THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE (1995)

Charles Xavier is dead. Murdered by a son from a future that will never come to pass (during LEGION QUEST). Almost twenty years later, America is in the grip of the mutant called Apocalypse. Only Magneto and his X-Men stand a chance of bringing the ancient mutant's tyranny to an end.

Bishop was already a man out of time when he joined the X-Men on Earth-616. As a member of the Xavier Security Enforcers (mutant cops in a future timeline), Bishop became a member of the X-Men when he travelled to our present in pursuit of a criminal, becoming stranded on Earth-616 (during MUTANT GENESIS). Having travelled even further into the past after Legion but failing to stop him from killing a young Charles Xavier, Bishop now finds himself in a whole new world once again. Two decades have passed and Bishop has made it back to America where he's about to meet what passes for the X-Men in this altered reality.

THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE is one of the most popular storylines in X-Men history. Their corner of the Marvel Universe has always been known for dipping into alternate timelines - especially the bleak ones - but this event took it to a whole new level. One of the highlights of '90s Marvel. Welcome to Earth-295...

Key stories that directly impact this event:

• LEGION QUEST - The death of Charles Xavier

Major Event: This story runs through multiple titles for a number of issues, with all being impacted directly.

• X-Men: Alpha #1
• Astonishing X-Men #1
• Factor X #1
• X-Calibre #1
• Weapon X #1
• X-Man #1
• Gambit and the X-Ternals #1
• X-Men Chronicles #1
• Generation Next #1
• Amazing X-Men #1
• Astonishing X-Men #2
• Amazing X-Men #2
• Weapon X #2
• Factor X #2
• X-Calibre #2
• X-Man #2
• Gambit and the X-Ternals #2
• Generation Next #2
• Factor X #3
• Weapon X #3
• Astonishing X-Men #3
• Amazing X-Men #3
• X-Calibre #3
• X-Man #3
• Gambit and the X-Ternals #3
• Generation Next #3
• X-Universe #1
• X-Men Chronicles #2
• Astonishing X-Men #4
• X-Man #4
• Factor X #4
• Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen #1
• X-Calibre #4
• Gambit and the X-Ternals #4
• Generation Next #4
• X-Universe #2
• Weapon X #4
• Amazing X-Men #4
• X-Men: Omega #1

X-Men: Alpha #1
Having lived the last twenty years in a rewritten timeline, Bishop finds himself in an America now ruled by Apocalypse. When he's saved from Unus and an band if Infinites by Magneto's X-Men, Bishop accuses him of being responsible for the state of the world. Rogue - Magneto's wife - makes contact with Bishop and witnesses his memories of the timeline in which Charles Xavier formed the X-Men and Apocalypse hadn't risen to power. Knowing Apocalypse is about to break the pact that stops him wiping out what's left of the human race, Magneto splits his forces between saving the human population and trying to fix the past. Little do they realise, the crystal wave that destroyed all realities (during LEGION QUEST) is about to destroy this universe, too...

Astonishing X-Men #1

Having learned his world could be a better one for his wife and infant son, Magneto sends Rogue to lead a team of X-Men against Holocaust (the son of Apocalypse and one of the Four Horsemen) to stop him from carrying out human cullings. Quicksilver leads a squad to aid in the human evacuation of America. Nightcrawler is sent to locate the precognitive mutant, Destiny. And Magneto calls on Gambit to retrieve the M'Kraan Crystal from the intergalactic Shi'ar Empire.

Factor X #1

Sinister may be one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse - one of En Sabah Nur's most trusted and most powerful agents - but he's opted to turn his back on this role in order to pursue his own agenda. With his betrayal confirmed betrayal is confirmed, Apocalypse is now a Horseman down. Perhaps Dark Beast (Hank McCoy), Havok or Cyclops could make the jump from the Elite Mutant Force and fill the role. Havok's chances of death might be more likely if his rule-breaking relationship with a human woman is discovered. And Cyclops has secretly been freeing mutant prisoners. Who's going to get found out first?

X-Calibre #1
Nightcrawler needs to find out how to get to Avalon if he has any hope of tracking down Destiny. To most, Avalon is a myth with only a handful believing it to be a haven for peaceful mutants and humans. The way to Avalon made even more dangerous now that Nightcrawler's being pursued by the Pale Riders: Damask, Danielle Moonstar and Dead Man Wade.

