X-Men '97 is forging a unique path for series revivals by directly continuing the beloved 1990s X-Men: The Animated Series while integrating nearly three decades of subsequent X-Men comic lore. This approach allows the writers to selectively incorporate compelling plotlines and characters introduced between the original series' run and the present day, while also revisiting and resolving unresolved narrative threads from the animated show with new context. This season, that has led to a more complex portrayal of characters like Cable, and the latest episode offers significant insight into a minor villain who has long puzzled fans.
The X-Ternal's Debut and Mystery
The X-Ternal first appeared in the 1993 episode "X-Ternally Yours" of X-Men: The Animated Series. The episode focused on Gambit's origins within a powerful Louisiana thieves guild, revealing that these guilds draw power from a mysterious entity known as the X-Ternal in exchange for a tithe every ten years. The original series explored the guilds' schemes to avoid paying the tithe, leaving the X-Ternal's nature and origins largely unexplained.
Comic Connections and the Externals
The broader X-Men comics provided more background on this entity. The concept of the Externals was introduced in 1992's X-Force #10. This group consisted of powerful, immortal mutants, some of whom were linked to Apocalypse's schemes. The Externals share a psychic connection and can sense when one of their own is destroyed, which requires obliterating their heart. Later comic revelations established Apocalypse as an Eternal himself and the creator of some among them. Each Eternal also represents a specific concept; the X-Ternal, revealed to be named Candra, embodies guile, while Apocalypse is associated with evolution.
Candra's Backstory Revealed in X-Men '97
X-Men '97 has gradually woven Candra into its narrative. An earlier plotline set in Ancient Egypt featured a character identified as Candra in the credits, serving Pharaoh Rama-Tut (Kang the Conqueror) as a priestess. After Kang's departure and Apocalypse's rise to power, he advised Candra that her destiny lay in challenging Apocalypse with an "External" force.
The seventh episode of X-Men '97's second season delves into Candra's subsequent history through a flashback. It depicts her serving as a priestess, and possibly a romantic partner, to Apocalypse. He bestowed powers upon her using a gem that she still possesses. Candra eventually betrayed Apocalypse before traveling to America, where she assumed the persona of the swamp goddess encountered in the original animated series. This detailed backstory for Candra, the X-Ternal, exemplifies X-Men '97's method of merging the classic animated series with deep comic knowledge to create a richer narrative experience. X-Men '97 is available for streaming on Disney Plus.