Warning: contains spoilers for X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1!

Apocalypse has a long history with the X-Men, and now he has named the two mutant heroes he actually respects. During the X-Men’s Krakoan era, fans saw a new side of Apocalypse. Now, with Krakoa officially in the rearview mirror, Apocalypse is seeking an heir. In X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1 he opens a contest to find his successor, and he extends an invitation to two X-Men specifically.

X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1 is written by Steve Foxe and drawn by Netho Diaz. While Apocalypse leads his Martian mutant colony, he needs a successor to continue his work on Earth. After announcing the contest, Apocalypse appears to Archangel and Sunfire–both of whom were once Apocalypse’s Horsemen. He invites them to enter the contest.

Apocalypse then invokes the two’s time as Horsemen, saying the experience, while painful, was ultimately for the best as it made them both stronger.

Archangel scoffs at the invitation, and Sunfire declines as well.

Apocalypse Traumatized Archangel and Sunfire, Nearly Breaking Them In Both Body and Soul

Yet Archangel and Sunfire’s Time as Horsemen Also Helped Them Become Greater–According to Apocalypse

Billed as one of the first mutants in the Marvel Universe, Apocalypse is an ancient being of immense power. A firm believer in the “survival of the fittest” maxim, Apocalypse has used Horsemen over the years to enforce his will. These Horsemen, always mutants, undergo a painful augmentation process. Famously, both Archangel and Sunfire underwent the process. Archangel’s initiation was without his consent, and it left scars on him that, as seen in X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse, have yet to heal. Likewise, Sunfire was traumatized by his time with Apocalypse as well.

Yet, as Apocalypse pointed out to the two, their time as Horsemen was instrumental in their careers. Archangel suffered greatly under Apocalypse, as his mind and body were destroyed and rebuilt. Pressed into Apocalypse’s service, he nearly kills his friends before shaking his programming. In the years since, Archangel has managed to salvage his life and reclaim his soul and humanity. It was a tough process, but Archangel emerged on the other end a stronger hero. However, the time spent with Apocalypse has left both Archangel and Sunfire with severe trauma, and they understandably decline his offer.

Apocalypse Respects Archangel and Sunfire More Than Others

Apocalypse Believes Himself Instrumental to Their Success

Apocalypse singled Archangel and Sunfire out specifically for the competition to find his successor, a definite sign of respect on his part. Even after his “good guy” turn in the Krakoan era, Apocalypse still holds onto his distorted “survival of the fittest” viewpoint, and in this issue, he uses it as the basis for his high respect for Archangel and Sunfire. In Apocalypse’s view, he saw great potential in the two X-Men, and by turning them into Horsemen, he helped bring this greatness to the surface. He feels the two have capitalized on it, and he respects them for that.

X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!