Weapon X #1

Weapon X and Jean Grey leak information they've received from Sinister to the Human High Council to help airlift humans out of the country. Despite the actions of these two brave freedom fighters, Brian Braddock doesn't intend taking any chances against the threat of Apocalypse and intends to unleash Project Scorched Earth on the former-America.

X-Man #1

A mysterious a powerful young man called Nate Grey has found a place for himself among Forge's group of travelling rebels (Toad, Mastermind, Sauron and Brute). His vaguely recalls Cyclops releasing him from Sinister's pens, then sends his own astral projection to the X-Men's hidden base in Westchester where he witnesses an argument between Magneto and Bishop. This activity earns the attention of the Shadow King, encouraging Apocalypse to send the assassin Domino to offer Nate a place by his side or kill him if he refuses. Forge's group are soon joined by two more stragglers - the sonic mutant Theresa and the mysterious Essex.

Gambit and the X-Ternals #1

Magneto takes Gambit and his band of thieves, the X-Ternals (Sunspot, Lila Cheney, Guido and Jubilee), to see Dr Peter Corbeau who awakens Lila's intergalactic teleportation powers.  Lila sends the team across the galaxy to the Shi'ar Empire, closely followed by Rictor, an agent of Apocalypse...

Generation X #1

Chamber, Husk, Mondo, Vicente and Skin are young X-Men-in-training under the dutiful eyes of Colossus and Shadowcat. Following Magneto's order, the team head off on a suicide mission to rescue Colossus' sister, Illyana Rasputin, the only transdimensional teleporter in existence. Generation Next will her powers to go back in time to save Charles Xavier.

X-Men Chronicles #1

Jump back in time to the dawn of the Age of Apocalypse: Years ago, some time after Xavier's death, Magneto formed a school for mutants at Wundagore Mountain. His students, the Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Jean Grey, Iceman, Storm and Colossus were soon joined by Rogue and Weapon X (Logan). When Apocalypse and his Five Horsemen - War, Death, Candra, Gideon and Sabretooth attack Cape Citadel in an effort to claim atomic weapons. The confrontation with them was a violent one resulting in Sabretooth having a change of heart and turning against Apocalypse. Celebrating their triumph, the X-Men returned home to find Nemesis, the son of Apocalypse, had laid waste to the school and killed the Magneto's daughter, the Scarlet Witch.

Amazing X-Men #1

The Human High Council's fleet of Sentinels arrive in the former America and Quicksilver's band of X-Men trick their sensors in order to help with the airlift. But Box from the Brotherhood of Chaos cancels out the reprogramming and the team find themselves under attack from the Brotherhood and the Sentinels. Things are about to go from bad to worse...

Amazing X-Men #2
Abyss - another of the Four Horsemen - tries to obstruct the human evacuation, but is defeated by Quicksilver, followed by the Brotherhood of Chaos. Rex tortures Karma (a secret member of the Human High Council) for information on the X-Men's hideout as Apocalypse prepares to investigate directly.

Astonishing X-Men #2

Rogue's squad head to Chicago to attack Holocaust's Infinite factory and to put an end to the human cullings. Sabretooth tricks the team into letting him face Holocaust alone. He appears to die in battle after destroying Holocaust's protective suit, but the mutant Horseman of Apocalypse reforms himself. Rex, a low-level agent of Apocalypse, locates the X-Men's hideout.

Weapon X #2

Logan and Jean Grey join the human refugees as they arrive in England . They detect and defeat the Brotherhood of Chaos members Box and Copycat. While Weapon X is busy defending the Human High Council from an attack by Donald Pierce and his cyborgs, Jean is unable to deal with the immorality of the nuclear assault on America and flees the country to warn her friends back home. Logan manages to catch up with her briefly before her plane flies away.

Factor X #2

The mutant Polaris is taken captive by members of the Elite Mutant Force and brought back to Dark Beast for experimentation. Havok learns Cyclops has been freeing mutants from the pens when he sees him taking Polaris to safety. Little does Havok realise that the human woman he's been seeing at Angel's nightclub, Heaven, is working for the Human High Council.

X-Calibre #2

Nightcrawler's journey to Avalon proves particularly treacherous when he runs into murderous pirates lead by Callisto. Nightcrawler gets some unexpected help in the form of his mother, Mystique...

X-Man #2

Essex trains Nate Grey against Forge's will. After pretty much single-handedly destroying an Infinite factory, Nate experiments with his powers further, astrally projecting himself to Magneto's hideout once again. Brute figures out the true identity of the man called Essex and confronts him. Domino, Caliban and Grizzly track down Forge's band of travelling saboteurs.

