This article contains spoilers for FCBD X-Men #1.

Apocalypse is set to lead the strangest X-Men team of all time. The entire mutant race has gathered on the living island of Krakoa, and even mutantkind's worst villains are welcome. In fact, Apocalypse continues to sit upon the Quiet Council, one of the rulers of Krakoa. This is in spite of the fact he's already orchestrated the mutant conquest of an entire dimension.

Apocalypse's goal appears to be to right an ancient wrong, the division of Krakoa and Arakko that led to his sacrificing his First Horsemen. The story is being told out of sequence, with Excalibur charting the steps Apocalypse took to enable that objective; his success has already been shown in X-Men #2. This appears to lead into the upcoming "X of Swords" event, set to launch later this year.

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This week's FCBD X-Men #1 is essentially a prelude to "X of Swords," with the Omniversal Majestrex Saturnyne using the magic of Otherworld to reveal hints of the future. One of the most intriguing sees Apocalypse leading an unusual group of mutants, and apparently one or more of them must choose to sacrifice themselves.

Apocalypse X-Men Team

The team members are:

  • Archangel, Apocalypse's former Horseman Death. There has always been a dark bond between Apocalypse and Archangel, one forged of fire and hatred. Powers of X #4 subtly hinted Apocalypse would sacrifice anybody to retrieve his First Horsemen, and it's possible he's about to betray Warren Worthington once again.
  • Polaris, Magneto's daughter, who once served as a Horseman as well.
  • Banshee, who was transformed into a Horseman of Death by the Apocalypse Twins, but appears to have been resurrected freed from their baleful influence.
  • Beast, leader of X-Force, and the mutant's greatest genius - who has a tendency of making very poor decisions.
  • Havok, Cyclops' brother, whose mind is currently fragmented.
  • Rictor, a mutant whose Earth-powers have been amplified by Apocalypse, and who appears to be trusting him far more than seems healthy.
  • Trinary, a mutant with the power to manipulate technology, an odd choice for this team.
  • Glob, one of the younger mutants, who has always been strangely popular with X-Men writers.

This is easily one of the strangest X-Men teams of all time. Apocalypse is a master manipulator, so it's safe to assume he chose all these members with the greatest of care. But it's frankly difficult to see what part some of these mutants will play in what promised to be a sword-and-sorcery event; Trinary, in particular, is an odd pick. No doubt answers will be forthcoming in "X of Swords."

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