Alt 295, Part 02: X-Calibre

Grade: B

This was probably my least favorite of the series, but it still provided some really cool insight into the Age of Apocalypse. Magneto sends Nightcrawler to retrieve the precognitive mutant, Destiny. She leads a commune in the Savage Land (now called Avalon) in which humans and mutants can escape the chaos and live in harmony together.

The interesting tie-in here is how the criminal world adapted to the new world order. Mystique runs a human smuggling ring that fleeces the refugees but gets them safely to Avalon's shores. It is a dangerous underground railroad style journey that passes through Atrocity Zones filled with dead bodies from Apocalypse's cullings while avoiding pirates.

• Nightcrawler: Not nearly as care-free (or religious) as his "real-world" counterpart, Kurt is committed to both the X-Men and his mother.
• Mystique: Raven is a complicated character here. She is portrayed as an opportunist that takes everything from the people she ferries, but she appears to use what she has taken to continue to pay for the dangerous operations. She harbors guilt that is evident when she does not feel worth to step foot on Avalon.
• Destiny: Leading the Avalon community, Irene may have created a false sense of hope to all those that arrive.
• Cypher: There is not a lot about Doug, but his powers are uniquely used here. Rather than simply being able to translate other languages, he is able to create a sphere in which everybody can communicate with each other regardless of the tongue they speak. Sadly, he finds the exact same fate as his "real-world" counterpart.
• Juggernaut:  Cain is perhaps the most changed character to be found in AoA. After the death of his step-brother, Juggernaut gives up his destructive ways and becomes a monk protecting Avalon. 

There are two new characters as well. Switchback has to date only appears in this storyline, but Damask will make a "real-world" appearance a year later in Excalibur #96.

[3-Stars] X-Calibre #1 - "The Infernal Gallop" Nightcrawler's search for a way to Avalon leads him Angel. Warren runs a nightclub that caters to both humans and mutants. He also peddles in information that sends Nightcrawler to John Proudstar and the Infernal Gallop. This draws the attention of Danielle Moonstar who is a spy for Apocalypse. The Dark Lord adds her to a small team called the Pale Riders to follow the X-Man to Avalon -- and destroy it.

[3-Stars] X-Calibre #2 - "Burn" Nightcrawler is among the people cramped in a submarine looking for sanctuary at Avalon. The old vessel suffers a malfunction and must surface. A nearby scavenger ship picks the crew and refugees with an offer to help them on their way, but the Captain Callisto has no intention of keeping her word. The entire event is secretly watched by Damask and her Pale Riders.

[3-Stars] X-Calibre #3 - "Body Heat" Mystique arrives in time to help Nightcrawler, and she agrees to lead her son to Avalon to find Destiny. Unbeknownst to either of them, Damask and Dead Man Wade (the only remaining Pale Riders still alive) are following them to burn Avalon to the ground.

[3-Stars] X-Calibre #4 - "On Fire" Damask no longer wants to serve Apocalypse and joins Nightcrawler, Switchback, Doug, and Destiny protect from Avalon. The Shadow King was hidden among Pale Riders and is now jumping from body to body.

Alt 295, Part 01: Astonishing X-Men

Grade: A+

While Magneto sends the X-Men on various missions to confirm Bishop's story, Rogue leads a team to stop Holocaust from killing more humans in the newest purge.

• Rogue: She is married to Magneto, and they have a son they named Charles. She never gained the permanent powers of Ms. Marvel, but instead, has the permanent magnetic powers of Polaris.
• Blink: Clarice remained alive in this reality. She was saved by Sabretooth and remained loyal to him. She is much more confident and more comfortable with her powers.
• Sunfire: Shiro is full of shame and guilt for his hubris in trying to go it alone. He was unable to stop Apocalypse from purging Japan, and he has been both physically and emotionally scarred from that failure.
• Morph: This is actually a modern version of an old X-Men villain known as the Changling. He turned his personal trauma into humor. 
• Sabretooth: One of Apocalypse's original Horsemen, Victor grew to dislike all the killing and found his way to the X-Men. He has a personal grudge against Holocaust. 
• Wild Child: Way more feral than his normal reality counter-part, Kyle is always attached to Sabretooth.  

I liked the character development and slow reveal of the characters while still focusing on a solid storyline. It completely deviates from the main arc of collecting information to confirm Bishop's story, but it gives us insight into the dystopian world created by Apocalypse.

[4-Stars] Astonishing X-Men #1 - "Once More With Feeling" While Magneto and the X-Men evaluate Bishop's claims that there is another, better reality, Blink and Sunfire arrive from a mission with news. Apocalypse has violated the Kelly Pact against killing humans. His horseman known as Holocaust has started a new culling program in Chicago, and Rogue is going to lead a team of volunteers to try and stop the genocide.

