MAGNETO versus APOCALYPSE

Back in the USSR Part 2: Clear And Present Danger (Marvel)
Where: Adventures of the X-Men #6 When: September 1996 Why: Ralph Macchio How: Ben Herrera

The Story So Far...
The destruction of Asteroid M sends a furious Magneto back to Earth on a mission of vengeance against a humanity that has betrayed peace!

With his mastery of magnetism Magneto turns the weapons of the world against itself -- invading a Russian base with The Brotherhood of Mutants -- to launch a nuclear missile strike targeting the United States.

With his retaliation comes the dire realization that it was not any nation that attacked his orbital base, but rather the maniacal Apocalypse -- who has manipulated Magneto into an act of war that will assure the mutual destruction of two global powers, scorching the Earth so only the fittest will survive!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Apocalypse 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Draw 5 (Professor)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Apocalypse 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Apocalypse 6 (Rubber)
Fighting: Apocalypse 4 (Trained)
Energy: Magneto 6 (None)
Total: Apocalypse 36 (Metahuman)

Season 2 of X-Men '97 pits these mutant titans against one another in a dramatic battle in ancient Egypt, but long before Disney+ launched their animated series revival, there was Adventures of the X-Men -- a companion series published while the final season of the original X-Men cartoon was airing in 1996 into '97.

Adventures ditched direct episode adaptations for all-new original stories, with this version of Magneto differing slightly from animated and comic book counterparts of the time, possessing all the classic abilities of the Master of Magnetism, while having formed a version of The Brotherhood of Mutants with Toad, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver.

Magneto and his Brotherhood crossed paths with the X-Men many times in early issues of the mainline comics, notably coming undone when Magneto's attempt to recruit the Sub-Mariner backfired in X-Men (Vol.1) #6.

Inter-personal relationships with his erstwhile children and underlings have also often proved troublesome for Magneto. Things got violent when he reunited with his children in the moon city Attilan, and Quicksilver was against him again during the X-Men's siege of Avalon.

It's not all family turmoil for the "House of M", though. When Scarlet Witch began to experience a mental breakdown, he patched things up with his daughter & son, bringing them successfully together against Iron Man. Significant as Scarlet Witch will tag along for today's featured fight -- but it's really all about the showdown between Magneto and the awesome ancient might of Apocalypse!

Both are major players in shaping the fate of mutantkind, but they haven't crossed paths as much as you might think. One of their most notable collisions came when Apocalypse conquered the world in the alternate-reality timeline of Age of Apocalypse, resulting in the heroic Magneto making a final stand against the tyrant with a shocking realization of his fullest magnetic powers!

Don't be fooled, though. Through his natural mutant gifts, and techno-organic enhancements from Celestial technology, Apocalypse has almost total control over his molecular composition. This allows him to endure and resist significant physical damage, and adapt his body into a variety of weapons and even vehicles. Useful talents when facing an adaptable opponent, such as the High Evolutionary.

Apocalypse is also a keen strategist, with a wealth of tools and followers amassed over the centuries, allowing him to secure victory even in the most dire of circumstances, as seen in his victories over the Norse god Loki, and the X-Men.

Circumstances and dramatic thrust have a major role to play in any encounter between these two. If Magneto can utilize the fullest of his powers he may secure victory, but it's hard to imagine either mutant backing down. Let's see how it goes!

History: Magneto (1-0-0)

The Tape: Apocalypse Ranking: Magneto (#91)

What Went Down...

Magneto angrily leads the Scarlet Witch to the exterior compound of the Russian nuclear base he seized mere moments earlier. There, Apocalypse waits to greet him with pontifications of rebirth through the ashes of a thermonuclear fire -- ignited by his intent -- and the missiles Magneto has launched against the world!

This time The Master of Magnetism does his best to curb his fury, ordering Scarlet Witch to stay safely behind, while he chooses a more deliberate show of power.

As he calls forth large heavy lids from missile silos to direct in a volley of projectiles -- it remains to be seen if he has withheld his anger.

Apocalypse transforms his left hand into a studded club and effortlessly swats aside the heavy metallic discs!

They are a mere annoyance to the ancient mutant who has survived the rise and fall of civilizations by nothing but his own will and incredible abilities!

Magneto stands his ground, claiming intent while keeping up the irritation -- he hurls tiny metal fragments at the large frame of his towering opponent. Apocalypse grows increasingly impatient...

Apocalypse charges toward Magneto, switching the studded club to his other hand while shifting the shape of his muscular left arm into a large mechanical pincer!

He raises both arms, bringing the weapons crashing down towards Magneto in an overhead strike. It's all The Master of Magnetism can do to stifle the blow as his magnetic field projections struggle to have any real influence.

Magneto tries to hold Apocalypse's arms back, but the ancient mutant looms over him with superior strength and a determination to dominate not only Magneto's body, but also his egotistical claims to being leader of mutant resistance in a war against humanity.

At last the strain is too great and Apocalypse is able to clasp his techno-organic grapple around Magneto's chest and arms!

He effortlessly lifts Magneto off the ground and begins to tighten his grip!

The upper hand belongs to En Sabah Nur -- but suddenly his grip is broken as a concussive beam blasts into his mid-section and staggers him back!

Cyclops leads the X-Men and Brotherhood of Mutants out of the nearby building.

