A Look At Age of Apocalypse (Series Recommendation)

With the new X-men: Apocalypse film coming out soon I figured this old article I wrote for Squidoo could be brought back out and refreshed. So here it is.

Age of Apocalypse

Epic Alternate Timeline Saga, X-Style!

When Professor X's son, Legion decides to go back in time to kill Magneto he hoped to alter the present for the good of mutant kind. But Charles (prof. X) died instead trying to save the life of his friend Erik (Magneto). This event caused a ripple in time that undid the present that we all knew. Magneto assembles a team of mutants in Charles' honor, and Apocalypse's rises to power....Welcome to the Age of Apocalypse.

I simply love the X-men, and I love alternate story lines. So I had to share this. All new costumes, different teams, very dramatic and fun saga. Here I will list the comics that made up this series. By far this is one of the best in my opinion. So sit tight, true believer the end has just begun........

The Age of Apocalypse books

X-men : Alpha - Published 1995, this was the book to start the series. The first glimpse into the world where Apocalypse reigns. Each X-title book after this became a different book to coincide with the storyline.

X-Calibre - A team lead by Nightcrawler consisting of his mother, Mystique, Switchback, and later a villain, Damask who joins after realizing which side is better. (replaced Excalibur)

Gambit and the Externals - Gambit leads this team consisting of Jubilee, Sunspot, Strong guy, and Lila Cheney. (replaced X-Force)

Generation Next - Colossus, and Kitty Pryde lead this team of New Mutant- like youngsters. This team features Chamber, Husk, Mondo, Skin, and Vincent Cimetta. They go on a rescue mission to find Magik. (replaced Generation X)

Astonishing X-men - This team is lead by Magneto's wife, Rogue. Sabretooth, Blink, Wild Child, Morph, and Sunfire make up this team. (replaced Uncanny X-men)

Amazing X-men - Quicksilver leads this team made up of Storm, Dazzler, Iceman, Banshee, and Exodus. (replaced X-men)

Weapon X - Wolverine gets the girl in this alternate reality. Jean Grey, and Logan are together in this book. Logan tries to recruit Gateway to help save N. America. (replaced Wolverine)

Factor X - Are enemy teams created by Apocalypse. Consisting of Cyclops, Havok, Emplate, Twins, Canonball, Amazon, the Bedlam Brothers, Aurora, Northstar, and Beast who conducts experiments on imprisoned mutants. (replaced X-Factor)

X-man - The mutant Nate Grey, is created from Jean Grey, and Cyclops. He is mentored by Forge, who leads a group consisting of Mastermind, Toad, Brute, Sauron, and late Sonique. (replaced Cable)

X-Universe - Colossus's Brother Mikhail is opposed by a familiar group of humans, who are Tony Stark, Gwen Stacy, Don Blake, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, Victor Von Doom, and later Bruce Banner. (replaced X-men Unlimited)

X-men: Omega - The finale of the Age of Apocalypse saga.

X-Men: The...

Joe Madureira

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X-Men: Age of Apocalypse [Hardcover]

X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse Omnibus (Marvel Omnibus)

Charles Xavier is dead - killed twenty years in the past during a freak time-travel accident - and the world that has arisen in his absence is dark and dangerous indeed. The Darwinian conqueror Apocalypse rules with an iron fist, ruthlessly enforcing his dictum that only the strong shall survive - and in Apocalypse's long shadow, hidden among a downtrodden humankind, are a group of ragtag freedom fighters led by Xavier's oldest friend, Magneto: the Amazing X-Men! When Bishop, last survivor of the true Marvel Universe, locates the X-Men and explains how the world went wrong, these embittered mutants and their tenuous allies must risk everything - and undertake a dangerous and multi-pronged quest - to put things right! The comics event of 1995 is collected in one deluxe oversized hardcover! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1963) #320-321, X-MEN (1991) #40-41, CABLE (1993) #20, X-MEN ALPHA, AMAZING X-MEN #1-4, ASTONISHING X-MEN (1995) #1-4, FACTOR X #1-4, GAMBIT & THE X-TERNALS #1-4, GENERATION NEXT #1-4, WEAPON X (1995) #1-4, X-CALIBRE #1-4, X-MAN #1-4, X-MEN OMEGA, AGE OF APOCALYPSE: THE CHOSEN and X-MEN ASHCAN #2.

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X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 1 [Paperback]

If you cannot afford to buy the hardcover version that is above these separate paperback graphic novels are just as good.

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 1

It begins here! The critically acclaimed, fan-favorite storyline that rocked the X-Men Universe to its core is collected across four volumes! In a cracked-mirror world ruled by the genocidal mutant despot Apocalypse, only one hope remains: Magneto and his Astonishing X-Men! The first in a four volume series collecting the entire Age of Apocalypse storyline.