[4-Stars] Astonishing X-Men #2 - "No Exit" The X-Men attempt to stop Holocaust's army and protect the humans. Sabretooth confronts Holocaust directly in an attempt to give the team more time.

[4-Stars] Astonishing X-Men #3 - "In Excess" Sabretooth sends Wild Child to find the X-Men with a revelation -- the location of the Infinite processing plant (the facility that creates Apocalypse's army). They must first get past Holocaust.

[4-Stars] Astonishing X-Men #4 - "Holocaust" Rogue's X-Men team infiltrates the Infinite processing and battling Holocaust.

Starting Alt 295: Age of Apocalypse

What do I like about alternate realities? It is an opportunity to see our favorite characters in new light. Good stories keep the essence of the characters the same, but that doesn't always mean they will always have the same roles. That was exactly what happened with the Age of Apocalypse.

This was perhaps one of my favorite events. The X-Men are completely reimagined in a dystopian world ruled by the Apocalypse. Professor X is killed by his son during the Legion Quest crossover (Era #7, Part 16) which eventually leads to a new world.

Our story opens with X-Men: Alpha. Magneto's X-Men are in Seattle in another attempt to protect humans from Apocalypse's Infinite forces led by Unus the Untouchable. They find a nomad named Bishop who is a man out-of-time. The encounter convinces Magneto that he needs to send it his X-Men on various missions to get to the truth and save the humanity.

Every X-Men series was stopped in 1995 for four months and replaced with an Age of Apocalypse title. Yes, it was incredibly gimmicky, but it was also completely immersive.

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

Ending Era #7: Onslaught

Era #7: B-

This was a long read with 127 key issues stretched out over 30 posts that I started back in August 2016. Trying to remember enough to give a good summary is probably not going to happen here.

I remember being disappointed in the franchise around this time. Marvel was pushing a lot of gimmicks and the stories did not feel as deep as those told by Chris Claremont or as exciting as the Image X-Odus team (Portacio/Lee/Silvestri/Liefeld). Rereading them, however, I realized that I was being a little too harsh. Yes, there are some issues that I would call "standard comic fare" or worse (such as the Marriage of Cyclops and Phoenix and Onslaught), but I found some really good tales buried here that kept me hooked. I especially liked Gene Nation, Generation X, and the return of X-Force to there para-military roots.

Generation X #1-19 (B): What a great start to the newest class of mutant students!

Scott Lobdell & Chris Bachalo (A-): This is THE definitive creative team that not only creates this new team but bring them to life. It is sharp art, good storytelling, and fun dialog. 

Scott Lobdell & Tom Grummett (C+): It was a hard act to follow. These two do not quite have the same chemistry leading to the return of Chris Bachalo.

Rogue (C): It is another swing and a miss for me as Howard Mackie continues to tell the story he started in Gambit back in Era #6. This time he is joined by Mike Wieringo, but it isn't enough.

Uncanny X-Men #308-337 (B-):  It is proof that the Scott Lobdell era is worthy successor to Claremont and Lee.

Scott Lobdell & John Romita, Jr. (D+): I like Scott Lobdell and John Romita, Jr, but it seems that I didn't like them together. Unfortunate.

Scott Lobdell & Joe Madureira (B-): Joe Madureira brings manga style art to the X-Men. I had mixed feelings when the issues originally came out, but I've grown to appreciate it much more.

X-Force #26-58 (B-): My faith in X-Force is renewed here. 

Fabian Nicieza & Tony Daniel (B):  I think Fabian Nicieza finds his grove here, and I really like Tony Daniel's artwork.

Jeph Loeb & Adam Pollina (B-): X-Force gets a complete overhaul bringing in a new team that I was ready not to like. Adam Pollina's art is not my cup of tea and the primary reason I dropped the Cable title earlier. Jeph Loeb, however, helps me get past the images to enjoy stories that bring X-Force back to their roots.

X-Men (v2) #27-57 (C+): The creative team is inconsistent creating one of the more uneven titles of the era. 

Fabian Nicieza & Andy Kubert (C): Fabian has always been a mixed bag for me. I like some of his stories about as often as I don't. What I really like here is Andy Kubert's phenomenal work. 

Scott Lobdell & Andy Kubert (A): Great creative work from two of my favorites. 

Mark Waid & Andy Kubert (C): I had high hopes when I heard Mark Waid was joining the title, but it just never really worked out. He left after only 5 issues.

X-Men Unlimited #3-12 (C): I am not sure why I continued to keep this series going. The stories were average at best, and they never really seem relevant.

Era #7, Part 30: Onslaught Epilogue

Grade: C-

I missed the final issue to the entire Onslaught crossover event. The X-Men, Avengers and Fantastic Four battle Onslaught in an epic showdown that ends with the the Avengers and Fantastic Four paying the ultimate price.