With intercontinental nuclear missiles on a course for the United States of America -- Cyclops rightly identifies that Magneto's fight with Apocalypse is risking the fate of the world. He must withdraw, to use his powers to avert disaster and save the planet from nuclear war. A mission for peaceful coexistence with humanity, much to the amusement of Apocalypse, who mocks Magneto for heeding the behest of one of Charles Xavier's students.

The Hammer...

If you're anything like I was when this issue hit shelves back in the day, you were drawn in by that energetic Andy Kuhn cover, and the promise of a rare battle between two of the X-Men's greatest villains -- but even if we say Apocalypse had the upper hand, it's an inconclusive result that sends Magneto on a more pressing mission, setting us up for another fight, between Apocalypse and the X-Men!

Before we move on and look ahead to that match-up, we should also chalk Cyclops up for the assist. His well-timed optic blast from off-panel frees Magneto to save the world from mutually assured nuclear destruction. A surprise move he also pulled against Juggernaut and The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to end a crossover with DC's Teen Titans. I wonder how many times he's done that...

Today it's all about the X-Men, from a time when "Adventures" was synonymous with TV exploits, and the end was near for the much-loved animated series that ran from late 1992 to 1997.

I was already a dyed in the wool comic book reader, but it's fair to say the cartoon cemented my interest in the X-Men, which become more intense in the early to mid-nineties, and included actively collecting action figures, video games, and the entire first series on VHS tapes that featured two episodes per box (an improvement on the single episode tapes common to the United States).

The show had aired on weekday mornings before school, but even found its way into weekend primetime, much to my chagrin as Wolverine and Storm faced the time-traveling antics of Fitzroy as I was ushered out the door with a friend for dinner at Pizza Hut.

Fortunately, the entire series now streams on Disney+, where fans can recapture some of the excitement along with the first two seasons of revival series, X-Men '97. I can even enjoy the luxury of owning it all on DVD thanks to British released box sets that were obscenely cheap just a decade ago. Not so back in 1996!

The only hope an eater of meatlovers pizza had back then was anecdotal accounts from friends (who mostly weren't watching), prospective re-runs or VHS that never happened, or an adaptation of episodes in the pages of X-Men Adventures.

It was interesting to see how episodes were condensed, and sometimes slightly different on the page, but with a fresh mind that recalled minute detail & exact dialogue from regular TV viewings -- with hope of one day seeing all the episodes on home formats -- I was always a little bit snobbish towards adapted works.

Comic book artwork put Adventures series a step above novelizations, but it was still a slightly lame, second-hand, played out experience when all was said and done. So when the series was replaced with the slightly re-titled Adventures of the X-Men -- I was reserved, but pleased. It was still cheap, easy to access X-Men comics, but now there were a few surprises in store, and a fresh approach!

The simplified art style that became synonymous with cartoon-inspired series may have cost them a little street cred at the time, but over the years I've gained much more appreciation for the alternative offerings.

I've become particularly fond of Andy Kuhn's contributions, but Ben Herrera contributes a nice "animated" energy in today's spotlight issue, sharing duties in today's spotlight issue with Roberto Flores in the back half. Artists like John Hebert offered tendons & muscle more in keeping with the post-Jim Lee house style of the time in earlier series, while Alex Saviuk showed a stripped back, refined graphic expanding on his work on Spider-Man.

In another quirk from the age, my copy of Adventures of the X-Men #6 is one of the flipbook versions, which has the corresponding Adventures of Spider-Man #6 on the other side -- a deviating spin-off from the Spider-Man Adventures comic. We might also take this moment to acknowledge and celebrate Marvel Adventures, which opened the toy box up to other Marvel cartoon characters of the time, including Hulk, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, and even Silver Surfer.

In hindsight, one of the pleasures of these series is that they were unburdened from the stunts and stages of comics at the time. This isn't a story about Joseph, or a catatonic post-Fatal Attractions Magneto. It's basically just the classic Master of Magnetism, and all the characters you know and love, with less of the nonsense. That's something I can appreciate a lot more, these days.

In the age of Disney and Marvel Studios, we're strangely used to malformed versions of characters in much the same way of the disappointments of adaptations from earlier decades. One of the things that made the X-Men animated series work so well in the nineties was its effort to reflect the look and style of the comics, with the intuitive wisdom and refinements of thirty years of publication to draw upon.

I shamefully admit that I often regarded the cartoon versions of Apocalypse and the Sentinels for being distillations of what makes those characters great, without the baggage of some of the clumsier efforts of seminal comic book appearances, and later distractions and missteps. The first series, in particular, did it very well.

The scope of Apocalypse and Magneto in the mainline Marvel Comics meant they were often out of sync, in a state of flux, and perhaps just too big to have a lot to do with each other. It was nice that Adventures could facilitate the meeting of their iconic selves, although Apocalypse is maybe skewing a little Saturday Morning in his manipulations and general depictions here, but I suppose it recalls the scenes of a giant-size Apocalypse stomping through France in Series 1.

How important were the cartoons and these comics to your fandom? I'd be interested to know. You can drop a comment below, hit me up on social media, or take the next step in human evolution by supporting the cause on Patreon. That's one way you can help encourage a follow-up for the X-Men/Apocalypse battle!

