Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Combined stills of Carl Denti/X-Cutioner in X-Men '97

X- Men ’97: Who Is the X-Cutioner?

X-Men: The Animated Series continuation show X-Men ’97 is finally here, and it brings with it a new foe for Marvel’s mutant superheroes to contend with: the X-Cutioner. So who is the X-Cutioner and why is he such a threat to X-Men ’97‘s titular team?

Recommended Videos

Related: X-Men ā€™97: Why a Different Actor Voices Cable, Explained

Who Is X-Men ’97’s New Villain, the X-Cutioner?

In X-Men ’97 canon, the X-Cutioner is Carl Denti, the leader of human supremacist group Friends of Humanity. Little else is revealed about Denti in the Disney+ show’s two-episode premiere, other than his hatred of mutants supposedly stems from them thinking they have a rawer deal than humans. Even so, we can infer aspects of his backstory from the handful of scenes he appears in. Take the jagged scars running across Denti’s face. These old wounds strongly imply he’s run afoul of a clawed mutant (maybe even Wolverine or Sabretooth) before. Then there’s the brutal beatdown Denti dishes out on Cyclops, which hints at a military or law enforcement background. Denti’s highly advanced X-Cutioner armor and arsenal back this up, as well.

Related: X-Men ā€™97: Why a Different Actor Voices Jean Grey, Explained

These are just educated guesses, though. Hopefully, X-Men ’97‘s eight remaining episodes will shed more light on the X-Cutioner’s motivations and history ā€“ not to mention his weaponry. We already know a bit about Denti’s Neutralizer rifle; Beast’s research has determined that its Inhibitor Collar-derived radioactive blasts are strong enough to strip mutants of their powers permanently. The exact origin and nature of Denti’s staff and protective gear remains a mystery, however. All we know is that both can withstand Cyclops’ optic blasts. But no matter where Denti’s kit came from, it ā€“ together with his formidable hand-to-hand combat skills ā€“ more than makes up for his lack of superpowers.

What Do We Know About the X-Cutioner From Marvel’s X-Men Comics?

While the X-Men ’97 incarnation of X-Cutioner remains shrouded in mystery, it’s possible his comic book counterpart could fill in the blanks. Both the cartoon and comic versions of the character are broadly similar, except for one key detail. Unlike in X-Men ’97, in the comics, Denti doesn’t head up Friends of Humanity. What’s more, his vendetta against mutants ā€“ while still rooted in prejudice ā€“ is more focused, too. The X-Cutioner only targets mutants he believes have committed murder and gone free.

Related: X-Men ā€™97: Why a Different Actor Voices Cyclops, Explained

But if we assume that X-Men ’97‘s X-Cutioner is otherwise unchanged, we can start filling in some of the above gaps. For starters, Denti’s comic book backstory frames him as a former FBI agent who was part of a superhuman-focused task force ā€“ explaining his fighting prowess. The X-Men comics also explain that Denti sourced his suit and weapons from his late FBI mentor’s stockpile of exotic hardware (including Shi’ar tech). This is why X-Cutioner packs so much more power than the average anti-mutant bigot.

X-Men ā€™97 is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes dropping Wednesdays.


The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.Ā Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Leon Miller
Leon Miller
Leon is a freelance contributor at The Escapist, covering movies, TV, video games, and comics. Active in the industry since 2016, Leon's previous by-lines include articles for Polygon, Popverse, Screen Rant, CBR, Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, PanelxPanel, Taste of Cinema, and more.