If you read UNCANNY X-FORCE #18 then you already know what happened to Archangel and even got a hint at what's next for Apocalypse. If you haven't read the issue and the finale of "The Dark Angel Saga" story arc, then you may want to before the launch of Marvel's all-new ongoing series AGE OF APOCALYPSE launching this March.

Earlier today Marvel revealed that their upcoming series AGE OF APOCALYPSE will be launching this March, spinning out of UNCANNY X-FORCE's "Dark Angel Saga." The series' first issue will be written by writer David Lapham and drawn by artist Roberto de la Torre. The series will "open from Weapon X" who acts as ruler of the Age of Apocalypse world and has recently destroyed "a mass enclave of humanity."

Writer David Lapham has big plans to turn the guys we normally see as "bad guys" into the "good guys" of his story. The series' central character will be a character named Prophet," who is known in the regular Marvel Universe as William Stryker -- the mutant hater. Other characters will include Bolliver Trask as the scientist and the "leader of what is left of humanity" as well as Donald Pierce who is involved in the Hellfire Club. While the cast of characters in this series are regular humans who have no powers, they will still prove that they are a force to be reckoned with. Although the new series will feature many humans as the central characters, the X-Men we saw in UNCANNY X-FORCE will also be appearing on the pages of this new series. Although their roster may have suffered as seen in the final issues of UNCANNY X-FORCE "Dark Angel Saga," they will be joined by some new members. The premise of the book pits the humans against the X-Men, at least at first.

The humans were being defended by the Amazing X-Men, but something happens that leaves many of them dead or gone. A couple members of the X-Men end up with the heroes of the series, but under very dire circumstances. They have to adjust to not only being the protectors of humanity, but integrating themselves into the group. The main team, though they're based on people in the Marvel Universe, are essentially new characters. And the villains at the start will also be somewhat familiar.

Jean Grey, Dark Beast, Sabretooth, possibly Sugar Man will all be involved in the series, as well as Wolverine, of course.

The book will kick off with the UNCANNY X-FORCE 19.1 which is due to hit stores next week. The interesting thing about this book is that Laptham will have a lot of flexibility with these characters; taking characters we are familiar with and changing everything we know about them. What do you think of the idea? Are you looking forward to the series which launches this March? Have you read UNCANNY X-FORCE yet?

Source: Marvel

this again? why can't marvel come up with anything original anymore?

I'm not excited. Not at all.

@narwen: I agree! One of the reasons I stopped reading most of Marvels stuff.

@narwen said:

this again? why can't marvel come up with anything original anymore?

I hope the irony of her statement isn't lost on anyone.

Hint: Look at her avatar.

wow, deep... I'm a fan and I dress up like an elf ooooo
I'm not writing comics that rehash a story from the previous decade and take people's money for it

Can't believe nobodies excited for AoA returning. Well I'm excited since AoA was awesome when it was around

@TheCrowbar said:

@narwen said:

this again? why can't marvel come up with anything original anymore?

I hope the irony of her statement isn't lost on anyone.

Hint: Look at her avatar.

?

Anyway, I don't know what's with all the hate, I think this could go places.

@narwen said:

wow, deep... I'm a fan and I dress up like an elf ooooo I'm not writing comics that rehash a story from the previous decade and take people's money for it

You're clearly not following the arc, it's not a rehash it's a continuation of universe, we've seen the story in AoA progress a decade in the Dark Angel saga.

Yep i like it

@frozenedge said:

Can't believe nobodies excited for AoA returning. Well I'm excited since AoA was awesome when it was around

I'm actually excited. I think it sounds interesting. :o)

This could be good though truth be told I never liked AoA!

Lol, you know what? I'm just gonna say it. Dont like it DONT BUY IT. Quit complaining about Marvel, sit back and enjoy the ride.

You're right, I'm clearly NOT following the arc because I've gotten tired of Marvel going back to the same well all the time. DC may have pissed off people by rebooting their universe and pretending they didn't but at least they're doing new stuff

@narwen said:

wow, deep... I'm a fan and I dress up like an elf ooooo I'm not writing comics that rehash a story from the previous decade and take people's money for it

O_O did you read the Point One issue from marvel??? This isn't the same AoA, this current AoA is all mutants as the population and humans are practically extinct. Also the main cast aside from jean and sabretooth will be humans who in 616 are evil but a very much the boogie men of AoA and are thought of as myths to children.