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Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#91 (--) Magneto [+1 draw]
#127 (+3) Apocalypse [+1 draw]
#93 (--) Cyclops [+1 assist]

APOCALYPSE versus HIGH EVOLUTIONARY

Unnatural Selection (Marvel)
Where: X-Factor Annual #3 When: 1988
Why: Louise Simonson How: Terry Shoemaker

The Story So Far...
Since the 1920s, Dr. Herbert Wyndham has held a fascination for genetics and evolution. Experimentation on his own makeup transformed him into the brilliant High Evolutionary, whose agenda to advance humanity has led to many amazing discoveries -- and atrocities!

In subterranean caverns weaving deep beneath the Earth, The High Evolutionary's Purifiers are deployed to extinguish the devolved and primitive bloodline of the Moloids, but from among their mindless ranks rises a mutation capable of organizing their endless armies.

A psychic scream from the mutant Moloid is felt by "sensitives" across the Earth -- including Caliban: loyal hound to an ancient being who would regard the Moloid's struggle as fitness to survive. Now the High Evolutionary's tampering must answer to the Darwinistic challenge of Apocalypse!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Apocalypse 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: High Evolutionary 6 (Genius)
Speed: Apocalypse 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Apocalypse 6 (Rubber)
Fighting: Apocalypse 4 (Trained)
Energy: Draw 5 (Lasers)
Total: Apocalypse 36 (Cosmic)

You think just because a couple of guys aced AP Bio they can't start somethin'?

The differences of their abilities are almost secondary to the contrast of their beliefs. They both observe life on Earth with a goal towards advancement, and at times their methodology is not all that different, but for the ancient mutant called Apocalypse, there is great difference between natural and unnatural selection!

The High Evolutionary was once a mortal Englishman, Dr. Herbert Wydnham on scholarship to Oxford University, whose study of genetics led him to evolve into a being of vast knowledge, perspective, and power.

Wyndham has experienced life as a neanderthal and demi-god, commanding his Evolutionary Accelerator from bases on Wundagore Mountain, and a distant Counter-Earth, where he resided with animals evolved into a breed of New Men -- part of his efforts to study and contrive the advanced progress of humanity.

His distinct suit of armor houses the best of his technologies, granting the High Evolutionary varying degrees of super-human strength, durability, and an arsenal of weaponry and scientific applications. He'll need them!

Apocalypse is privy to his own array of scientific wonderments, as well as genetic mutations that have allowed him to become strong over centuries of survival -- in total control of his molecular structure and energy projection!

Apocalypse conquered Earth itself in an alternate timeline, and has thought nothing of fighting gods into submission. Will his challenge of the High Evolutionary go any other way? Let's find out!

The Tape: Apocalypse Ranking: Apocalypse (#138)

What Went Down...

From his vantage point in outer space, The High Evolutionary peers deep beneath the Earth's crust, watching as his Purifiers encounter unexpected resistance from the subterranean moloids. It is not the only unexpected presence to trouble him.

Suddenly from behind beckons the booming voice of an intruder!

There stands the looming figure of Apocalypse and a philosophical quandary concerning the fate of the moloids.

The ancient mutant does not strictly object to the violent treatment of the savage underground race, but En Sabah Nur has seen centuries of survival and evolution, and he aims to bestow upon the brilliant and immortal Evoltuionary the wisdom of patience.

The High Evolutionary narrowly steps clear of a massive energy blast that rips through his powerful computers!

Challenging Apocalypse's arrogance, he accuses the ancient mutant of showing his own impatience in his attack.

The Evolutionary returns fire with massive blasts from his hands that rip through the moon-like facade of his own space station!

The pair are sucked into the void of space, but neither man would be so unevolved to concern himself with the triviality of oxygen.

While the High Evolutionary drifts unaffected, Apocalypse shifts his molecules to become a living bio-mechanical space suit!

High Evolutionary speaks of his own path, experiencing life as both animal and demi-god. He blasts more energy at Apocalypse, who exerts control over his form sufficient to jet himself clear of the danger with ankle-mounted boosters.

Apocalypse rejects the "unnatural selection" of High Evolutionary's efforts to sterilize those he deems unfit. He would see time weed out the weak, and advance the strong, allowing them to exceed and escape the presumed dead ends High Evolutionary arrogantly predicts.

Apocalypse extends his reach toward the High Evolutionary, stretching and contorting his arm to become a gigantic mechanical vice!

He grips the Evolutionary by the torso and draws him closer, inviting the scientist's scorn: "I recognize you, Apocalypse. Your claims... to encourage the growth of the strong... is at variance with your deeds. I consider you a villain of the first order."

The ancient mutant laughs uproariously, claiming everything he does tests human and mutantkind: "-- a trial by fire in which humanity grows strong as a species... or dies."

High Evolutionary wrestles with Apocalypse's body and ideas, grabbing at the mutant's arms, while Apocalypse grasps at his magenta face plate. The scientist works to break the stalemate by rapidly increasing his size!

Looming over Apocalypse, the High Evolutionary describes himself as a benevolent parent making choices for an immature humanity. A claim Apocalypse scoffs at, seeing the Evolutionary as merely attempting to remake them in his own image.

"Your own evolution was forced... and see what you've become. Disembodied... For all your power, with only that armor to give you the semblance of substance. You are a creature of the living dead... Who can no longer reproduce himself... The ultimate genetic dead end!"

Apocalypse dodges a massive energy blast from High Evolutionary's super-sized gauntlet, swinging his own enlarged clamp-hand like a battering ram into the giant target of The Evolutionary's mid-section!