Gambit and the X-Ternals #2

The X-Ternals find themselves face-to-face with D'Ken's Imperial Guard. After escaping them, they soon find themselves allied with Deathbird's Starjammers as they witness the crystal shards spread across space, signalling the beginning of the end of the universe...

Generation Next #2

Generation Next break into the slave pit known as the Core in Seattle. Vicente and Husk accidentally kill the head of security, Mister Quietus. The duo combine their powers to disguise themselves as Quietus and proceed through the Core in search of Illyana Rasputin...

Factor X #3

Jean Grey arrives at Apocalypse' stronghold, looking for Cyclops. Instead she finds Havok who captures her and allows Dark Beast to experiment on her. Cyclops discovers this, frees jean, rebels against his cohorts and escapes with her. On hearing the news, Apocalypse orders everyone in the pens to be culled.

Weapon X #3

Logan heads to Wundagore Mountain to convince the mutant Gateway to pilot the airship assault on Apocalypse. Donald Pierce and his cyborgs attack again. Gateway's protector, Carol Danvers, sacrifices herself to kill Pierce and allow Logan and Gateway to escape.

Astonishing X-Men #3

Holocaust takes the chained Sabretooth to the biggest Infinite factory in the country just to taunt him. The X-Men attack the plant, fending off a horde of Infinites before discovering Sabretooth's beaten body. Back at the Xavier Mansion, Magneto's hideout, the robot Nanny goes into protective mode to take Rogue and Magneto's son, Charles Lehnsherr, out of danger when she senses the arrival of Apocalypse.

Amazing X-Men #3

Apocalypse leads a band of Infinites against Magneto and Bishop at the Xavier Mansion, while the Vanisher searches for Magneto's son. Quicksilver's X-Men squad arrive home to discover the pair have been captured and little Charles Lehnsherr is missing. The Shadow King probes Bishop's mind and discovers his memories of the 'true' reality.

X-Calibre #3

With Callisto dead, Mystique and Nightcrawler head to Avalon, closely followed by Damask and Dead Man Wade. When they all arrive at the haven, Damask is so moved by it that she questions her loyalty to Apocalypse. Dead Man Wade is disgusted by the beauty of the place and goes on a killfrenzy. Damask turns against Wade and Nightcrawler teleports his head off.

X-Man #3

Nate Grey defeats Domino. Forge confronts Essex who beats him almost to death. Nate finds the battered Forge who dies in his arms. Essex who reveals himself to be Sinister.

Gambit and the X-Ternals #3

Gambit, the X-Ternals and the Starjammers fight their way through the Shi'ar Imperial Guard and make it inside the M'Kraan crystal where Jahf convinces Gambit to go back and save Charles Xavier. Gambit takes a crystal shard and Lila Cheney teleports the team back to Earth...

Generation Next #3

Colossus starts putting the needs of his sister, Illyana Rasputin, before those of Generation Next. The Core's master, Sugar Man, begins to question Quietus' identity and orders him to kill the captured Skin and Chamber in front of him.

X-Universe #1

The Human High Council's freedom fighters save Gwen Stacy from the Marauders (familiar human terrorists who serve Apocalypse). Gwen joins the ranks of the Human High Council alongside activists Victor Von Doom, Clint Barton, Tony Stark, Donald Blake, Ben Grimm and Susan Storm. Apocalypse's fourth Horseman, Mikhail Rasputin, arrives in England supposedly on a peaceful mission. Instead, he manipulates the humans using Empath's powers and captures Von Doom's band with the intent of ending the Council's plot to nuke America.

X-Men Chronicles #2

Jump back in time to the early days of the Age of Apocalypse: Having changed his identity from Nemesis to Holocaust, the son of Apocalypse sent his agent Wolverine (not Logan) to attack the X-Men. The lousy timing forces a break in the love triangle between Gambit, Rogue and Magneto. Following Wolverine's defeat, Gambit, Jean Grey and Weapon X all leave the team.

Astonishing X-Men #4

The X-Men take on a horde of Infinites while Blink faces Holocaust in a one-on-one throwdown over the death of Sabretooth. When she's joined by her fellow X-Men, Holocaust makes his escape. Rogue's team prepare to rescue Magneto from the clutches of Apocalypse...

