After starting up just a few months ago, X-Men ’97 wrapped up its big return season this week, and it certainly did so with a bang.
With the release of the episode Tolerance is Extinction, Pt. 3, the last part of the finale managed to squeeze in at least a couple more Marvel vs. Capcom references that fans quickly picked up on.
Before getting into any spoilers for the season / episode, it looks like Cyclops was the one to get the extra love this time around.
The first callback to MvC was Scott Summers crossing his arms crossing his arms before shooting off an even larger blast just like he does for his Mega Optic Blast Hyper Combo in the fighting games.
Another MvC reference in the last episode of X-Men ’97. This show made my goat cool again!
Thank you and great job David Maximo, @MarvinBritt4 and @TheChaseConley! pic.twitter.com/B1zjxJt3KC
— Fighting-Games Daily (@FGC_Daily) May 15, 2024
This was confirmed by storyboard artist Marvin Britt, who claims this was a special touch from Marvel Studios storyboard director, David Maximo.
Moreover, Britt also gave further confirmation that the Rogue dive kick from a few weeks back was also a X-Men vs. Street Fighter reference put in the show by keyframe animator Matthew B — who previously posted that he mained Cyclops on his team in MvC2 too.
This was a David Maximo note! He’s a MVC fan and inserted the moves any chance he could https://t.co/GLZFcfqAzI
— Marvin Britt (@MarvinBritt4) May 15, 2024
There’s at least one more Mahvel fan on the team too with storyboard artist Marvin Madrid saying that he wanted Cyclops’ blast when he removes his mask to emulate the fighters, which looks to be another point back to the Mega Optic Blast.
That was @MatthewB64. I was the odd one out, that wasn’t obsessed with MVC.
— Marvin Britt (@MarvinBritt4) May 16, 2024
X-Men ’97 has served as something of a love letter not only to the cartoon but the series and its characters as a whole.
Absolutely wanted to make this emulate MVC https://t.co/AcM3ZlTxgs
— Marvin Madrid (@marvinnator_) May 15, 2024
Even some of the other classic X-Men arcade games got directly referenced aside from MvC this season as well as the infamous Mango Sentinel.
It may not exactly help boost the odds much of a brand new Marvel vs. Capcom game coming into fruition in the near future, but it is nice to know there’s some big fans of the fighting games at Marvel Studios behind the scenes.
Hopefully, this passion can carry over into another season of X-Men or perhaps another revival like the ’90s Spider-Man cartoon too.