For a moment the High Evolutionary is flung through space, but when he completely disappears Apocalypse knows his gambit. He can see through his invisibility and ensnare him in extending tendrils.

With the High Evolutionary in his grasp, Apocalypse uses his vast resources to teleport the both of them to the subterranean tunnels of the moloids.

There, he intends them to bare personal witness to the battle between The Purifiers, moloids, and their recruited allies -- the mutants of X-Factor!

Watching from a shadowy outcrop over the inner chamber, the High Evolutionary continues to regard the telepathic moloid rallying his people as little more than an animal acting without conscious, creative thought. A notion that will soon be challenged, even if the physical battle between he and Apocalypse is at an end.

The Hammer...

What a fantastic struggle! Not just the clash of super-powers, but the collision of philosophies! The debate is more compelling than the trading of blows, and not just because it renders something approaching a result.

At times Apocalypse wasn't always everything I hoped he would be -- especially in those early days. Sometimes he's a little too willing to roll around in the mud, a little too corny in his villainy to fulfill those big ideas of Darwinist malevolence.

I like an Apocalypse who is lofty in his ideals, coldly grandiose in his speech, and upright and strong in his bearing. Still very much the villain in the potential of his schemes, but somewhat aloof in his actions. He isn't quite that as he swings oversized novelty limbs in space, but the character study is compelling.

In X-Factor Annual #3 it feels as if Louise Simonson is taking the slightly awkward premise of The Evolutionary War -- Marvel's 1988 crossover through various series' Annuals, including The Punisher and Silver Surfer -- and spinning it into an excellent opportunity to examine her recurring antagonist.

I enjoy the way Apocalypse almost assumes the conceit of a hero here, coming to the aid of a lowly moloid whose life the reader might be willing to disregard, even if they feel compassion towards his plight.

Apocalypse is seen to note that he doesn't outright object to the hostile treatment endured by the primitive moloids, but he will defend the emerging potential of a fledgling mutant whose powers present a greater will to survive, and oppose the sterilization of the species.

It's an interesting premise, and a good demonstration of the differences between Apocalypse and High Evolutionary, who might otherwise appear similar in their grand objectives, if inconsistent from appearance to appearance.

The distinctions can get a little slippery, especially over time, but in essence, the High Evolutionary is a practicing supremacist, attempting to reach a pre-determined outcome for humanity through bio-engineering, while Apocalypse is in theory more of an equal opportunity offender, uniquely interested in mutation, and intent on provoking accelerated natural selection through periodic stress tests.

This might seem contradictory when we look at Apocalypse's meddling with the genetics of characters like Warren Worthington, the Angel remade as his Horseman of Death, but we must also remember that these characters are not strictly adherent to the ideas we associate them with. They are also presented to be living characters, with selfish motivations such as the creation of servants, and may be seen to change their mind or approach, from time to time.

Although High Evolutionary remains committed in his convictions and desire to share company with those similar to himself, it's nice that he acknowledges, in his private thoughts, that the mutant moloid, now going by Val-Or, earned a reprieve for he and his people, who once served The Evolutionary himself, and helped build his citadel on Wundagore Mountain. That's gratitude for ya!

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Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#129 (+9) Apocalypse
#496 (new) High Evolutionary

APOCALYPSE versus LOKI

Meanwhile, On Earth... (Marvel)
Where: X-Factor #50 When: January 1990
Why: Louise Simonson How: Terry Shoemaker

The Story So Far...
Plotting the ultimate revenge against his brother Thor and the mighty Avengers -- Loki disguises himself to approach some of the world's most powerful villains and coerce them into joining his coordinated Acts of Vengeance!

The promise of defeating adversaries by deploying villains they've never faced appeals to some of the world's most powerful criminal masterminds, but not everyone is so easily convinced. The ancient mutant Apocalypse has watched their actions from afar, and when Loki arrives to recruit him -- he is less than reciprocal!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Apocalypse 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Draw 5 (Professor)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Apocalypse 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Apocalypse 6 (Rubber)
Fighting: Apocalypse 4 (Trained)
Energy: Loki 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Apocalypse 36 (Cosmic)

It's not often Apocalypse faces an opponent who's older than he is, but should the ancient mutant be humbled in the presence of Loki? Not necessarily...

The Asgardian god of mischief often favors pulling the strings of others to achieve his goals without getting his own hands dirty. That's exactly what brought about the Acts of Vengeance, and today's attempt to recruit Apocalypse into a cabal that includes Doctor Doom, Magneto, Red Skull, Mandarin, Kingpin, and The Wizard!

Apocalypse is something of a manipulator himself, but his penchant for recruiting Four Horsemen in no way reflects upon his own willingness to live by a philosophy of survival of the fittest.

The hardships of many centuries evolved En Sabah Nur from a pallid child in the sands of Ancient Egypt, to a techno-organic powerhouse modified by Celestial technology, and in total molecular control of his body! We saw him extend limbs, distort his figure, and unleash powerful energy blasts in Uncanny X-Men #295!

As much as Loki may appear to be a conniving coward at times, he also possess considerable power of his own. When pushed to fight he's capable of unleashing a variety of destructive energy-based attacks and enchantments.

We saw all of Loki's skills on display when he tricked the Thor of the Heroes Reborn pocket universe into joining him in a fight against the Avengers!

