While "Age of Apocalypse" was a seminal X-Men story that took over most of Marvel's mutant comic books for several months, 2000's "Ages of Apocalypse" was a much stranger, yet much more subdued affair. This crossover spilled out of the events of "Apocalypse: The Twelve," a long-gestating storyline that focused on the ancient villain finally utilizing a centuries-old conspiracy to steal the powers of 12 powerful mutants in a bid to gain godhood. But complications in the plan resulted in Apocayplse being forced into the body of Scott Summers instead of his intended target of an empowered Nate Grey.
Using the assembled energies, Apocalypse was able to briefly create short-lived alternate realities to try and trap the X-Men in. Now, we're taking a closer look at what happened in these worlds, and how these brief shifts in reality created entirely new rosters of X-Men.
THE NEW ORIGINAL FIVE
The first shift takes place in Uncanny X-Men #378 by Alan Davis, Adam Kubert, and Graham Nolan. In this world, the original five X-Men were composed of Jean Grey, Iceman, and Beast -- but instead of recruiting Cyclops and Angel, Xavier instead brought in Gambit and Storm. The team found themselves embarking on their first mission against Magneto, who attacks and takes over Cape Citadel.
Notably, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants assembled around Magneto in this timeline is a different roster -- consisting of Rogue, Polaris, Sunfire, and Marrow -- taking the place and even costumes of Mastermind, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Toad respectively. The two groups come to blows over the fate of Colossus, until they're briefly united against a mob of humans trying to murder Scott Summers. Scott is able to warn Jean of the brief changes in reality before reverting back under Apocalypse's control, allowing Jean to bring the assembled mutants back to their proper reality.
CABLE'S RESISTANCE
In one of the realities created from the chaos, Egypt rose up again under the rule of the Living Monolith -- and the true power behind the throne, Apocalypse. Within years, the world buckled under his rule. With a new modern empire that spans three continents, the resistance to the ancient mutant is spearheaded by Cable in Cable #77, by Joe Pruett and Bernard Chang.
Coming up against armies of men in Egyptian-style armor, Cable leads the charge alongside Aliya, a reborn incarnation of his wife from the distant future he grew up within. Cable's resistance consists of himself, Xavier, Cannonball, Warpath, M and Synch. They're also soon joined by the three major lords who rule the remnants of the free world in opposition of Apocayplse -- Storm, Sunfire and Magneto. The Living Monolith lures the heroes into a trap, however, seeking to steal more of their power. But Cable is able to break the illusion and free himself , albeit at the cost of Aliya, losing the woman he loved once again.
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LOGAN'S FANTASTIC FOUR
There have been multiple times across the multiverse where Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, and Ghost Rider formed their own Fantastic Four roster. However, one of the darkest was in Wolverine #148, by Erik Larsen and Roger Cruz. In this reality, X-Man was corrupted during the fight against Apocalypse, becoming High Lord. The battle to defeat him cost the lives of the original Fantastic Four, as well as most of the Avengers, almost all the X-Men, and even Doctor Doom.
In their memory, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, and Ghost Rider became the new Fantastic Four. The team spent years working together, going through their own dramas. Hulk's wife Betty Ross has been bombarded with gamma radiation and turned into the Harpy, becoming a regular enemy for the group. Peter and Mary Jane have had a daughter named May, who even in infancy has developed her father's powers. Although the team did decently against threats like Armin Zola and Annihulus, the group couldn't stop the assassination of President Robert Kelly, which paved the way for Graydon Creed to become President instead.
X-MEN VS. SHI'AR
In the reality featured in X-Men Unlimited #26 by Joe Pruett and Brett Booth, the world was actually attacked by an external-source -- the Shi'Ar Empire. In this world, Deathbird gained control of the empire after Apocayplse seemingly helped her assassinate her sister Lilandra. In the aftermath, she allied the Shi'Ar with Apocayplse, becoming one of his Horsemen, alongside Eric the Red, Ahab, and Caliban. Many of the mutant heroes and allies are killed in the conflict, including at least Wolfsbane, Meggan, and the Morlocks.
The remaining X-Men became the chief defenders against these attacks, with the roster consisting of Wolverine, Rogue, Iceman, Cable, Storm, Gambit, Marrow, Sabertooth, and Cecilia Reyes providing protection for the wounded. Luckily, the team has a backup in the form of an expanded Excalibur, led by Shadowcat, and consisting of Nightcrawler, Colossus, Banshee, Captain Britain, and Lady Mastermind. Final reinforcements in the form of Charles Xavier and a Skrull Empire end up being the key to victory, with the assembled mutant heroes finally able to push the armada back.
A HAPPY ENDING
X-Men #98 by Alan Davis and Terry Kavanagh imagined a more optimistic future for the X-Men. Taking place decades in the future, these X-Men brought peace to the galaxy by allying with the Skrulls. Forming the Universal X-Alliance, the universe has since found peace, with the Skrulls becoming highly respected, Galactus being contained, and almost all war is ceased. The X-Men are considered living legends within decades, with the aged team eventually reuniting due to the finally failing health of Charles Xavier.
This includes Jean Grey (who followed in his footsteps to become a teacher), Storm (after having evolved into a living elemental force), Colossus (a widower following the death of Shadowcat), Gambit and Marrow (who married and had a family), Iceman (now a field commander for Alliance-X) and Beast (the chief liaison between the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Foursome.) Other allies like Sunfire and X-Man also attend, along with the unexpected arrival of the new Brotherhood. Still led by Magneto, the group also consists of Polaris and Cable, who in this future was fully converted by the T/O Virus.
When Xavier collapses on the brink of death, the assembled mutants try to pool their powers to save him. But this is revealed to be one last attempt by Apocayplse to siphon their powers for himself. But the power was too much to handle controllably, and the plan ultimately failed, which returns the X-Men to their natural reality.