Ending Alt 4935: Askani

Alt 4935:  C+

Let's recap. Rachel Summers emerges from the timestream 2,000 years in the future where she learns that Apocalypse has won and now ruthlessly rules North America. She forms a resistance movement called the Askani (for "outsider") and spends a few years preparing her followers to go back in time to grab and save baby Nathan shortly after he contracts the Techno Virus (back in X-Factor #68).

Apocalypse's forces led by the prelate Ch'Vayre attack the Askani cloister knowing that the baby has arrived. The Askani make a clone of the baby just in case Nathan dies, but in the historic assault, Ch'Vayre takes the clone thinking it is the real baby. Rachel retrieves Cyclops and Phoenix to protect and train baby Nathan as his foster parents Slym and Redd.

Apocalypse reveals his plans to use the baby to host his body when it is mature enough. Ch'Vayre has a crisis of faith since the young boy, Stryfe, has become cruel and destructive. This is not part of the "survival of the fittest" he grew up with, so Ch'Vayre joins Cyclops and Phoenix in bringing down Apocalypse.

Slym and Redd return to their own time, and Nathan continues to have adventures with his new friends and allies. The New Canaanites take over for Apocalypse and are also interested in destroying the Askani. Nathan becomes Cable, leader of Clan Chosen before his "first appearance" in New Mutants #86.

As I mentioned when we started Alt #4935, this is not my favorite alternative reality, but it does seem to tie up all the loose threads we've read in Era #5 and Era #6.

Two additional notes. I decided to place Cable: Blood and Metal into Era #6. After reading it, I realized it adds more to the main plot than it does to the Alt 4935. I also added a cover of X-Men: Books of Askani. This is an encyclopedia style issue describing each of the main characters and groups. The write-ups do not really add to the overall story, but the artistic renditions are fantastic.

X-Men: Phoenix (D): John Francis Moore and Pascal Alixe give us just enough to prevent this limited series from disappearing into obscurity.

The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (A-): Scott Lobdell and Gene Ha created a much better story than I originally gave them credit for. I was particularly drawn to the tragic crisis of faith suffered by Ch'Vayre.

Askani'Son (C): Jeph Loeb joins Scott Lobdell and Gene Ha in this sequel that does not meet the quality or depth of its predecessor.