Overall, X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1 is an entertaining but somewhat shallow first issue that sets the stage for a mutant brawl with a mysterious twist. Pick it up if you're a die-hard X-Men fan who enjoys action-heavy stories. If you prefer a more nuanced narrative with deeper character exploration, you might want to pass on this one. Read Full Review

X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse #1 is an interesting concept and feels like the logical next step for Apocalypse. It teases some major conflict to come in the future and dark clouds off in the distance. It also has a nice retro vibe, a break from more recent X-Men comics during the Krakoan age which had a voice and look all to their own. It's an interesting debut that feels like it tees up a lot to come. Read Full Review

Like I mentioned, I think the storyline is a lot of fun. The characters chosen are a great bunch that I can't to see interact and compete against each other. With all the heavy stuff going on in the other X-Men comics currently, this feels lighter and more of a fun time. Read Full Review

The cynic in me dreaded opening X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse as it seemed a cattle call of beloved, but second-tier characters to reset their stories for a new era of X-Men comics; it certainly serves that purpose, but writer Steve Foxe elevates this assignment with a deft blend of characterization and indulgent style that has me sincerely excited to read issue #2. Read Full Review

I'm interested to see where this series goes from here, but it might be worth it to wait for when it's concluded. Read Full Review

Apocalypse is one of my favorite comics villains so a book like this is going to automatically pique my interest. Most of the candidates are characters I like as well, only a couple I wasn't familiar with (Armageddon Girl? I don't recall ever seeing her before). Cable would be my personal choice, but I can see it being either Exodus or Rictor as well. GREAT art. Was very happy to see good ol' fashioned solid art in this book. OVerall I don't think it'll be quite as earth-shattering of a series or outcome as someone of Apocalypse's stature might imply, but I do think it will be a fun read.

The debut issue of Heir of Apocalypse sets the stage for an epic tournament with a massive cast of mutants, including some fan favorites that have been underutilized in recent story arcs. Writer Steve Foxe commendably introduces each of the tournament’s participants, providing a solid foundation for the story to come.

The sheer size of the cast is a standout. Foxe doesn't shy away from featuring a diverse range of mutants, including some unexpected choices. While it's impossible to delve too deep into each character's story within a single issue, Foxe successfully uses flashbacks to provide context and background on why Apocalypse chose certain mutants for his tournament. I hope we get to see more of these as they’re a great way to explain why Apocalypse chose these mutants over the usual A-listers.

The artwork in was a mixed bag for me. Netho Diaz's lines shine in action sequences, delivering dynamic and intense battles. However, in moments where character emotions need to carry the weight, Diaz's art fell short, struggling to convey the depth of feeling required. Fortunately, J.P. Mayer's thick inks and Alex Sinclair's vibrant colors bring a cool ‘90s vibe to the book, elevating the art and making it a fun treat.

Foxe & team give the plot a reason for existence beyond simply filling the gap before the "From the Ashes" era begins. However, I couldn’t help but be reminded that this was meant to be a fun distraction until that new era debuts when a literal distraction causes the tournament’s participants to already abandon the tournament by the issue’s end. Overall, X-Men: Heir of Apocalypse is off to a promising start even if it ends up reduced to a quasi-epilogue to the Krakoan era. more

This is a very tiring issue to read. There's so much ground that has to be laid to justify literally everyone being there and this story happening. It's so tied to Krakoa as well, despite all aesthetics from the cover to the interior art being intentionally 90s-fied. This was an oversized issue and I still feel like we've got a ton more exposition to burn through.