The first reviews for X-Men ’97 Season 2 are in, and Marvel Animation looks like it has another winner.
The revival’s second season has debuted at a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes across its first 13 critic reviews, ahead of the July 1 premiere on Disney+.
The score is impressive, but the real hook is what critics are praising.
Several say Season 2 improves on the first, with Apocalypse singled out as one of the best versions of the villain the franchise has ever delivered.
Here’s what the reviews are saying, and why one number still matters more than the early critic score. (Our own verdict is in too — we gave the three-episode premiere a perfect 10/10.)
The Perfect Score Comes With A Caveat
The 100% is real, but it comes with context.
Critics have only seen the first four episodes of the nine-episode season, so the score reflects an early sample, not the full run.
Still, it’s a strong start. Season 1 finished at 99% with critics and 91% with audiences, so Season 2 is opening slightly higher with reviewers. The question now is whether it can hold once all nine episodes are out and fans start weighing in.
Critics Say Season 2 Goes Bigger
The main takeaway from the early reviews is pretty clear: Season 2 doesn’t just keep pace with the first season. Several critics say it tops it.
Mama’s Geeky’s Tessa Smith wrote that “Season 2 somehow tops Season 1,” while praising the visuals, score, and performances.
Polygon’s Jake Kleinman said there is no drop-off in the animation, action, or voice work that made the revival take off.
IGN’s Jesse Schedeen also wrote that the show “remains as thrilling as ever in the first four episodes,” pointing to its mix of nostalgia and character drama.
The early consensus is simple: the pieces that made X-Men ’97 work are still there, and critics say the show comes back sharper.
Apocalypse Finally Gets His Due
If one character is driving the early praise, it’s Apocalypse.
Season 1 teed up his arrival, and critics say Season 2 pays it off. GamesRadar+’s Lauren Milici wrote that “season 2 does Apocalypse better than the live-action X-Men: Apocalypse movie,” while ComicBook.com’s Simon Gallagher said the season “delivers a great story worthy of the villain.”
Other reviews, including Tell-Tale TV’s Chris Gallardo, point to the emotional stakes around Apocalypse’s arc. More than one critic also warns that Season 2 gets darker and more devastating as it pushes the X-Men into a much bleaker chapter.
The “Less Preachy” Note
Beyond the action and Apocalypse praise, one quieter note also stands out: some critics see a shift in the writing.
RIOTUS critic Julian Lytle came away preferring the Season 2 scripts, writing that compared to Season 1 “they feel less preachy and, at least for my taste, take fewer liberties” with the comics being adapted.
It points to a possible tonal adjustment for the revival, and it’s one we dig into more in our companion piece, Is Marvel’s Woke Era Over? X-Men ’97 Season 2 Is the Latest Sign.
As for who’s responsible for the shift, we break down how much of Season 2 is actually DeMayo’s here.
The Audience Score Is The Real Test
For all the early hype, the number to watch isn’t the launch-day critic score. It’s the audience score once the full season is out.
Season 1’s fan score trailed the critic score by a noticeable margin, and Season 2 is reportedly a darker, higher-body-count story built around Apocalypse’s rise. A swing like that can split fans even when critics are fully on board.
A perfect 100% from 13 reviews is a strong opening statement. The real test comes when all nine episodes land and the audience gets the final word.
X-Men ’97 Season 2 premieres July 1 on Disney+.