Marvel uses the Onslaught crossover event to relaunch the Avengers and the Fantastic Four as part of Heroes Reborn. Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld return to reboot beloved characters in an entirely new "universe".

The rest of this run is Professor X dealing with the guilt of a new world without heroes. It is a bit too moopy, but it does do more to set up for the upcoming Operations Zero Tolerance.

Onslaught: Marvel Universe - "With Great Power ..." I do not own this issue.

[2-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #337 - "Know Thy Enemy" Wolverine tries to get Professor X to talk. Charles Xavier lost his mutant ability, but more importantly, he feels responsible for the loss of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. The remaining X-Men relieve some of the stress by sharing a breakfast filled with practical jokes.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #57 - "Man" Dr. Valerie Cooper arrives at the X-Mansion to take the Professor X into custody for his part in the Onslaught disaster that destroyed New York City and killed Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Onslaught: Epilogue - "Prisoner M-13" Professor X is transferred to an international taskforce focused on dealing with the mutant problem. It is called Operation Zero Tolerance, and they are headquartered in a redesigned Hulkbuster base. Charles Xavier is re-designated as Prisoner M-13 and interrogated by the mysterious leader known only as Bastion. Professor X meets another captive named Nina who appears to be a new type of artificially created mutant.

Era #7, Part 29: Onslaught Impact 2

Grade: C

What little hope I had for the Onslaught crossover event evaporated by this point. I didn't bother to pick up some of the other issues as we got closer to the end. I still find the Impact stories better than the main story, but that really isn't saying much here.

This run is very average, but there are some elements that spared it from obscured in my mind. We finally see the conclusion of the Dark Beast arc (though I am still completely unclear why this would be in X-Factor when Dark Beast was impersonating an X-Man). There are also solid team-building in crisis moments in both X-Force and Generation X, and we get some closure on the whole Juggernaut sub-plot running through the build up to Onslaught. The other stories here are really just heroes trying to stop Sentinels.

X-Factor #126 - "The Beast Within" X-Factor must deal with a traitor in their midst and a mind-controlled Havok while trying to rescue the real Beast. It is the final showdown with the puppet-master orchestrating it all -- Dark Beast.

[3-Stars] X-Force #58 - "...Before the Dawn" Onslaught tempts each member of X-Force with the deepest desire.

Incredible Hulk #445 - "Dancing in the Dark" I do not own this issue.

Iron Man #332 - "Night Neverending" The Avengers continue to protect people from the army of Sentinels while also trying to find a way to confront Onslaught.

Avengers #402 - "End of the Line" I do not own this issue.

Punisher #11 - "Manhattan Onslaught" I do not own this issue.

Green Goblin #12 - "Even the Brave Can Fall!" I do not own this issue.

[3-Stars] Generation X #19 - "Don't Wait Up..." Emma Frost isn't quite herself thanks to Onslaught's powerful disturbance on the psychic plane. In a misguided attempt to protect the students, she secludes herself and Generation X. Her haywire powers also impacts their behavior and powers just as the Toad arrives to evict them all. Banshee teams up with Alpha Flight's Sasquatch to find Emma and the students.

Amazing Spider-Man #415 - "Siege" Peter Parker and his pregnant wife, Mary Jane, return to the city only to find it occupied by Onslaught's Sentinels. The mutant hunting robots have orders to terminate any super powered human placing Peter (and anybody around him) in danger.

Wolverine #105 - "Faces in the Fire" Wolverine does not have the power to take on Onslaught, so he focuses on saving people from the damaged caused by the epic battle. He races into a burning building to save a young boy and finds an old man with a message. Wolverine has been devolving into a primal animal, and a fighting vision of Stick (Daredevil's deceased mentor) who reminds the X-Man that loosing his adamantium (in the classic X-Men (v2) #25) to not take away his humanity.

Spider-Man #72 - "The World's Gone Mad!" Spider-Man (Ben Reilly) and Peter Parker try to do their part in stopping Onslaught's Sentinels.

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited 12 - "The Once and Future Juggernaut" We first met Gomurr the Ancient on the Road to Onslaught (Part 3), but it seems he was also a hidden part of the X-Men mythos. He was one of the two sorcerers responsible for imprisoning the Cyttorak in the gem that transformed Cain Marko into the unstoppable Juggernaut. Onslaught removed the gem from Juggernaut creating an opportunity for Cyttorak to escape, so Gomurr must convince Cain to help keep the power and destructive mystical entity contained.

Era #7, Part 28: Onslaught Phase 2

Grade: D

The Onslaught crossover event goes from bad to worse. The combined might of the X-Men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four is not enough to combat the sheer might of a pure psychic entity. In fact, their attempts to free Professor X from Onslaught makes the unstoppable enemy even more powerful by removing the last vestiges of morality.

