X-tinction Event

Marvel marks Age Of Apocalypse's 30th anniversary with new crossover Age Of Revelation

- WORDS: STEPHEN JEWELL

THE MERRY MUTANTS' FIRST crossover since the end of the Krakoan period and last year's relaunch of Marvel's X-line, Age Of Revelation harks back to Age Of Apocalypse, which had a similar cataclysmic impact when it was first published in 1995. Described by X-Men group editor Tom Brevoort as “a big swing”, it involved the entire Earth-616 reality being replaced by a new grim totalitarian world ruled over by the immortal mutant villain.

“In those pre-internet days, the announcement that the entire X-Men line of titles was ending set the fan community on fire, and then the rollout of the Age Of Apocalypse books generated tons of excitement,” recalls Brevoort. “So it’s remembered not so much because the story was so compelling, but because of how extremely it changed the landscape of the line for several months, and for how absolutely bananas an idea it was.”

Set around a decade into the future, Age Of Revelation actually owes more to another classic X-Men storyline. “There's probably more Days Of Future Past in it than Age Of Apocalypse,” says Brevoort, confirming that like its predecessor, Age Of Revelation will “absolutely impact on the present-day affairs of the Marvel Universe across the next year. To be more specific, two characters from the present will find themselves in the world 10 years hence and experience these events directly.”

Spinning out of 2024’s Heir Of Apocalypse,