Men '97," it would make sense for her future husband, Tony Stark, to also make an appearance. It was revealed in "History of the Multiverse #6" that Iron Man would eventually end up married to Emma Frost. While the event has yet to take place in the current timeline, things seem to be inching closer to the eventual wedding, with Frost playing a prominent role in Marvel's current run of "The Invincible Iron Man."

This wedding will sadly never take place in the MCU, seeing as Stark's death in "Avengers: Endgame" predates any appearance from Frost, but seeing a version of it play out in "X-Men '97" would be a fun treat for fans of the couple.

If Nick Fury were to appear in "X-Men '97," it certainly wouldn't be the first time that the director of SHIELD has made an appearance in an X-Men animated show. In fact, Nick Fury has made appearances in all three of Marvel's major X-Men cartoons, "X-Men: The Animated Series," "X-Men: Evolution," and "Wolverine and the X-Men." All of these appearances have one thing in common: Nick Fury's ties to Wolverine. Having lived a longer life than most, Wolverine has fought in many wars, and he has spent time working with both Fury and SHIELD.

With Fury having made appearances in every other animated X-Men show before "X-Men '97," it would be a shame if he didn't feature again. An appearance in "X-Men '97" could build on his small role in the "X-Men: The Animated Series" episode "Old Soldiers," where Fury spent time with Wolverine and Captain America's Howling Commandos. Bringing SHIELD back into the lives of the X-Men could create an interesting dynamic, splitting the loyalties of Wolverine.

Like Nick Fury, Captain America has a habit of appearing in animated X-Men shows. In "X-Men: The Animated Series," he appeared in the episode "Old Soldiers," in which Wolverine has to relive the memories of working with Captain America in 1944 to help stop the Red Skull. In "X-Men: Evolution," Cap is seen in the episode "Operation: Rebirth," in which he and Wolverine team-up during World War II to help free prisoners, including a young Magneto. Despite Steve Rogers being typically portrayed as a straight-laced hero and Wolverine being seen as a gruffer, anti-hero type, the two have an immense amount of respect for each other.

With the long history between the two, a team-up in "X-Men '97" would really add an interesting dimension to Wolverine's character, bringing in a rare figure that he looks up to. In addition, the show could introduce the often tense relationship between Cyclops and Steve Rogers. While the two are both considered great leaders and tacticians in Marvel Comics, Rogers is often at odds with Cyclops due to the mutant leader's zealous nature. This helped to start the central conflict behind 2012's "Avengers vs. X-Men" crossover event, a story that would be exciting to see in the universe of "X-Men '97."