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Saturday, 14 March 2020

ONSLAUGHT (1996)

Ever since the Juggernaut was finally stopped by a new, mystery villain (during THE FALL OF AVALON), the X-Men have been trying to discover the identity and intentions of Onslaught. Onslaught has been manipulating and testing the X-Men for months and building himself an army. Following a spell in an alternate universe (specifically making the leap to the Ultraverse during INTO THE BREACH), Juggernaut has returned and revealed the villain's true identity to Phoenix (Jean Grey). Having learned her mentor, Professor X (Charles Xavier) is Onslaught (during THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT), will the X-Men find the courage to turn against their once-benevolent founder?
Major Event:
With two bookend one-shots and multiple tie-in issues, 'Onslaught' is considered a major event. 
If you don't want to read every tie-in, the key chapters are marked with an asterisk *
  • Onslaught: X-Men #1 *
  • Uncanny X-Men #335 *
  • Cable #34 *
  • Avengers #401 *
  • Fantastic Four #415 *
  • Wolverine #104 *
  • X-Man #18 *
  • Excalibur #100
  • X-Factor #125 *
  • Incredible Hulk #444 *
  • Generation X #18
  • Sensational Spider-Man #8 (tie-in)
  • X-Men #55 *
  • Amazing Spider-Man #415
  • Green Goblin #12
  • X-Force #57 *
  • Spider-Man #72
  • Uncanny X-Men #336 *
  • X-Force #58
  • Cable #35 *
  • X-Factor #126
  • X-Men Unlimited #12
  • Punisher #11
  • Incredible Hulk #445
  • Iron Man #332
  • Avengers #402
  • Generation X #19
  • X-Man #19 *
  • Thor #502 (tie-in) (also see THE LOST GODS)
  • Fantastic Four #416 *
  • Wolverine #105
  • X-Men #56 *
  • Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1 *
Onslaught: X-Men #1 *
Professor X (Charles Xavier) calls off the X-Men's search for the Juggernaut in the grounds of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. Instead, he wants to reveal his new mission statement for the X-Men and his intention to take a more controlling hand. Only Phoenix (Jean Grey) knows that Xavier is secretly being controlled by the foe who's been manipulating the X-Men for the past few weeks - Onslaught. - and is the only one who sees Juggernaut trapped in the discarded Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. Jean's attempt to free Xavier results in him revealing the truth to the X-Men, that he is Onslaught. The gigantic, armoured villains stands before them and offers them a place by his side. Instead, the X-Men oppose their enemy, believing Xavier is still somewhere inside him, trying to fight back. 

Onslaught's power easily lays the mutants low and he departs, approaching Franklin Richards at Four Freedoms Plaza in the guise of his "imaginary friend', Charlie. While the X-Men review Xavier's files, Onslaught returns to the Institute and defeats them again. Only Jean escapes and sends out a distress call (one that we previously saw in Bishop's future during MUTANT GENESIS). The 'Dark Beast' from Earth-295 who recently took the real Beast's place among the X-Men offers his services to Onslaught who then interrupts Jean's message. She's saved by the X-Men and, after defeating them one last time, Onslaught and 'Beast' depart. Cyclops realises the only way to stop Xavier is to kill him. Elsewhere, the X-Man (Nate Grey of Earth-295) demands help from the Avengers in taking down Xavier. And Onslaught brings the reprogrammed Sentinels online...
Uncanny X-Men #335 *
Ozymandias witnesses Apocalypse emerge from his regeneration chamber, fully aware that Magneto and Professor X have become Onslaught and that Uatu the Watcher has come to Earth to witness the end of the 'Age of Wonders'. The Avengers and X-Man arrive at the decimated Xavier Institute and, after a brief clash between the two teams (and X-Man mistakes Phoenix for his friend, Maddie Pryor), the X-Men reveal Xavier's somehow being influenced by Magneto. Jean reveals it's probably connected to Xavier shutting down Magneto's mind (during FATAL ATTRACTIONS). Everyone splits into teams to head off various potential targets. On Muir Island, Excalibur prepare to unlock the Xavier Protocols. In the Morlock tunnels, Dark Beast offers Onslaught allies, unaware that Xavier is inside his new master, trying to fight back...

Cable #34 *
In Baltimore, Cable picks himself up following his defeat at the hands of Post (during THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT), only to find himself under attack the Onslaught-controlled Hulk who seems unable to maintain full control of his personalities. Cable gets trounced by the 'Grey Hulk', 'Professor Hulk' and 'Rampaging Hulk' personas until Storm arrives and restarts his heart. Cable takes Hulk down with a mind-bolt, but the behemoth gets back on his feet with the 'Savage Hulk' having taken over. On the SHIELD Helicarrier, GW Bridge receives orders to head to Baltimore...
Avengers #401 *
Gambit and a team of Avengers that include the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver head off to apprehend Magneto. They soon catch up with Rogue and the man only know as Joseph (who appears to be a de-aged Magneto) and immediately go on the offensive. The Scarlet WItch brings the violence to a close when she realises this is a very different man to the father she knew, narrowly stopping her brother, Quicksilver, from killing him in the process. Rogue and Joseph agree to accompany the Avengers, though Gambit realises he may have new competition for Rogue's affections...

