As the X-Men franchise moves on in the aftermath of the vaunted Krakoan Era, the “From the Ashes” relaunch will return Apocalypse to his roots – pitting people against one another in a battle for survival. The ancient mutant’s latest miniseries will find him seeking a worthy successor, and in order to find them, he appears set to establish a twisted tournament of mutant supremacy.

Speaking with AIPT for X-Men Monday, X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse writer Steve Foxe elaborated on the basic premise of the series: a dozen of Marvel’s mightiest mutants will battle to inherit En-Sabah-Nurr’s mantle as Apocalypse, in a contest that can have only one winner.

Foxe also assured readers that Marvel is not pulling a “fake-out” with the series. Since the publisher first announced Heir of Apocalypse, there has been speculation among the fandom about how this will fit into the still emerging landscape of post-Krakoan X-Men. Now, it is becoming increasingly clear that Heir is a major, lore-shaping event.

One Of Twelve Familiar Mutant Characters Will Become The Next Apocalypse

X-Men: Heir Of Apocalypse #1 – Written By Steve Foxe; Art By Netho Diaz; Ink By J.P. Mayer; Color By Alex Sinclair; Lettering By Clayton Cowles

Writer Steve Foxe described X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse this way:

The short version is that Apocalypse has good reason to believe that his vision of the future will no longer lead the mutants of Earth forward in the way they need to be led forward. Thus, he needs someone to follow in his (big blue) footsteps and hold the mutants of Earth to task and make sure they are fit for the trials ahead. But that doesn’t mean he wants a carbon copy — he needs someone with a different vision of “survival of the fittest,” a different angle, a different approach.

From its core concept, the miniseries sounds as though it will build upon Apocalypse’s arc during the Krakoan Era in an intriguing way. In part, Foxe’s description of Apocalypse positions him as being in a regressive state of mind. Famously, he set his usual “vision” of mutantkind during the Krakoan Era, in order to compromise with his traditional enemies and bring the mutant nation to its greatest potential. With that dream having come to ruin, the ancient mutant is set to return to his old ways.

In addition to the reprise of the character’s classic antagonistic ways, Heir of Apocalypse’s writer also confirmed the most tantalizing aspect of the series: that by the story’s conclusion, a familiar mutant hero will take on a new form, ascending to Apocalypse’s side as his heir apparent, and acting as his avatar on Earth. Steve Foxe insisted to AIPT that Marvel was set to follow through on this premise, stating:

And it has to be said loud and clear: there is no fake-out here. By the end of this event, one of these 12 mutants will have a new name, a new look, and a new mission as the Heir of Apocalypse.

In this way, Marvel has taken a novel approach to redesigning a classic character, by making the characters compete for it in-universe.

“Heir” Is A Return To Form For Marvel’s Ancient Mutant Antagonist

X-Men: Heir Of Apocalypse #1 – Cover By Adedotun Akande; Variant Covers By Greg & Tim Hildebrant, And Ron Lim

The Krakoan Era utilized Apocalypse in a refreshing role, in many ways adding dimensions to the character that had been lacking throughout his decades as perennial X-Men foe. The Krakoan Era established Apocalypse’s definitive backstory, and rounded him into a figure capable of more benevolence than readers had ever thought possible. Now, Marvel pays off years worth of storytelling by once more making Apocalypse an antagonist – though one that readers and writers alike will now approach in an fundamentally different way than they did before.

The idea that Apocalypse would craft a tournament to determine his successor is an engaging, action-oriented expression of his most classic character trait, his “survival of the fittest” mentality. The character views competition as a natural state – while at the same time having a strict degree of control over the circumstances of that competition falls in line with his natural authoritarian tendencies. Returning Apocalypse to a villainous role feels like the right move for X-Men’s “From the Ashes” relaunch, but how Marvel’s X-Office chose to do so was important, and the premise of Heir to Apocalypse seems to have justified the decision.

Marvel Is Committing To A Bold Reinvention For A Classic Character

A Major Swing For A New Era

Heir of Apocalypse’s ambitious premise lies in the excitement readers are going to experience as characters are eliminated from Apocalypse’s “tournament” over the course of the miniseries’ four issues. The twelve mutants slated to appear in the series are, in large part, major characters in the Marvel Universe. For each of them, the idea that they might become the inheritor of Apocalypse’s ideology and powers – as well as the danger inherent in a competition designed by En-Sabah-Nur – presents thrilling potential for their role in the “From the Ashes” Era.

For characters such as Armageddon Girl and Gorgon, this is an opportunity to make a quick ascent to a place of prominence among Marvel’s roster of mutants. Alternatively, this could be a way to radically –​​​​​​​ and unexpectedly –redesign a character like Penance, Forge, Exodus, or even Emma Frost for this new era of X-Men stories. The idea that the final outcome of the tournament in Heir to Apocalypse is truly up in the air makes it by far one of the most exciting comic book releases of the year.

Heir To Apocalypse Is A Perfect Kick-Off To A New Era

An Ambitious Start

Apocalypse’s return to an antagonistic role began in X-Men #35, which served to bridge the Krakoan Era and the “From the Ashes” relaunch. He forced the X-Men into a violent confrontation, before retreating back to Arrako – formerly the planet Mars – to rule from there. In the preview for Heir to Apocalypse #1, he is shown launching an attack on Earth, targeting his ancient stomping ground of Egypt. How the twelve mutants he selects as candidates to be his heir are drawn into the tournament, and how willing their participation will be, all remains to be revealed.

Even still, with Heir to Apocalypse, Marvel has already proven that the X-Men franchise’s latest relaunch won’t simply be a “return to the form,” but that it is taking the lessons learned during the Krakoan Era and applying them in new variations. As writer Steve Foxe assured readers, the series will follow its premise to its conclusion, and one of the twelve heroes in the story will be transformed with “a new name, a new look, and a new mission” to start X-Men’s new era.

Whoever becomes Apocalypse’s heir, and whatever happens to the rest of the characters in the series, Marvel has chosen an exciting story to inaugurate the X-franchise’s new era. Just as it promises the new and unexpected, it also carries elements of classic X-Men, suggesting Heir of Apocalypse will be an engaging synthesis of the franchise’s best elements. With X-Men once again wide open to all creative possibilities, Apocalypse’s return to villainy and search for an heir have created immediately effective dramatic tension for the new era.

Source: AIPT