In theory Loki should lord over most mortals, but Apocalypse is one man who has convened with even greater cosmic powers than a god. Its difficult to imagine how even Loki's most malignant curses could suppress his will to survive.

The Tape: Apocalypse Ranking: Apocalypse (#378)

What Went Down...

Beneath the towering gaze of Apocalypse stands a mysterious man in a grey flannel suit. He has slick black hair, and brings an offer with no clear benefit...

This man invites the ancient mutant to join his so-called "Acts of Vengeance": a scheme Apocalypse has watched unfold from afar. He has seen through the self-styled servant, recognizing him as the true mastermind who manipulates a cabal of Earth's deadliest villains against a gallery of unsuspecting opponents.

Apocalypse shapes his hand into an extending mechanical vice and snatches the interloper off his feet! He wants to know who this man really is and what he hopes to gain from the "absurdity" of his mischievous game.

A "snap" of energy transforms the mystery man -- revealing the true guise of Loki!

The god of lies & mischief leaps from Apocalypse's grasp and chides him for questioning his right to "annoy the heroes of Earth". He fires a spiteful question of his own: "By what idiocy dost thou, a mutant mortal, hope to imprison a god?"

Loki accompanies his words with a potent blast of energy that knocks Apocalypse off his feet. A minor inconvenience for a mutant in complete control of his physical form. He taunts Loki with his own responsibility for creating his hated Avengers.

Loki glides overhead as Apocalypse falls and tempts the mutant with the promise that others such as X-Factor and the New Mutants will feel the wrath of his conspiracy, just as the Avengers have.

Apocalypse wraps his flattened arm around a metal strut, stopping his descent while transforming his other into an energy cannon.

The ancient mutant fires at the airborne god whilst advocating for humanity's defiant courage.

He deems the petty self-interest of Loki's "master villains" an inevitability of mortal will, which resists the death that begins with their very first breath. The "Acts of Vengeance" has already failed -- and it could be no other way.

Loki darts between the exploding bursts of energy, and dismisses En Sabah Nur's flattering observations of humanity -- indignantly insisting he could crush them!

He's unprepared when Apocalypse suddenly blocks his aerial path -- rising as a rocket-shaped monolith that challenges his godly power!

Loki falls to the floor, momentarily humbled.

Apocalypse reminds the mischief-maker that he too has lived as a god. His perspective is formed from centuries above, and among, humanity. He has felt the glow of worship and continues to receive the power of others' faith.

With that -- one of Apocalypse's true believers emerges from the shadows!

Caliban thrashes Loki from behind with his hand -- confirming the power he has gained from his worship of Apocalypse!

Loki braces his back and views the "servant" with scorn: "Who are you creature, to interrupt your betters?"

He summons a mystic bolt to engulf Caliban in a golden flame, but suddenly it's Loki finds himself surrounded by an inexplicable energy!

The distraction provided by Caliban allowed Apocalypse to activate a machine harnessing ancient Celestial technology. Its power is awesome enough to trap even a god within its field -- helpless like so much as an insect caught in a jar.

The energy field's draining effects are a metaphor for Apocalypse's outlook for the future threats facing mankind. He delivers a sermon, rejecting Loki's attempted manipulations, and declaring him an enemy of a humanity who will be tempered like steel until they can challenge even gods!

Loki declares himself unafraid of such threats. and uses his godly magicks to disappear from the confines of his energy-based bondage -- and appear on a towering monitor screen.

"I am simply ending a discussion that had become tedious... and pointless. Your humans will not survive long enough to challenge the gods, Apocalypse, and you, so proud of your wisdom, are a fool. Dare to oppose me... or my plans... and you will join your human race in death."

Loki shatters the screen, but doesn't damage Apocalypse's unwavering confidence in his plans to send Caliban to test humanity's worthy survivors.

The Hammer...

With Acts of Vengeance Marvel unleashed an early banner event with a simple but effective high concept premise: heroes are confronted by villains they wouldn't ordinarily face. The result was a range of memorable and interesting match-ups, such as Magneto vs Spider-Man, and Freedom Force vs The Avengers.

It was all initiated by Loki: who tricked some of Marvel's most powerful master criminals into pooling their resources into a conspiracy to create a major paradigm shift. A lofty revenge scheme that also successfully roped in Doctor Doom, Magneto, Red Skull, The Mandarin, Kingpin, and The Wizard!

There were a few holdouts and omissions from the line-wide event. Sebastian Shaw became an unwitting participant in an "Aftermath" issue when Loki fused his Sentinels into the towering, nuclear-powered destroyer called Tri-Sentinel. That was also one of the cosmic-powered Spidey issues that were instant favourites.

There was a lot going on in comics of the time, and Acts of Vengeance was a fairly loose crossover for the era. Some key issues dealt with core developments in the master villain's plot, but for the most part, it was a collection of unusual guest spots that added extra flavour and excitement to on-going storylines.

X-Factor #50 is a prime example: predominantly dedicated to the Judgement War sci-fi/fantasy epic that took the titular team to a distant, unnamed planet watched by Celestials. A space adventure that kept them out of Loki's reaches.

The series' late involvement was instead reserved for arch-nemesis Apocalypse, who's shown already watching the unusual shift in villainous alliances, in X-Factor #49 [pictured below].

