X-Men '97 Major Winter Soldier Connection Explained

Published Jul 17, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero. With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention. Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise. Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for X-Men '97 season 2, episode 5 X-Men '97 season 2 continues to prove itself as more than just a continuation of the original animated series. It's also a love letter to Marvel Comics as a whole. In the first five episodes alone, we've seen characters like Kang, Celestials, Captain America, Black Widow, and more characters connected to the wider Marvel Universe beyond the primary X-Men mythos. Keeping that in mind, X-Men '97 season 2 episode 5 continues the exciting ties with a critical return of Weapon X, featuring several Easter eggs and references to established Marvel Comics history. This includes a nod to Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier with a reference that is undoubtedly one of the episode's most exciting. While Logan's true mission is mainly focused on reclaiming the adamantium Magneto ripped from Wolverine's skeleton at the end of X-Men '97's first season, this new episode also takes the time to explore and tease the greater history of Weapon X and the greater shadow government program it was part of in the comics. Keeping that in mind, here's why the Winter Soldier reference in X-Men '97 season 2, episode 5 is so important. Weapon X's Winter Soldier Files in X-Men '97 Explained X-Men '97 season 2, episode 5 opens with Logan recruiting Morph and several former Weapon X/Team X operatives under the pretext of infiltrating an old Weapon X facility to eliminate Doctor Cornelius. However, Wolverine's true objective is to regain his adamantium claws. However, the group quickly encounters far more than they bargained for. Eventually, Wolverine and company discover that the entire facility has been overrun by an alien Brood infestation, forcing them to fight for survival. Amid their chaos, Morph, Sabretooth, and Lady Deathstrike find archived DVD recordings documenting various Weapon X agents and test subjects, including one in particular labeled "Winter Soldier". This is a major nod to the established comics history of Marvel's Earth-616. On the page, Bucky Barnes has a history with the Weapon Plus program, originally conceived in the aftermath of Project Rebirth (Steve Rogers' transformation via the Super Soldier Serum). From there, Weapon Plus branched into various offshoot programs trying to replicate and/or replace the process. Marvel · Mutant Profile Which X-Men Character Are You? “Mutation: it is the key to our evolution.” 🐺 Wolverine The Loner 🧠 Professor X The Visionary 🧲 Magneto The Survivor ACTIVATE CEREBRO → 01 Humans discover your mutant abilities. What do you do? ADisappear. Go off the grid before anyone can come after me — I don’t owe them an explanation BReach out calmly and try to have a dialogue — fear comes from misunderstanding, and I can help bridge that gap CMake a show of strength — they need to understand that mutants will not be hunted or controlled, ever NEXT → 02 Anti-mutant protesters surround a school full of young mutants. What’s your first move? AGet between the kids and the mob. If anyone raises a hand, they answer to me BAddress the crowd telepathically or publicly — show them the children are just scared kids, not threats CEvacuate the children to safety, then make the protesters deeply regret their choices NEXT → 03 A team of mutants needs a leader for a dangerous mission. What role do you naturally fall into? AI work alone, but I’ll take point — someone’s gotta make sure nobody gets killed BI coordinate the team, play to each person’s strengths, and keep morale steady CI lead from the front — my vision, my plan, my responsibility if it fails NEXT → 04 A powerful mutant threatens innocent humans. How do you respond? APut them down fast — talk later. Innocent people don’t have time for a debate BTry to reach them mentally — understand why they’re doing this and find a peaceful resolution COffer them a place at my side — their power is wasted on chaos when it could serve a greater cause NEXT → 05 A human politician offers to champion mutant rights — but has a shady past. What do you do? AGive them a chance — people can change, and this alliance could mean real progress for coexistence BI don’t trust politicians. Watch them closely, and the second they betray us, I’ll be right there CUse them — let them think they’re in charge while I control the narrative from behind the scenes NEXT → 06 What’s your biggest flaw? AI push people away — I’d rather be alone than risk losing someone I care about BI’m too idealistic — I keep believing in people even when the evidence says I shouldn’t CMy anger — once I commit to a path, I’ll burn everything down before I admit I was wrong NEXT → 07 Sentinels are hunting mutants in your city. What’s your move? AHunt the hunters — tear them apart before they find anyone else BCoordinate an underground