Era #7 Extra: Age of Apocalypse

Professor X is dead changing history by giving Apocalypse the opportunity and emerges as a new power. Without the X-Men to stop him, he succeeds in reshaping the world in his image. Magneto eventually forms the X-Men (in memory of his old friend) to protect the humans from the new tyrannical mutant rulers.

The Age of Apocalypse takes over X-Men Universe for four months that we will be covering later as part of Alt 295 post:

• Cable  ⇒  X-Man 
• Excalibur  ⇒  X-Calibre
• Generation X  ⇒  Generation Next
• Uncanny X-Men  ⇒  Astonishing X-Men
• Wolverine  ⇒  Weapon X
• X-Factor  ⇒  Factor X
• X-Force  ⇒  Gambit and the X-Ternals 
• X-Men (v2)  ⇒  Amazing X-Men

The normal continuity resets with X-Men Prime.  It has been two weeks since Legion Quest, and we get plenty of foreshadowing of upcoming stories:

• The big kiss between Gambit and Rogue had a lasting effect on the two lovers. It puts Gambit into a coma. Rogue absorbed his memories and has a difficult time processing what she saw.
• Wolverine lives outside of the X-Mansion until Sabretooth is gone. He is also concerned that he is loosing his humanity since loosing the adamantium from his bones (back in X-Men (v2) #25)
• Sabretooth's behavior has been radically altered (to the point of appearing lobotomized) after Wolverine's claw punctured his brain.
• Trish Tilby reports about the Legacy Virus. It is the first time the public has heard about the the mutant disease -- and that a human (Moria MacTaggert) has also been infected. Beast reaches out to his former girlfriend to express his disappointment. People will begin to panic making things worse for mutants.
• A young man races across the country to reach Professor X. He is a mutant who wants help with his power, but humans afraid of the Legacy Virus find him. The X-Men must try to save him before it is too late. 
• A new new threat emerges in the Morlock Tunnels -- Marrow and Gene Nation.  
• Four characters escaped the Age of Apocalypse to become part of the regular continuity: 
• Dark Beast (responsible for the creation of many of the Morlocks)
• Holocaust (encased in crystal and found in space by the Acolytes) 
• Sugar Man (who we learn was responsible for the Genoshian mutate bonding process)
• X-Man (whose title continues to run).
• X-Force learns that their new Muderworld headquarters was rigged with explosives by its original owner and designer, Arcade. They need to find a new base of operation.

Era #7, Part 16: Legion Quest

Grade: B

There is an ethical question floating on cyberspace: if you could kill baby Hitler, would you? Legion Quest attempts to show a potential impact of doing just that (within the Marvel Universe context, of course). This run starts one of the best alternate realities of the X-Men mythos.

David Haller (Legion) is the son of Professor Xavier and Gabriella Haller. His power is nearly identical (but potentially more powerful) than his father. Unfortunately, a childhood trauma fractured his psyche creating multiple personalities each able to control one of his powers. He was eventually put into a coma. In this story arc, he awakens with his mind unified (X-Factor #109) and new sense of purpose.

Legion believes that his father would've spent more time with him if in weren't for Magneto. Without a nemesis, Professor X's dream of a human/mutant harmony would be achieved. He goes back in time, but things do not go as planned setting the stage for the Age of Apocalypse. Talk about your Butterfly Effect!

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #320 - "The Son Rises in the East" Gabrielle Haller calls the X-Men to reach her son. Legion has build a black dome in the Negev Desert gathering more power to send himself back in time. Across the universe, the M'kraan Crystal's guardian warns the Shi'Ar Majestrix Lilandra Neramani that the end of reality is coming soon.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #40 - "The Killing Time" Legion succeeds in transporting himself 20 years in the past and inadvertently brings along Storm, Bishop, Psylocke and Iceman with him (all of them loosing their memory in the process). Jean Grey is left to gather Professor X, Cable, the rest of the X-Men to find a way to get a message to the past: they must stop Legion from killing Magneto. Lilandra and the Watchers appear with a dire warning that the fate of the entire universe rests on the success of this mission. The Shi'ar provide the tools to help them reach their teammates stuck in history.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #321 - "Auld Lang Syne" Cable, Jean Grey, and Professor X power a Shi'ar machine to send Cable back in time and deliver a message to their stuck teammates: protect the past. Legion regains his memory and sets out to kill Magneto before the Master of Magnetism turns evil.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #41 - "Dreams Die" Legion and Magneto fight over the heads of the Israeli populace, the first time the world has seen mutants and their destructive power. Charles Xavier steps in the way of Legion's final blow to kill Magneto resulting the accidental death of Professor X before he could become Legion's father or form the X-Men. History has been changed, and the X-Men of the current time wait for the end of the universe as the M'Kraan Crystal reshapes reality.

Cable #20 - "A Legion Quest Addendum: An Hour of Last Things" This story takes place after the X-Men realize their mission failed and before the M'Kraan Crystal reaches Earth. They have enough time to say their goodbyes. One of the most lasting moments during this last hour of reality is a final kiss between Gambit and Rogue. In the end, however, life as we know it is gone.

