X-Men '97 is charging into its second season with even more mutant mayhem, dazzling animation, and a time-travel twist that brings back one of Marvel's most formidable foes. After Season 1's cliffhanger scattered the X-Men across history, many landed in ancient Egypt circa 3000 B.C., where they encountered En Sabah Nur—the future mutant warlord Apocalypse. But as the episode "Rise of Apocalypse — Part I" reveals, Apocalypse isn't the only threat lurking in the sands. In a stunning reveal, Kang the Conqueror appears—but not as fans might expect.
This version of Kang goes by the alias Rama-Tut, a self-proclaimed pharaoh who commands a futuristic army in ancient Egypt. It's a direct lift from Marvel Comics, specifically the Rise of Apocalypse miniseries by Terry Kavanagh and Adam Pollina, where Rama-Tut tries to groom En Sabah Nur as his heir—only for the young mutant to rebel. By weaving Kang into the X-Men's timeline, the show reminds us of the epic potential Marvel once had for the character, especially given his time-traveling nature.
Rama-Tut: A Kang Variant with a Rich History
Rama-Tut isn't just a random alias—he's one of Kang's earliest identities in Marvel lore. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #19 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, clashing with Marvel's First Family. Later, in Avengers #8, Kang revealed that Rama-Tut was his younger self. Over the decades, Kang has battled heroes and his own variants, including the older Immortus and the heroic Iron Lad, who founded the Young Avengers.
Marvel Studios originally planned to make Kang the central villain of the Multiverse Saga, with Jonathan Majors playing He Who Remains in Loki and the main Kang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. That film's mid-credits scene teased Rama-Tut, Immortus, and the Scarlet Centurion working together—a storyline that was scrapped after Majors' legal troubles led to his dismissal. Marvel pivoted by bringing Robert Downey Jr. back as Doctor Doom for Avengers: Doomsday, but Rama-Tut's appearance in X-Men '97 hints at what could have been. For more on Marvel's shifting plans, check out our piece on Supergirl's box office struggles.
Voice Cast Connection to Star Trek
Fans with sharp ears will recognize Rama-Tut's voice: it's John de Lancie, best known as Q from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The casting is perfect, as both Q and Kang are time-and-space-hopping tricksters—though Q does it for amusement, while Kang seeks dominion. De Lancie joins other TNG alums in X-Men '97, including Gates McFadden (Mother Askani) and Michael Dorn (Baal). This crossover of sci-fi royalty adds another layer of nostalgia for fans of 90s television.
Rama-Tut's debut proves that Kang the Conqueror is still a villain worth exploring, even if he's no longer the MCU's main threat. With the X-Men now in the mix, there's plenty of room for Kang to reinvent himself—just as he does in the comics. Whether he faces off against the mutants or other heroes, his return in X-Men '97 is a thrilling reminder of Marvel's rich storytelling potential. For more on the show's cultural impact, see our article on X-Men '97's Dave's Hot Chicken collaboration.
As the season unfolds, viewers can expect more time-twisting drama, epic battles, and deep-cut comic references. X-Men '97 is proving that even in a crowded superhero landscape, the mutants still have plenty of surprises up their sleeves.