It's one of those classic comic book scenes that captures the excitement of the event by showing the likes of Hobgoblin and Kingpin in an X-book. Highly unusual at a time when villains were still typically kept contained by their respective heroic nemeses', and editorial houses. It tickles the imagination and invites a reader to seek out characters they might not know a lot about. Good comics!

Apocalypse wonders if the unusual movements of Acts of Vengeance might be a sign of the coming "Armageddon" his Darwinian schemes aim to prepare for.

I particularly like that he first notes the contradictory combination of Holocaust survivor Magneto, and World Ward II Nazi scumbag Red Skull. Strange bedfellows  eventually addressed in Captain America -- a future feature fight, to be sure.

When the disguised Loki appears before Apocalypse via observation monitors, it seems like he's going to recruit another powerful ally. As we've already seen: it actually erupts into another exciting battle between villains, filling the final six pages of X-Factor's milestone fiftieth issue with an unusual clash of titans.

Apocalypse became a more overtly evil figure in later years, most notably when he achieved global domination in the grim alternate-timeline of the Age of Apocalypse. It could be forgotten that there was a glimmer of altruism in his original grand design for empowering humanity through survival of the fittest. An aspect of his goals that got a little lost along the way.

It's nice to revisit a story where he very clearly outlines his broad philosophy, and declares a god like Loki an enemy of humanity whose defeat is the end goal of his success. A good bit of character work, and a nice way to set the fight up while also keeping Acts of Vengeance more central to non-mutant characters. There had been multiple X-Men-centric crossovers before this one.

If you'd like to get acquainted with Apocalypse and today's featured fight in its entirety you can find it collected in Acts of Vengeance: Spider-Man & X-Men or as part of Essential X-Factor Volume 3. Use the Amazon purchase links provided below to do any of your online shopping and you'll not only get a good deal delivered to your door -- you'll help support the site at no extra cost!

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured more than 600 battles and ranked well over 1000 characters! You can find them all by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of featured fights in order of publisher, series, and issue number. Or refine your search by following topic links throughout each post!

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Winner: Apocalypse (w/ Caliban)
#130 (+248) Apocalypse
#613 (new) Caliban [+1 assist]
#968 (-244) Loki

MAGNETO versus APOCALYPSE
... Endings (Marvel)
Where: X-Men Omega When: June 1995

Why: Scott Lobdell & Mark Waid How: Roger Cruz

The Story So Far...
It was a world that was never meant to be. The unstable mutant David Haller believed he could achieve his father Charles Xavier's dream by eliminating his one-time friend turned greatest nemesis: Magneto! To do so, he traveled back to a time when the two were still care workers in war torn Israel, but he failed to consider his father's will to protect a friend. The killing blow meant for the once and future Magneto instead struck the X-Men's founder.

The events stir the ancient mutant Apocalypse from his slumber, beginning the world on a path of destruction. Erik "Magnus" Lehnsherr resumes his destiny to become Magneto, but in this timeline, dedicates his fight to fulfilling the dream of peaceful co-existence between mutants and humans held by the late Xavier!

Already displaced in time, the X-Man Bishop wanders this new reality with the fog of knowing everything is wrong! Armed with the truth, the X-Men set about overthrowing Apocalypse's empire by unmaking the world he has created! To do so, the X-Men will need the cosmic artefact known as the M'Kraan Crystal - the reality nexus capable of healing time and restoring the universe to its true path.

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Apocalypse 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Apocalypse 5 (Professor)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Apocalypse 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Apocalypse 6 (Rubber)
Fighting: Apocalypse 4 (Trained)
Energy: Magneto 6 (Mass Destruction)

When it comes to heavyweight mutant match-ups - the marquee doesn't get much bigger than this! They could typically be thought of as two of the X-Men's deadliest enemies -- but in the altered reality of 1995: one leads the X-Men, while the other dominates all men equally as conqueror of the free world!

The former is Magneto: mutant master of magnetism! Born Max Eisenhardt, he witnessed the greatest atrocities of the Second World War first-hand. Abhorring those who would hate without cause, he learns to harness his mutant gifts of magnetic field manipulation to influence the world around him through the metal he controls. So great is his power, Magneto can twist metal, defy gravity, and ride and effect the magnetic spectrum of Planet Earth itself!

In a world of paranoia and fear toward super-powered mutation; Magneto began a pre-emptive war against a human race who would study and catalogue them. In our reality he was founder of the Brotherhood of Mutants - blind to becoming the very thing he hates. In a reality where his best friend Charles Xavier was murdered in a time travelling attempt on his own life; Magneto adopts a dream of peaceful co-existence between men and mutants, founding the X-Men!

Magneto's X-Men are humanity's greatest hope in an Age of Apocalypse!

The ancient mutant En Sabah Nur was discarded as a child for his freakish grey skin. Rescued by nomads from the unforgiving Egyptian desert, he learned a cruel lesson in survival that shaped his life's philosophy. Increasing his power through technology of Celestials, he is an immortal mutant with an agenda of conquest! He enacts his merciless plans through the employ of Four Horsemen, reserving survival for those who are fit enough to take it!

Apocalypse was drawn back into the modern world by a demonstration of power in Israel by time travelling X-Men: Legion, Storm, Iceman, Bishop and Psylocke. In this timeline, he emerged before an age of Marvels that created the Fantastic Four, Avengers and other heroes. Opposed only by Magneto's X-Men, Apocalypse rewrote history, eventually conquering North America to establish a citadel of power on the ruins of Manhattan, New York City.

