Marvel Animation's X-Men '97 Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+. Marvel Studios marked the July 31 release with a new nine-second video centered on Nightcrawler.
The clip follows the blue mutant as he teleports through a rush of purple smoke. The X-Men '97 logo identifies Season 2, and Disney+ branding appears beside it.
Where the animated series picks up
X-Men '97 continues the world of the 1992-97 X-Men: The Animated Series, with Professor Charles Xavier's mutant team facing threats from people who fear and target mutants. Season 2 follows the revival's first season, but viewers can go in without a summary of its cliffhangers here.
The cartoon draws from decades of Marvel Comics without copying any single storyline beat for beat. Its version of the team has already mixed familiar comic conflicts with a continuity built for the animated series.
Nightcrawler's comic history
Nightcrawler is Kurt Wagner, a teleporting mutant and longtime X-Men member. His blue skin, tail and glowing eyes give him a demonic appearance, but Marvel's comics usually write him as one of the team's warmest and most thoughtful heroes.
The release video gives Nightcrawler the spotlight without explaining his Season 2 role. Comic history offers background, not a promise that the animated story will follow the same path.
References: the Marvel Studios Season 2 announcement, Marvel's X-Men '97 series page and the official X-Men character guide.
Image: Marvel Studios.