Fantastic Four #415 *
The Fantastic Four return home from their mission to end the threat of Hyperstorm, but are unaware that Franklin Richards has a new imaginary friend, "Charlie'. Professor X visits Four Freedoms Plaza, asking to take Franklin into his custody. When a team made up of X-Men and Avengers turn up, Onslaught reveals his true form and takes them down with relative ease. The Human Torch comes to Lyja's rescue, revealing he knew she was 'Laura Green' all along and still loves her. When Onslaught lays everybody low, he walks out of Four Freedoms Plaza with Franklin who still believes he's his friend, Charlie. From a distance, Apocalypse observes and suggests to the Watcher that they're about to witness the Age of Onslaught...
Wolverine #104 *
Wolverine (who was recently mutated during STONE COLD DEATH) locates the mute mutant teleporter known as Gateway and asks him how the X-Men can stop Onslaught. Instead, Gateway torments Wolverine by showing him death of Mariko Yashida again. He's soon joined by his newest ally, Elektra, who mentions her mentor Stick, getting a reaction from Gateway who shows her the death of her father, resurrection by the Hand and the purifying of her soul by Daredevil. Gateway them sucks them both into a vision that feels like they're reliving the moment when Magneto pulled the Adamantium from Wolverine's bones and Professor X retaliated by wiping Magneto's mind (during FATAL ATTRACTIONS). Gateway reveals that an astral manifestation of Magneto's dark ego jumped over to Xavier, at that point, which sowed the seed that would grow to become Onslaught. It was Xavier lashing out against Magneto and unleashing his own dark side that opened the door for Magneto's darkness. Will the Professor ever be the same again?

X-Man #18 *
Mister Sinister learns Apocalypse has risen again, but opts to pursue another powerful mutant, instead. He soon catches up with Threnody in Manhattan and implies her relationship with Nate Grey has been part of his plan (wether she knows it or not). X-Force have been assigned to keeping Nate out of Onslaught's clutches at the Xavier Institute, but instead find themselves vanquished by Sinister. Nate finally meets the version of Sinister from this reality, learning that he was 'created' by Earth-295's Sinister in the process. Mister Sinister reveals to Nate that it was the process of him pulling Professor X's astral body from his physical form that taught Onslaught how to create a physical body for himself. As the man behind the birth of Cable in this reality, Mister Sinister enables a failsafe that his alternate counterpart also enabled, allowing him to shut Nate down. Now only Domino stands in his way...
Excalibur #100
The London Hellfire Club's Red Queen (Margali Szardos) continues to use the head of Douglock to summon the demon from below London, inciting rage and riots in the streets of England's capital. Excalibur head in, splitting their numbers between the Hellfire Club and the Black Air building. While the team are away from Muir Island, Daytripper (Amanda Sefton) arrives to warn Excalibur of the Red Queen's plans to gain ultimate magical power. Just then, the X-Men arrive on Muir to tell Moira MacTaggert that Charles Xavier has gone insane. She unlocks the Xavier Protocols - a series fo files revealing how to kill each member of the X-Men should they ever go rogue. As upsetting as it is for Phoenix to learn that Professor X had been figuring out ways to kill them all, it's possibly the only thing that will allow them to kill Onslaught. Back in London, Brian Braddock dons his Captain Britain uniform once again and resigns as Black Bishop of the Hellfire Club. He reveals the Red Rook was being controlled by the mutant Mountjoy and defeats him. Meggan tackles a techno-organic Brood alien. Nightcrawler defeats the Red King in a sword fight. Lockheed helps Pete Wisdom apprehend the murderous Black Air agent Scratch. Daytripper teleports down to London where she and Wolfsbane break the connection between the demon and Douglock's head, causing Margali Szardos to fade out of existence. 
X-Factor #125[1/2] *
Dark Beast is able to offer Havok's services to Onslaught, now that the former X-Factor leader has ditched switched sides. He also reveals he has a mole inside the mutant team. Meanwhile, X-Factor are too busy battling a Sentinel to pick up the emergency transmission from Phoenix. Forge had been working on the Sentinel for the team to use for training purposes, but the team soon realise it wasn't Forge who activated it. Mystique calls on X-Factor's newest member, Sabretooth, for help, only for Fatale to teleport in and 'port them out, then teleport away with the Sentinel. Havok and Post join the attack on X-Factor and Random is revealed to be in Dark Beast's employ. Havok takes down Polaris, breaking her heart more than anything. Forge tries to stop Post from launching the secret stash of Sentinels, but he's too late. The Sentinels make their way to New York...


X-Factor #125[2/2] *
Mystique and Sabretooth are teleported to the Morlock Tunnels beneath Manhattan where Dark Beast attempts to recruit them, revealing his alternate universe origins and allegiance to Onslaught. All they have to do is kill Forge and gain their freedom. They reject his offer, so Dark Beast teleports out and leads them off his sent by making them the only ones who know the whereabouts of the real Beast...


Incredible Hulk #444 *
Storm chases the Hulk across Baltimore with Cable as his prisoner. Cable risks everything as he enters the Hulk's consciousness to battle him on the astral plane while Storm assaults him physically with her weather powers. Together, they almost kill the Hulk but struggle to free Bruce Banner's psyche from Onslaught's control and save his life. Now, the grateful Hulk is an ally. Elsewhere, in a Pantheon safehouse, Janis Jones (Rick Jones' daughter from the future) is discovered by Ajax...
Generation X #18
Under Onslaught's influence, Emma Frost coerces Banshee into exiting Generation X's jet mid-flight. When they land, the team try to take Emma down, but she defeats them and has them packed up and taken to one of her stately homes where she is free from the presence that tried to influence her. Unfortunately, the Toad is already making himself comfortable and doesn't want to share with Generation X. Banshee begins his search for the students. And, somewhere between New York and Massachusetts, Chamber and Skin are trying to find their way back to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters...