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Age of Apocalypse Tribute - A Glimpse into this alternate universe

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 2 [Paperback]

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic - Book 2

Apocalypse has conquered half of humankind and is ready to destroy them all! Magneto and his Amazing X-Men fight to protect humans and mutants alike, only to learn from Bishop that his world might need to be unmade! Plus: excerpts from Apocalypse's own files on the alternate-universe X-Men, and their friends and foes... but which is which? Featuring Blink and Sabretooth of the Exiles! Collects X-Men: Alpha, Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen, Generation Next #1, Astonishing X-Men Volume 1 #1, X-Calibre #1, Gambit and the X-Ternals #1-2, Weapon X Volume 1 #1-2, Amazing X-Men #1-2, Factor X #1-2, and X-Man #1.

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X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 3 [Paperback]

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 3

The mirror gets darker and the Amazing X-Men more Astonished by the minute as the Age of Apocalypse hits its third quarter! Magneto has dedicated his life to freeing humanity and mutantkind alike, but will Apocalypse now require him to destroy reality to save it! Sides are switched and secrets shown with repercussions ringing from the Savage Land to the Shi-ar Galaxy! Plus: a rare look at how Apocalypse altered the rest of Marvel's mightiest! Doctor Doom and Reed Richards, side-by-side? Matt Murdock and the Kingpin, allies? Gwen Stacy in mourning for Peter Parker? Avengers, Exiles, etc. in the original alternate X-saga! Collects X-Calibre #2-3, Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1 #2-4, Generation Next #2-3, X-Man #2-3, Factor X #3, Amazing X-Men #3, Gambit & The Externals #3, and X-Universe #1.

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X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 4 [Paperback]

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse Epic, Book 4

Learn who lives and who dies in either reality as the apocalyptic arc ends in treachery and tragedy! While certain heroic humans prove their mettle without armor or magic hammers, it's a race to see who the X-Men will destroy first: Apocalypse or themselves! But even with the crisis concluded, new allies and enemies emerge, guaranteeing that reality will still never be the same! Featuring the dawn of Gene Nation and a turning point for the Legacy Virus! Collects Generation Next #4, X-Calibre #4, X-Man #4 & #53-54, Factor X #4, Gambit And The X-Ternals #4, Amazing X-Men #4, Weapon X #4, X-Universe #2, X-Men: Omega, Blink #4 and X-Men: Prime

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Weekly Wrap Up Comics 2/14/15

These are the books I read this past week...

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Comics Weekly Wrap Up 2/7/15

This week's books. Mostly a lot of Robert Kirkman books. Maybe you are interested to know about what he has written beside The Walking Dead -

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5. 6.

Comics Weekly Wrap Up 1/30/15

The graphics/trades I read this week.....Watch the video above this....and subscribe if you are not already.

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Comics Weekly Wrap Up 1/24/15

Another wrap up of what I read graphic/trade wise this week. If you are not already following my on Goodreads feel free to do so.

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Weekly Wrap Up 1/8/15

I have decided to do weekly wrap ups for all of the graphic novels/trades that I read.  I figured this was another way to share with the world my love of comics. Below is a list of each book as found on Amazon. I do receive a very small percentage of every sale, so if you enjoy watching my videos please help me by purchasing something. I hope that this wrap up was helpful, and entertaining.

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The New 52 Joker makes me want to read more Batman Comics

I recently finished reading Joker: Death of the Family, which is a New 52 book.  I'm really enjoying this revamp of DC's characters. I mean I didn't mind reading the occasional Batman book, but this new rendition of classic heroes, and villains has got me wanting more. This book in particular features a more mature, and grisly storyline that past Bat books didn't live up to. For some reason the Joker had removed his face and went into hiding leading everyone to believe he was dead. But he returns to let the Bat Family know that he is alive, and out to make their lives complicated. Batman, and a few other players are trying to analyze just why the Joker has done this, and why he seems to love torturing Batman.

I loved the way the story was introduced by Joker wannabe's staring trouble throughout Gotham, and the Bat gang had to solve the crime. This lead into Harley Quinn discovering that her lost love is still alive, and she has conflicted emotions about it. I will not get too much more into the story, as I do not want to spoil it. But It would have been nice to learn why Joker had removed his face, and I am going to read some back issues to discover this for myself. The artwork was great, and the Joker himself looked especially demented and nightmarish looking almost like Leatherface with his own face being worn as a mask. The further use of grotesque imagery just made this story that much better. Also the surprise ending of each comic book with the covered tray, and the wanting to know just what is under it kept me wanting more. The suspense of just finding out what he was up to compelled me to fly through this very large graphic novel.  If you are a fan of Batman/Joker already and you have yet to read this you really should soon. If you have never really gotten into Batman, but you are a fan of mystery, and horror you should check this volume out.

