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Credit: Inside the MagicThis week, superhero fans were treated to the trailer for the long-awaited X-Men ’97, and there was much rejoicing amongst Disney+ subscribers. However, a new player has joined the team, and it might result in a tidal wave of controversy for Marvel Studios.
Many Marvel buffs would agree that the characters seen in the ’90s animated series mark the definitive X-Men team. Wolverine, Jean Grey,Cyclops, Storm, Gambit, Rogue, the Beast, and Professor Charles Xavier certainly made many of our Saturday mornings action-packed, but with a new series comes the need for new faces and new stories to tell.
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The core team still consists of those mentioned above, but some of the footage seen in the trailer below shows Bishop playing a supporting role alongside them. However, eagle-eyed viewers and comic book buffs might notice one new mutant in the mix that likely nobody suspected of getting an appearance anytime soon.
Graymalkin Joins the X-Men
The footage above demonstrates that the parties involved at Marvel Animation still remember the series’ comic book origins, as the trailer is absolutely saturated with popping ’90s style, but it also introduces a new element for a more current audience. Along with introducing the classic team members, the show also briefly shows a new member with a controversial history.
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The pale, hollow-eyed individual with pointy ears at the end of the trailer might not look familiar to those who grew up with the series, but attentive comic buffs might recognize him as the tragic Graymalkin from Marvel’s Young X-Men series. While not one of the franchise’s better-known characters, he may be joining this version of the X-Men as a representative for the LGBTQ+ community.
Who Is Graymalkin?
In the comic books, Jonas Graymalkin was a colonist in Revolutionary War-era New York before Xavier’s school was even founded, but his mutant abilities didn’t manifest until 200 years after his death. After his religious zealot father beat him to death and buried his body in the woods, Graymalkin’s abilities preserved him until Xavier’s students uncovered him after a sentinel attack.
Fueled by the absence of light, Graymalkin’s powers are strongest when he is in the dark, making his already impressive superhuman strength, agility, and sustenance ability even more remarkable. His struggle in the comics mirrors that of many in the LGBTQ+ community, making him a very relatable character to a whole demographic of viewers.
It should be stated that just because the figure seen in the screenshot above resembles Graymalkin physically, Marvel has neither confirmed nor denied his presence at this time. That said, it certainly fits the message of both the ’90s adaptation and the original comics.
Since their first appearance in Marvel comics during the rise of the civil rights movement, the X-Men have always been an allegory for oppressed and marginalized groups. While the times and social culture have changed, the message of the mutants has not, and Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters has remained one of the most inclusive institutions in modern fiction, and many will likely welcome Graymalkin with open arms.
Do you think Graymalkin will be the newest member of the X-Men? Tell Inside the Magic in the comments below!