Sensational Spider-Man #8 (tie-in)
Spider-Man (Ben Reilly) investigates a super-villain crime spree. He soon discovers the Looter is behind all the crimes, having recently stolen weapons once owned by Ringer, Stilt-Man, Unicorn and others. Spidey destroys the device the Looter has built to locate the second meteorite that could add to his meteorite-fueled powers. SHIELD arrive to take him in, making Spider-Man think maybe the Looter isn't as insane as he thought. As he leaves, Spidey witnesses Sentinels arriving in New York...
X-Men #55 *
Onslaught's Sentinels swarm through Manhattan. Mister Fantastic leads a team back into Four Freedoms Plaza to invent a weapon that might stop Onslaught, while the rest fo the Fantastic Four, Avengers and X-Men take to the streets to battle the giant-size killer robots, though they'll need the Xavier Protocols to stand a chance against him. Onslaught channels Franklin Richards' mutant powers to create a gigantic citadel in the middle of Central Park, then sends out an EMP wave that shorts out all the technology on Manhattan Island. The wave destroys the device Mister Fantastic was working on and sends the returning X-Men's jet crashing into the city streets. In North Africa, Ozymandias carves a vision of the future that reveals an evolved Onslaught standing over the ruins of the Earth...
Amazing Spider-Man #415
Peter Parker's super-human abilities are registered by an attacking Sentinel. Once he's taken his pregnant wife, Mary Jane Watson-Parker, to safety, Peter takes on the robot directly. His powers cut out mid-fight, but the Sentinel no longer sees him as a threat and leaves. The couple head back to the Daily Bugle where J Jonah Jameson still plans on sending the paper to print, despite all the chaos. Meanwhile, Spider-Man (Ben Reilly) dons his costume and destroys his first Sentinel with the intention of following up with more...

Green Goblin #12
When he decides helping the staff of the Daily Bugle put their paper out is too dull, Phil Urich summons his Goblin Glider and Green Goblin costume and tries to destroy a Sentinel, only to be completely outclassed. In defiance of his direct family's negative opinion of him, Phil picks himself up and goes after it again. He launches his Glider into the Sentinel's head and the fall and debris critically damage his costume. Does this mark the end of the heroic Green Goblin?
X-Force #57 *
Apocalypse did more than genetically alter Caliban. He also installed a failsafe that would turn him into an enraged, attacking beast in the presence of Mister Sinister. With Caliban tearing into Sinister, Domino tries to save herself, X-Force and Nate Grey by setting off explosive charges that destroy much of the Xavier Institute. When this barely slows Sinister, Nate Grey accesses the Askani teachings Cable passed on to Sunspot to help him focus his powers. Nate defeats Sinister who allows him full access to his mind to learn his true motivation. Of course, this turns out to be a trap and Sinister creates a psychic backlash that lays X-Force low and allows him to walk out with an unconscious Nate Grey...

Spider-Man #72
Peter Parker takes to the New York rooftops with a camera and ends up joining forces with his 'brother, Ben Reilly, the current Spider-Man. Despite Peter's failing powers, he rescues Ben more than once and helps defeat a number of Sentinels before the pair head off to see if they can join the fight against Onslaught...
Uncanny X-Men #336 *
Inside Onslaught's mind, Franklin Richards desperately tries to wake Professor X up, despite Onslaught informing him they have a world to conquer. Merging them his power with Franklin's evolves Onslaught into a new form. The heroes are divided as they rescue as many as they can following the EMP. Iron Man gets back on his feet and to a lab to start work on the Psi-Armour. Another team led by Cyclops and the Invisible Woman confront Onslaught directly. Cable and Magneto's combined powers weaken his new armour, allowing Thor to retrieve the now-powerless Professor X from his body. Onslaught unleashes psionic and magnetic energies which assault New York City. Uatu the Watcher convinces Apocalypse to take a closer hand in events to end the threat of Onslaught...

X-Force #58
Siryn breaks free from the ruins of the Xavier Institute and tries to revive the other members of X-Force. On the psychic plane, each unconscious member of the team experiences their greatest desire before being approached by a young boy who promises to offer them more. The boy reappears and tries to lead them into the light, but they realise they're being tricked by Onslaught. They wake up and the 'real' boy - a manifestation of Professor X's goodness - appears before them and explains their roles on the team and why they work together so well as X-Force before he disappears. 
Cable #35 *
Apocalypse appears before Cable and the Invisible Woman (Sue Richards) as they fight their way through the psionic hurricane, offering a chance to retrieve Sue's son, Franklin Richards. After a brief battle, Cable reluctantly accepts, leaving the Invisible Woman to keep fighting. Apocalypse and Cable travel inside Onslaught citadel via the astral plane. Apocalypse attempts to put an end to Onslaught's plan by killing Franklin. The Invisible Woman reveals her presence and stop Apocalypse. Onslaught teleports them all away, without Franklin. Apocalypse taunts the heroes for failing before teleporting out, too. Cable assures the Sue Richards that they'll save Franklin, while Franklin is more determined than ever to escape... 

X-Factor #126
Forge reminds Mystique and Sabretooth not to attempt an escape by activating their restraining devices before sending them and the rest of X-Factor off to find the real Beast. Polaris and Shard are left guarding the captive Havok and Random. Sabretooth finds the Beast first, but it turns out to be Dark Beast again in a vain effort to trick X-Factor. Dark Beast and Fatale are apprehended when the true Beast is discovered. Outside, Havok tricks Polaris into allowing him to break free. Havok blasts Random into goop that runs down the nearest drain, then blasts Polaris who is left in a critical state while he makes his escape...
X-Men Unlimited #12
Doctor Strange has to step aside to allow Gomurr the Ancient to travel alone into the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak and find the Juggernaut. Both the Gem and the demonic temptress Spite taunt Juggernaut with his past, but he refuses to listen to their lessons despite Gomurr's guidance. Instead of personal growth, Juggernaut opts for personal power and confronts the aspect of Cytorrak himself that Gomurr and Tar once trapped in the Gem. Tar returns to assist Gomurr and the Juggernaut in prevent Cyttorak from using Juggernaut as a host body to free himself from the Gem. Doctor Strange witnesses the Juggernaut's return to reality, repowered but no smarter than he was before.

Punisher #11
The Helicarrier is brought down by the Sentinels when GW Bridge sends SHIELD agents in yo investigate their presence, sending it crashing into the Jersey side waterfront. With multiple agents dead or seriously injured, the Junkyard Dogs street gang immediately attempt to raid it for weapons. Defying his own expectations, the Punisher finds himself coming to Bridge's rescue. Bridge sets the Helicarrier to explode and escapes with the Punisher, Dum Dum Dugan and Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine and the Punisher escape. The surviving Junkyard Dogs are arrested by SHIELD, while Bridge surprises the Punisher by sending him on a mission to deal with a band mutant terrorists in his own inimitable style...
Incredible Hulk #445
Frustrated with the heroes lack of trust in him, the Hulk convinces Captain America to let him try attacking Onslaught. Joined by the few who believe he's capable of better - Falcon, Hawkeye, Crystal and the recovered Vision - burrows beneath the citadel. The four Avengers die and the Hulk kills Onslaught, who then reveals it's all an illusion and shows his (living) allies that the Hulk is willing to sacrifice them to succeed. The Hulk gives up on attacking Onslaught and returns with the others to their hideout, with no one trusting him anymore. Elsewhere, Janis Jones meets Atalanta and learns about the Pantheon, Betty Banner learns her husband is alive and Rick Jones is talked out of heading to New York by his wife, Marlo Chandler-Jones...

Iron Man #332
Iron Man, Quicksilver, Giant-Man and the Black Panther dodge the reactivated Sentinels to sneak into the Wakandan Embassy. The Panther gives sources the vibranium needed to complete the Psi-Armour that will shield the Avengers and X-Men from Onslaught's mental powers. Quicksilver and Giant-Man provide a distraction for the Sentinels that allows the young Tony Stark to complete job and create enough head pieces to protect his allies.
Avengers #402
While the Hulk leads some of the Avengers towards Onslaught directly and Iron Man is busy finishing the psi-shield headgear, Captain America leads the remaining Avengers into the subways to help trapped civilians. Cap is almost overwhelmed by the citizen's loss of hope as it begins to affect the team. Iron Man rejoins the group when Post and Holocaust emerge and oppose the Avengers and all seems lost until Cap figures a way to use the villains' powers against each other, inspiring the crows around them. With hope restored, the Avengers prepare for the final battle against Onslaught...

Generation X #19
Emma Frost isn't sure why she's hidden the Gen X kids away in her Canadian home or why she's uncharacteristically playing 'mother'. The Toad realises the kids aren't in control, making it easier to manipulate them himself and become their 'king'. Emma snaps out of it, realises she was trying to hide everyone from the evil presence on the psychic plane and sets Toad straight. She reminds him she gave him safe haven in her home after Magneto and the Hellfire Club treated him too badly. Banshee finds the team with a little help from Sasquatch of the former-Alpha Flight and everyone puts their differences aside now they realise Emma truly cares about them.

X-Man #19 *
Mister Sinister fails to convince Nate Grey to side with him and it becomes clear his ability to shut down Nate's powers were a one-time trick. Onslaught taps into Franklin Richards' powers and pulls Nate through a hole in reality, leaving Sinister's hopes dashed. Somewhere in the New York sewers, Threnody (an unwilling participant in Sinister's plans for Nate Grey) manages to escape her chains but is faced with Scalphunter and Arclight of the Marauders who refuse to let her leave. Thankfully for her, a hulking creature is about to come to her rescue...

Thor #502 (tie-in)
Thor recounts his origins and some of his greatest battles as he hands the role of protector of Earth and Asgard over to Red Norvell (resurrected during MYTH CONCEPTIONS). Odin still wanders the streets of New York as a powerless homeless man while, on Asgard, the amnesiac Enchantress has sunk to cleaning the blood from Ice Giants' armour. A number of Thor's past associates - including Hela (offering him a place in Hel), Jane Foster and an army of frogs - visit the Thunder God before he departs for the final, fateful battle against Onslaught.

Fantastic Four #416[1/2] *
Nathaniel Richards (Mister Fantastic's father) warns the Fantastic Four that their fight with Onslaught will end in their deaths. Franklin Richards focuses his powers to send a positive message to his parents, only for it to be warped by Onslaught on the way, transforming into manifestations of their rogues gallery and attacking the heroes at Four Freedoms Plaza. The Black Panther, Fantastic ForceInhumans, Agatha HarknessShe-Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner and even Doctor Doom show up to assist the team in defeating them and offering their might against Onslaught. The Thing donates the machine that allows him to change back to human form to Mister Fantastic to power the neuro-disruptor and end the attacks. Realising Franklin was the source of the reality-altering power, the Invisible Woman realises he's still alive and prepare for the final assault on Onslaught's citadel...

Wolverine #105
In New York, Wolverine heads into a burning building to rescue a young boy and is pointed toward the exit by a blind old man. With the boy safe, Wolverine heads back in to rescue the old man who leads him on a chase to the roof, insulting him on the way. Wolverine realises this is Elektra's deceased master, Stick, who convinces him to start to believe in his own humanity again. The Human Torch arrives to take Wolverine to Four Freedoms Plaza...

X-Men #56 *
Doctor Doom comes to the aid of Joseph and Rogue as they struggle to defeat a giant Sentinel on the streets of New York and questions Joseph's new, heroic status. Despite encouragement from Captain America, Joseph turns to turn to Professor X to apologise for his actions as Magneto, but the Professor apologises in return for failing him by shutting down his mind. In the citadel, Onslaught finally taps into Nate Grey's mind, learning of the horrendous atrocities of the Age of Apocalypse (Nate's home reality of Earth-295, during THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE) and aspires to do the same to Earth in this reality. While the X-Men, Avengers and Fantastic Four plan the final assault, Professor X approaches Onslaught alone to appeal to the better part of himself that may still exist within him. Instead, the ever-evolving being promises no one will survive Onslaught... 

Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1 *
With the carnage over, Uatu the Watcher relays the final confrontation and the end of the Age of Wonders. The X-Men swooped in and rescued Professor X, quickly joined by the Avengers, Fantastic Four and the others. Numerous plans failed until the Hulk convinced Phoenix to shut down the 'Bruce Banner' part of his brain and send him at Onslaught as a rampaging beast. Hulk shattered Onslaughts armour, splitting Banner and the Hulk into two physical beings and revealing Onslaught's energy form.

To give his allies something to punch, Thor offered his own physical form by flying into Onslaught and becoming a focus for a physical attack. He's gradually joined by the other non-mutant heroes and Doctor Doom whose presence added to Onslaught's corporeal form, distracting him from Professor X and Joseph's journey to the centre of is being. Franklin convinced X-Man to take Professor X's hand and the four of them left Onslaught's inner reality just as the X-Men poured on their powers in a barrage of energies that led to Onslaught's destruction. While the world was now saved, the media believed they'd witnessed the X-Men killing the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Franklin learned his parents had made the ultimate sacrifice, while the X-Men had become hated once again. Observing the ruins beside Uatu, Apocalypse sees this as his opportunity to gain dominance over a world without heroes...
MCG Note: The entries in blue and black are the stories that show the direct impact of the 'Onslaught' event and wouldn't have occurred without it. The issues in grey are impacted by the sub-plots, tie-ins and and story points that aren't key to the main event.

Cable #36 (1996)
Cable's begins to lose his hold over the techno-organic virus that threatens to ravage his body; Nathaniel Richards comes to his aid during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH.


Incredible Hulk #446 (1996)
Without the Bruce Banner persona to keep him in check, the Hulk goes on a rampage in Central Park; Janis Jones escapes the Pantheon during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH.

Daredevil #358 (1996)
Matt Murdock opposes Rosalind Sharpe's attempt to cash in on the deaths of the Avengers and Fantastic Four.


Uncanny X-Men #337 (1996)

Bastion jumps at the opportunity to initiate his plan to destroy mutantkind, now that the public believe they're responsible for the deaths of the Avengers and Fantastic Four during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH

Excalibur #102 (1996) 
Daytripper (Amanda Sefton) goes to Germany to confront her mother, Margali Szardos; Margali's spirit enters Daytripper's body.


Amazing Spider-Man #416 (1996)
Spider-Man tries to come to terms with the death of the Avengers and Fantastic Four during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH.

Incredible Hulk #447-448 (1996)
Betty Banner approaches the Hulk who claims to have never met her before; Janis allies with the Hulk who finds himself pursued by the US Army once again; the Pantheon help the Hulk escape the Army, but Hulk refuses to rejoin them during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH.

X-Men #57 (1996)
Professor X decides to face up to the role he played in the creation of Onslaught and agrees to allow Val Cooper to take him into the custody of the US Government during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH.


Generation X #20 (1996)
Nathaniel Richards leaves Franklin Richards in the care of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH.

Generation X #21 (1996)
Chamber and Skin finally make it back to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.


Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed #1 (1996)
Hercules learns of the Avengers' deaths at the hands of Onslaught and decides to recruit the surviving members, starting with the Hulk.

Onslaught Epilogue #1 (1997)
Professor X finds himself a prisoner of Bastion in Nevada; Professor X discovers the existence of the Mannites and allows one, Nina, to escape Bastion's secret facility during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH.

X-Man #20 (1996)
The Abomination is revealed to be Threnody's rescuer.

Green Goblin #13 (1996)
With his costume in tatters, Phil Urich gives up the Green Goblin identity.

Uncanny X-Men #339 (1996)
Havok fully embraces his freedom fighter/terrorist role when he introduces his very own Brotherhood of Mutants, immediately clashing with his brother, Cyclops, during THE ASSASSINATION OF GRAYDON CREED.

X-Men #59 (1996)
In the wake of the death of the Avengers, Hercules continues his mission to recruit the remaining Avengers and assemble a new team during THE ASSASSINATION OF GRAYDON CREED.

Spectacular Spider-Man #238 (1996)
The new Lizard is revealed to be a lizard's tail mutated into humanoid form by Dr Curt Conners' assistant, Aldo; Spider-Man accidentally kills the new Lizard.


Heroes Reborn #0.5 (1996) 
In what appears to be another reality, the Avengers and Fantastic Four begin to emerge with new origins during HEROES REBORN.

Avengers #1 (1996)
In hew new life, the Wasp returns to her human (unaware of her mutation or her past) form during
HEROES REBORN.

Captain America #6 (1997)
Cable finds himself briefly transported to another Earth where he teams up with Captain America during
HEROES REBORN.

Iron Man #6 (1997)
An apparition of Onslaught appears in front of the Iron Man of the 'Heroes Reborn' Earth during HEROES REBORN / INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.


Incredible Hulk #449 (1997)
A new super-team called the Thunderbolts emerge to fill the gap left by the fallen heroes during JUSTICE LIKE LIGHTNING.

Incredible Hulk #450 (1997)
Doctor Strange senses the Avengers and Fantastic Four may, in fact be alive during HEROES REBORN.

Imperial Guard #1-3 (1997) 
Empress Lilandra of the Shi'ar sends her Imperial Guard to Earth to act as its defenders in the absence of the heroes.

Amazing Spider-Man #418 (1996)
Mary-Jane Watson-Parker loses the baby (or does she?) during
REVELATIONS.

Peter Parker, Spider-Man #75 (1996) 
Ben Reilly is revealed to be a clone, while Peter Parker is revealed to be the one, true Spider-Man; Peter reclaims the Spider-Man identity during
REVELATIONS.

