"Age of X" is a comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics as part of its X-Men series. The storyline is set in an alternate reality known as Earth-11326. Running from January to April 2011, it is similar in name and tone to the 1995 "Age of Apocalypse" storyline.
Plot
Background After the announcement of the storyline in December 2010, Marvel added QR codes on selected comics. These codes were linked to five different historical logs, each providing background for "Age of X". Log 1A: Henry McCoy is killed by anti-mutant protestors during the March For Purity in Washington, D.C. Log 2B: Jean Grey's mutant abilities manifest in the form of a phoenix that destroys Albany, New York, killing 600,000 people. Log 3C: Following the destruction of Albany, Exonim Sentinels are created to subdue mutants. In the months that follow, the mutant population drastically declines; this period becomes known as "the Decimation". Log4D: As anti-mutant hysteria spreads, mutants are required to be imprisoned and, in most cases, executed. When Wolfsbane, a fugitive mutant under the protection of Reed Richards, accidentally injures Franklin Richards, Susan Storm reports Reed to the authorities. To demonstrate that no one is above the law, the Fantastic Four are publicly arrested. Log5E: The Avengers are assembled to track down the remaining free mutants, who are believed to be among the most powerful mutants left.Age of X: Universe #1
Main story The mutants are almost extinct, tortured by a strike force led by Colonel Graydon Creed. The primary event occurs 1,000 days after Magneto moved most of the mutants to Fortress X, their last bastion. Human forces are trying to reach the citadel; although they have always failed to do so, they have inflicted many casualties on the mutants. Legacy/Rogue acts as a "Reaper", storing the thoughts of those killed in battle. After one of her reapings, Legacy sees the capture of Shadowcat (who was returning from a mission in the outside world). Rogue finds the camera which Shadowcat is trying to hide, and discovers that all the pictures in it are blank. Using Madison Jeffries's absorbed powers, Legacy infiltrates the X-Brig (Fortress X's detention facility) to question Shadowcat. There she is seen by Blindfold of Earth-616, who hints that this reality is "wrong" and asks her to ask Professor X about the "scar tissue". As she speaks with Shadowcat and touches a comatose Xavier, Legacy begins a mental attack on every mutant inside the fortress; seen by Danger, she becomes a fugitive. Hunted by Danielle Moonstar's Cadre, she is saved by Gambit. They are attacked by Magneto,X-Men: Legacy #246 who fakes their deaths and explains that he sent Shadowcat out to investigate because he is convinced something is wrong. As Magneto returns to the brig to free Shadowcat and Professor X, X (the voice controlling Fortress X) sends the Cadre after him. Gambit and Legacy (who are in the room at the center of the fortress) discover that their universe has been stolen and is kept in a box. When Professor X is freed, he telepathically shows his pursuers and a reluctant Legion the truth about himself and the reality in which they think they are living. The Age of X was created when Legion's mind reacted to Doctor Nemesis's attempt to restore it to sanity.X-Men: Legacy #244 A new persona (with new powers) was born, creating a new reality to protect Legion's personalities. This manifestation of Legion's power assumed the appearance of Moira MacTaggert to confuse Xavier and protect Legion. MacTaggert confronted Legacy and Gambit, revealing that she is also X. Cornered by Xavier, X launches a last offensive on the fortress.
MacTaggert removes the walls, allowing the humans to enter the fortress. Legion appears, while Xavier, Magneto and Shadowcat try to stop MacTaggert, who created the universe so Legion could be the hero he always wanted to be. Weeping in his arms, she promises to create as many universes for him as he wants. While MacTaggert is distracted, Legion absorbs her back into his body and erases all the humans fighting the mutants. He goes to the battlefield, apologizes and rewrites the universe (returning everything to the way it was). The entire timeline lasts for seven days in realityX-Men: Legacy #248 and the mutants return to Utopia with the memory of their 616 lives; Xavier and Emma Frost reveal that the telepaths will help anyone who wants to lose their Age of X memories.X-Men: Legacy #247
Characters
Heroes The mutant resistance was formed by Magneto to protect the surviving mutants from Graydon Creed and his mutant-hunters:
Cannonball – Labeled a traitor by his sister, Husk, when he convinced her there was not enough time to avenge the murder of their family.Age of X: Alpha Husk forced him to create X-Force before joining Magneto. Cyclops – Known as "Basilisk," he was forced by prison warden Arcade to kill his brother and dozens of mutants. Additionally, his eyelids were removed, leading him to be unable to control his powers and forcing him to wear a mask to contain his optic blasts. After escaping from prison, Basilisk kills Arcade and joins Magneto. He is married to Joanna Cargill.X-Men: Legacy #245 Dazzler – After being attacked by Exonim soldiers during a concert, Dazzler retreated to the Manhattan sewers. She was later tracked down and teleported to Fortress X by Doctor Strange, becoming one of Magneto's soldiers.Age of X: Universe #2 Force Warriors – Five psionically powered mutants who protect the walls of Fortress X by channeling their powers to create force walls. Hellion Revenant – At first, Revenant's past is unknown and she is amnesiac.New Mutants #23 When reality is restored, she is revealed to be Rachel Summers. Legion – Unlike his main universe counterpart, Legion shows no sign of instability or multiple powers. He only displays telekinesis (a