X-Man #4

Nate Grey learns Sinister created him from the genetic material of Jean Grey and Cyclops with the intention of using him a weapon to kill Apocalypse, only for him to have escaped the pens. Enraged at the loss of his father-figure, Forge, Nate kills Sinister. He heads immediately head to Apocalypse' headquarters where he meets his 'parents'. Jean Grey and Cyclops part with Nate on good terms when he ascends his tower as he gets closer to fulfilling his destiny.

Factor X #4

Havok and the murderous Guthries begin slaughtering the mutants who remain in the pens. Inspired by their meeting with Nate Grey, Jean and Cyclops try to save as many as they can from the Elite Mutant Force, receiving unexpected aid from Angel and the Bedlam Brothers. Cyclops defeats Havok in combat and helps the mutants escape. But now Havok is out for blood...

Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen #1

The Madri enforce the religion based around Apocalypse and act as his most loyal agents. One of the Madri makes his way into the private files of Apocalypse to learn who he believes is chosen and who will be forgotten. After checking through a who's who of the Age of Apocalypse, the Madri is discovered by Apocalypse himself, who changes the Madri's status from 'chosen' to 'forgotten'.

X-Calibre #4

The Shadow King sends his consciousness to Avalon where he possesses the mutants there and begins using their powers to lay waste to Avalon. Damask and Nightcrawler combine their powers to defeat him. Destiny agrees to return with Nightcrawler to help defeat Apocalypse.

Gambit and the X-Ternals #4

The X-Ternals return to Earth with the M'Kraan shard. But in an attempt to rescue Magneto and Rogue's son, they lose the boy and the shard to the traitorous Guido. Gambit and Lila Cheney are discovered by Dazzler and Exodus and return to the X-Men's mansion hideout.

Generation Next #4
Sugar Man figures 'Quietus' isn't who he says he is and unveils Husk and Vicente's disguise. The pair are saved when Chamber blows Sugar Man to pieces, only for him to regenerate before them. As Sugar Man's grotesque mutant guards and Generation Next fight over Illyana Rasputin, Colossus begins to become enraged. He manages to steal his sister and Shadowcat away to safety, leaving his young students to die in the carnage. Little does he know, a tiny regenerated Sugar Man has tagged along for their journey home...

X-Universe #2

The Human High Council's assault team defeat Mikhail Rasputin with the help of the Thing, only to discover the grey goliath is really Dr Bruce Banner, a human ally of Apocalypse. Rasputin's Hound, Matt Murdock, ends his enmity with the Council when he realises Rasputin had tricked him into working for Apocalypse. Tony Stark and Ben Grimm sacrifice themselves to save the mission to nuke America...

Weapon X #4

The Human High Council send their nuke-carrying airships to America, but the convoy is attacked once more by Donald Pierce, along with Carol Danvers and Brian Braddock who've become his unwilling cybernetic slaves. Braddock dies a hero, but Pierce kills Danvers before she can betray him. Logan finally puts him down when he pops the claws from his handless arm, gutting the cyborg and allowing Gateway to teleport the ships across the Atlantic.

Amazing X-Men #4

Quicksilver's team rescue Bishop from the Madri army. The core Madri, Jamie Madrox, commits suicide, ending the army's existence. All the X-Men teams converge on the ruins of the Xavier Mansion, preparing for the final assault on Apocalypse.

X-Men: Omega #1

It's all-out war at the stronghold of Apocalypse as the X-Men arrive to rescue Magneto and save reality. There are losses on both sides, though Sugar Man and McCoy survive by escaping into the M'Kraan crystal. Nate Grey jabs a shard of the crystal into Holocaust, removing them both from the battlefield. Destiny and Illyana help transport Bishop back in time where he momentarily runs into his past self before saving Xavier's life. AoA Bishop and Legion are removed from the timeline, returning the lost X-Men (sucked out of the timeline during LEGION QUEST) to present day Earth-616 and erasing the events from the memories of the young Charles Xavier, Magneto and Gabrielle Haller. Back on Earth-295, Magneto rips Apocalypse in two and stands with his family as they watch the nukes drop, knowing a better world is out there somewhere...

MCG Note: The entries in blue and black are the stories that are directly impacted by the major events of 'The Age of Apocalypse'. The issues in grey are stories impacted by the sub-plots and moments that aren't key to the main story threads.

Uncanny X-Men #161 (1982) 

The story of Charles Xavier, Gabrielle Haller and Magneto's early time together in Israel continues in the flashback tale told during THE BROOD SAGA.

Tales From The Age of Apocalypse: Sinister Bloodlines (1997) 

More of Earth-295's history is revealed; after Apocalypse's attack on Cape Citadel, the Shi'ar come to Earth and Sinister's 'sons' - Cyclops and Havok - meet their real father.

