Movies - TV
The Goblin Queen (AKA Madelyn Pryor) In X-Men ‘97 Explained
By DEVIN MEENAN
In “X-Men '97” episode 2, “Mutant Liberation Begins,” a Jean Grey duplicate appears at the X-Mansion, shocking the X-Men. Episode 3, “Fire Made Flesh,” explores this further.
Jean is unveiled as a clone, crafted by Mister Sinister when he held the original captive. Beast confirms the original Jean by analyzing their cells' age.
Sinister's plan involved combining Cyclops and Jean's DNA to create the ultimate mutant, resulting in the birth of Nathan, their son. Meanwhile, the clone tricks her fellow X-Men.
The Jean duplicate declares herself as the Goblin Queen, wearing a new black costume and wielding enhanced psychic powers. She then attacks them individually but simultaneously.
Madelyne Pryor's origins in the comics are intricate. Introduced in "Uncanny X-Men" #168, she resembles Jean Grey and eventually becomes involved with Cyclops.
Initially intended as a replacement for Jean, Madelyne's fate takes a dark turn in the crossover event “Inferno,” where she aligns with demonic forces as the Goblin Queen.
While the comic depicts Madelyne as a clone of Jean, the animated adaptation goes further to portray her as a fully realized character with her own struggles and motivations.