The One Man’s Worth two-parter from X-Men: The Animated Series shares a compelling link with the Age of Apocalypse comic book storyline. In Season 4’s pivotal episodes, the nefarious Trevor Fitzroy disrupts the timeline, causing Charles Xavier’s untimely death before the X-Men are formed. This altered timeline unveils an alternate reality where Earth is torn apart by a catastrophic war between humans and mutants, with robotic drones, reminiscent of the Avengers, decimating mutant communities.

In this universe, the X-Men are replaced by the Mutant Resistance, a group of insurgent mutants led by Magneto. This alliance includes a married Wolverine and Storm, alongside time-travellers Bishop and Shard, who strive to undo Fitzroy’s meddling and reinstate the original timeline.

The concept of One Man’s Worth intrigued Bob Harras, Marvel Comics’ X-Men Editor, and became the muse for the Age of Apocalypse comic event spanning 1995-1996. Both narratives branch off from the main Marvel timeline due to Xavier’s premature death, with Magneto emerging as a pivotal mutant leader and Bishop playing an essential role in rectifying the timeline.

While the animated series was bound by its format, the comics delved deeper, crafting parallel universes, alternate character renditions, and a dominion under the rule of Apocalypse. The episode One Man’s Worth unexpectedly sparked the extensive Age of Apocalypse series, showcasing the dynamic influence of adaptations on the original material and their power to spawn fresh tales within the X-Men mythos.

The year is 1959, and a fierce battle unfolds as Bishop confronts Nimrod. The conflict reaches its peak when Storm shatters the robotic adversary, all under the watchful and horrified eyes of a young Charles Xavier. Confounded by the assault of future-born robots intent on his demise, Xavier’s turmoil leads to a fatal explosion that claims his life. Meanwhile, in a distant future, Forge receives a dire warning about a disturbance in the time stream, prompting him to alert Bishop and Shard.

Fast forward to the present, where Xavier, Storm, and Wolverine relish a tranquil picnic, oblivious to the impending chaos. Suddenly, an enigmatic explosion alters reality, giving rise to a new revised timeline. In this altered existence, Wolverine and Storm, now a couple, wage war amidst the shattered remnants of New York City. With Xavier’s premature death, the X-Men never come to be, yet a formidable assembly of mutant insurgents emerges, marshalled by Magneto‘s alternate self. This band of rebels is locked in combat with the Avengers, now the enforcers of the tyrannical human race. The stage is set for an epic saga as these two forces collide in a world unrecognizable from our own.

In the aftermath of a skirmish between the rebels and the Avengers, Bishop and Shard emerge from the future in search of the X-Men. They quickly realize they’ve landed in an alternate universe and conclude that a further journey back in time is necessary to locate the anomaly’s origin. Their mission is critical: to thwart Trevor Fitzroy, an operative of the future’s Master Mold, who has travelled back in time, causing disruptions in the time stream. Enlisting the help of Wolverine and Storm, Bishop and Shard set off for 1959 to intercept Fitzroy.

Upon their arrival in 1959, they encounter a young Charles Xavier. After reading Bishop’s mind, Xavier learns of their future origins. The group’s visit to a coffee shop takes a tense turn when they challenge a bigot, incensed by the interracial hand-holding of Wolverine and Storm. The confrontation escalates into a brawl, during which a frightened Xavier flees, just as the futuristic Nimrod makes its entrance. In a fierce battle, Bishop, Shard, Storm, and Wolverine manage to subdue Nimrod but lose track of Fitzroy. In a dramatic twist, Xavier inadvertently activates Fitzroy’s planted explosive, resulting in a devastating blast.

Bishop remains silent about their connection until the second part, but his ally Shard, is his younger sister. She makes her debut in Uncanny X-Men Annual #17. As a mutant, Shard possesses the ability to transform light into energy blasts. Although she perished before Bishop’s return to the present in the original narrative, a hard-light hologram imbued with her thoughts and personality accompanied Lucas back, even becoming part of the government-backed X-Factor team. Her tumultuous relationship with Fitzroy ended in betrayal. We also see his former partners in the XSE, Randall and Malcolm, in flashback.

