Graduation Day (X-Men)


Graduation Day is the series finale of the animated series, X-Men. It originally aired on September 20, 1997.

Plot

At a Mutant/Human Relations Summit, Henry Peter Gyrich attacks and cripples Professor Xavier with a psychic energy disrupter, and subsequently gets arrested. The X-Men and Moira MacTaggert try to save Xavier, but all seems lost. They need help to try to contact the Shi'ar, who would be able to provide a cure, but they lack the power to do so. They decide to search out Magneto, who they believe can help Xavier send a psychic message to the Shi'ar in his weakened state.
Magneto, meanwhile, is preparing a mutant uprising on the island of Genosha in order to overthrow the humans once and for all, as he considers Gyrich's actions as a signal that it is time to do or die. The X-Men arrive just in time to speak to him before he gives the word to the crowds of mutants awaiting his leadership and tell him of Xavier's critical state. He is conflicted between either saving the life of his "worst enemy, and perhaps only friend" and leading the mutants to victory. In the end he caves in and returns with the X-Men to use his magnetic powers to help Xavier send his psychic message. It is successful, and Xavier awakens just in time to thank Magneto and tell each of his X-Men individually how proud he is of all of them before apparently passing away.
Lilandra comes and has a cure, but Professor Xavier must leave with her and go to the Shi'ar Empire to be cured, unable to return. He bids one last farewell to his X-Men. The last scene ends with all of the X-Men standing outside as they watch Lilandra's ship blast off into space.

Continuity