This event was brewing in several X-Men titles in 1995 before exploding all over the Marvel Universe the following year. ONSLAUGHT (1995) would answer the a big question that had been hanging in the air since Bishop joined to the X-Men, regarding a traitor among their ranks. Though it seemed the fallout of this saga would have the biggest impact on the Avengers and Fantastic Four, acting as a precursor to HEROES REBORN (1996-1997).
While you could comfortably read some of the key build-up stories in THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT (1996), this guide will give you a more in-depth look at all the issues building up to ‘Onslaught’, going right back to the 1960s and 70s. The key stories will give you a richer understanding of the event, while the optional extra tales explain other references and story elements – like the Spider-Men‘s clash with the Sentinels and why Generation X are hiding out at Emma Frost‘s place.
I’d like to thank the Marvel Database, the Marvel Chronology Project and the Appendix to the Handbook to the Marvel Universe for their invaluable assistance!
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔are must-read stories that feed into this event, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers and clues regarding what you might expect to see in the main event, so be warned!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order – just the essentials from the Full Reading Order below – without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- Fantastic Four #140-141
- X-Men (1963) #106
- Uncanny X-Men #161
- X-Men and the Micronauts #1-4
- Uncanny X-Men #287
- X-Men (1991) #25
- Uncanny X-Men #309
- X-Men (1991) #41
- X-Men: Alpha #1
- X-Man #4
- X-Men: Omega #1
- X-Men Prime (1995) #1
- Uncanny X-Men #322
- X-Man #10
- X-Men #46
- Uncanny X-Men #327
- Cable #29
- X-Men (1991) #50
- Cable #30
- X-Man #14
- Cable #31-32
- X-Man #15-17
- Uncanny X-Men #333
- Cable #33
- Uncanny X-Men #334
- X-Men #54
- X-Men Unlimited #11
- Excalibur #99
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| X-Men #4 (1964) Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are first introduced, fighting alongside Magneto as members of his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. 1st appearance: Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Mastermind/Jason Wyngarde, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff, Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff, