In episode 9 of X-Men 97, Magneto rips Wolverine’s adamantium skeleton off of him. Fans of the comics can immediately tell this is from the Fatal Attractions arc, but for the not-so-comic savvy, this was a shocking moment for the series. We couldn’t help but dive into the comics to see if this was the end for Wolverine, and what we found was much more exciting than we anticipated. Read at your own risk, as these are massive spoilers for the X-Men 97 series.
The Fatal Attractions storyline is pivotal in X-Men lore but also tests Wolverine’s character and resilience as he loses what has become a massive part of who he is after being torn apart by Magneto. His healing factor has to work overtime to keep him alive, causing him to become more feral and animalistic. The adamantium in his body keeps his healing factor occupied, and without it, his body mutates further and further, causing him to lose control of his body.
Yet, even in the face of such adversity, Wolverine’s indomitable spirit shines through. He refuses to be defeated, continuing to fight alongside the X-Men, wielding his original bone claws with renewed ferocity. Even as he mutates and becomes more monstrous, the team is there to support him despite his outbursts. This is a testament to his unwavering resilience and determination, as well as the strong bond formed between the members of the X-Men.
Wolverine is then captured by Apocalypse and reinfused with adamantium, turning him into the Horseman of Death. The return of his adamantium coating subdues his healing factor once again, and he rejoins the team after eventually breaking free of Apocalypse’s control. This story arc was extremely brutal, and featured aspects of body horror that we’re excited to see adapted into X-Men 97. There are a ton of potentially mature themes tackled by the X-Men comics with this being just the beginning.
With X-Men 97 venturing into such impactful comic moments, we can’t help but be filled with anticipation for how the showrunners will handle these. The Fatal Attractions arc also paves the way for a thrilling crossover with the Avengers in the Bloodties storyline, hinting at the possibility of more heroes making their debut in the series. The future of X-Men 97 is brimming with excitement and potential, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store!
X-Men 97 is shaping up to be a great comic adaptation, but not all adaptations are created equal. While comics are often well translated into the big screen, video games are much harder to adapt because of their unique form of media. If you want to see what makes a good video game adaptation, check this out.