I say this is different from what they have done with AoA given the fact most of the X-men are dead in that world aside from the apocalypse thing.

no I didn't read Point One because it's rare for me to read anything fom marvel anymore

this isn't AOA wheres magneto, storm, etc.? what about daredevil whats that petty gymnast doing alive in a mutant world. sucks.

Marvel did you know you did this already? =]

Wow, the AoA is back. Lack of originality, even if I personally do like the AoA stuff. Still, did this really warrant having an ongoing to cover this event? What else needs to be said for this that hasn't been said already?

@narwen said:

no I didn't read Point One because it's rare for me to read anything fom marvel anymore

Then you have no idea what you're talking about. Good to know!

YESSSSSSSS I WILL READ THIS!!! IT LOOKS AWESOME!!!

@narwen said:

You're right, I'm clearly NOT following the arc because I've gotten tired of Marvel going back to the same well all the time. DC may have pissed off people by rebooting their universe and pretending they didn't but at least they're doing new stuff

QFT

i'll take mines Black and White plz!

Meh. Not really excited. Will probably not follow this. The Uncanny X-Force's excursion to the AoA universe was exciting because the story arc itself is exciting, and because there were some great moments between the 616 characters and the AoA characters (like Wolverine being adorably moved upon meeting the AoA Nightcrawler because he misses Kurt). But I don't find the universe itself partiuclarly interesting. It's just your generic post-apocalyptic dystopia where every day is a waaaaar etc, etc.

(why is it that they never seem to stumble upon a lovely utopic alternative timeline where everything is nice and dandy? Wouldn't probably be as interesting as a gritty dystopia, but hey - at least it would be something different.)

@Babs said:

@frozenedge said:

Can't believe nobodies excited for AoA returning. Well I'm excited since AoA was awesome when it was around

I'm actually excited. I think it sounds interesting. :o)

Yeah. AoA was an awesome X-Men storyline . Now we get to see another alternate universe series besides Ultimate U and others. This is going to be definitely dark and interesting to see the other side of our favourite characters. Especially Wolverine. :)

Love the gritty art

i was really expecting more people to be jumping for joy. i thought aoa was the holy grail to a lot of people.

and i think some people need to chill, nthis real isn't a marvel vs dc topic.

@Mecha_Booshh91 said:

Lol, you know what? I'm just gonna say it. Dont like it DONT BUY IT. Quit complaining about Marvel, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Exactly all people do on here is complain about marvel stop buying it then and go in a corner hahah

@narwen said:

@TheCrowbar: I know exactly what I'm talking about. I've given marvel 7 YEARS to stop going back to the same well. Now they haven't always been a total failure. I mean, the Skrull invasion was... oh wait... didn't they do that in the 60's? and the 70's? and the 80's? And Norman Osborn beings a meglomaniac... oh wait... nvm.... Oh and Heroes vs. Heroes... when's the last time they did that? Oh yah... jeez...

Speaking of ripping off, how many times has tolkien's elves been ripped off? How original of you to put an N infront of Arwen's name for your avatars! You don't know a damn thing about creative works. There are no new ideas, all of them are a retelling of the same old stories BUT the difference is how they're told. With the Dark Angel saga, I found this version of the "corrupted hero" archetype very entertaining. No it's not original but then again WHAT IS.

I'm really interested but dear god does Wolverine always have to be at the center of everything?

AoA was fun the first time around but we just had 3 X-related titles cancelled to make space for this? I'd rather have X-23 solo book back, sorry.

@MyraMyraMyra: Basically what you said.

@musim said:

I'm really interested but dear god does Wolverine always have to be at the center of everything?

What do you mean? Marvel always overlooks Wolverine and never features him! I'm kidding of course. I swear Marvel's gonna change their name to "Wolvie Comics" -_-

I think it will be interesting.. I will be give it a try

meh, never really liked AoA and not really excited about this either

Morph?

