‘X-Men 97’: What you need to know about Madelyne Pryor after that crazy cliffhanger

Y’all wanted the drama? Oh, honey, you can count on the X-Men to bring the messiest drama in Marvel history. Disney+’s new series X-Men ’97 keeps the mutant franchise’s reputation of shocking — and confusing — reveals intact, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the end of Episode 2, “Mutant Liberation Begins.”

The second half of a two-part premiere, “Mutant Liberation Begins” spends the majority of its story on something else entirely: a harrowing January 6 allegory that establishes the new series as Marvel’s most no-holds-barred TV show to date. And then, when things finally calm down a little, the episode twists a twist like it’s never twisted before: Jean Grey rings the doorbell and falls into Morph’s arms. The problem? Uh, Jean Grey is already in the room — and she just delivered a baby hours earlier. If that’s not Jean Grey, then who is it?

If you’re asking yourself that question, might I suggest you hop in your car so you can buckle your seatbelt? You’re going to need to be strapped into something because, oh wow, are you in for one of the wildest rides in the entire X-Men canon. SPOILERS ahead, because we think we know where this story is headed.

Who is the Jean Grey double?

As mentioned above, “Mutant Liberation Begins” ends with the arrival of a Jean Grey on the doorstep of the X-Mansion. She’s disheveled, panicked, and begging for help from the X-Men as she faints into Morph’s arms. And honestly, the fact that she just fainted is a major indicator that she’s the real deal. And knowing how this whole storyline plays out in the comics, I think we can safely assume that this Jean Grey double is the real Jean Grey. Why? Because the other one, we’re pretty sure, is Madelyne Pryor.

Who is Madelyne Pryor?

On X-Men ’97, I have no idea. That story is yet to be told. But in the comics? Madelyne Pryor is a clone of Jean Grey and, more importantly, the mother of Nathan Charles Summers. Yeah, in the comics, she’s the canonical mother of the baby that we just saw be born in Episode 2.

So — wait, what? Nathan Charles Summers is the son of a clone?

Yes. Did you think Cyclops and Jean Grey were going to have a child and everything was going to go well? This is the X-Men! Now, this storyline has been retconned to hell in the comics, but here is how it originally played out.

X-Men #137 (Sept. 1980): Jean Grey, possessed by the Phoenix Force and driven mad with power, dies on the moon. Cyclops leaves the X-Men.

Uncanny X-Men #168 (Apr. 1983): While on leave from the X-Men, Cyclops, his brother Alex (a.k.a. Havok), and no-longer-estranged dad Christopher (a.k.a. Corsair) charter a plane to fly to Alaska to visit relatives. The pilot of that plane is none other than a woman named Madelyne Pryor — and she looks just like Jean Grey.

Uncanny X-Men #175 (Nov. 1983): Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor are married. Is it weird that he’s marrying a normal, human woman who looks just like his ex? Yes, but again, this is the X-Men. Nightcrawler was dating his foster sister at this time so, like, weird stuff is happening everywhere.

Uncanny X-Men #201 (Jan. 1986): Madelyne gives birth to their child, Nathan Christopher Charles Summers.

Fantastic Four #286 (also Jan. 1986): Oh — uh, the Avengers discover that the actual Jean Grey is chilling in a cocoon in the bottom of Jamaica Bay. Turns out, she’s been there for years — since 1976’s X-Men #101. The Jean Grey that died on the moon in 1980? That was the Phoenix posing as Jean Grey. This doesn’t, however, call Madelyne’s validity as an original human person into question. It absolutely wrecks her marriage, though, because Cyclops immediately ditches her for Jean.

Uncanny X-Men #241 (Feb. 1989): After spending a few years working with the X-Men as a human assistant/confidant/sidekick/pilot in Australia, Madelyne finally learns the truth: she is a clone of Jean Grey created by Mister Sinister in order to create the perfect mutant child, a child that he could use as a weapon against an even bigger threat: Apocalypse. Naturally, this sends Madelyne into a spiral as she becomes the all-powerful Goblin Queen, mistress of the underboob, destroyer of deadbeat dads. It’s intense.

Also — I really don’t want to bog this post down with even more of the X-Men’s heaviest continuity baggage, but… little baby Nathan grows up to be Cable. Yes, Cable.

How will all this Madelyne, Jean, Nathan, Scott, Sinister drama play out in the cartoon?

That remains to be seen. In the cartoon universe, all we know right now is that Mister Sinister has been obsessed with Cyclops and Jean Grey’s genes since the Season 1 finale of X-Men way back in 1993. We know that Jean Grey got pregnant between the end of the original series and the start of X-Men ’97. We know she gave birth to a baby named Nathan. And we know that another Jean Grey just showed up at the X-Mansion. It’s still possible that the cartoon could throw a wrench in the storyline and make Jean Grey the mother of Nathan… but, well, there’s a X-Men ’97 Madelyne Pryor/Goblin Queen action figure out in stores now so, that doesn’t seem likely.

We’ll likely learn more about this whole X-fiasco when X-Men ’97 returns on March 27 on Disney+.