X-Men ‘97 season 2 focuses on Apocalypse, the world’s first Mutant who uses his incredible power and immortality to cause trouble across the Marvel timeline. Beyond his personal strength and access to Celestial technology, one of the things that makes Apocalypse such a terrifying foe are his allies. No matter what era he’s operating in, Apocalypse likes to round up a quartet of powerful mutants and turn them into Horsemen, which typically involves a mix of brainwashing and enhancing their powers through physical modifications.

X-Men ’97 season 2 is no exception, and the first episode introduces us to a brand-new squad of Horsemen who may seem unfamiliar, even to long-time X-Men fans. Here’s what you need to know about the new mutant Horsemen working for Apocalypse in season 2. We’ve also provided a primer on the other mutants who have served Apocalyse in the show’s continuity — and those he might try to turn to his cause in the future.

Who are Apocalypse’s Horsemen in the far future?

Season 2 of X-Men ‘97 opens in 3969 AD, with the X-Men joining a group rebelling against Apocalypse’s control. That fight puts them up against a version of the Horsemen who look very different from the ones that appeared in X-Men: The Animated Series. This group is known as the Final Horsemen, and they were introduced in the 2011 Uncanny X-Force: The Apocalypse Solution arc.

Image: Marvel Comics

The Final Horsemen are powerful mutants Apocalypse gathered from across time and space to act as his last line of defense. In the comics, they work to resurrect their master in a new body and protect the child version of Apocalypse from X-Force. Their members are:

• Ichisumi, aka Pestilence: A geisha from 1833 Japan with the power to control insects.
• Decimus Furius, aka War: A Roman gladiator whose mutation makes him look like a minotaur and gives him superhuman strength and toughness.
• Jeb Lee, aka Famine: A Confederate spy who plays his drums to power a sonic attack that strips the flesh from anyone who can hear it.
• Sanjar Javeed, aka Death: A Persian prince who spreads disease with a touch.

Who were the Horsemen in X-Men: The Animated Series?

Image: Fox Kids

X-Men: The Animated Series had the X-Men face off against the original Horsemen of Apocalypse, first introduced in X-Factor in 1987. That group featured:

• Plague aka Pestilence: A Morlock with the power to spread disease
• Abraham Kieros aka War: A former soldier who could make explosions by clapping
• Autumn Rolfson aka Famine: A young woman with the power to cause organic matter to rapidly decay
• Angel aka Death: A former member of the X-Men who was brainwashed and had his feathered wings replaced with steel ones.

You can expect some of these Horsemen to pop up in the sections of X-Men ‘97 set in the ‘90s.

What other mutants might join Apocalypse’s Horsemen?

Image: Marvel Studios

Apocalypse’s obsession with recruiting the most powerful mutants means he often sets his sights on members of the X-Men. Wolverine has been turned into Death, which could be a way for him to get his adamantium skeleton back after Magneto ripped it out in season 1. Gambit has also been Death, and given that season 1 ended with a post-credits scene showing Apocalypse standing in the wreckage of Genosha and looking at one of Gambit’s playing cards, there’s a very good chance he’ll be resurrected to fill that role. Magneto’s daughter Polaris has been Pestilence, and she appeared in the trailers for the new season.

Whoever Apocalypse is working with, the X-Men will be doing their best to stop his schemes to take over the world in the past, present, and future.