In this week’s episode of X-Men ’97, “Tolerance Is Extinction, Part 2,” President Kelly drops an ominous-sounding term to Cyclops: he threatens to use the Magneto Protocols. But what are they? Here’s what you need to know from the Marvel Comics source material, as well as what it means (potentially) for the X-Men ’97 Season 1 Finale.
The term was first mentioned in Uncanny X-Men #304, the third part of the Fatal Attractions event. Written by Scott Lobdell with art by Terry Austin, Dan Green, Dan Panosian, Tom Palmer and Keith Williams, the 1993 comic returned Magneto to his villainous origins and pitted him against both the X-Men, and humanity.
Basically, they’re a series of satellites laying dormant across space. When activated by a joint decision between the United States, Russia, and S.H.I.E.L.D., they form a defensive perimeter around the Earth to prevent Magneto from attacking using his magnetic powers. Professor Xavier knew about The Magneto Protocols as well, and they were just one of many defensive measures against Magneto, in case he went bad or attacked humanity.
In Fatal Attractions, humanity activates the satellites… And naturally, this pisses off Magneto, who almost immediately destroys them. Unlike how on X-Men ’97 they’re potentially going to be activated in response to Magneto shutting down all power on the planet, the reverse was true in the comics. Magneto was so angry about humanity trying to keep him out of the planet — though the professed goal was to protect humanity, not provoke Magneto — he shut down power as a result… Leading to a confrontation on his floating base (Avalon in the comics, Asteroid M on the TV show), and Wolverine getting his skeleton ripped out.
This also led to Xavier shutting down Magneto’s mind, which itself led to the creation of the villain known as Onslaught… But I digress.
Anyway, as mentioned we’re probably seeing the same thing here on X-Men ’97, albeit in reverse. The Magneto Protocols could still be this series of satellites that provide protection from magnetic attack. And pure speculation, but if Magneto does end up comatose at the end of the season the way he does in the comics, it could be a pretty potent visual metaphor to see humanity locking him out in space thanks to the Magneto Protocols.
We’ll have to wait until next Wednesday to see how this rolls out, but there you go! Explained.
X-Men ’97 Season 1 Premiere Dates And Episode Guide:
X-Men ’97 doesn’t have a one-a-day schedule like What If…? Season 2, or all-at-once like Echo. Instead, the series is getting a more traditional release schedule of two on premiere day, then one a week thereafter.
The release time is also typical. Versus what has now become a run-of-the-mill primetime “early” release for big movies and TV shows, new episodes of X-Men ’97 will be released on Wednesdays at 3 am ET / Midnight PT.
Here’s the full list of episodes in Marvel’s X-Men ’97 Season 1, and when they premiere:
- Wednesday, March 20, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 1 – “To Me, My X-Men”
- Wednesday, March 20, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 2 – “Mutant Liberation Begins”
- Wednesday, March 27, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 3 – “Fire Made Flesh”
- Wednesday, April 3, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 4 – “Motendo / Lifedeath – Part 1”
- Wednesday, April 10, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 5 – “Remember It”
- Wednesday, April 17, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 6 – “Lifedeath – Part 2″
- Wednesday, April 24, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 7 – “Bright Eyes”
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 8 – “Tolerance Is Extinction, Part 1”
- Wednesday, May 8, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 9 – “Tolerance Is Extinction, Part 2”
- Wednesday, May 15, 2024: X-Men ’97 Season 1, Episode 10 – “Tolerance Is Extinction, Part 3” *Season Finale*
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