Tales From The Age of Apocalypse: By The Light (1996) 

More of Earth-295's history is revealed; the X-Men meet the Inhumans; the reference to Gorgon as a Horseman of Apocalypse is fully explained; Blink becomes a member of the X-Men.

Blink #1-4 (2001)

More of Earth-295's history is revealed; just before the X-Men discover Bishop, Blink has a run-in with Annihilus.

X-Men Prime #1 (1995) 

After his encounter with his future self from the Age of Apocalypse, Bishop starts having flashback to events experienced by his counterpart in that universe; Nate Grey finds himself transported to Earth-616; Dark Beast is revealed to be alive on Earth-616 and living among the Morlocks; a large M'Kraan Crystal shard appears in space outside the Avalon space station; Sugar Man is also revealed to have arrived safely on Earth-616 during THE FALL OF AVALON / THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH / A NATION RISING.

X-Man #5-6 (1995) 

Nate Grey meets Madelyne Pryor (the clone of Jean Grey and mother of Cable (Nathan Summers) on Earth-616; the Earth-616 incarnation of Rex first appears during THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH.

X-Men #42-43 (1995) 

The crystal shard is revealed to contain Holocaust; Holocaust destroys Avalon when he sees Exodus, believing Avalon to be an X-Men base during THE FALL OF AVALON.

X-Man #8-10 (1995) 

Sugar Man attempts to assassinate Nate Grey, sending Earth-616's Rex against him; Rex is killed by Dark Beast; Nate Grey first meets Dark Beast; Professor X meets Nate Grey, inadvertently teaching Onslaught how to draw projections from the astral plane to the physical world; Nate Grey meets the Sugar Man during THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH.

Cable #26-28 (1995-1996) 

It's revealed that Sugar Man arrived on Earth-616 twenty years ago and was responsible for creating the mutate bonding process in Genosha; Dark Beast is revealed to also have arrived on Earth-616 twenty years in the past and modified many of the Morlocks using the work of Earth-295's Sinister as the basis for his experiments; it's revealed that the 'Morlock Massacre' occurred when Earth-616's Mister Sinister found out his work was being bastardised amongst the Morlocks so he sent his Marauders in to kill them; Mister Sinister reveals he's aware of Nate grey's presence on Earth-616.

X-Force #48 (1995) 

Holocaust allies with Sebastian Shaw.

Excalibur #95 (1995) 

Nate Grey learns his powers will kill him by the time he becomes 21 years old during THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH.

What If...? #77 (1995) 

First appearance of Earth-77995, a reality in which the time-travelling Legion killed Magneto instead of Charles Xavier.

What If...? #81 (1996) 

First appearance of Earth-9601, a reality in which the Age of Apocalypse continues but Galactus comes to consume the planet.

X-Force #49-50 (1995-1996) 

Sebastian Shaw provides Holocaust with new armour and pits him against X-Force.

X-Factor #116-117 (1995) 

Dark Beast is revealed to have trained Random; Dark Beast orders Random to infiltrate X-Factor during HAVOK'S FALL.

X-Men #48-49 (1996) 

In an effort to keep their existence a secret, Sugar Man and Dark Beast make a failed attempt to kill Bishop when they realise he retains information of the Age of Apocalypse.

Cable #30-31 (1996) 

Nate Grey meets his Earth-616 counterpart, Cable; Holocaust senses Nate Grey's presence on Earth-616 during FALLEN FROM GRACE.

X-Men Unlimited #10 (1996) 

Dark Beast captures and replaces his Earth-616 counterpart on the X-Men during THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT.

Excalibur #96 (1996) 

Emma Steed (the Earth-616 equivalent of Damask) first appears.

X-Man #15-17 (1996) 

Onslaught employs Holocaust, promising him power; Onslaught sends Holocaust to recruit Nate Grey, but Nate refuses; Nate damages Holocaust's armour and forces him to retreat during THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT.

X-Men #52 (1996) 

Bastion's Earth-616 counterpart first appears (having been mentioned as a former Horseman of Apocalypse on Earth-295) during THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT.

Generation X #12 (1996) 

Vincente Cimetta (the Earth-616 version of Vincente from Generation Next) first appears.

Onslaught: X-Men #1 (1996) 

Onslaught reveals he was inspired by Bishop's 'memories' of the Age of Apocalypse which he aims to replicate on Earth-616 during ONSLAUGHT.

