X-Men ’97 Finally Brings the Brood to Life in a Chilling Tribute to James Cameron’s Aliens

After more than three decades of anticipation, Marvel has finally given the Brood their long-awaited full animated debut in X-Men ’97. The terrifying alien species takes centre stage in the latest Season 2 episode, "Weapon X, Lies, and DVDs," delivering one of the series' darkest storylines yet.

While the Brood briefly appeared as a virtual simulation in the original X-Men: The Animated Series during the 1990s, this marks their first proper on-screen adaptation, bringing one of Marvel's most dangerous extraterrestrial races to life in all its horrifying detail.

A Villain Fans Waited Decades to See

The Brood have long been among the X-Men's most iconic comic book adversaries, but their grotesque appearance and violent method of reproduction made them difficult to portray in children's animation during the original series.

According to former X-Men: The Animated Series director Larry Houston, the Brood were originally planned for an earlier episode before being replaced with a different alien race because of animation and broadcast restrictions at the time.

X-Men '97 finally removes those limitations, allowing the creatures to appear as they were originally envisioned in Marvel Comics.

A Clear Homage to James Cameron's Aliens

The latest episode also pays tribute to James Cameron's 1986 sci-fi classic Aliens.

Wolverine, Morph, Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike find themselves trapped inside an abandoned Weapon X facility overrun by the Brood, drawing obvious comparisons to Ripley and the Colonial Marines discovering the infested Hadley's Hope colony.

The similarities go far beyond visual references, with the Brood's parasitic life cycle closely mirroring that of the Xenomorphs. The episode even includes a nod to one of Aliens' most memorable lines, reinforcing the filmmakers' inspiration.

Comic Book References Reward Long-Time Fans

Beyond its cinematic influences, the episode also pays homage to classic X-Men comics.

One of the biggest callbacks references Uncanny X-Men #234, the famous storyline in which Wolverine becomes infected by the Brood, creating the terrifying "Broodverine." The adaptation recreates elements of that storyline while remaining accessible to newer audiences.

The episode continues X-Men '97's reputation for blending modern storytelling with faithful adaptations of classic Marvel comic arcs.

More Cosmic Threats Could Be on the Way

With the Brood now officially introduced, fans are already speculating about whether Marvel plans to expand the franchise's cosmic storylines in future episodes.

New episodes of X-Men '97 Season 2 continue to stream weekly on Disney+, while the official Marvel page for the series provides updates on upcoming episodes and cast announcements. For viewers unfamiliar with the Brood, Marvel's official character guide offers a deeper look at the alien species and its history within the X-Men universe.

The long-awaited arrival of the Brood not only satisfies a decades-old expectation among comic book fans but also demonstrates how X-Men '97' continues to honour both Marvel's comic book legacy and some of science fiction's greatest cinematic influences.