Editor’s Note: The following article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 Season 2, Episode 6.
This week’s episode ofX-Men ’97, “Danger.EXE,” was a game changer in more ways than one. It finally sees Polaris (Carolina Ravassa) breaking free of X-Factor and rejoining the X-Men, while also accepting the legacy of her father, Magneto (Matthew Waterson). It has Charles Xavier (Ross Marquand) take the X-Men into a new era, as he turns over leadership of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters to Storm (Alison Sealy-Smith) and forms the international organization known as X-Corp so that he and the X-Men can protect mutantkind. But the most shocking moment comes in the final scene of “Danger.EXE,” and it involves the resurrection of a fan-favorite X-Men character.
At the end of “Danger.EXE,” Apocalypse resurrects Gambit (AJ LoCascio), transforming him into the Horseman of Death. This transformation is also marked by the return of Gambit’s iconic playing cards, which wrap around his body and transform into a deck of tarot cards. Gambit’s resurrection has been heavily teased throughout X-Men ’97, as the Season 1 finale featured Apocalypse taking one of his playing cards from the ashes of Genosha, while an upcoming episode of Season 2 bears the title “The Dead Man’s Hand.” Gambit’s origins as the Horseman of Death have their roots in the “Blood of Apocalypse” storyline by Peter Milligan and Salvador Larroca, which is one of the more obscure X-Men storylines.
Gambit Becomes The Horseman of Death During the ‘Blood of Apocalypse’ Storyline
Apocalypse transforms Gambit into the Horseman of Death in the ‘Blood of Apocalypse’ storyline. Art by Salvador Larroca.Image via Marvel Comics
The “Blood of Apocalypse” storyline might not be well-remembered by fans, even though it takes place in one of the darkest periods of X-Men history. After the House of Mstoryline, the Scarlet Witch reshaped reality so that only 200 mutants on the planet still had their powers. As a result, Cyclops split the X-Men into three teams: the “Astonishing” team that he led, the “Uncanny” X-Men with Storm, Bishop, and Nightcrawler, and a team led by his brother Havok that also featured Polaris, Gambit, and Rogue in its roster. “Blood of Apocalypse” finds Apocalypse seeking to lead mutantkind again, and turning members of the X-Men into his Horsemen. In addition to Gambit becoming Death, Polaris is transformed into Pestilence, while Sunfire is transformed into Famine.
Gambit’s transformation also marked a turning point in his relationship with Rogue, as the two were going through a rocky patch that wasn’t helped by her adoptive mother Mystique taking up residence at Xavier’s School for the Gifted. X-Men ’97 took a similar path, though Gambit and Rogue found themselves on the outs after he learned about her past relationship with Magneto. This eventually led to the siege of Genosha and Gambit’s death, breaking Rogue’s heart. Things are about to escalate now that Gambit’s back in the picture, and Marvel Animation head Brad Winderbaum delivered what’s probably the perfect quote to sum it up:
“There’s a lot of romance to go around. But these poor characters — they never get a break. But that’s why we love them. The soap opera and the family dynamics are very, very strong, exactly, and kind of keeping in line with the X-Men.”
Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
01
What drives you to do what’s right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
06
What’s your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
09
What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
‘X-Men ’97’ Continues A Major Tradition in Marvel’s TV Shows
If Gambit’s resurrection wasn’t already a big deal, the scene that precedes it definitely is. Prior to witnessing Apocalypse’s resurrection of Gambit, Uatu the Watcher’s silhouette can be seen in the starry night sky. Marvel Comics fans know that Uatu comes to bear witness to significant moments in history, and it’s a trend that’s been present in multiple Marvel shows. The Watcher appeared in X-Men ’97‘s devastating episode “Remember It,” which marked Gambit’s death; he also showed up in Daredevil: Born Again before Vanessa Fisk’s death and in the Season 1 finale of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Gambit’s return marks a big year for the Ragin’ Cajun, as he’s slated to play a major role in Avengers: Doomsdayand has his own comic book series, Gambit: Wanted, which is penned by legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont and made its debut this year. It seems like Remy LeBeau is getting dealt a new hand and a new lease on life.
