Marvel Comics has announced X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse — a new four-issue limited series that sees mutant heroes and villains alike compete to become Apocalypse‘s successor.
X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse hails from writer Steve Foxe, artist Netho Diaz, and cover artist Dotun Akande. According to Marvel, the series launches early this coming June and runs through late July. “Throughout the Krakoan Age, Apocalypse underwent a radical transformation from super villain to revered mutant leader,” the publisher explains. “More invigorated than ever, Apocalypse now returns to Arakko to steer his former homeland towards a new destiny. But his work on Earth still needs to be done — especially in the wake of Krakoa’s brutal fall.”
As such, “the X-Men‘s former archenemy [will] gather 12 mutants for an epic tournament to discover who is fit enough to take his place.” The characters in question include Armageddon Girl, Cable, Cypher, Emma Frost, Exodus, Forge, Gorgon, Mirage, Mister Sinister, Penance, Rictor, and Wolverine (Laura Kinney).
Check out the covers and solicitation information for X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1-4 below:
X-MEN: HEIR OF APOCALYPSE #1 (OF 4)
- Written by STEVE FOXE
- Art by NETHO DIAZ
- Cover by DOTUN AKANDE
- On Sale 6/5
X-MEN: HEIR OF APOCALYPSE #2 (OF 4)
- Written by STEVE FOXE
- Art by NETHO DIAZ
- Cover by DOTUN AKANDE
- On Sale 6/26
X-MEN: HEIR OF APOCALYPSE #3 (OF 4)
- Written by STEVE FOXE
- Art by NETHO DIAZ
- Cover by DOTUN AKANDE
- On Sale 7/10
X-MEN: HEIR OF APOCALYPSE #4 (OF 4)
- Written by STEVE FOXE
- Art by NETHO DIAZ
- Cover by DOTUN AKANDE
- On Sale 7/31
What to expect from X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse
An official synopsis for Heir of Apocalypse reads as follows: “For centuries, Apocalypse tested the mutants of Earth to guarantee that only the strong would survive. Now, as he takes his throne on Arakko, another must rise in his place and ensure the mutants of Earth do not grow weak in his absence! Twelve mutants chosen from the X-Men’s greatest heroes — and villains — will compete for the honor, but only one can become … the HEIR OF APOCALYPSE!”
“The shadow of Apocalypse has loomed large over not just the Krakoan Era, but a substantial percentage of mutant-focused storytelling since his debut in 1986,” Foxe said. “These past few years have shown so many new facets of En Sabah Nur, and my Krakoan peers aren’t done with him quite yet. So it’s both an immense honor and a ton of pressure to step up to the slab for HEIR OF APOCALYPSE, which charts a new path for his legacy in the years to come.
“I’ve been lucky to bend the ear of past and future stewards of these characters to make sure these four issues are a meaningful entry in the Apocalypse canon — and I had every X-fan’s dream task of selecting twelve mutants from across the history of the franchise who might just be up for the titular role,” he continued. “Some are characters I’ve already had the privilege to write, some are characters I’ve eyed enviously, and some won’t survive the series … but only one will become the Heir of Apocalypse.”
Foxe concluded, “I lucked out tremendously getting paired with Netho Diaz — we have a large cast, and he makes spotlighting them all look easy … This book has some of the biggest action I’ve written in my Marvel career, and I can’t wait for folks to see Netho bring it to life!”
X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1 goes on sale Wednesday, June 5 from Marvel Comics.