network to hide and protect every mutant in the area CSeize control of the Sentinels — turn the weapons of oppression into instruments of liberation NEXT → 08 What do you believe about coexistence between humans and mutants? ACoexistence is a fantasy. Humans will always fear what they can’t control — mutants must secure their own future BI don’t care about the big picture — I protect the people I care about, and everyone else can sort themselves out CIt’s possible and worth fighting for — the dream of a world where humans and mutants live in peace is everything REVEAL MY MUTANT IDENTITY → Cerebro Scan Complete Your X-Men Identity 🐺 Wolverine (Logan) “I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do best isn’t very nice.” You’re the fierce loner who acts first and philosophises later — but beneath that adamantium-plated exterior beats a heart that cares far more than you’d ever admit. You’ve been burned enough times to distrust the world, so you keep people at arm’s length, yet you’d throw yourself into any fight to protect the ones who slip past your defences. You don’t need a cause or a manifesto — you just need someone worth fighting for. Like Logan, your greatest strength isn’t your claws or your healing factor; it’s the stubborn refusal to let the people you love face danger alone.Fierce Protective Resilient Untamed 🧠 Professor X (Charles Xavier) “Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.” You’re the visionary who sees the best in everyone — even when the world gives you every reason not to. Your greatest power isn’t telepathy; it’s an unshakeable belief that understanding and compassion can bridge any divide. You lead not through force but through hope, building bridges where others build walls. Some call you naive, but you know that real strength lies in extending a hand to your enemy. Like Charles Xavier, you carry the weight of a dream that most consider impossible, and you refuse to let it die.Visionary Empathetic Diplomatic Hopeful 🧲 Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr) “Peace was never an option.” You’re the survivor who learned the hardest lesson life has to offer: the world will not protect you, so you must protect yourself. Your conviction is unbreakable and your patience is terrifying — you’ll wait years to set the right plan in motion. You don’t hate humanity; you simply refuse to let your people be victims ever again. Every action you take, no matter how ruthless, is driven by a profound love for those who share your struggle. Like Erik Lehnsherr, you are both revolutionary and tragic — a leader forged in pain who will bend the world before it bends you.Resolute Strategic Ruthless Unyielding ↻ PLAY AGAIN While Bucky Barnes was brainwashed into becoming the Soviet Union's Winter Soldier, Logan became Weapon X, the program's tenth major iteration developed through Canada's Department K and the CIA. Beyond that, The Winter Soldier crossed paths with Wolverine more than once. Bucky even played an inadvertent hand in facilitating Logan's escape from the Weapon X program. Having been tasked by the Soviets to monitor and disrupt weapons programs in the West, Bucky secretly infiltrated Weapon X on their behalf, sabotaging the facility's security systems. This ultimately gave Logan the opening he needed to make his escape. However, Bucky and Logan's history is bigger and goes back even further. When Bucky was still brainwashed as the Winter Soldier, the duo faced off a handful of times. However, one of the darkest encounters was when the Winter Soldier was hired to kill Logan's pregnant wife, Itsu, before Wolverine joined the Weapon X program. Believing both his wife and unborn child had been murdered, Logan had no idea that his son had survived. As a result, Daken was secretly raised by the manipulative villain Romulus, who also had a significant role in Weapon X's creation. Will X-Men '97 Explore Bucky And Wolverine's Complicated Past? As exciting as this new Winter Soldier Easter egg is, we probably shouldn't expect Bucky to become a major player in future episodes of X-Men '97 season 2. The animated series already has plenty on its plate. Even so, acknowledging Bucky's existence does create some fascinating possibilities for future seasons, especially if it leads to threats like Romulus. Across the board, Logan and Bucky are among Marvel's most tragic heroes. Both were captured by shadow government programs, and both were brutally remade into living weapons. It's no wonder Marvel's most recent version of the Ultimate Universe continuity reimagined Logan as its Winter Soldier. While it remains to be seen if Bucky will actually make an on-screen appearance in X-Men '97's future, the reference alone (and its implications) is really cool on its own. New episodes of X-Men '97 season 2 release Wednesdays on Disney+ from Marvel Studios. Release Date March 20, 2024 Network Disney+ Directors Jake Castorena, Emi Yonemura, Chase Conley Writers Charlie Feldman, Anthony Sellitti, Beau DeMayo, JB Ballard Franchise(s) X-Men Creator(s) Beau DeMayo