X-Man #18 (1996) 

Nate Grey first meets the Mister Sinister of Earth-616 during ONSLAUGHT.

Avengers #402 (1996) 

Holocaust is sent by Onslaught to cause havoc in New York but is defeated by the Avengers during ONSLAUGHT.

X-Factor #126 (1996) 

The Dark Beast's ruse is discovered when Earth-616's Beast escapes his prison during ONSLAUGHT.

X-Man '96 (1996) 

Nate Grey follows Sugar Man when he transports himself back to the Age of Apocalypse, briefly meeting the younger Forge and Magneto; the bond between Nate and Forge is explained; Nate and Sugar Man both return to Earth-616 during SINS OF THE FATHER.

Amazing Spider-Man #420 (1997) 

Nate Grey becomes good friends with Spider-Man during VAMPIRE'S KISS.

X-Factor #131 (1997) 

Dark Beast joins Havok's new Brotherhood.

X-Man #-1 (1997) 

The moment of Nate Grey's creation in the Age of Apocalypse is revealed during FLASHBACK.

Generation X #-1 (1997) 

It's revealed that young Emma Frost helped restore Dark Beast's memories when he arrived on Earth-616 during FLASHBACK.

X-Man #30 (1997) 

Cable calls on Nate Grey to protect Jean Grey's niece and nephew during OPERATION: ZERO TOLERANCE.

X-Man '97 Annual (1997) 

The Shi'ar Empire attempt to remove Nate Grey, Sugar Man, Dark Beast and Holocaust from Earth-616.

Cable #40 (1997)
The Earth-616 incarnation of Abyss first appears.

X-Factor #143-144 (1998) 

Havok and Dark Beast fall out, ending the Brotherhood.

X-Man #41 (1998) 

Nate Grey loses his telepathic powers due to the effect of Psylocke and the Shadow King's war on the psychic plane during PSI-WAR.

X-Man #44 (1998) 

Holocaust clashes with Nate Grey again.

X-Force #82 (1998) 

One of Earth-616's Bedlam Brothers, Jesse Bedlam aka Jesse Aaronson, first appears.

X-Man #46 (1998) 

Nate Grey meets his other Earth-616 counterpart, Stryfe (Cable's clone), during BLOOD BROTHERS.

Generation X #50 (1999) 

Nate Grey finds himself in conflict with the Dark Beast again during WAR OF THE MUTANTS.

X-Force #87 (1999) 

The Earth-616 version of Terry Bedlam (King Bedlam aka Christopher Terrence Aaronson) first appears.

X-Man #53-54 (1999) 

Nate Grey allies with Cyclops and Phoenix (Jean Grey) to defeat a dimension-hopping agent from of Apocalypse from Earth-295 called Hatchet-9.

Astonishing X-Men #1-3 (1999) 

Nate Grey briefly joins a special team of X-Men during THE SHATTERING.

X-Man #58 (1999) 

The mutant Threnody gives birth to Nate Grey's child.

X-Men #97 (2000) 

Earth-616's Apocalypse tries to merge his and Nate Grey's bodies, but fails; instead, Apocalypse merges with Cyclops during APOCALYPSE: THE TWELVE.

Uncanny X-Men #378 (2000) 

Apocalypse uses reality-altering powers to try to trick the X-Men into recharging him during AGES OF APOCALYPSE.

X-Man #67-70 (2000) 

Madelyne Pryor is revealed to be Jean Grey from Earth-998 (though there are conflicting accounts - some suggest this is the same Maddie he met when he arrived on Earth-616, others suggest this is another version who first appears here) during SHOCKWAVE.

X-Man #75 (2001) 

Nate Grey sacrifices himself to save the Earth.

Blink #4 (2001) 

Blink is pulled out of the Age of Apocalypse just before the bombs drop during DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

Exiles #1-2 (2001) 

Blink becomes part of a team of reality/time-hoppers called the Exiles who 'fix' alternate Earths during DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

Exiles #3-4 (2001) 

Blink begins to form a relationship with Mimic (of Earth-12).

Exiles #5-6 (2001-2002) 

Sabretooth of Earth-295 is revealed to be a member of another, more violent time-jumping team of Exiles called Weapon X.

Exiles #12-13 (2002) 

Sabretooth's Weapon X team join forces with Blink's Exiles.

Uncanny X-Men #431 (2003) 

Magneto is confirmed as Polaris' father on Earth-616.

