The X-Men books are in a slippery place right now, and in some ways, it’s gotten a little worse after “Age of Revelation“, the mutant books big 2025-ending event story. The three month event story, with two bookends opening and closing the series and numerous three issues miniseries, was meant to propel the X-Men forward for 2026. It took place in an alternate future, one where Doug Ramsey, who became Apocalypse’s heir Revelation in X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse, was able to use the X-virus and his powers to take over a large swath of the US all while enacting a plan that he believes will save the human race. It’s a cliche plot, using cliches created by the X-Men classic “Age of Apocalypse” to tell its story.
Many readers didn’t enjoy “Age of Revelation,” and a key reason often gets overlooked. The story fundamentally wasted the potential of the character Doug Ramsey. He has a long and fascinating backstory, and his ability to understand any language could have been used for so much more. Turning Doug into the villain, Revelation, was a significant misstep that has severely damaged the character.
Doug Ramsey Was a Character Who Was on the Precipice of Stardom
The New Mutants comic was a significant series in the X-Men universe, launching the careers of now-popular characters like Cannonball, Magik, and Sunspot. While others like Wolfsbane, Karma, and Dani Moonstar also gained a dedicated following, few expected Doug Ramsey to become a standout character. His ability to understand languages wasn’t considered particularly powerful, which led to him being paired with the alien being Warlock. Many readers felt the character was destined to die, and his eventual fate wasn’t a surprise.
Honestly, it wasn’t until the mid-90s that this character really started to click with people. They brought him back as Douglock – a mix of Doug and Warlock – and eventually split them up again, but instead of letting him fade, the writers found some amazing ways to use his powers. I mean, they made him a total computer whiz, because he basically understood every programming language ever created! And it didn’t stop there – they explained his martial arts skills as another kind of language he could master. But the coolest thing? He created the Krakoan language, which let the mutants actually communicate with Krakoa itself! That was huge, giving them a level of power they’d never had before. He really became a key player, and fans totally ate up his marriage to Bei the Blood Moon. Doug was finally popular, brimming with potential… and then came Revelation.
Doug initially felt like a flexible character, allowing writers to develop him in interesting ways. He began to shine during the Krakoa era, contributing meaningfully to the larger narrative. There was a sense that Doug, alongside Warlock and Bei, could become central figures, but when Jonathan Hickman left the project, those plans changed. Instead, Doug’s storyline led to “Age of Revelation,” which many feel has limited his potential and diminished any excitement surrounding the character. This new direction risks defining him in a restrictive way, preventing him from reaching his full potential.
Doug Ramsey has developed as a character over time, which has been positive. However, his current transformation into Revelation feels like a mistake, a path with no real future. We’ve already seen the truly frightening villain he’s becoming – a villain with a surprisingly awful plan. Marvel is turning him into someone beyond redemption, and there’s nowhere else to take his story, even if he doesn’t fully become the villain seen in previous appearances. It’s a similar situation to Archangel, who was improved by Apocalypse but then spent years battling his inner darkness. Doug Ramsey deserves a more fulfilling story than that endless struggle.
Doug Ramsey’s Potential Has Been Completely Squandered
Doug Ramsey became a fan favorite during the Krakoa Era, consistently performing as a strong character and developing a compelling story—including a satisfying partnership with Warlock and a happy marriage. Unfortunately, Marvel then shifted his trajectory, turning him into a disliked villain. While the events following “Age of Revelation” (especially X-Men (Vol. 7) #23, which is a must-read for X-Men fans) could potentially elevate Doug again, it’s unlikely to restore his previous popularity.
It’s disappointing that Rictor wasn’t chosen as Revelation instead. He had a strong connection to Apocalypse, and the storyline would have fit his character much better. Instead, Marvel sidelined Doug and put him in a difficult position – a narrative trap that very few characters have overcome without losing popularity. Doug deserved a better story arc, and this choice could unfortunately damage his standing with fans for a long time.
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2026-01-20 06:10