The potential for an epic story can be found here with all the key components clearly present (superheroes being heroic, an unstoppable villain, etc), but it just doesn't come together for me. It is "blah".

Onslaught's big victory blast was also bit much. It was another cool element that showed the futility of the fight, but was it a physical blast as it appeared to be (it looked like a nuclear bomb went off) or a psychic blast (with no fatalities?). Like the crossover event itself, the blast was all show with no real substance.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #336 - "A Voice as Deep as Thunder" The X-Men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four directly confront Onslaught in hopes to free Professor X and Franklin Richards.

Cable #35 - "It Is Always Darkest..." Apocalypse offers to help Cable and the Invisible Woman battle Onslaught on the Astral Plane.

X-Man #19 - "Shades of Grey" Nate Grey must battle his way past Mr. Sinister to get back to the fight against Onslaught.

Fantastic Four #416 - "Unfinished Business" I do not own this issue.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #56 - "The Beginning of the End: Twilight of the Gods" The X-Men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four continue their best to protect people from Onslaught's Sentinel attack while developing a plan to finally deal with Onslaught himself.

Era #7, Part 27: Onslaught Impact 1

Grade: B

The Onslaught crossover event did one thing well. It clearly identifies the dividing line between the main story (Phase 1 and Phase 2) from the issues that deal with the ramifications of the main story (Impact 1 and Impact 2). The Impact tales are either the repercussions or tangential tie-ins, but I found them to be better reads than the main arc.

This first impact wave is not nearly as bad a read as the the first phase. Mr. Sinister finally figures out that X-Man is an alternate dimension version of his life's work -- the creation of a Nate Grey; Dark Beast is finally revealed; we see the lengths Emma Frost is willing to go to protect her students; and Wolverine uncovers Onslaught's origins.

Onslaught Impact 1 is a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing X-Men "event".

[3-Stars] X-Force #57 - "The Best Laid Plans..." X-Force attempts to protect Nate Grey (X-Man) from Mr. Sinister.

Incredible Hulk #444 - "Cable Vision" I do not own this issue.

Excalibur #100 - "London's Burning" This issue was perhaps the biggest disappointment. The cover exclaims that it is part of Onslaught, but the tie-in is so inconsequential that I am not sure why I bought this one. I won't go into the story except to say that the X-Men fly to Muir Island to meet with Moira MacTaggert. She leads them to a secret database Professor X kept at the facility. He kept file on how to neutralize any X-Man including himself. The X-Men return with a copy of the Xavier Protocols.

X-Factor #125 - The Ticking Clock" X-Factor attempts to stop to Onslaught from assuming control of an army of Sentinels. They must first get past Dark Beast and his minions Fatale, Post, and a mind-controlled Havok!

[3-Stars] Generation X #18 - "For the Sake of the Children" Generation X is returning home on Emma Frost's private jet. She decides the best protection is hiding the students from Onslaught, but she must first deal with Banshee and then with protesting teens.

Wolverine (2nd series) #104 - "The Emperor of the Realm of Grief" Elektra joins Wolverine as he attempts to get answers about Onslaught from the always-silent Gateway.

Era #7, Part 26: Onslaught Phase 1

Grade: C-

Onslaught has started! The Avengers and Fantastic Four join the X-Men in trying stop the nigh omnipotent threat. After such as big build-up, this was such a let down with so many "huh?" moments? Why does such a powerful entity need Franklin Richards or Nate Gray (or the Sentinels)? How are so many people still standing after the initial assault? I was disappointed to see how this played out.

[ 2-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #335 - "...Apocalypse Lives!" The Avengers arrive at the X-Mansion in time to see the destruction and discuss their next course of action. They send teams out to confront Onslaught, secure Franklin Richards, and protect Nate Gray (the X-Man).

X-Man #18 - "In the Company of Strangers" X-Force must protect Nate Grey from Onslaught, but it is Mr. Sinister that arrives to take the X-Man.

Cable #34 - "Loose Cannons" Onslaught controls the Hulk sending the famous green behemoth after Cable!

Avengers #401 - "Sins of the Father!" Members of the Avengers and the X-Men hunt down Onslaught. They find a possible new threat when Rogue arrives with an amnesiac Magneto calling himself Joseph.

Fantastic Four #415 - "An Enemy Among Us!" Professor X visits the Four Freedoms Plaza. Members of the X-Men and the Avengers arrive to late to warn the Fantastic Four that the X-Men's founder is Onslaught, and that he is after little Franklin Richards!

[3-Stars] X-Men (2nd series) #55 - "Invasion" Onslaught uses mutant hunting Sentinels to terrorize the city, and it is up to the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four to save innocent people, find Franklin Richards, and stop Onslaught.