Apocalypse may be known for staging battles behind augmented minions known as The Four Horseman, but make no mistake - he's a serious threat! We've only seen Apocalypse in action once in past feature fights [Uncanny X-Men #295]. In a state of weakness, he was still able to overwhelm a seasoned team of X-Men with a desperate display of power. At full strength, he wields phenomenal super-human strength, endurance, durability, reflexes, control over his body's size, shape, and make-up, and the ability to expel concussive energy blasts!

That one appearance has kept Apocalypse undefeated, while an unkind streak of circumstances have made Magneto winless on The Comic Book Fight Club!

A brief alliance with Prince Namor snatched defeat from the mouth of victory in X-Men #6. He ripped the adamantium from Wolverine's bones, prompting a rare moment of psychic violence from Professor X in X-Men #25. Magneto also had the rare misfortune of catching a cosmic powered Spidey in Amazing Spider-man #327. He was even eaten by zombies in another alternate version of the Marvel Universe [Marvel Zombies #1]! Unflattering, but you've got to chalk some of it up to bad luck!

In a world built with iron and steel, the master of magnetism is no joke! At the height of his powers, he's even able to dominate the iron content in human blood! Apocalypse has total control over his physical make-up, which might make it tough to play with his armor, but there's still the literal post-apocalypse of New York City to play with! Meaning, even though Magneto has one trick to play against his powerful opponent - it's a pretty darn good one!

The Tape: Apocalypse Ranking: Apocalypse (#220)

What Went Down...

At the feet of Apocalypse, the man called Magneto clings to a dream that was never his own. Battered by a monster called Holocaust, this mutant survivor defies a being who has conquered the free world. He believes his X-Men are on a path to end the nightmare of this Age of Apocalypse: a reality that was never meant to be. Alas; Apocalypse too has learned the secrets of the time displaced mutant Bishop. He has taken possession of the cosmic nexus known as the M'Kraan Crystal. He has turned the X-Men's objective into a well laid trap!

The X-Men are not the only ones subject to surprise, or with something to lose, though. Outside Apocalypse's citadel, the mutant called Angel sacrifices himself to destroy the stronghold's force field generator. At the same time, the Mid-West is reduced to a radioactive crater by the Eurasian High Council!

As Apocalypse draws plans for drastic retaliation against his enemies, he opts to accelerate an end to Magneto's life. Before he can discharge the fatal blow - an unexpected interloper enters the unshielded stronghold and sends Apocalypse tumbling across his own throne room! Sinister's secret weapon: Nate Grey!

The youth called "X-Man" confronts Apocalypse, but instead becomes entangled in battle with his heinous son - Holocaust! Their bitter struggle peels away from Magneto as the X-Men arrive to regroup with their leader and determine the future of all of reality!

The Master of Magnetism has no orders for his students. Only words of hope that the world need not be the apocalyptic landscape that cruelly strangles life and love from all who live. A mantra contrary to Apocalypse, who takes the time to turn his defensive grid into a genocidal weapon against The Human High Council.

As Council heads await the obliteration of England, Apocalypse wonders if his centuries old machinations have strengthened "the wolves and sheep" equally, to assure mutual destruction. His musing is interrupted as Magneto rips his way through the fortress to find his nemesis!

From the rubble, Magneto assembles a suit of armor. Wrapping himself in layers of twisted metal, he decries the twisted philosophy held by Apocalypse and the madmen who came before him! He mocks the notion of "survival of the fittest", reminding the High Lord who won the war Hitler began - the so-called weak!

Wielding a righteous gauntlet he topples Apocalypse with a mighty right hand!

With the High Lord down on the ground with the rest of humans and mutant, Magneto pounds his malleable flesh with unforgiving steel fists! He callously calls an end to Apocalypse's rule, confident in the crumbling of his options. Bold words that come prematurely as Guido Carosella - a double agent among the X-Ternals - enters the chamber with Charles Lehnsherr - Magneto's son!

Apocalypse sees a final card to play, but he under estimates the wrath of a mother scorned! Present for the conflict, Magneto's bride Rogue uses her mutant gifts to absorb Carosella's impressive strength and rescue her son!

Apocalypse attempts to use the distraction to sneak away with a shard of the M'Kraan Crystal. Knowing the world he made in his own vision is about to come crumbling down, he plots to inflict himself upon another world - a world in which he can enjoy conquest anew! Little does he realize, he isn't alone in his escape route.

X-Man returns to steal the Crystal from Apocalypse and swear revenge for his adoptive father Forge. He unleashes a telekinetically charged kick that humbles Apocalypse once again! Magneto catches up to rejoin the fight with Nate Grey!

Together Magneto & X-Man pummel Apocalypse into further submission! Magnetic and telekinetic energies bombard his body! For the first time it truly seems as Apocalypse's rule may finally be in danger, but at that moment Holocaust catches up with the fight to steal X-Man away once again!

Distracted by the attack for just a moment, Magneto is vulnerable to Apocalypse, who lunges at him! The towering, ancient mutant bears down on Magneto with his full weight, wrapping malicious hands around his throat!

Suddenly hope drains from the moment! Ever dedicated to a principle of the fit, Apocalypse compels Magneto to fight back! He mockingly questions the lack of will in the Master of Magnetism. He receives his answer...