power belonging to his personality Jack Wayne). Psylocke – Here, Betsy never switched bodies with Kwannon. She possesses telekinetic abilities and she is romantically involved with Iceman. Carmella Unuscione Frenzy – In this universe, Frenzy is married to Cyclops. Unlike nearly all of the others, Frenzy chooses to retain her memories of the Age of X universe, which influence her to join the X-Men. Gambit Husk – With her brother Cannonball, she tried to save her family (who had been arrested), only to find them murdered. Cannonball refused to avenge his family by killing the guards, forming a rift with Husk. Iceman – Romantically involved with Psylocke. Madison Jeffries – Jeffries spends most of his time in the Fortress X observatory, unsuccessfully trying to measure starlight. His theories relate to the box containing the universe later found by Gambit and Legacy. Magneto – The leader of the mutant resistance. Moonstar's Cadre – The Fortress X hunters. When Legacy escapes from the brig and Magneto suspected of betrayal, they are the designated team for the missions. Cypher – Captured and imprisoned in a prison on the Pacific coast, Cypher escaped and joined Magneto. Cypher is bonded to an unidentified alien matter similar in appearance to the main universe's Warlock. Dust – First appeared hiding with mutants before being rescued by Magneto, she later joins the Moonstar Cadre. This version of Dust is harsher, crueler and more lenient in her Muslim beliefs. Karma Magma – Came from Brazil via Mexico to join Magneto in Nevada. Danielle Moonstar – Leader and the tracker of the team. Nothing is known about her mutant powers here. Sunspot – Known as Eclipse in this reality. Mystique – The adoptive mother of Rogue. After being captured by the Sapien League, Mystique escapes and returns to Fortress X, where she is killed by Captain America. Namor – Left the oceans to live in Fortress X and follow Storm, his love interest here. Pixie – Known as "Nightmare" after the Bleecker Street massacre, gaining bat-like wings. She travels to Fortress X, joining Magneto. Rogue – Known here as "Legacy," Magneto chooses her to keep the memory of the mutants by absorbing their dying memories (hence her nickname, "Reaper"). Storm – In a relationship with Namor. She was mentioned as the leader of the Storm Cadre.New Mutants #24 Tempo – Died defending Fortress X against a human attack. Before coming there, Tempo and Frenzy were members of the Mutant Liberation Front. Wolverine – Seen in flashback as weakened after Kavita Rao injects him with several doses of a serum designed to cure the mutant gene, counting on his healing factor to destroy the cure. He is unable to fight, since his powers are focused on keeping him alive despite his adamantium infection.
Other X-Men characters appear in the storyline in marginal roles and as inhabitants of Fortress X, including Angel, Anole, Avalanche, Beak, Bling!, Chamber, Colossus, Cecilia Reyes, Domino, Forge, Gentle, Indra, Jubilee, Lady Mastermind, Loa, Martinique Jason, Northstar, Rockslide, Scalphunter, Surge, Toad, Trance, Vertigo, and Warpath (here known as Berserker).
X-Brig mutants Dangerous mutants are locked in Fortress X's X-Brig. Most have telepathic powers and wear helmets to inhibit them. X used the brig to imprison Professor X, who knew his true nature and convinced the other mutants that telepathic powers cannot exist; if they did, they would be very dangerous. On Magneto's orders, Danger is the only warden of the brig and runs it with several drone copies of herself. Among the inmates are:
Blindfold – The Earth-616 Blindfold who knows that this reality should not exist.New Mutants #22 Emma Frost Magik Martha Johansson Professor X – Initially shown in a comatose state. After being freed by Shadowcat and Magneto, Professor X retains knowledge of the Earth-616 reality. Shadowcat Stepford Cuckoos
Villains Arcade: Arcade is the prison governor of the mutant prison until he is killed by Basilisk. Frank Castle – Multi-decorated chief of the Avengers, Castle orders the killing of the occupants of Fortress X. Avengers – The Avengers are a group tasked with hunting mutants. During their assault on Fortress X, the Avengers discover a group of mutant children, and abandon their mission. It is revealed to them that their purpose is to carry out a suicide mission, and the team sacrifice their lives to protect the mutant refugees from the Hulk. Captain America – Leader of the Avengers, Captain America struggles to control his team. During the mission, he kills a mutant who was protecting a group of mutant children. Realizing his mistake, he calls off the mission and leads the Avengers to defend Fortress X. He is killed battling the Hulk, but his words and actions inspire the mutant forces to band together. Legacy absorbs his memories to honor his sacrifice. Ghost Rider – Apparently killed by Chamber on his first mission. Hulk – Bruce Banner was involved in mutant experiments for the government. During a sterilization experiment, a prisoner panicked causing the device to explode and transforming Banner into the Hulk. Immediately after his transformation, Banner killed his colleagues and his fiancée Betty Ross, causing him to develop a hatred of mutants. His role in the Avengers is a contingency plan, should they fail in their mission. The Hulk is killed by Redback while trying to deliver a chemical bomb to Fortress X. Invisible Woman – After her son Franklin Richards was nearly attacked by Wolfsbane, she exposed her to the mutant hunters and the rest of the Fantastic Four were arrested for harboring a mutant. She later joined the Avengers. She is determined to stop her fellow Avengers from killing mutants, apparently out of remorse for what she did to the rest of the Fantastic Four. She is killed by the Hulk while trying to protect Fortress X from a military assault.