The second season of X-Men '97 is revisiting a longstanding subplot involving two brothers separated by circumstances. Havok, who has joined the X-Factor team, is revealed to be Cyclops' younger sibling, setting up a confrontation that originated nearly three decades earlier. The characters' first encounter occurred during a 1995 episode of the original animated series, where they fought without awareness of their familial bond.

When the two brothers initially clashed in that mid-1990s episode, their mutant abilities—which possess matching energy signatures—cancelled each other out during combat. The new season capitalizes on this dormant storyline, providing an opportunity for character development that was never realised during the original series' run. The reintroduction suggests the show intends to address the long-deferred family reunion and emotional resolution between these characters.