X-Factor Returns in Exclusive X-Men ’97: Season Two Comic Preview

While we’re still waiting for confirmation of a release date for the second season of the animated series X-Men ’97, we do know that Marvel Comics will debut the prelude comic X-Men ’97: Season Two in June. That book is designed to bridge the gap between seasons of the show, revealing how the world reacts to the sudden absence of Professor Xavier and his team.

IGN can exclusively reveal a new preview of X-Men ’97: Season Two #1. Get a closer look in the slideshow gallery below:

As the preview shows, with the world suddenly facing a dearth of mutant protectors, it will fall on another team of mutant heroes to step up and fill the void. Forge and his X-Factor team are back in action, ready to lend a hand to Bishop, Jubilee, and Sunspot.

X-Men ’97: Season Two is written by Steve Foxe and illustrated by Salva Espin, both of whom worked on the original X-Men ’97 comic. The first issue features cover art by Todd Nauck. Here’s the official logline for the series:

Extinction-day has come and gone, and your favorite X-Men are lost in time! Spinning out of the X-Men ’97 hit TV series, we follow the X-Men left behind in a world that hunts and hates mutantkind! Can they survive? And just where – or when – are the X-Men now?! Leading directly from the end of season one to the start of the upcoming season 2, no X-MEN ’97 fan can miss this one!

X-Men ’97: Season Two #1 will be released on June 3, 2026. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.

While the animated series doesn’t have an official return date, we do know that it’s making its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival in June, suggesting the series will be back on Disney+ sometime this summer. For now, check out IGN’s full review of X-Men ’97 Season 1 and our breakdown of the shocking ending.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.