It begins with a small tug... An almost gentle pull... As Magneto focuses on a single central point, Apocalypse knows what is happening. A harder yank. He can do nothing to stop it. A wrenching tear that tears his body in two!

"For twenty years, you've gone on and on about how only the strong survive. Tell me again, Apocalypse... Just how strong you are."

Feeble utterings choke out of Apocalypse's dismembered head. Nothing of meaning or grandeur. Will the High Lord survive his catastrophic bifurcation? It hardly matters. As Magneto ponders what could have been had two of the world's most powerful mutants worked together, he walks to his wife and child, knowing this reality is about to be unmade around them.

The Age of Apocalypse is finally at an end...

The Hammer...

In one of the most epic battles we've ever seen on The Comic Book Fight Club - it's Magneto who emerges victorious!

Give the well earned assist to Nate Grey, aka; X-Man! His brief intrusions into the fight helped lead to victory, but his true clash with Holocaust is a battle we will have to feature another day!

This year on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths we've been serving many masters, and while doing so, ticking off some of the untapped corners of the comic book universe(s). This entry marks an overdue first victory for Magneto, the debut of X-Man and Holocaust in the rankings, and the first recorded feature from the alternate universe of the Age of Apocalypse!

Like a lot of readers (it seems), I was immediately intrigued by the cancellation of the entire X-line. By the time I was aware of it, there was already a promise of a strange new world told in series like: Astonishing X-Men, X-Calibre, Factor X and Gambit and the X-Ternals. In 1995, with X-Mania lingering but the air starting to let out of the balloon, the stunt seemed inconceivable, yet exciting.

What followed was a rare moment in comics. A harmonious synthesis of high concept, creative execution, marketing stunt, and just a hint of restraint. Sure, there had been grim futures and alternate realities for decades. Surrendering a whole line to them under the proposition of a new reality - exciting and fresh.

I'm not sure I can remember a time when there wasn't intense nostalgia for the Age of Apocalypse. It was an instant hit. One that only lasted for something like five months! They left us wanting more. As daring a choice as the story itself!

The universe did have its immediate spin-offs and consequences. Refugee characters like X-Man, who starred in his own on-going series, Holocaust, as well as oddballs like Sugar Man, and Dark Beast - the evil alternate Hank McCoy who snuck into the X-Men for a while. Otherwise, it was occasional one-shots, a few mini-series, or a memorable issue of What if...?. Pretty restrained.

In the last ten to fifteen years, there have been far more attempts to recreate the mechanics of the concept. One of the least subtle was the Age of Ultron a few years ago. It seemed to come and go without leaving much more than a prospective movie title for Avengers 2. Something about killing off Hank Pym was in there, I think. It all came about out of so much upheaval and property mismanagement it's really hard to distinguish or care about what happened.

The legacy of Age of Apocalypse has sadly been quite counter to the original. Stories like House of M or DC's Flashpoint played with the same high concept of remaking a world of familiar characters, but usually do so with a destructive design. 2005's House of M was an early warning sign for darker years ahead, built around Magneto and the decimation of Marvel's mutant populous. 2010's Flashpoint holds the distinction of delivering DC's lasting line-wide reboot: the New 52. If ever there was a case for two wrongs not making a right, it's that!

Ironically, it was the truly apocalyptic tone of Age of Apocalypse that helped make it work so well. It had the committed darkness and complete world view of something like Kamandi. There was no illusion that the heroes were always going to make it out okay. In this hellish universe, the heroes aren't even all on the side of angels - and vice versa! Magneto and Sabretooth had been X-Men before, but never with total suspension of disbelief. Their stories - two that tapped into the simple contrarian fun of the alternate reality concept with enough organic grounding that it wasn't time wasted.

The pretenders that've come since usually overstay their welcome. At times, Age of Apocalypse seemed to be trying to cram too much in. Today's featured fight takes place over the entire course of the super-sized X-Men: Omega special -- bookend to X-Men: Alpha. Interspersed between the big final battle are stories involving all the other favourites from related mini-series. There's a lot going on. A harsher reviewer might call the issue a bit of a mess. I think I like it that way, though. At some point the dotting of Is and crossing of Ts just turns into a maelstrom of genuine creative energy!

Like other stunts before it, it's kind of abhorrent on a basic level. Another Death of Superman for a bonfire of culture. If only it wasn't so well orchestrated and motivated. What people think they remember and the logic that's been applied since was always doomed to fail, because they were never bad ideas and never did what we think they did. They were stories that dared to go deeper than ever before, without losing sight of why that contrast worked.

With any luck we'll get a chance to venture deeper into the Age of Apocalypse in future updates. For now, I couldn't allow X-Men: Apocalypse to breeze through theatres without finally cracking the seal on the much loved alternate universe. A fun time in comics, and a great chance to match-up two of the characters who star in the new movie, and haven't done a whole lot of fighting in the past!

You can see more of today's featured fight for yourself by using the Amazon link provided [embedded right] to purchase the entire collected edition. Using the link to navigate to Amazon before you purchase something else can also help the site and future installment!

If you're reading this in real-time, you know we suffered a technical setback in May, but with any luck there'll be plenty more fights to come! In the mean time, you can always go back issue diving in the Issue Index Archive! Yay!

Winner: Magneto

#351 (+461) Magneto
#298 (-78) Apocalypse
#481 (new) X-Man
#482 (new) Holocaust