The rapport between Storm and Wolverine in the comics has seen a significant development in recent times.

Magneto’s insurgent group operates from the ruins of Xavier’s Mansion, reminiscent of the Age of Apocalypse setting. The rebel X-Men’s attire closely mirrors that of the Age of Apocalypse, predating these episodes, yet it remains uncertain if the costume designs were coordinated with the comic’s story editors and artists.

 In the year 2055, following orders from Master Mold, Fitzroy, first introduced as a villain from Bishop’s era in Uncanny X-Men #281, saps a guard’s life force to activate his time portal. This guard is named Lobdell, in homage to Scott Lobdell, one of the writers of Age of Apocalypse. Fitzroy’s colleague Bantam also made his appearance in the same issue.

In 1959, Professor Charles discusses mutations with Dr. John Grey, Jean Grey’s father. They meet at Bard University Campus, named after William Shakespeare, an ironic nod considering Sir Patrick Stewart’s portrayal of Xavier since 2000 and also the alma mater of writer Chris Claremont. Notable Bard alumni in the comics include Hank McCoy, better known as Beast.

The destruction of Nimrod in this episode releases a virus that infects a waitress and a customer at the bar where the team is ambushed. This event is destined to lead to Bastion’s creation, as disclosed in X-Men ’97.

In this alternate reality, storyboard artists packed the screen with an abundance of Age of Apocalypse designs, and the cameos ware abundant. Characters like Blink, Mimic, Sabretooth, Wild Child, Angel, Nightcrawler, Holocaust, Morph, Sinister, Mastermind, Banshee, Polaris, and Sunfire made appearances, among others. There were even considerations to include Kitty Pryde in the mix!

THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE

The Age of Apocalypse is a ground-breaking Marvel Comics crossover saga that swept through the X-Men series in the mid-90s. The prelude, Legion Quest, set the stage with Charles Xavier’s son, Legion, attempting to assassinate Magneto in 1941 Israel to ensure Xavier’s dream would face no opposition. However, Legion’s plan backfired when Charles sacrificed himself to save Erik, leading to their mutual erasure from existence. Marvel took a bold step by discontinuing its existing X-Men series, introducing new ones like Astonishing X-Men in place of Uncanny X-Men, and transforming Wolverine into Weapon X. This narrative twist stranded Bishop, the sole survivor of the original 616-reality, in a harsh and altered world.

In this grim alternate universe, the ancient mutant Apocalypse seizes control, turning the world into a dystopian hellscape. The pivotal moment of divergence is Charles Xavier’s premature death, which prevents the formation of the X-Men. In the absence of Xavier’s influence, mutants are persecuted, and humanity is on the verge of annihilation.

Under Apocalypse’s tyrannical rule, enforced by his Four Horsemen, the survival of the fittest becomes a cruel reality as he aims to eliminate the weak and advance mutant-kind. Bishop, the time-traveling mutant, uncovers the original timeline and is determined to rectify it. Joining forces with Magneto’s X-Men, named after his dead friend, they embark on a mission to avert the catastrophic future.

The Age of Apocalypse saga is a thrilling journey across multiple X-Men titles, delving into alternate realities and different incarnations of the characters we’ve grown to love. It’s a narrative where heroes and villains are entwined in a complex dance, each step navigating a world gone awry.

This saga is marked by monumental battles, heart-wrenching sacrifices, and alliances that defy expectations. Our beloved characters face their histories, wrestling with the weight of a history rewritten.

In the end, this epic tale underscores the enduring spirit of the mutants, the critical nature of hope, and the profound effects of crucial decisions. As the X-Men strive to mend the fractured timeline, the story captivates readers with its portrayal of survival, redemption, and valour against the greatest of odds.

Nightcrawler | One Man’s Worth (Part 2)