Juggernaut #1 (1997)
Spite returns and talks the Juggernaut into helping her fight her brother, D'Spayre.

Journey into Mystery #503 (1996)
Red Norvell begins his quest for the lost Asgardian gods, but is immediately killed by Seth during
THE LOST GODS.

Tales of the Marvel Universe #1 (1997)
Nathaniel Richards and Kristoff Vernard send all of the Fantastic Four's technology into the Negative Zone to stop it from falling into the wrong hands; the Thunderbolts win public favour; Dreadknight makes his move to take over Latveria now that Doctor Doom is dead; Doctor Strange confirms his suspicions that the heroes are alive; it's revealed that Ant-Man wasn't among the heroes who sacrificed themselves to defeat Onslaught during JUSTICE LIKE LIGHTNING / THE HAUNTING OF CASTLE DOOM.

Sabretooth and Mystique #1-4 (1996-1997)
Mystique and Sabretooth spend more time together when they go AWOL from X-Factor to take down a rogue Hydra faction.


Thunderbolts #1 (1997) 
Away from prying eyes, the Thunderbolts unmask, revealing them to be the Masters of Evil in new identities; Hallie Takahama's parents are revealed to be among those killed in New York during Onslaught's attack during JUSTICE LIKE LIGHTNING.

X-Men '96 (1996)
One of Onslaught's Sentinels overrides its programming when it observes a much greater threat during the battle with Onslaught; the almost-sentient Sentinel is destroyed by the X-Men before it gets a chance to warn them during ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH

Punisher #12-16 (1996-1997)
Acting on behalf of SHIELD, the Punisher takes down the terrorist mutant group, Humanity's Last Stand; SHIELD lose their chance to apprehend the Punisher when he goes missing at the end of his mission.

X-Man #23 (1997) 
Madelyne Pryor pulls Mountjoy out of Scribe's body, ending his manipulation of the London Hellfire Club.

Excalibur #108 (1997) 

Margali Szardos pushes Daytripper into leaving Excalibur.


X-Factor #130 (1997)
Graydon Creed is assassinated during THE ASSASSINATION OF GRAYDON CREED.

Wolverine #110 (1997)
Wolverine slowly reverts back to human form over time (occasionally using an image inducer) and starts to look human again.

Hulk '97 Annual (1997) 
Franklin Richards discovers a possible connection between the Hulk and the missing heroes during DAYDREAMERS.

X-Factor #131 (1997)
Dark Beast and Fatale join Havok's Brotherhood of Mutants.


X-Force #63-64 (1997)
X-Force head to Latveria to stop Doctor Doom's Time Platform from falling into the wrong hands during THE HAUNTING OF CASTLE DOOM.

Spider-Man Unlimited #16 (1997) 
Dreadknight becomes ruler of Latveria in Doctor Doom's absence, but is deposed by Spider-Man during THE HAUNTING OF CASTLE DOOM.

Thunderbolts #2 (1997) 
A ceremony is held in honour of the fallen heroes; the Mad Thinker crashes the ceremony and tries to kidnap Franklin Richards to unlock the secret of the missing Fantastic Four; Franklin is saved by the Thunderbolts.

Heroes For Hire #1 (1997)
Hercules finally joins a team of heroes, the Heroes For Hire, to fill the gap left by the Avengers.

Incredible Hulk #455-457 (1997)
Rick Jones breaks his promise to his wife, Marlo Chandler-Jones, and tries to help the Hulk; Hulk is employed by Apocalypse, becoming his new Horseman 'War'; the Hulk accidentally injures Rick, leaving him paralysed 
during THIS MEANS WAR.

X-Men Unlimited #14 (1997)
Franklin Richards blames Joseph for the death of his parents during DAYDREAMERS.

Wolverine #111 (1997)
Stick approaches Wolverine again, explaining to him that Ogun's return is the reason why Wolverine has been drawn back to the path.

X-Force #65-66 (1997)
Risque is revealed to be working for a Deviant called Sledge in return for helping her out some time earlier; Risque drugs Warpath and takes him to Sledge, but he's rescued by X-Force; Warpath breaks up with Risque.


Generation X #25 (1997) 
When Black Tom Cassidy and a plant-life clone of Mondo attack the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, Franklin Richards, Artie Maddicks and Leech escape with the help of Tana Nile, Howard the Duck and the Man-Thing; the 'Mondo' clone is killed by Bastion during OPERATION: ZERO TOLERANCE / DAYDREAMERS.

X-Men #65 (1997) 
Bastion unlocks the Xavier Protocols; Phoenix makes brief contact with Iron Man; Bastion launches his direct assault on the X-Men during OPERATION: ZERO TOLERANCE.

Uncanny X-Men #346 (1997) 
Bastion offers J Jonah Jameson inside information on the X-Men but he turns it down for ethical reasons during
OPERATION: ZERO TOLERANCE.

Uncanny X-Men #350 (1997) 
Gambit is revealed to have brought the Marauders to the Morlock tunnels beginning the 'Mutant Massacre'; Magneto is revealed to have returned, though the X-Men are unaware; Magneto's return means Joseph is not a de-aged Magneto during HOMECOMING.

Journey into Mystery #508 (1997)

Red Norvell is resurrected as a minion of Seth during
THE LOST GODS.

Thunderbolts #8 (1997) 
The Thunderbolts are given Four Freedoms Plaza as their headquarters.

Journey into Mystery #512-513 (1997)
The old man, 'Wad', is transformed into Odin once again; the other Asgardian gods are also restored by the Enchantress; Red Norvell regains his free will and defeats Seth during
THE LOST GODS.

X-Factor #136 (1997)
Agents of Operation: Zero Tolerance free Sabretooth from Forge's control, allowing him to leave X-Factor and stalk his former-teammates during
OPERATION: ZERO TOLERANCE.