Era #7, Part 15: Rogue Limited Series

Grade: C

We first learned of the arranged marriage between Gambit and Belladonna that was suppose to united the warring Assassins and Thieves Guilds. Gambit did not hold up his part of the bargain and eventually ended up with the X-Men (after befriending fellow thief, Storm back in Era #5, Part 08: Uncanny X-Men #265-269). It turns out Belladonna didn't actually die during their battle with the Brood, and Gambit needed the Elixer of Life to save her. This, of course, completely destroyed the tenuous truce between the Guilds (all part of Era #6, Part 15: Gambit Limited Series). During that adventure, Rogue accidentally touched Belladonna and learned about the assassin's secret love for Gambit. Embarrassed and enraged, Belladonna is now in a position to get her revenge.

While this is a sequel to the 1993 Gambit Limited Series, the story is really about Rogue. Her power robbed the life of her first love preventing her from ever forming romantic relationships again. Now that Gambit is in her life and making attempts to be with her, she needs to face what happened and hopefully move on. I made the mistake of assuming that this limited series is stand-alone, but it actually sets the stage for both Rogue and Gambit during Legion Quest (and beyond).

[3-Stars] 1 - "An Affair to Remember" Rogue takes a break from the X-Men to make her annual visit to Mississippi. She secretly visits Cody, the first boy she ever kissed. Her mutant power manifested with that kiss leaving Cody in a a coma. Meanwhile, the Assassins Guild mourns the death of their leader, and now that Belladonna leads them, she plans to use her newfound position to get revenge.

[3-Stars] 2 - "Choices" Belladonna have taken Cody to lure Rogue to New Orleans. Tante Mattie sends a message to Rogue promising to protect Cody if Rogue finds helps Gambit. The Cajun thief traveled to Louisiana to help Rogue, but the Assassin's Guild found him first. Meanwhile, Candra is back and persuades Belladonna recreate their pact.

[3-Stars] 3 - "The Gauntlet" Both Rogue and Gambit make their way to New Orleans despite attacks continued from the Assassin's Guild and warning from the Thieve's Guild.

[3-Stars] 4 - "Back to Life!" Candra pits Rogue against Belladonna. Rogue fights to save Cody and Tante Mattie while Belladonna fights to prevent Candra from destroying the Assassin's Guild and reestablish their pact. 

Era #7, Part 14: Legion Quest Prologue

Grade: C+

It is the calm before the Legion Quest storm. This run has a slower pace that highlights the soap-opera tenor of the franchise.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #38 - "Smoke and Mirrors" Cyclops and Jean Grey are back on the X-Mansion to find the school has a new name: "Xavier Institute for Higher Learning". Gambit takes control of the Danger Room's holographic technology to force a seemingly docile Sabretooth the faces of every person the former mercenary and killer murdered.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #319 - "Untapped Potential" Rogue joins Iceman during a visit with his family. She learns that Bobby's father is xenophobic and not especially supportive of his mutant son. Archangel and Psylocke go on a date and agree to start a relationship. Professor X dreams of a conversation with Legion.

[2-Stars] X-Men (v2) #39 - "Birds of a Feather" Cyclops' grandfather, Phillip, goes on one last flight as a pilot before his eyesight completely fails. Unfortunately, his plane crashes deep in the Canadian woods. Adam X happens to be in the area, and does his best to save Phillip. The two share stories as they make their way back to Alaska.

X-Factor #109 - "The Waking" Mystique still bears a grudge against Legion for Destiny's murder back in Uncanny X-Men #255 (Era #5, Part 03: Uncanny X-Men #251-255). Now that she knows he is recovering in Israel, she escapes X-Factor to get her revenge. Forge, Havok, Val Cooper, Polaris, Wolfsbane, and Strong Guy race to stop her, but Legion's mind is no longer fractured. He may be more than enough to stop Mystique and X-Factor.

Era #7, Part 13: Generation X Classic, Vol. 1

Grade: A-

Generation X is the newest class in 10 years (the New Mutants first appeared in 1984), and these kids have some very unusual powers. Husk rips off her skin, Chamber's body was ripped apart the first time he used his powers, and Skin has too much skin.

The real strength of this new series is the diversity and interaction of the young team. It (mostly) avoids standard cliches and provides a fresh look at how teens react when they feel different than their peers and the society around them. We also see the adults trying their best in trying circumstances.

[4-Stubs] 1 - "Third Genesis" The Massachusetts Academy is about to reopen with a new class of mutant students, but they have one more to add. Banshee takes Generation X to pick up their newest member from the airport. Jonothon "Jono" Starsmore (Chamber) is arriving from England, but the powerful psionic power that disfigured him has also attracted a new threat -- the vampiric mutant known as Emplate.

[4-Stubs] 2 - "Searching" The mysterious Gateway has delivered another young mutant at the door of the Massachusetts Academy. Penance has a razor sharp body and claws with possible ties to Emplate. The young mute girl does not feel comfortable in the medlab and escapes forcing Generation X to find her before she causes any more damage.

[4-Stubs] 3 - "Dead Silence" Generation X searches the forest for Penance in the rain, but it is Chamber that may be able to reach her.

[4-Stubs] 4 - "Between the Cracks" This touching Generation X Christmas tale starts with a detour around a small town because a disfigured boy has taken a school hostage. He wants an education denied to him, but the town isn't the only one to assume he is a mutant -- Orphan Maker arrives. Generation X tries their best to deescalate the situation.