X-Men ’97 Season 2: 15 Easter Eggs, Marvel References, & Cameos In Episode 4

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 4

X-Men ’97 season 2 continues to prove why it’s one of Marvel Studios’ best shows, delivering an action-packed fourth episode and continuing the intense arc set in Ancient Egypt and the origins of En Sabah Nur, the First Mutant and future Apocalypse. Likewise, the episode also features a collection of fun Easter eggs, references to the comics, and nods to the original X-Men animated series.

Picking up directly after the cliffhanger ending in X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 3, “Rise of Apocalypse: Part II,” the story remains in Ancient Egypt as the time-displaced X-Men clash against history itself, as Magneto leads the charge in trying to prevent En Sabah Nur from becoming the immortal tyrant Apocalypse, thereby creating a much brighter future (their present). However, changing destiny is much easier said than done, and the cost of even trying is quite high, as seen by the ending of X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 4.

Overall, the new episode is filled with cool connections for longtime Marvel fans to spot. Keeping that in mind, here are the biggest Easter eggs, Marvel references, cameos, and hidden details you may have missed in X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 4.

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Baal’s Death

Mirroring the original comics, En Sabah Nur’s adoptive father Baal loses his life just before the First Mutant embraces his destiny, becoming Apocalypse after being transformed by the advanced technology found on board the AI craft known as “Ship”, which was left behind by the Celestials.

En Sabah Nur’s Mother

While probing En Sabah Nur’s mind, Charles Xavier sees the First Mutant’s past when he was abandoned as an infant by his unnamed mother, rejected by his tribe for his appearance just as he was on the page.

Khonshu

Becoming a slave for Pharaoh Rama-Tut, the flashbacks to Nur’s past see the First Mutant raising multiple statues of what looks to be the Egyptian moon god Khonshu, patron deity of Moon Knight.

Eson The Searcher

A Celestial is shown calling out to En Sabah Nur and ultimately grants him power and technology from “Ship”, transforming him into Apocalypse with the promise that he will “bring an end to all things.” This is Eson the Searcher, the very same Celestial who granted Nur power in the comics, and the same Celestial who once wielded the Power Stone in the MCU as seen in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Seeing as how all Celestials and their variants across the multiverse share a tethered cosmic consciousness, X-Men ’97’s Eson and the MCU’s version are technically the same being.

Rama-Tut’s Cerebro

Using a device to mentally commune with Charles Xavier, Rama-Tut’s technology looks remarkably like an alternate version of Cerebro, the same device used by Professor X in the present to boost his telepathic abilities and seek out fellow mutants in need of aid.

“Nathaniel, Victor, Kang”

Rama-Tut confirms to Xavier that he has gone by many names, including “Nathaniel, Victor, and Kang“. Although Nathaniel Richards is the original name for the time-traveling despot, Victor Timely was the name he adopted during the 19th century, while Kang the Conqueror is the name Richards most often claims at the height of his power and attempts to claim dominion over the present. Likewise, nearly every major version of Kang/Nathaniel has been featured at some point in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.

Gamma Particles

Entering the lost temple featuring “Ship” and all the powerful technology, Beast confirms that he’s picking up trace amounts of gamma particles, the same radiation that resulted in Bruce Banner’s transformation into the Incredible Hulk.

The Eternal Shore

“I am the rocks of the eternal shore; crash against me and be broken!” is one of the most famous X-Men quotes from Apocalypse, first heard in the original animated series. Now, X-Men ’97 season 2, episode 4 reveals its origins and deeper meaning, having come from Eson the Searcher himself, while tasking En Sabah Nur with his new purpose as the ultimate end of everything.

Kang Classic

When Apocalypse begins his attack on Rama-Tut’s kingdom using “Ship” and his newly claimed power, the “pharaoh” flees to new time periods as he eventually does in the comics. However, it’s worth noting that his retreat on the page was also due to the interference of the time-displaced Fantastic Four as well. Nevertheless, we do get to see the villain don his classic armor and mask while powering up his golden Time Sphere.

X-Ternal

Leaving his advisor Candra to fend for herself with Apocalypse on the way, Kang cryptically tells her, “Your destiny starts today, for his power can only be challenged by a force that is…external.” While Candra is clearly confused, it’s a reference to her future in the comics and original X-Men animated series.

In the show, Candra becomes X-Ternal in the present-day 90s, ruling the Thieves and Assassins Guilds which Gambit was once a member of. In the comics, both Candra and Nur are both part of a small subspecies known as Externals, mutants who possess true immortality with the ability to regenerate and come back to life, and can only really be threatened by other Externals. As such, it seems as though X-Men ’97 intends to dive deeper into the subject of Externals in future episodes as a potential key to finally stopping Apocalypse for good.