This X-Men Story No One Talks About Is the Best of the ‘90s

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While the X-Men are popular today, the 1990s were their true heyday. That decade, known for its excess, really belonged to the X-Men. In the early ’90s, at least two X-Men comic issues sold millions of copies (many of which are still available in stores!), and the other X-Men titles consistently topped the sales charts. The ’90s also gave us “The Age of Apocalypse,” one of the most impactful mutant storylines ever created. This story remains a fan and creator favorite, and Marvel has repeatedly attempted to recreate its success.

While “The Age of Apocalypse” is generally good, it doesn’t stand out as exceptional overall – some issues are stronger than others, though the artwork is consistently impressive. However, within that event, there’s a truly hidden gem: Generation Next issues 1-4. This story, crafted by Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo, is a gripping and emotionally powerful tale with stunning visuals that deserves far more recognition. In fact, it’s arguably the best X-Men story of the 1990s, and it’s time people started acknowledging that.

Complete Spoilers for Generation Next #1-4

Generation Next Was a Shocking Story that Ended In a Way No One Expected

To be honest, while many fans adore “The Age of Apocalypse,” I think it’s a bit overrated. It’s not a bad story, but it mostly feels like a collection of typical 1990s X-Men issues. I enjoyed it when I was younger, but looking back objectively, the stories themselves don’t reach the same heights as classics like “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” That said, the Generation Next arc within it really stood out and was exceptionally well-done.

I always thought Generation Next was the Generation X of the Age of Apocalypse. While it wasn’t the most famous teen mutant book, it really stood out as the most original team in X-Men history – a fantastic group of characters brought to life with Chris Bachalo’s incredible artwork. The story focused on Colossus and Kitty Pryde leading a new team – Chamber, Husk, Skin, Mondo, Vicente, and even Know-It-All – on a dangerous mission to the Seattle Core to find Illyana Rasputin, who everyone believed was gone. And honestly, the further you get into the series, the more intense and gripping it becomes.

The X-Men comics of the 1990s were famous for their incredible artwork, particularly the styles of artists Andy Kubert and Joe Madureira. Kubert learned from Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, and his father, Joe, while Madureira drew heavily from manga influences. This makes Chris Bachalo’s work – with inker Mark Buckingham and colorist Steve Buccellato – stand out even more. His style was unique and unconventional. The sheer detail in his art could create unexpectedly terrifying moments, and his expressive character work perfectly captured the emotions of each scene, which greatly contributed to the story’s success.

Writer Scott Lobdell really took risks with this story, delivering the most intense plotline of the entire “Age of Apocalypse” event. The mission to the Core was essentially a one-way trip – sending a team of young mutants into the heart of Apocalypse’s power base meant a grim outcome was almost certain. The place was heavily guarded and incredibly dangerous. The team’s plan initially seemed to work, creating a sense that they might actually succeed. But that hope was shattered in issue #4 when team members began to die. Kitty Pryde managed to rescue Illyana, but everyone else on the team perished, with Colossus making the difficult choice to let the final member pass away (though it’s later revealed she actually survived). It was a shocking twist that no one saw coming.

While a surprising ending is part of what makes this book special, it’s the overall story that truly stands out. Lobdell skillfully reimagines these well-known characters as young people facing tough challenges, and for the most part, they handle them well. The story expertly creates a sense of hope, leading you to believe everything will be alright, which makes the unexpected death of a team member incredibly shocking. It’s a masterclass in storytelling, and it remains unmatched by anything else published in the last ten years.

Generation Next Is the Only Book That Used the Promise of “Age of Apocalypse” Correctly

This page is near the end of Generation Next #4. Illyana is telling the story, and she thinks her brother is an amazing hero. She truly believes he’ll succeed, which makes it especially painful to see him abandon the last person on his team. He allows a teammate to die, a rare and impactful moment in comics where a likable character faces a hopeless end. This issue uniquely captures the desperation of the heroes’ circumstances – something no other Age of Apocalypse comic has managed to do.

“The Age of Apocalypse” attempted to be a tragic story, with many character deaths and difficult situations, but it often fell short of its goal. While the deaths of Jean Grey and Cyclops felt impactful, most others didn’t resonate because readers knew the timeline wasn’t permanent. However, the Generation Next storyline was a standout, captivating readers in a way no other part of “The Age of Apocalypse” did. It was the most surprisingly emotional part of the entire event. If you haven’t read it, prepare to be moved – it’s a truly tearjerker.

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2025-11-29 19:13