- Primary Subject: X-Men '97 Season 2 premiere episode cameos
- Key Update: The premiere episodes of X-Men '97 Season 2 surprise viewers by featuring an unexpected appearance from a fan-favorite, retired Marvel Cinematic Universe villain variant.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 1, 2026
- Quick Answer: The X-Men '97 Season 2 premiere features a surprise cameo from a major MCU villain variant, giving fans a shocking, comic-accurate crossover twist.
A fan-favorite MCU villain from the past made an appearance in the premiere episodes of the second season of X-Men '97.
After a two-year wait, the hit Marvel animated series is back for its sophomore chapter, continuing the adventures of the mutant team across multiple timelines. Fans were looking forward to seeing whether there are surprises in store for the new season, including potential cameos from other corners of the Marvel universe.
SPOILER WARNING: This article includes spoilers for the first season finale of IT: Welcome to Derry, so proceed with caution.
Which Fan-Favorite Villain Appeared in X-Men '97 Season 2 Premiere Episodes?
The Kang the Conqueror variant, Rama-Tut, made an appearance in the premiere episodes of the second season of X-Men '97, bringing back a former MCU villain in the fold.
Considering that Kang's journey in the MCU timeline is already finished following the firing of Jonathan Majors, this is a great surprise for fans who may have wanted to see more of the Kang variants across Marvel projects.
After kicking off with a brutal battle between the X-Men and Apocalypse's nightmarish Horsemen, plus a quick modern-day check-in with X-Factor and Cable’s X-Force, the second episode of the new season dives straight into the history books.
The story transports us to ancient Egypt to chart En Sabah Nur’s transformation into Apocalypse. Driven by a burning hatred for the kingdom's tyrannical ruler, Rama-Tut, En Sabah Nur vows revenge.
Comic fans know Rama-Tut is actually a variant of Kang the Conqueror, a heavyweight Marvel villain who was a major villain in the MCU before he was retired. By positioning Kang as the architect of Apocalypse's descent into villainy, X-Men ’97 delivers a comic-accurate twist on how two of Marvel's greatest threats are inextricably linked.
It remains to be seen whether this twist will unfold more in the upcoming episodes of the season, but this is a way for Marvel to explore Kang the Conqueror (or at least a variant) again after his short tenure as the Multiverse Saga villain in the MCU live-action projects.
What is X-Men '97 Season 2 About?
In the second season of X-Men '97, the X-Men find themselves scattered across the timeline. Xavier, Magneto, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast are stranded in ancient Egypt during the year 3000 B.C., just as Apocalypse begins his rise to power.
Meanwhile, Jean Grey and Cyclops are hurled into the distant future of 3960 A.D., where they experience a massive Summers family reunion with their kids. The whereabouts of Storm, Wolverine, and Morph are currently a mystery. Bishop and Forge must now find a way to bring everyone home before Apocalypse can ambush the X-Men in the '90s timeline.
"You have the fun of playing with very specific groups of X-Men together, trying to figure out how to get where they need to go," executive producer Julia Lewald explained to EW.
The first three episodes are now available to stream on Disney+. New episodes will be released weekly every Wednesday.
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