First episode in the series to have animation services provided by Tiger Animation (aka MOI Animation Studio) instead of Studio Mir (the latter still did the intro sequence though).
When Xavier & Gladiator ponder Shi'ar myths, Xavier likens Shi'ar cultural imperialism to Rudyard Kipling. Kipling was an English writer & poet and believed in the supposed righteousness of English cultural supremacy. He popularised the notion of the "White Man's Burden" to "civilize" cultures regarded as inferior.