Uncanny X-Men #432 (2003) 

Abyss is revealed to be Nightcrawler's half-brother (sharing the same father) which is presumably he case for his Age of Apocalypse counterpart.

Excalibur #10 (2005) 

Dark Beast joins Professor X's new Excalibur team on Genosha during AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED.

Cable and Deadpool #15 (2005)

An alternative Age of Apocalypse (Earth-5701) is revealed; Cable becomes War, one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse in this reality, during ENEMA OF THE STATE.

Exiles #59 (2005) 

The Exiles rescue Sabretooth of Earth-295 from a Weapon X mission gone wrong, reuniting him with Blink when he joins her team.

Age of Apocalypse: One-Shot #1 (2005) 

it's revealed that on Earth-295 continued on and the nukes were stopped; some untold tales from the Age of Apocalypse are revealed (Magneto charges Colossus and Shadowcat with teaching the next generation of X-Men; Sabretooth rescues Wild Child from an Infinite prison; Weapon X quarrels with the Silver Samurai over Mariko Yoshida's honour) during THE NEW AGE OF APOCALYPSE.

Age of Apocalypse #1-2 (2005)

Magneto takes the credit for stopping the nukes on Earth-295; Sinister is revealed to have survived his clash with Nate Grey; the X-Men are joined by AoA version of Beak, the Silver Samurai, Wolfsbane and Xorn during THE NEW AGE OF APOCALYPSE.

Exiles #60-61 (2005) 

The Exiles travel to Earth-295; Holocaust joins the Exiles; Holocaust quickly turns against the team; Blink and Sabretooth are briefly reunited with Magneto and Sunfire during THE NEW AGE OF APOCALYPSE.

Exiles #62 (2005) 

Holocaust is killed by Hyperion of Earth-4023.

Age of Apocalypse #3-6 (2005) 

On Earth-295, with Weapon X back among the X-Men, the team hunt Sinister and his Sinister Six; Xorn is revealed to be Husk of Generation Next; Jean Grey turns out to be alive and a prisoner of Sinister; it's revealed that Jean Grey gained the power of the Phoenix Force just in time to stop the nukes raining down on America down; the X-Men kill the Guthries; Sauron kills Quicksilver; Weapon X meets his daughter, X-23, and they kill Aurora, Northstar and Sinister together during THE NEW AGE OF APOCALYPSE.

Exiles #84 (2006) 

Blink lays Mimic to rest after the events of the Exiles' Worlds Tour; Blink briefly returns home to Earth-295.

X-Men #183 (2006) 

Earth-616's Sunfire becomes a Horseman of Apocalypse and gains a new look that's remarkably similar to his AoA counterpart during BLOOD OF APOCALYPSE.

X-Men #200-201 (2007) 

Sugar Man refuses to help the Beast find a cure for the mutants who lost their powers due to the events of M-Day; Dark Beast agrees to help Beast search for a cure during ENDANGERED SPECIES.

New X-Men #42 (2007) 

Beast and Dark Beast fall out over ethics, failing to find a cure during ENDANGERED SPECIES.

What If? Featuring X-Men: Age of Apocalypse #1 (2007) 

First appearance of Earth-93074, a reality in which Legion kills both Charles Xavier and Magneto.

Exiles #100 (2008) 

Blink leaves the Exiles and returns to her own reality, leaving Sabretooth in charge.

New Exiles #1 (2008) 

Sabretooth leads a new Exiles line-up.

New Exiles #18 (2009) 

Sabretooth's Exiles are retrieved and saved in the Crystal Palace.

Exiles #1-6 (2009) 

Blink leads a new team of time-hopping Exiles.

Uncanny X-Men #513 (2009) 

Dark Beast appears as a member of Norman Osborn's Dark X-Men during UTOPIA.

Dark X-Men #1-5 (2010) 

Dark Beast remains a member of the Dark X-Men; the team discover a resurrected Nate Grey.

Avengers #2 (2010)

An alternative Age of Apocalypse (Earth-10082) in which he has four very different Horsemen (Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Red Hulk) briefly appears during THE HEROIC AGE.

New Mutants #25-27 (2011) 

Nate Grey is rescued by the New Mutants when they discover he's being experimented on by Sugar Man in a HAMMER facility; Nate joins the New Mutants.