There is so much pulling me towards this book. I'm a sucker for anything AoA related. That combined with the fact its a Uncanny X-Force spinoff and drawn by De La Torre, I at least have to give it a shot.

Looks like it could be very good! Interesting to hear that the heroes we've been seeing are all humans. I haven't read the .1 though, so are their identities revealed in that?

I think it's cool! Looking at it from the humans perspective. The bad guys(Trask,Graydon creed,etc.)are the ones on the run and trying to survive.I've always liked the "What If" stuff.

Meh

@Babs: @The Impersonator: I'm just glad I'm not the only one excited about this. New AoA with a new Apocalypse, this'll be something to read

AWSESOME!!!!!!

I forgot how the Dark Angel Saga ended, but isn't Angel still in charge, could this not be the vehicle for Angel to redeem himself and come back to the 616 Universe, slightly more powerful, but cured.

@TheCrowbar said:

@narwen said:

@TheCrowbar: I know exactly what I'm talking about. I've given marvel 7 YEARS to stop going back to the same well. Now they haven't always been a total failure. I mean, the Skrull invasion was... oh wait... didn't they do that in the 60's? and the 70's? and the 80's? And Norman Osborn beings a meglomaniac... oh wait... nvm.... Oh and Heroes vs. Heroes... when's the last time they did that? Oh yah... jeez...

Speaking of ripping off, how many times has tolkien's elves been ripped off? How original of you to put an N infront of Arwen's name for your avatars! You don't know a damn thing about creative works. There are no new ideas, all of them are a retelling of the same old stories BUT the difference is how they're told. With the Dark Angel saga, I found this version of the "corrupted hero" archetype very entertaining. No it's not original but then again WHAT IS.

Dude, why get so personal? Especially with someone new. You could have just written the part in bold and made your point instead of insulting other people's taste.

@TheCrowbar: Everyone's entitled to their opinion. Someone doesn't agree, they don't agree. It's not worth arguing or insulting a person over it. Marvel doesn't need you to defend it. Marvel is a giant faceless company and I think they can care less if one person is not going to buy AoA or if one person defends them on a forum. Cool down.

@narwen: I apologize that some members on this site are not exactly the most welcoming. The community is not as policed as other sites.

@Babs: I've always liked the AoA universe and all, but a lot of my favorites from that universe have either died (all of Gen Next, Rogue, Sunfire...?), may now be hanging out in the 616 (Nightcrawler, Sabretooth, X-Man, Sunfire...?), or are simply displaced (Blink). It's interesting to see Sugar Man and Dark Beast may be heading back there, but in the long run, without my favorite characters I don't know if I have the money in my budget for....

...

...

Holy crap, is that Daredevil..?!?

Okay, yes, I will be picking up at least the first issue. Did we ever see DD in the AoA at all...?

Fine...I confess. I'm looking forward to this book. Deal with it.

blah blah blah bitch bitch bitch. You don't like it, don't buy it. Plain and simple. I'll buy this. Looking forward to it. Wondered why it hasen't been done in a yet. I would have liked to see Remender get this title. X-force is the BEST book out there right now. Anyone who is reading it won't debate that either. Remender's run so far is just......................magical. Hope he stays on it for a while, and I hope he does the same thing again. Like Millar did on his first run witht the Ultimates, and Morrison did with the JLA (even X-Men and Batman) A few short stories that tie into one very beautiful LARGE story. Remender did just it good as them. Actually, and because it's so fresh. He did it better then them. This run was so good on so many levels. The best part...........................Making Deadpool what a lot of people who don't like Deadpool to be. Not annoying, but F*&king awsome.

Ah yes, the clues definitely pointed to such a happening, then again it is my trade to deduce. Having a special place in my pipe for the Age Of Apocalypse universe one might reason that I would be along to unravel this mystery, and they would be right to do so as I shall. Thank you our esteemed colleague for this very well detailed analysis of what lies ahead of us, and well stitched together recommendation.

@daredeville said:

Did we ever see DD in the AoA at all...?

Yes! Daredevil had a prominent role in the mini series X-Universe in the classic Age Of Apocalypse series working for the horseman Mikhail Rasputin, and was very cool indeed!