The caped swordsman Exodus is more complicated. Once a knight in 12th century France, the mutant known as Exodus was transformed into an undying warrior by Apocalypse, who then left him in captivity for refusing to obey him. Centuries later, Magneto freed Exodus, who has since worshiped the Master of Magnetism as a mutant savior.
But for longtime comics fans, the most compelling part of the trailer may be the depiction of Nightcrawler as a Catholic priest. Nightcrawler’s faith has long been a key part of his character, an ironic turn on his demonic appearance. He eventually became ordained as a priest, and started wearing a clerical collar with his costume, as seen in the trailer.
But in The Draco, a 2003 storyline by Chuck Austen and Takeshi Miyazawa, we learn that Nightcrawler looks like the devil because his dad is the devil. Or, more accurately, his father Azazel (you might remember him played by Jason Flemyng in X-Men: First Class), an ageless mutant on whom stories about Satan are based.
The Draco sucks for so many reasons, not least of all because it means that Nightcrawler is actually a monster and everyone was right to fear him. It would be daring for X-Men ’97 to take it on, but season one managed to redeem some bad storylines, so maybe they can do the same with The Draco.
Polaris, X-Factor, and Generation X
Judging by the marketing thus far, the most important new character in the season 2 trailer is Polaris, the green-haired lady seen looking at some photos. A longtime associate and sometime member of the X-Men, Polaris has the ability to control magnetism, just like Magneto—whom she learned late in life was her father.
Polaris also served on X-Factor, a mutant team sponsored by the U.S. government and led by Cyclops’s brother Havok. X-Factor has gone through many lineups, and marketing materials tend to show Polaris and Havok with the main team from the ’90s, alongside Strong Guy, Multiple Man, Quicksilver, and Wolfsbane. However, X-Factor eventually gains Forge and Shard, the sister of Bishop, as members.