Alpha Flight #1 (1997)
Alpha Flight do reform (but with a completely different Sasquatch) during
BURY YOUR DEAD.

Daydreamers #1-3 (1997)
Franklin Richards, Tana Nile, Artie Maddicks, Leech, Howard the Duck and Man-Thing are pursued through the Nexus of All Realities by the Dark Hunter (an aspect of Franklin himself who can create new realities) during DAYDREAMERS.

Incredible Hulk #458 (1997)
Janis Jones becomes separated from the Hulk (though it's unclear if she ever returned to her own future timeline) during
HEROES RETURN.

Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-4 (1997) 
Franklin Richards' toy ball is revealed to be his conduit to Counter-Earth, the world he created to save the Avengers and Fantastic Four; the heroes leave Counter-Earth with their memories restored and return to the true Earth; Hulk and Bruce Banner merge back together during HEROES RETURN.

Incredible Hulk #460 (1998)
Bruce Banner adjusts to being merged with the Hulk again during
HEROES RETURN.

Thunderbolts #10 (1998) 
The Thunderbolts are publicly exposed as the Masters of Evil and abandon Four Freedoms Plaza during HEROES RETURN.

Quicksilver #3 (1998)
Quicksilver and Crystal are reunited, though they don't remain together.

Generation X #40 (1998)
'M' is revealed to be Claudette & Nicole St Croix combined in the form of their sister, M (Monet St Croix); Claudette St Croix is revealed to be autistic; Penance is revealed to be the real Monet St Croix and returns to her true form.


Thunderbolts #11-12 (1998) 
The Avengers and Fantastic Four team up to take down the Thunderbolts; the T-Bolts rebel against their leader, Baron Zemo, and go on the run during HEROES RETURN.

X-Factor #143-144 (1998)
Mystique leaves X-Factor; Havok disbands the Brotherhood and rejoins X-Factor.

Fury/Agent 13 #1-2 (1998)
Nick Fury is revealed to be alive (the Punisher is revealed to have 'killed' a Nick Fury 'Life Model Decoy').

Incredible Hulk #465-466 (1998)
Betty Banner is finally reunited with Bruce Banner, only to die from gamma radiation poisoning soon after (which is later revealed to have been masterminded by the Abomination).

Peter Parker, Spider-Man #97 (1998)
May Parker is revealed to be alive (having been replaced with an actor who died in her place) during
THE FINAL CHAPTER.

Avengers Forever #1-12 (1998-2000)
Rick Jones regains the use of his legs.


X-Men #84 (1999) 
The sentient Cerebro tries to use the Xavier Protocols against the X-Men; Nina restores Professor X's powers during THE HUNT FOR XAVIER.

Avengers '99 Annual (1999) 
Edwin Jarvis reveals how he closed down Avengers Mansion.


X-Men #86-87 (1999)

Joseph is revealed to be a clone of Magneto created by Astra (a previously unknown member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants); Joseph sacrifices himself to stop Magneto from causing global disaster during THE MAGNETO WAR.

Juggernaut: The Eighth Day #1 (1999)
Juggernaut fights Cyttorak for control of his body again during THE EIGHTH DAY.

Cable #75 (2000)
Cable finally has his showdown with Apocalypse; Death (Wolverine as a Horseman of Apocalypse) threatens to kill Caliban to force Cable to stand down during APOCALYPSE: THE TWELVE.

Uncanny X-Men #376 (2000) 
Apocalypse begins his bid to rule the Earth during APOCALYPSE: THE TWELVE.

Wolverine #145 (1999)
Apocalypse is shown to have restored Wolverine's adamantium during
THE SHATTERING.


X-Men #98 (2000)
Apocalypse has planned showdown with the X-Men, but is ultimately thwarted during AGES OF APOCALYPSE.

Avengers #24-25 (2000)
Juggernaut defends himself from Cyttorak when he makes yet another attempt to control his body.


Avengers Annual 2001 (2001) 
It's revealed that Franklin Richards restored the Wasp's human form, Hawkeye's hearing and Iron Man's adulthood (merging the memories of teen Tony Stark and the original Earth-616 Tony Stark).

Uncanny X-Men #425-426 (2003)
Havok is finally reunited with Polaris; Havok almost marries Polaris, but his love for Annie Ghazikhanian (a nurse rehabilitating Havok at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning) wins out, creating a new rift between Havok and Polaris; Juggernaut puts his issues with the X-Men behind him and joins the team.

4 #16-18 (2005)
Nathaniel Richards is finally reunited with the Fantastic Four.


Onslaught Reborn #1-5 (2007-2008) 
Onslaught returns to destroy Franklin Richards; Franklin escapes to Counter-Earth and, with the help of Bucky (Rikki Barnes) creates replicas of the Fantastic Four and Avengers to fight Onslaught before sending him into the Negative Zone; Rikki Barnes finds herself transported to Earth-616.

Spider-Man Family #7 (2008)
The Looter continues his search for his meteorite's missing 'twin'.

Cable & Deadpool #26-27 (2006)
Cable discovers he's responsible for Apocalypse's ability to resurrect himself during
BLOOD OF APOCALYPSE.

Fantastic Four #537 (2006)
Donald Blake returns (heralding the return of his alter-ego, Thor) during
THE ROAD TO CIVIL WAR.

Punisher War Journal #2 (2007)
SHIELD assign GW Bridge to take down the Punisher during
CIVIL WAR.

X-Men #201 (2007)
Beast is left with no choice by to team up with the Dark Beast in an effort to restore mutantkind during ENDANGERED SPECIES.

X-Men #206 (2008)
Ironically, Bishop ends up betraying the X-Men, himself, in order to prevent his dystopian timeline from coming to pass during
MESSIAH COMPLEX.

Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1-3 (2008)
The Human Torch and Lyja finally catch up again; Lyja's feelings of abandonment by the Human Torch leads to her aiding the Skrulls' invasion of Earth during SECRET INVASION.

Uncanny X-Men #513 (2009)
Dark Beast jumps at the chance to perform experiments on the captured Beast during
UTOPIA.

Amazing Spider-Man #649 (2010)
Phil Urich takes up the mantle of the Hobgoblin, this time using his abilities for personal gain and clashing with Spider-Man, during
BIG TIME.

Onslaught Unleashed #1-4 (2011) 
Onslaught escapes the Negative Zone looking for Rikki Barnes (now called Nomad); despite help from the Secret Avengers, Rikki has to sacrifice herself to prevent Onslaught from returning.

New Mutants #27 (2011) 
Nate Grey joins the New Mutants, consisting of many former-members of X-Force.

Uncanny X-Men #542 (2011)

Cyttorak rejects Cain Marko as the host of the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak's power and takes on Colossus as his new avatar during
FEAR ITSELF.

Magneto: Not a Hero #1-4 (2012)
Joseph is resurrected by his creator, Astra, and forms a new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants made up of clones of the original to commit crimes in the true Magneto's name and attempt to kill him; Joseph is defeated by Magneto during REGENESIS

Avengers vs X-Men #11 (2012)

Hulk rejoins the Avengers during
AvX: AVENGERS VS X-MEN.

Uncanny Avengers #2 (2013)
When Professor X dies, a clone of the Red Skull steals his brain and fuses a part of it to his own, gaining the Professor's powers during
MARVEL NOW!

X-Factor #259 (2013)
Shatterstar's origin and connections to Longshot and Mojoworld are finally revealed.


Uncanny Avengers #25 (2014) 
The Red Skull clone survives Magneto's attempt to kill him and is transformed into Red Onslaught during AXIS.

Axis #7 (2015)
The Scarlet Witch's magic reveals that she and Quicksilver are not Magneto's children and aren't even related to him in any way during
AXIS.


Uncanny X-Men #16 (2019)
Disguising himself as Magneto again, Joseph forms another Brotherhood of Evil Mutants; Joseph is killed by Kwannon.
See how this story fits into the wider Marvel Universe with these reading orders:
X-Men/Avengers: Onslaught Omnibus HC
Includes Amazing Spider-Man #415, Avengers #401-402Cable #34-35, Excalibur #100, Fantastic Four #415-416, Green Goblin #12, Incredible Hulk #444-445, Iron Man #332, Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1, Onslaught: X-Men #1, Punisher #11, Spider-Man #72, Thor #502, Uncanny X-Men #335-336, Wolverine #104-105, X-Factor #125-126, X-Force #57-58, X-Man #18-19, X-Men #55-56.

X-Men/Avengers: Onslaught vol.1 tpb
Includes Avengers #401, Fantastic Four #415, Onslaught: X-Men #1, Uncanny X-Men #335.

X-Men/Avengers: Onslaught vol.2 tpb
Collects Amazing Spider-Man #415, Cable #34-35, Green Goblin #12, Incredible Hulk #444-445, Iron Man #332, Spider-Man #72, Uncanny X-Men #336, Wolverine #104, X-Factor #125-126, X-Force #57-58, X-Man #18-19, X-Men #55.

X-Men/Avengers: Onslaught vol.3 tpb
Includes Amazing Spider-Man #415, Avengers #402, Fantastic Four #416, Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1, Punisher #11, Thor #502, Wolverine #105, X-Men #56, X-Men Unlimited #12.

X-Men Milestones: Onslaught tpb
Includes Avengers #401, Cable #35, Fantastic Four #415, Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1, Onslaught: X-Men #1, Uncanny X-Men #335-336, Wolverine #104, X-Men #55-56.

X-Men: The Complete Onslaught Epic vol.1 tpb
Includes Avengers #401, Cable #34, Incredible Hulk #444, Onslaught: X-Men #1, Uncanny X-Men #335.

X-Men: The Complete Onslaught Epic vol.2 tpb
Collects Amazing Spider-Man #415, Excalibur #100, Green Goblin #12, Wolverine #104, X-Factor #125, Spider-Man #72, X-Man #18, X-Men #55, X-Force #57.

X-Men: The Complete Onslaught Epic vol.3 tpb
Includes Cable #35, Incredible Hulk #445, Iron Man #332, Punisher #11, Uncanny X-Men #336, Wolverine #105, X-Factor #126, X-Force #58, X-Man #19, X-Men Unlimited #12.

X-Men: The Complete Onslaught Epic vol.4 tpb
Includes Avengers #402, Fantastic Four #416, Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1, X-Men #56.

Cable and X-Force: Onslaught tpb
Includes Cable #34-35, Incredible Hulk #444, X-Force #57-58, X-Man #18-19.

Excalibur Visionaries: Warren Ellis vol.2
Includes Excalibur #100.

Fantastic Four Epic Collection vol.25: Strange Days tpb
Includes Fantastic Four #415-416, Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1.

Green Goblin: A Lighter Shade of Green tpb
Includes Green Goblin #12.

Incredible Hulk Epic Collection vol.22: Ghosts of the Future tpb
Includes Cable #34, Incredible Hulk #444-445, Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1.

Onslaught Aftermath tpb
Includes X-Men Unlimited #12.

Spider-Man: Ben Reilly Omnibus vol.2 HC
Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic vol.5 tpb
Include Amazing Spider-Man #415, Sensational Spider-Man #8, Spider-Man #72.

Spider-Man by DeZago & Wieringo tpb
Includes Sensational Spider-Man #8.

Spider-Man: Through The Decades tpb
Includes Amazing Spider-Man #415.

Thor Epic Collection vol.23: Worldengine tpb
Thor: Sunlight & Shadows tpb
Includes Thor #502.

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