Alt 295, Part 10: X-Men Chronicles

Grade: A+

The Age of Apocalypse starts in the middle of the story. Apocalypse has taken over Western Hemisphere, and the X-Men have emerged to stop him. X-Men Chronicles takes us back in time and tells us about two key events in the X-Men's history.

We will see more history later with follow-on issues like the Tales from the Age of Apocalypse (1996 & 1997). This helps flesh out the characters and creates a more complete and immersive atmosphere.

[4 Stars] X-Men Chronicles #1 - "Origins" Magneto has been training his X-Men: Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Iceman, Colossus, Storm, Jean Grey, and the new addition Weapon X. Mystique brings Rogue to Magneto. Rogue is a troubled mutant with no control over her power and troubled after permanently absorbing Polaris's magnetic power.

Apocalypse makes his first move. He leads his Horsemen (Sabretooth, Gideon, Candra, and Death) to take the nuclear arsenal at Cape Citadel. The X-Men arrive to stop them in an alternate version of the original X-Men #1 (Sep 1963) in which the original X-Men must stop Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants at Cape Citadel.

Scarlet Witch and Rogue stay behind at the Wundagore base. They are attacked by another agent of Apocalypse named Nemesis (later to become Holocaust).

[4 Stars] X-Men Chronicles #2 - "Shattered Dreams" This issue captures one of the tumultuous times in the X-Men's history. It starts with Weapon X and Jean Grey leave the team after the X-Men's refusal to save Jean. Weapon X did it himself off panel loosing his hand in the process. That leaves the roster with Colossus, Gambit, Iceman, Magneto, Quicksilver, Rogue, Sabretooth, and Storm.

Gambit wants to confess his love to Rogue, but he can't find the right time. Holocaust sends Wolverine (not Logan) after the X-Men. During the battle, Gambit learns that Rogue has chosen Magneto over him, and also leave the team.