X-Men '97 Season 2 Episode 6 Review: The Perils of Evolution

However, the X-Men have no normality and must always evolve. So, in addition to adopting the biker-style suits Frank Quitely designed for Morrison’s run, Xavier reconsiders his dream. At the end of the episode, he’s shed his focus on schooling and launches X-Corp. The episode doesn’t fully explain what X-Corp is, and comic knowledge doesn’t help much. But Val Cooper’s irritation at the end indicates Xavier is making a play for international sovereignty, not unlike Krakoa.

In summary, a lot happens in “Danger.exe,” as it has in every episode of X-Men ’97. While last week’s “Weapon X, Lies, and the Making of the DVD” skipped over important character details too quickly, “Danger.exe” manages the perfect blend of spectacular action and character attention. The episode deftly combines character progression with plot beats, leaving room for big scenes.

We see that precision in the first scene, where Xavier uses the Danger Room to replay the final moments of Magneto’s life. The replay suggests self-harm, but as Xavier berates the room for not adhering to safety protocols, we realize two things: first, of course, that the Danger Room has a mind of its own, setting up the episode’s villain; but also, second, that Xavier remains in control of himself and uses the sequence to ask tough questions about his methods, setting up the reveal of X-Corp.

Xavier’s state of mind mirrors that of Lorna Dane, aka Polaris, who finally gets the spotlight here. Lorna has been trying to play the “good mutant” in X-Force, working alongside her boyfriend Havok, who here is faithfully portrayed from the comics as a naive himbo prone to fits of moral superiority (to be clear, I love him). Unable to stomach the oppressors who want her erased any longer, Polaris is kicked off the team and returns to the X-Men.

Carolina Ravassa gives Polaris a raw rasp that fits perfectly for a woman who wants to fulfill Xavier’s dream but has lost patience. Her internal struggle, wanting to honor her mentor’s high ideals but increasingly sympathizing with her father’s worldview, not only pairs well with the no-nonsense Bishop but also fits with Xavier’s turn toward the radical with the establishment of X-Corp. It’s fitting, then, that the reveal comes while fighting an opponent named Danger.

Danger and other elements of the episode, such as the false Sentinel attack during a school assembly, come directly from Joss Whedon’s run with artist John Cassidy. Amazing is the sheer Whedon, often quite brilliant and extremely awkward in retrospect, making it surprising that X-Men ’97 would pay such open homage.