A Review of Marvel Comics’ X-MEN: BEFORE THE FALL: HERALDS OF APOCALYPSE #1
Credit: Marvel Comics
X-MEN: BEFORE THE FALL: HERALDS OF APOCALYPSE #1 is a one-shot story meant to lay additional groundwork ahead of the upcoming ‘Fall of X’ event. It was written by Al Ewing with art by the trio of Stefano Landini, Luca Pizzari, and Rafael T. Pimentel. After reading this one-shot I feel like I’m the one who has fallen, specifically into a time machine and was displaced across multiple timelines. It’s a story that picks up seemingly after both the events of X-Men: Red #12 from earlier this month and the climax of the ‘X of Swords’ event from 2020. I’m not really sure what I just read but I guess I have to write about it…
Fair warning to anyone who hasn’t spent a ton of time brushing up on their Okkaran history — this issue could get confusing. It assumes readers have followed some of the bigger storylines related to the timeline of Okkara, Arakko, and Krako, and the events that caused Okkara to split in two.
Unseen in comics since the aforementioned ‘X of Swords’ event, Apocalypse, or “A” if you need a refresher, takes center stage in what can best be described as a philosophical reflection on what the meaning of strength is. In a tongue in cheek moment, we learn that Apocalypse’s name really meant Revelation, but it has been bastardized over the course of centuries due to those who grew to fear him. This discrepancy in the meaning of his name is rooted in real-world etymology, as the Greek word ‘apokalypsis’ literally means revelation.
Credit: Marvel Comics
Juxtaposed against Apocalypse/Revelation’s views on what strength means are the views of his wife, Genesis. The two reflect on various moments in time from their lives and end up at swords against one another after their debate turns into a full blown fight over their diametrically opposed views on how strength is defined via times of war and peace.
In the end, Apocalypse/Revelation survives what should have been a fatal wound only to yield to Genesis and allows her to leave via an Okkara gate. While not explicitly mentioned, it is implied that she is headed to war with the mutants on Earth.
My biggest problem with this one-shot is that it felt like it’s purpose wasn’t to tell a new story. By no means was this the fault of Ewing’s writing, which tried mightily to lift a stale plot into an elevated conversation. However, it came off as a means of reintroducing certain concepts and characters that had been not been seen in some time, while putting pieces into place for events in the coming months. Which I guess is fine in the grand scheme of things, but it felt like a disservice to the the momentum Apocalypse/Revelation was building towards in 2020. The evolution of his character and worldviews was one of the more interesting developments of early Krakoa and there was always something missing when we lost his narrative after ‘Fall of X.’ For me, this was an underwhelming reintroduction to the character after so many years.
It’s not easy to have three artists on one issue, but Landini, Pizzari, and Pimentel did what they could with the artwork. Styles and techniques felt consistent throughout the all 35 pages, though at times it felt too consistent. Given the timeline jumping that occurs throughout the book, varying the art may have helped readers transition between the in-story timelines more easily. Otherwise their lines are clean and their character designs are plenty detailed. The action sequences offer some of the best panels.
Credit: Marvel Comics
Overall, I’m not sure X-MEN: BEFORE THE FALL: HERALDS OF APOCALYPSE #1 is a must-read for the current X-book narrative. Some of it’s major moments could likely have been one or two pages of backstory in other titles, allowing us to explore more meaningful plot development. This does give me pause for the upcoming Sinister Four one-shot, though how can you make Nathaniel Essex boring??
Rating: 5/10
