Marvel’s Most Overrated Story is Still Getting Praise (But Really Doesn’t Deserve It)

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Marvel has crafted captivating narratives throughout its history, stories that have reshaped the concept of superheroes. During the Silver Age, Marvel revolutionized superheroes by making them more relatable and human-like, as opposed to earlier versions which often required teen sidekicks due to their lack of connection with readers. Marvel pioneered the shared universe, significantly contributing to the growth and maturation of the comic book industry during the early ’80s, with seminal works such as Claremont’s “Uncanny X-Men” and Miller’s “Daredevil” paving the way for the transformative year of 1986. Over time, some of Marvel’s most outstanding stories have garnered a level of acclaim that may slightly overstate their impact on the company and the comic book world at large. While being overrated doesn’t necessarily equate to poor quality, it does suggest that these comics have been praised beyond what is warranted by their influence.

In contrast to many opinions, the highly acclaimed Marvel comic series from the ’90s, titled “The Age of Apocalypse“, is often considered one of the most overrated stories in the Marvel universe. While it does have its devoted fans who believe it’s among the best X-Men tales of the ’90s, a closer examination reveals that it’s not as exceptional as commonly thought. However, it’s important to note that there are certainly some outstanding episodes within the “AoA” series. Yet, upon objective analysis of the individual miniseries that constitute the narrative, it becomes clear that most fall short of greatness.

The Age of Apocalypse Is the Definition of Uneven

To begin with, let me express my viewpoint that there are indeed some exceptional aspects of “The Age of Apocalypse“. For instance, “Generation Next“, penned by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Chris Bachalo, is a remarkable tale that leads the teen X-Men into the Seattle Core, leaving readers in tears by the end. The duo Larry Hama and Adam Kubert’s “Weapon X” is exceptional, delivering the ideal Wolverine experience for readers. Lobdell and Joe Madureira’s “Astonishing X-Men“, on the other hand, is simply astonishing, with fans adoring the “AoA” versions of Sabretooth and Blink, and making Holocaust one of the best villains in “The Age of Apocalypse“. “X-Men: Alpha and X-Men: Omega“, serve as near perfect bookends. In total, this story consists of 14 parts spread across 42 chapters. It’s safe to say that many people only recall these chapters because they are the ones that stand out. To be honest, the rest of the story ranges from good — “Amazing X-Men“, by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert — to mediocre at best — “X-Calibre” by Warren Ellis and Ken Lashley. While “Generation Next” is a true masterpiece, much of the rest of “The Age of Apocalypse” embodies the edginess of the ’90s and shares many of the same issues that fans used to complain about in ’90s X-Men books.

Many people fondly remember “The Age of Apocalypse” due to nostalgia, as it was initially published when many of us were teenagers and just starting to get into comics. At the time, it was truly groundbreaking, but my appreciation for it has diminished somewhat with age. I don’t believe that any of the series are objectively poor – I may have criticized “X-Calibre” as mediocre, but mediocre is not the same as bad, and there are certainly some cool scenes in the story. However, revisit something like “X-Man,” and you’ll find that while Steve Skroce’s art is excellent, Jeph Loeb’s scripts offer standard dark X-Men tales. I enjoy dark X-Men stories as much as the next fan from the ’90s, but beyond the bookends and the three truly exceptional “AoA” books – “Generation Next,” “Weapon X,” and “Astonishing X-Men” – you’re essentially just reading typical ’90s comics. There is some stunning artwork and intriguing worldbuilding, but there isn’t anything in it that you can’t find in the better issues of “What If…”. I would argue that “The Age of Apocalypse” is one of Marvel’s best multiverse stories, but there aren’t many outstanding Marvel multiverse tales to compare it to. Nostalgia has a way of coloring our perceptions, and “The Age of Apocalypse” is a prime example of this phenomenon.

The Age of Apocalypse Is Basically the Comfort Story of a Generation

In a breathtaking twist thirty years ago, the “Age of Apocalypse” saga took an enormous risk and generated immense anticipation among its readers. I was fortunate enough to be part of this incredible journey, and it was nothing short of thrilling. The climax of “Legion Quest” sent a crystal wave rippling through every X-book of 1994 before shattering, leaving us in suspense about what was to follow. To our surprise, we were presented with something far beyond our wildest imaginations. I can still recall the sheer awe I felt when reading the initial issues of “The Age of Apocalypse” and revisiting them daily, taking them to school with me. The excitement was palpable, and moments like the end of “Generation Next” #4, Logan regaining his claws in “Weapon X” #4, and the fierce battles between Holocaust and Sabretooth in “Astonishing” #2 and Holocaust and Blink in “Astonishing” #4 still leave me dizzy. However, that’s only a fraction of the story.

To put it frankly, I must admit that even a 42-part narrative from various creators can’t possibly shine in every aspect. Yet, the fact that they managed to get so much right is truly impressive. However, it’s important to remember that it’s not flawless, and never claimed to be. It’s an intriguing alternate universe X-Men tale, but those who are hailing it as the pinnacle of storytelling might want to revisit the entire work again for a more balanced perspective.

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2025-07-28 00:11