Explained: Professor Xavier's return in X-Men '97
Since X-Men '97 first aired, fans have been curious about the absence of one major character that has been a staple of almost every mutant team. Charles Xavier, a prominent member of the team in X-Men: The Animated Series, the prequel series to X-Men '97, has been notably absent throughout this iteration, although he did make appearances in the intro.
However, new clues dropped in episode 6 ascertaining the reason behind his long absence. Professor Xavier is alive and well, and about to be married to his beloved, Queen Lilandra from planet Shi'ar. This decision, however, led to several complications that were explored.
Professor X shown to be happy with beloved in X-Men '97 episode 6
The ending of X-Men: The Animated Series saw Charles Xavier being fatally wounded by a Sentinel's bullet before Queen Lilandra arrived in her spaceship at the last moment. With his survival ensured only if he left Earth, Charles had no choice but to accompany Lilandra to her planet. Though X-Men '97 never confirmed this turn of events before episode 6, fans had been speculating that this was so.
The episode showcased Charles not only alive and well, but standing and walking with the help of mechanical legs granted by Shi'ar technology. Additionally, he was also shown to be engaged to Lilandra and was about to marry her, much to the chagrin of Lilandra and the other residents of Shi'ar who believed that people on Earth were inferior beings.
As such, Charles is asked to forget all memories of his team of X-Men and Earth. Charles is hesitant, causing Deathbird to stage a coup but Professor X manages to step in at the last moment to use his psychic powers to get into the minds of all present. However, as he does so, a shocking revelation strikes him, as well as the viewers.
Is Charles Xavier fated to return in X-Men '97?
With his powers often being vastly unpredictable, Charles' attempts to enter the minds of the extraterrestrials opens up to him a new vision. He receives a sudden psychic vision that warns him of the Sentinels' attack on Genosha, an event that had gone down in the last episode.
Charles' mind is wrecked with pain when he also sees a giant Gambit appear. This is ominous in hindsight as fans were privy to Gambit's seeming death at the hands of a Sentinel in the last episode. Knowing that his team needed him, Professor X decides to return.
X-Men '97 episode 6 might lead to significant storylines with Professor X
X-Men '97 episode 6 foreshadows the return of Professor Xavier to Earth, and taking up the mutants' command for the remainder of Season 1. This is hardly surprising from both an in-universe point of view, as the de-facto leader Magneto had disappeared in an explosion in the last episode, and also from the fanbase's point of view, considering the popularity of the character.
X-Men '97 is set to take new routes with the character of Professor X. Comic book storylines have featured many a conflict between the mutants and the extraterrestrials from Shi'ar. Whatever the case might be, viewers have likely not seen the last of Deathbird, aka Lilandra's sister yet. Deathbird has consistently been a recurring villain of Captain Marvel, so X-Men '97 might not shy away from the two superwomen squaring off against each other.