X-man Issue #1 (Age of Apocalypse Part 9)

X-man  issue #1 Age of Apocalypse.

Written by Jeff Loeb

Art by Steve Skorce

Colors by Mike Thomas

During the Age of Apocalypse alternate timeline  Cable’s title became X-man. In the original timeline, Cable was a time displaced mutant. His past was shrouded in mystery and was claimed to be the son of Scott Summers and Madelyne Pryor. Now in this timeline he is the creation of Mr. Sinister to be the downfall of Apocalypse. His genetic makeup is from Scott Summers and  Jean Grey.  This makes us ask the question who are his parents? Scott and Jean, or Mr. Sinister? What fate is in store for our young X-man.  

And now on to the story.

We open on a dream, our hero is dreaming back of when he first escaped from what appears to be some genetic lab, and he encountered Cyclops. He runs away from the man and slips further into his own head and taps into his Mutant ability where his astral projection puts him at the Xavier Mansion.  

There he see Magneto and Bishop arguing over Magneto’s choice not to inform his X-men about the past, and what happened with Xavier. Then we find out that our hero is then tracked down by his friend and mentor Forge also in an astral projection and is forced back to their bodies.

As our main character then awakes to see his friends standing over him in a decimated forest and we also learn that our hero’s name is Nate. His friends are Toad, Sauron, Mastermind, Brute, and Forge.  They are all mutants that don’t fit in with the established regime and have been hiding out in the Midwest of America as a troupe of actors visiting small towns.  As Nate is helped to his feet the group mentions that it is time for the next show.

We then cut to a small stage as the group is putting on the Shakespeare play A midsummer's night dream. After the performance two local yokels attempt to cause some trouble with the group. However, Nate uses his mutant ability like Obi-wan Kenobi and makes the two turn around and walk away.  Forge confronts Nate about the mistake of using his powers for frivolously and that he is practically sending up a flare to Apocalypse that Nate is hiding out in the Midwest.

Cut to: New York City the Citadel of Apocalypse.

Cyclops reports to Apocalypse the disappearance of Mr. Sinister and a warning that he might be up to something to go against the Mighty Ruler Apocalypse. Of course Apocalypse plays it of as nothing can hurt me I am all powerful.  He then dismisses Cyclops as from an oversized mason jar the Shadow King reports that there is a telepathic mutant out there that rivals Apocalypse’s power set.  

Of course Apocalypse fains mild intrest and sends out one of his best hunters to find this supposed telepath.  His best hunter, is Domino.

Meanwhile back in Kansas…

Some Infinities show up to the small town that Nate and Crew are currently at. They have come to relocate the humans, for what means we aren’t sure. The Infinities make short work of the humans and get them rounded up into there transports to be shipped of to parts unknown.  This introduces us to a new character named Theresa.  She is man handled and thrown into a transport with the rest of the “flatscans”.

Of course this is all witnessed from the shadows by Forge and crew and they apparently have a plan to stop the transport and possibly rescue the humans.  Of course they are able to stop the transport and as they begin to get the humans out a group of Infities show up and start blasting everyone in site. Nate then jumps into the fray and helps turn the battle.  

Nate of course isn’t watching his back and is jumped but is saved in the last minute by a loud screem produced by Theresa.  She passes out and is assisted by Nate to a safe place. A short while later the  group is back on the road and runs into a mutant by the name of Essex.  Thus leading in for the next issue.

This story is purely a setup for something greater. I would give this a 7 out of 10. I thought the story would keep my attention more. I like the character of Nate Grey. The art by Steve Skorce, looks nice and angular and his use of detail on faces makes the book look really good. It just left me feeling like it needed more to the story to start off. Perhaps it's just the build up and issue 2 could be better.