Era #9, Part 11: Ages of Apocalypse

Grade: C

I have some mixed feelings about this short run. Alan Davis continues to plot some deeper stories that just don't really seem to work. Part of it might be that the artwork is lighter and more colorful than the subject matter, but I really think that he is trying too hard to tell a cerebral science fiction tale in what really is a character-driven franchise.

We see Cyclops sacrifice himself to stop Apocalypse at the end of "The Twelve", but we learn in "Ages of Apocalypse" that the two have merged to become Cyclopalypse with the evil persona maintaining control of the shared body. Cyclopalypse needs the combined power of the Twelve to complete the transformation, so he attempts to trick them by creating alternate realities that force them to use their powers in unison. He starts by reimaging the classic X-Men origins with the characters changed, and he ends with the X-Men victorious in their cause but about to lose their beloved Professor X.

The title and premise clearly attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the Age of Apocalypse which makes this appear like a hack job. This watered down version does not commit to an alternate reality, and there is nothing that had me rooting for the characters. I just wanted it to be over which is unfortunate because I now see where he was going.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #378 - "First and Last Part 1" Jean Grey tours Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Students and meets the first X-Men:  Beast, Gambit, Iceman, and Storm. Something doesn't feel quite right for her, but she doesn't have time to dwell on it. The team must reach a circus performer and mutant named Colossus before Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants (Polaris, Rogue, Marrow, and Sunfire).

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #26 - "Day of Judgment" The X-Men attempt to repel a Shi'Ar Empire attack on the Blue Area of the Moon. It is the X-Men's last stand to protect Earth from invasion, but the overwhelming forces are led by Apocalypse's Horsemen Deathbird (War), Ahab (Famine), Erik the Red (Death), and Caliban (Pestilence).

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #98 - "First and Last Part 2" The X-Men reunite after years of promoting equality. They have been so successful that they are now a universal presence with membership and schools that span across many different alien races. This gathering is to help Professor X who is dying. They have one possible way to extend his life.