- Primary Subject: X-Men '97 Season 2, Episode 4 character death
- Key Update: The latest episode of X-Men '97 shocks fans by permanently killing off a major, fan-favorite mutant.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 8, 2026
- Quick Answer: A beloved main character is unexpectedly killed in episode four, raising the stakes and mirroring the emotional weight of last season's tragic casualties.
A major fan-favorite character was shockingly killed off in the recently aired fourth episode of the second season of X-Men '97.
Fans have been praising the hit Marvel animated show's sophomore chapter for raising the stakes for the mutant superheroes in their adventures across different timelines. Considering that the first season had some twists and turns and even featured the death of a main character, they are wondering whether the new season will offer the same.
Now, another one has bitten the dust and followed the footsteps of Gambit.
SPOILER WARNING: This article includes spoilers for the fourth episode of X-Men '97 season 2, so proceed with caution.
Which Fan-Favorite Character Dies in X-Men '97 Season 2 Episode 4?
Magneto was shockingly killed off in the fourth episode of X-Men '97 season 2, titled "Rise of Apocalypse Part 2."
During their final battle, a newly powered-up Apocalypse, wielding what looked like the Celestial's Power Stone from within the pyramid, proved just how dangerous he was by executing Magneto right in front of a helpless Professor X.
Although Magneto willingly risked his life to close Apocalypse’s black hole, it wasn't the cosmic anomaly that killed him. Instead, the villain grabbed the weakened mutant by the head, lifted him up, and obliterated him.
It's a shocking moment as we did not expect the fan-favorite character to perish this early in the season, and there is no indication that it will be a fake-out. His death was a massive blow that completely rewrote the X-Men's hierarchy, and also tragic for Charles Xavier, who had been making amends with him and witnessed the tragedy right in front of his eyes.
This reminded fans of Gambit's death in the first season during the genocide in Genosha, which was also a shocking moment considering that he is a fan-favorite and changed the trajectory of the series afterwards.
The question now is whether the series will manage to resurrect Magneto in the future. After all, we have seen the characters use a time travel device, and that could pave the way for them to bring back a version of Magneto.
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.
New episodes will be released weekly every Wednesday on Disney+.
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