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.