Uncanny X-Force #10-18 (2011-2012) 

Wolverine's X-Force team approach Dark Beast in search of a cure for the Death Seed that's transforming Archangel into the heir of Apocalypse of Earth-616; Beast convinces X-Force to travel to Earth-295 to find a Life Seed; on Earth-295, X-Force come into conflict with Magneto and his X-Men; Sabretooth, Sugar Man and Dark Beast all return to the Age of Apocalypse; Weapon X/Logan of Earth-295 is revealed to be the host of the Death Seed and become the heir to Apocalypse, renaming himself Weapon Omega; the Earth-616 version of Holocaust (Genocide - the son of Apocalypse and Famine) first appears; the X-Men help X-Force defeat Archangel on Earth-616; when Archangel is cured, Nightcrawler of Earth-295 remains on Earth-616 with the intention of finding and killing escapees from Earth-295.

Marvel Point One #1 (2012)

On Earth-295, Donald Pierce returns as Goodnight, a member of the X-Terminated - a human squad in league with the Human Resistance - during THE X-TERMINATED.

Uncanny X-Force #19 (2012) 

Earth-295's Nightcrawler officially becomes a member of Earth-616's X-Force during REGENESIS.

Uncanny X-Men #19.1 (2012) 

Returning to Earth-295, Jean Grey learns the Human Resistance is inspired by the actions of the Scarlet Witch on Earth-616 and her power to remove the powers of the world's mutants, creating a clone of her; Weapon Omega kills Magneto and Rogue; Jean taps into the Scarlet Witch clone's powers and remove the powers of the mutants in her reality; only those in close proximity - including Jean, Sabretooth and the X-Men - lose their powers, including Jean's connect to the Phoenix Force during THE X-TERMINATED.

Age of Apocalypse #1-4 (2012-2013) 

On Earth-295, Jean Grey and Sabretooth join the X-Terminated in an attempt to take down the Apocalypse-infected Weapon Omega; Cyclops, Havok and Colossus are cloned and 'resurrected' by Dark Beast and Sugar Man during THE X-TERMINATED.

Uncanny X-Force #24 (2012)

Nightcrawler and X-Force find and kill Iceman from Earth-295 when he makes a home for himself on Earth-616.

Age of Apocalypse #10-12 (2013)

As a member of the X-Terminated, Jean Grey helps the group remove the Death Seed from Weapon Omega, restoring Logan's personality.

Uncanny X-Force #32-34 (2012) 

Nightcrawler betrays X-Force in order to have his revenge on the Blob for killing his wife; Nightcrawler goes on the run, finding himself stranded on Earth-616.

X-Termination #1 (2013) 

Nightcrawler returns to Earth-295, but accidentally unleashes the destructive power of the Exterminators on that reality; Wolverine and the X-Men pursue Nightcrawler to Earth-295 during X-TERMINATION.

X-Termination #2 (2013) 

Having become the host to the Death Seed and regained her Phoenix powers, Jean Grey uses traps the Exterminators in the Age of Apocalypse as that reality self-destructs during X-TERMINATION.

Age of Apocalypse #1-5 (2015)
First appearance of Earth-51518, a reality in which the Age of Apocalypse continued; a fragment of Earth-51518 makes up a part of the Battleworld created by God Emperor Doom during SECRET WARS.

Extraordinary X-Men #8-9 (2016)

A future in which Apocalypse rules the Earth (Earth-16558) is explored by the X-Men during APOCALYPSE WARS.

Age of X-Man: Alpha #1 (2019)

Nate Grey creates his own reality-warped utopia during AGE OF X-MAN.

See how this event fits into the wider Marvel Universe continuity with these reading orders:

• MISTER SINISTER: Master of Marauders (1987-1996)

X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse vol.1-4

X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse vol.1-4 (Alpha, Reign, Omega, Dawn)

Include...
Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen #1

Amazing X-Men #1-4

Astonishing X-Men #1-4

Factor X #1-4

Gambit and the X-Ternals #1-4

Generation Next #1-4

Weapon X #1-4

X-Calibre #1-4

X-Man #1-4

X-Men: Alpha #1

X-Men Chronicles #1-2

X-Men: Omega #1 

X-Universe #1-2

X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse Omnibus

Includes... 

Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen #1

Amazing X-Men #1-4

Astonishing X-Men #1-4

Factor X #1-4

Gambit and the X-Ternals #1-4

Generation Next #1-4

Weapon X #1-4

X-Calibre #1-4

X-Man #1-4

X-Men: Alpha #1

X-Men Chronicles #1-2

X-Men: Omega #1

X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse Companion Omnibus

Includes... 

X-Universe #1-2