The attack on Genosha began suddenly in X-Men '97 episode 5 after an interesting tease concerning who may have been behind the incident. The mutant Cable appeared to his mother, Madelyne Pryor, warning her of the impending attack by the Sentinels. This could hint that Apocalypse is behind the attack, given Cable's opposition to the villain in Marvel Comics, teasing a major storyline for future episodes and even X-Men '97 season 2's story. Another possible perpetrator is Cassandra Nova, the evil twin of Professor X.

In Marvel Comics, Cassandra Nova unleashes an army of Sentinels against Genosha in a bid to exterminate all mutants, with his story potentially being referenced as an X-Men '97 episode 5 Easter egg. Two other potential villains behind the assault are Henry Gyrich and Bolivar Trask, who birthed the Sentinel program in X-Men: The Animated Series. Finally, another possibility is that Apocalypse, Nova, Gyrich, and Trask are all working together toward the common goal of defeating the X-Men. Regardless of who sanctioned the Genosha attack, it left several X-Men '97 characters dead, implying a tragic end to the season.

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Are Those X-Men Legends Really Dead In X-Men '97's Brutal Episode 5?!

X-Men '97's latest episode just killed off countless mutants, including two of the most famous names in X-Men lore. But will the brutal deaths last?

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12 Banshee

Incinerated By The Wild Sentinel

Just before Nightcrawler saves Magneto and Rogue, they are accompanied by Banshee. As the Sentinels lay waste to Genosha around them, Banshee is shown attempting to flee the battlefield, saving another wounded Genosha resident. Banshee gets the attention of Rogue, telling her and Magneto to get to the gardens of the palace for safety. Unfortunately, Banshee's attempts at saving Rogue are cut short by a blast by the Wild Sentinel.

As he is imploring Rogue and Magneto to escape, a Sentinel blasts Banshee out of the sky. Unlike Nightcrawler - who survided his injuries - Banshee is not seen again at all in X-Men '97 episode 5. While commonly-known rules of TV state that unless a dead body is shown, there is always room for a revival in the story, Banshee was unfortunately killed.

11 Marrow

Died Alongside Banshee

As the Wild Sentinel attacks, it appears that Banshee is attempting to fly Morlocks member (at least in the comics Age of Apocalypse run) Marrow (otherwise known as Sarah Rushman). The mutant is able to change her skeletal structure to create weapons and organic shields. Unfortunately, she was clearly taken by sirprise and was unable to protect herself from the Sentinel attack, and was then killed as Banshee attempted to fly her to safety.

10 Moira MacTaggert

Killed Off-Screen

In the same area where Callisto was shown dying - the same place Nightcrawler took Rogue and Magneto to - a handful of other X-Men '97 characters are shown on stretchers, bleeding and mostly unconscious after the first wave of attacks. Among them, Moira MacTaggert is shown still and with her eyes closed. Sadly, Beau DeMayo confirmed on X.com that the key mutant/human alliance advocate and expert didn't make it and is indeed dead:

9 Squid-Boy

Killed Off-Screen

The final character who perished in X-Men '97 episode 5 is Squid-Boy. Alongside Dazzler, Sebastian Shaw, and Moira, Squid-Boy was shown lying unconscious on a stretcher. Like the others, he appears to have succumbed to his wounds and died in the attack by the Sentinels. Unlike characters like Madelyne, Sebastian, and Moira, Squid-Boy is less integral to the overall story of X-Men '97 meaning his death is less impactful, but tragic all the same.

8 Dazzler

Killed Off-Screen

Another character in X-Men '97 episode 5 who is shown unconscious after the initial blast is Dazzler. Dazzler was seen prior to the Sentinel attack showing off her powers while dancing with Nightcrawler and some other mutants. Dazzler wasn't as lucky as Nightcrawler, as Beau DeMayo confirmed on X.com that she is indeed dead.

7 Sebastian Shaw

Killed Off-Screen

Like Moira, Sebastian Shaw is shown lying unconscious on a stretcher in X-Men '97 episode 5. Though Shaw's mutant powers could enable him to survive, since he can take vast amounts of energy and convert it into physical strength, he too was killed. His body is shown lying next to Dazzler. At least some of Hellfire Club representatives in Genosha were killed off, though there's no confirmation on Emma Frost, who doesn't appear among the casualties but is uned for by the end of the episode.

6 Callisto

The Morlock Leader Died On Screen

Aside from the deaths of Gambit, Magneto, and the Morlocks, the other most obvious death befell Callisto. As the X-Men are shown regrouping from the first attack, Callisto is shown lying on a stretcher. While this implies that she is only injured, a close-up of her face is shown. This close-up lingers on Callisto's eye, with her pupil constricting before the action returns to Magneto, Gambit, and Rogue.

In animated properties, the constriction or dilation of pupils is often used to symbolize when a character has died. It seems that this is also the case for Callisto, who is not seen alive after this shot in X-Men '97. Callisto's death is as tragic as any other of the mutant lives lost in the massacre of Genosha, though it may hit harder for those familiar with X-Men: The Animated Series. Callisto was a minor albeit sympathetic character in the original show, making her fate in X-Men '97 that much harder to take.

5 Madelyne Pryor

Cable's Mother Perished In The First Wave

While her body is not seen in X-Men '97 episode 5, Madelyne Pryor's fate has subsequently been confirmed after the episode's airing. Beau DeMayo responded to X-Men fan questions to say she was vaporized as the Wild Sentinels attacked, just after she received Cable's tragic warning. Considering her prominence in the early storylines of X-Men '97, it's a shock to see her killed off before the love triangle between Jean, Cyclops, and herself is resolved.

4 Magneto

The New Leader Of The X-Men Is No More

As alluded to, Rogue's anger against the giant Sentinel is what led to Gambit's eventual demise in X-Men '97 episode 5. What makes this even more tragic for Rogue is that it was Magento's seeming death that spurred her rage. Shortly before Gambit's attack on the Sentinel, Magneto is shown defending the Morlocks. Magneto is shown as the primary target of the Sentinel due to his Omega-level powers, endangering the Morlocks. For a while, Magneto successfully repels the Sentinel's blast before muttering the words "Do not be afraid" in German.

The Sentinel then breaks through Magneto's barrier, causing a major explosion. The new leader of the X-Men is not seen again in the episode, with the Sentinel seemingly confirming his death by stating the Omega-level threat has been eliminated. This death will likely have major ramifications for X-Men '97 season 1's story, as Magneto can seemingly no longer lead the X-Men. This may push Cyclops back into a leadership role, or lead to a storyline in which Magneto is resurrected to continue Charles' fight.

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3 Leech

The Young Morlock Died Holding Magneto

As alluded to, Magneto's sacrifice in X-Men '97 episode 5 links to the Morlocks. The Morlocks have long been part of the animated X-Men universe, from their repeated appearances in X-Men: The Animated Series to their continuation in X-Men '97. In X-Men '97 episode 5, the Morlocks were shown living peacefully in Genosha, meaning they were also at the center of the Sentinel attack.

After Gambit saves the Morlocks, Magneto tries to shield them from the Sentinel's attacks. However, Magneto's failure to withstand the Sentinel which resulted in his own death means the same for the Morlocks. The explosion and ensuing chaos likely resulted in the death of the characters, marking another group of characters from X-Men: The Animated Series whose story met a tragic end.