Shocking X-Men ’97 Villain Theory Comes To Life In Vibrant MCU Art

Summary

• X-Men: The Animated Series story artist Dan Veesenmeyer has brought one X-Men '97 villain theory to life in new art.
• One theory hints at Dr. Valerie Cooper actually being the mutant shape-shifter Mystique in disguise.
• Valerie Cooper and Mystique have clear connections in Marvel Comics, so X-Men '97 could confirm this theory.

Vibrant new MCU art brings to life one shocking villain theory, suggesting an enemy may have been hiding in plain sight throughout X-Men '97. As a revival of X-Men: The Animated Series, which previously ran for five seasons between 1992 and 1997, Marvel Studios Animation's X-Men '97 has featured several returning villains from the original series. So far, the X-Men have battled Bolivar Trask, the Friends of Humanity, Mister Sinister and Mojo, while also facing new villains, including the X-Cutioner, the Adversary and Madelyne Pryor's Goblin Queen. However, one iconic X-Men villain may have also been hiding in the background.
One major X-Men '97 theory suggests that United Nations official Dr. Valerie Cooper could actually be the mutant Mystique in disguise. While X-Men '97 is yet to provide confirmation, this theory has now been brought to life by previous X-Men: The Animated Series story artist Dan Veesenmeyer.
Veesenmeyer's art imagines Valerie Cooper transforming back into Mystique in vibrant detail. Mystique's mutant ability allows her to shape-shift into any form she desires, so while she hasn't officially been seen yet in X-Men '97's released episodes, it's very possible that Mystique could have been hiding in plain sight throughout the entire series.
Your browser does not support the video tag. Related Storm’s X-Men ’97 Transformation Supports Major X-Men Ending Rumors X-Men '97 episode 6 saw Storm get her powers back, and receive a brand-new, comic-accurate costume, giving weight to major X-Men '97 rumors. What Makes Us Think Valerie Cooper Is Mystique In X-Men ’97? Close Valerie Cooper is a new character for X-Men '97, adapted from Marvel Comics' Office of National Emergency liaison for mutant affairs Val Cooper. Voiced by original Jean Grey voice actor Catherine Disher, Valerie Cooper has appeared in several episodes of X-Men '97 as an official of the United Nations and ally to the X-Men. However, her proximity to the X-Men has led some to believe that she could be more closely connected to certain members than has been confirmed, and since Mystique is Rogue's adoptive mother, it makes sense that the mutant would want to keep tabs on her daughter.
X-Men '97's Jean Grey is now voiced by Jennifer Hale, who has voiced the likes of Black Cat, Ghost, Mary Jane Watson, Wolverine and the X-Men's Jean Grey, Carol Danvers' Ms. Marvel and Mantis in various animated Marvel projects since the 1990s.
Throughout X-Men '97, Valerie Cooper has appeared in the moments before tragedy strikes. Episode 2, in which Cooper attended Magneto's trial, saw Storm depowered during a battle with the Friends of Humanity, while Cooper's next appearance on Genosha heralded the Sentinels' attack in X-Men '97 episode 5. This could simply be coincidence, but eagle-eyed viewers may have also spotted Cooper's bright blue eyes shifting to a shade of yellow in moments of high stress, making them clearly reminiscent of Mystique's natural yellow eyes, suggesting the mutant may have replaced the United Nations operative prior to the start of X-Men '97.
There is precedence for this to happen in Marvel Comics, as Valerie Cooper previously oversaw Mystique's former Brotherhood of Mutants while the group was operating as the Freedom Force. After the X-Men villain Shadow King occupied Cooper's mind and tried to get her to shoot Mystique, Cooper instead shot herself, and while recovering, Mystique impersonated her to attempt to defeat the Shadow King. The connection between Valerie Cooper and Mystique is clear, so it would be a great choice to reveal this exchange having already happened prior to X-Men '97, bringing the popular shape-shifting villain back into Marvel's animated universe.
X-Men '97 AnimationAdventureActionSuperhero X-Men '97 is the direct continuation of the popular 1990s animated series X-Men: The Animated Series. Taking up where the third season left off, Marvel's revival brings back famous mutants such as Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, and Nightcrawler, who fight villains like Mr. Sinister, the Sentinels, and the Hellfire Club.
Release Date March 20, 2024 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Writers Beau DeMayo Source: Twitter