Alt 295, Part 06: Amazing X-Men

Grade: A+

The X-Men still have their hands full before Bishop arrived. The first half of this short run is the completion of a mission already in the works before Bishop's arrival X-Men: Alpha. The second half is much more dangerous as the team attempts to infiltrate Apocalypse's strongholds.

• Quicksilver: Pietro has perhaps the most changed personality of any character in the Age of Apocalypse. Without the anger towards his father (and the death of sister that we will read about in X-Men Chronicles #1), Quicksilver becomes a capable leader without the arrogance or brashness (though he is still quick to act). 
• Banshee: Sean was already retired when Magneto convinced him to rejoin the X-Men. 
• Dazzler: The Age of Apocalypse ruined a promising musical career. Allison is now a bitter woman who smokes heavily. She is also in a relationship with Exodus.  
• Exodus: Much like his real-world counterpart, Paris devoutly follows Magneto who saved him from Apocalypse's experimentation. He is still unaware of his full potential.
• Iceman: Bobby was one of the first X-Men and he still retains a sense of humor (even if it is darker and much more sarcastic). Magneto pushed Iceman harder than in the normal reality, so he is able to do much more with his power to include pulling his body back together after it has been shattered and transporting people long distance.
• Storm: Another one of Magneto's original X-Men, Storm is much quieter but no less deadlier in the Age of Apocalypse. She is more than a friend to Quicksilver and often provides him with balance.

[4 Stars] Amazing X-Men #1 - "The Crossing Guards" Magneto has sent many of the X-Men and their allies on different missions to confirm Bishop's story, he still needs to save humans from Apocalypse. He sends Quicksilver's team to prepare for an evacuation that has mutant-hunting Sentinels to ferry the refugees to relative safety in Eurasia.

[4 Stars] Amazing X-Men #2 - "Sacrificial Lambs" The X-Men must defend the human evacuation from an attack by Apocalypse's fanatical followers called the Brotherhood and from Abyss, Apocalypse's newest Horseman.

[4 Stars] Amazing X-Men #3 - "Parents of the Atom" Apocalypse learns the location of the X-Men's base of operations (the destroyed mansion of the long-dead Charles Xavier). Magneto and Bishop are the only ones left to repel the assault and protect Magneto's son.

[4 Stars] Amazing X-Men #4 - "On Consecrated Ground" The X-Men must rescue Bishop from the Madri and Abyss. The Madri is a religious order in blind service to Apocalypse with most of their members forced duplicates of Jamie Madrox whose power is beyond maxed out and his sanity nearly gone.

Alt 295, Part 05: Gambit and the X-Ternals

Grade: A-

Gambit was an X-Man until his heart was broken. We will learn more about the love triangle later in X-Men Chronicles #2, but it is clear that thief quit and formed his own team to get away from Rogue and Magneto. His skills are needed, however, and despite their past difference, Gambit agrees to lead his motley group of bandits to the Shi'Ar Empire and retrieve the M'Kraan crystal.

• Gambit: Still the incorrigible thief with a silver tongue harboring a deeply broken heart.
• Lila Cheney: Gambit's girlfriend and completely unaware of her mutant power of galactic teleportation -- until now.
• Guido: Not quite as fun but still secretly in love with Lila Cheney.
• Sunspot: The only member of X-Force to be on the X-Force replacement title. Go figure.  
• Jubilee: I guess it makes sense for rather than Generation Next. 
• Rictor: A member of Apocalypse's Madri religious order, Rictor is focused on improving his station within the ranks by capturing Gambit and the X-Ternals.

We get to see the Age of Apocalypse versions of both the Imperial Guard (still under the rule of D'Ken) and the Starjammers, but it seems very quick and forced. What really makes this title memorable is the heartaches and betrayals.

[4 Stars] Gambit and the X-Ternals #1 - "Some of Us Looking to the Stars" Magneto asks Gambit and the X-Ternals to teleport to the Shi'Ar Empire and retrieve the M'Kraan crystal. They need Lila Cheney to unlock and learn how to use her mutant ability.

[4 Stars] Gambit and the X-Ternals #2 - "Where No External Has Gone Before" Gambit and the X-Ternals versus the Imperial Guard.

[4 Stars] Gambit and the X-Ternals #3 - "To the Limits of Infinity" The Starjammers help Gambit and the X-Ternals, but at what cost?

[4 Stars] Gambit and the X-Ternals #4 - "The Maze" Back an Earth and in the Morlock tunnels, Gambit and the X-Ternals are forced to deal with the ultimate betrayal.

Alt 295, Part 04: Generation Next

Grade: A+

This is perhaps my favorite story of the entire Age of Apocalypse, and it is perhaps the saddest. Don't worry -- no spoilers. It is in the title that we learn more about Magneto's training program to prepare young mutants for the conflict against Apocalypse.

With Bishop's information, Magneto needs a teleporter, and only one still exists. Illyana Rasputin is a prisoner in one of the most productive and most secure energy facilities within Apocalypse's empire. It is up to this next generation of mutants to infiltrate "The Core" and rescue her.

• Colossus & Kitty Pryde: These battle harden veterans of the war against the Apocalypse. They have been selected to train their students hard, but they go beyond teaching and are willing to kill them in the process. If the young can't survive the exercises, then how can they survive real world conflicts? Once Colossus realizes his little sister is still alive, he is willing to do anything to save her. It is up to Kitty to keep him from being too dangerous.
• Chamber, Husk, Mondo, and Skin: Most of the students in Generation X are members of Generation Next.
• Vincente: Vincente makes his first appearance here. He doesn't appear in the "normal" continuity until Generation X #12 (Feb 96).  

Who is missing? You can find Banshee in Amazing X-Men, Emma Frost in Weapon X, and Jubilee in Gambit and the X-Ternals. Know-It-All may be a version of M, and both Synch and Penance are presumed dead.

[4-Stars] Generation Next #1 - "From the Top" Magneto arrives after a brutal training session. He needs the team to retrieve Illyana Rasputin from "The Core". It is likely a suicide mission, but Colossus doesn't hesitate to accept the mission the find the sister he believed died in one of Apocalypse's Russian cullings.

[4-Stars] Generation Next #2 - "Hither Comes the Sugar Man!" Generation Next finds a way to infiltrate "The Core".

[4-Stars] Generation Next #3 - "It Only Hurts When I Sing" Generation Next continues deeper into "The Core" and into the arms of the facility's ruthless mutant in charge -- the Sugar Man.

[4-Stars] Generation Next #4 - "Bye" Generation Next find Illyana and must fight their way out of "The Core".