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.