Age Of Apocalypse Redux

[Primal]

A What If? take on the defining X-tale of the ’90s imagines a Marvel Universe without the X-Men
By Matt Powell

Posted November 20, 2006 4:15 PM

Say your prayers, because comic scribe Rick Remender is bringing the Apocalypse all over again.

This December, What If? X-Men: Age of Apocalypse storms its way into comic shops to revisit the original tale that redefined the X-Men in the ’90s.

Remender and series artist Dave Wilkins begin their story with—what else?—a question: “What if Legion killed Professor Xavier and Magneto?”

“The Marvel Universe goes a good bit differently in this one,” said Remender. “The murder of these two men gets humanity up in arms against the mutants much sooner than in [Earth] 616.”

Remender said that instead of moving Apocalypse’s plan forward, humanity’s reaction to the event pushes his plan for domination back. Unlike the original Age of Apocalypse, the Marvel Universe goes on after Xavier’s murder—but that doesn’t bode well for the resident mutant population.

“Mutants have been rounded up in the night by FBI spooks known as Sentinels and taken to concentration camps,” explained Remender. “As time went on, [many mutants] fled through an underground railroad to the Savage Land, so they’ve been given no good reason to think much of humanity. When Apocalypse is ready, he has no trouble putting together an army of mutants.”

The deaths of Xavier and Magneto don’t just bump the X-Men out of existence—the entire Silver Age of Marvel heroes gets rewritten!

“[The events of the series] allows the Silver Age to happen, though without any mutants in the spotlight,” explained Remender. “The Avengers, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man all exist in this world, and that has a major effect on things. It’s a bit darker, because we see what effect Apocalypse’s rage has on some beloved characters during a fairly innocent period of their lives.”

With this universe being X-Men-less, heroes ranging from “Earth’s Mightiest” to the “Fantastic” suit up to face En Sabah Nur and his horde. Brought together by Sorcerer Supreme Brother Voodoo, the ragtag band of “New Defenders” will go to the limit to save their world, Remender said.

“[Brother Voodoo] has a plan to take the last remaining superhumans and mutants who oppose Apocalypse and make a last desperate bid to put things right,” added Remender. “Other characters that make up the New Defenders are Captain America (armed with Thor's hammer), Nate Summers, the Molecule Man, Wolverine, Sauron, the Thing, Colossus and Brian Braddock (armored up in one of Tony Stark’s old Iron Man suits).”

The battles aren’t limited to Earth, as Remender hinted that mystical villain Dormammu will tear through dimensions to get at our heroes.

“This team is together for really the first time on what looks to be a sure suicide mission,” said Remender. “So playing off that unfamiliarity makes things interesting.”

Coupled with an all-new lineup of Apocalypse’s Four Horsemen and a final battle that Remender called “a dream come true,” this may be the coolest doomsday in X-Men history.

http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazi.../002402165.cfm

Click for bigger pics...

[bat_collector]

D U M B

Jeez, the mutants just can't get any respect.

[MrYac]

can't there be one team in the universe that doesn't contain wolverine...just one

[Justin]

I'll be buying this!!