Apocalypse, one of the pillars of those early Krakoa issues, will gather 12 mutants together for a tournament this summer to determine who gets to take his spot as he moves on to his new duties on Arakko.
X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse by writer Steve Foxe and artist Netho Diaz will see Armageddon Girl, Cable, Cypher, Emma Frost, Exodus, Forge, Gorgon, Mirage, Mr. Sinister, Penance, Rictor and Laura Kinney face off for the fate of mutantkind.
“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.”
The four-issue, bi-weekly miniseries will run through June and July. Here’s a look at all four covers by Dotun Akande:
Here’s how Marvel describes the series: 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!
“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,” Foxe said. “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.”
Look for the first issue to arrive on June 5.