X-Men '97 Merch Reveals Surprise Mutants In The Video Game Episode

X-Men '97 news has kept people on the edge of their seats for years. The latest surprise is a first look at the newly revealed 8-bit Funko Pops for the rumored video game episode.

Development for X-Men'97 has been in the works for years. Serving as a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series,this new series picks up where the old one left off and provides possibilities for universe expansions, which continues to be a major topic following the Disney/Fox merger. So, it’s no surprise that X-Men '97 merch, specifically collector's items like game-inspired Funko Pops, are being released to maintain the hype and solidify the show’s place in Marvel history.

Funko revealed the first look at Target's very '90s-channeling Funko Pops featuring five characters: Spiral, Roberto, Abscissa, Sauron, and Mojo. While super fans may be able to identify who’s who immediately, even in their 8-bit form, each character has such a significant role in the X-Men universe that they deserve their own introduction. The first spotlighted character is Spiral, better known as ‘Ricochet Rita’, a professional stunt woman who was turned into a six-armed sorceress by Mojo. Next is Roberto, better known as Sunspot, whose mutant powers manifested after taking a beating.

Abscissa is the twisted, alternate future version of Jubilee. She agreed to be Mojo's slave in exchange for him not destroying the universe. Sauron, whose supervillain history goes back to 1969, is Dr. Karl Lykos' alter ego and can absorb other people’s life force through touch. Mojo, considered one of the most evil characters in the X-Men universe, is a spider-legged monster that’s obsessed with enslaving the X-Men.

Besides the video game episode, the specifics of each character’s role are unclear. But, with their colorful backgrounds and deep-seated history within the X-Men universe, it’s safe to say that they may be part of more complex storylines and mature themes that might be featured in the episode. It’s still too early to tell