After years in the wilderness,X-Menis officially bringing back its most powerful man alive. The move comes as Marvel celebrates the anniversary of the iconiciconic Age of Apocalypse event, with some big-name characters making an explosive return.
In a press release, Marvel just shared new details for the upcomingX-Men of Apocalypseminiseries. The big news is thatthe series will bring back Nate Grey’s X-Man, who has the most potent powers in the franchise (only potentially topped by his mom Jean Grey when she’s fully bonded to the Phoenix.)
X-MEN OF APOCALYPSE #1 (OF 4)
Cover Artist:
SIMONE DI MEO
Taking place in the direct aftermath of the original crossover’s explosive finale, X-MEN OF APOCALYPSE reignites the mission of this iconic reality’s X-Men as they journey here to ensure their universe’s survival. This desperate mission will take them into the main Marvel Universe, where they will come into conflict with their classic counterparts, forever impacting both team’s destinies!
The story will see the X-Men from the iconic Age of Apocalypse reality travel to Earth-616, battling to maintain their own timeline despite it being reset at the end of the ’90s event. A team containing Jean Grey, Sabretooth, Wildchild, Blink, Morph and more will take on the classic X-Men of Marvel’s mainstream reality, with X-Man seemingly caught in the middle. The issue comes with variant covers from Arthur Adams, Fanyang and Joe Madureira, below.
X-Man Returns, As the X-Men of the Apocalypse Hit Earth-616
Cyclops and Phoenix’s Long-Lost Son Is Back
Nate Grey was created in the Age of Apocalypse timeline by Mister Sinister, who sought to produce the ultimate outcome of Jean Grey and Scott Summers' powerful genetics. He succeeded, with Nate possessing such potent psionic power that he can manipulate reality and even create his own pocket realities with their own rules and history. Speaking to Marvel, writer Jeph Loeb says:
An AGE OF APOCALYPSE celebration wouldn’t be complete without X-MAN! I’m thrilled to return to mutantkind’s greatest psychic powerhouse, who’s caught between two worlds as his home universe collides with his current one - with disastrous results! The X-Men of Apocalypse have arrived, but the Uncanny X-Men aren’t going to be the most welcoming…
A powerful beyond-Omega mutant, Nate can do pretty much anything, from teleporting to turning intangible and invisible, enhancing his strength, traveling through time, controlling electronics, reshaping matter at the atomic level, manifesting psionic weaponry and armor, reading and controlling minds, stepping between realities, manipulating others' powers and even raising the dead, including being able to will himself back to life if he dies.
Like his mom, Nate is connected to the Phoenix Force and has manifested its power before, but hasn’t been totally taken over by the cosmic being. Despite this, the X-Men have speculated that X-Man is as powerful as Jean Grey’s Phoenixeven with just his natural mutant powers.
X-Man has been both ally and antagonist to the X-Men, making a new home in Earth-616 after leaving the Age of Apocalypse. However, thanks to his power level, he hasn’t been seen much in the last few decades, since he’s almost impossible to write as anything but a godlike threat. Now, as the X-Men of Apocalypse invade Earth-616, they have Nate Grey in their sights, meaning thatX-Menfans once again get to see the franchise’s biggest powerhouse in action.
X-Men of Apocalypse Alpha #1is coming September 3 from Marvel Comics, followed byX-Men of Apocalypse #1on November 5.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