Undead Murder Mysteries

This past week I had the chance to read 2 really cool graphic novels, which at first thought were going to be about zombies like The Walking Dead.  But upon reading these 2 graphics I discovered that they more of the undead type, and not ghouls. Both books were about  young women who had been murdered, and then returned to life to discover who had killed them.  The first example of this was considered a rural noir called Revival. This book took place in a small town located in Wisconsin where people who had  died came back to life on a specific day. This day was called revival day, and any who had died and came back to life on this day found it extremely hard to die again. They seem almost immortal, as wounds heal quickly, and they are renewed almost. The main plot of the story is trying to find just why this occurrence happened, and how. Also they are quarantined because the rest of the world fears that it is contagious. A mysterious being/entity is roaming the woods, and it makes you wonder if this is the reason the dead live again? This book reminds me a lot of the ABC show Resurrection, but with gore.

The other book I read was called Rachel Rising, and was another strange tale where the dead were coming back to life in the small town, called Manson (if the name of the town isn't creepy enough). This book is written and drawn by Terry Moore, who is known for his other comic book series, Strangers in Paradise.  Even though this has a similar plot as the other book I enjoyed this one much more. Moore just has a way of writing that seems to be more believable I guess or I just find his characters more readable. This book also contains a mystery figure who seems to be behind the murders, and resurrections of others within the town.  This was a 5 star read, and one that I cannot wait to get back into.

Both graphic novels are in black and white just to forewarn you if you are not really into those types of comics. But I would recommend these to those who like a good mystery with an added thrill. Even if you are not really into comics you may really enjoy these.

Cybernetic Weapons of Mass Destruction

Earlier today I had finished reading We3, which is a Vertigo graphic novel consisting of three comic book issues. Being that it is Vertigo this is intended for mature readers. The story is about kidnapped pets who have been transformed into battle armored, and wired for control killing machines. I have heard rumor of the US military wanting to do something similar with dolphins, but whether that is true or fiction is not the point. I'm guessing that is what inspired the writers of this story to create this to begin with.
There is not much for dialog , and most of the book consisted of action scenes some of which are from the view point of a security camera. The animals are used experimentally to see if the idea of using modified animals can be used in combat situations, and after they complete a mission they are to be decommissioned (killed). The doctor who was in charge of the animals decides to let them go, and just like "Homeward Bound" decide they want to go home. Not having a clue as to where home is, and with the government after them is the main theme of the book. I found this to be a fascinating what if scenario, and was a very entertaining read. Bonus for the happy ending. I have rated this 4 stars on goodreads.

Green Lantern : A Series Recomendation

I have just finished watching Green Lantern: Emerald Knights on Blu ray, which honestly I rated 3 stars, as it was just okay. A lot of dialog, and the fight scenes were what I liked most. It was good for origins of key characters in the GL series, and a good set up for one series that I would recomend reading for super hero fans. I'm not really a DC comics fanboy, but the series Blackest Night, and the follow up The Brightest Day are worth checking out of you are a fan of super hero storylines with intense stories. The Blackest Night is about a prophesy come true involving an ancient evil that wants to consume all of the life in the GL universe. They manage to try this by resurrecting fallen heroes and villains which try to guilt the living into becoming as empty and unforgiving as them.

That storyline immediately leads into the next storyline of The Brightest Day, in which Sinestro is chosen to wield the white ring.  This is sort of a cleaning up period in which the different colors that represent the known DC universe must join forces to fix what the damage that the Blackest night had wrought on the universe. I did not find this one as enjoyable as the previous series, but it was a nice follow up to it.

Green Lantern: In...

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When Super Villains Become Super Heroes

I recently finished reading Anti-Venom and I was browsing the reviews that people gave this book on goodreads.com A lot of people were dissing it, because he was now a hero instead of the classic villain. But I on the other hand thought that it was a great tale of redemption. I mean Eddie Brock gets cured of his life threatening cancer, and made into the Anti-Venom symbiote. He then sees a chance to make up for all of the bad stuff he had done as a villain and starts by "curing" a junkie named Jenna. He then teams up with the Punisher to get the kidnapped Jenna from the clutches of a Mexican drug cartel. Although the story was a bit short, and kind of fast paced it had beautiful art; and a moral behind the story. I say "so what if he is now a hero" I liked it very much. I am now currently reading Venom: circle of four.

Books mentioned in this post :

The Walking Dead TV Series : Leaving Behind the Prison

Well it looks like The Walking Dead is going to start following the comics again, as the new poster for the rest of season 4 (found on the shows website) shows the Grimes leaving to destination unknown, and new actors have been hired to fill in the roles of characters from the comic series. I hope they discover the walled in city from the comics. This was a new approach to their survival, and I thought it was a great way to show that they are not alone. If you are wondering what I am talking about I just finished reading The Walking Dead Compendium 2, which I rated 4 stars on goodreads. While the tv series has been slightly different from the comic books it seems to be following the major themes from them. For more info about the rest of the season and quotes from Kirkman check out this story - The Walking Dead Season 4b .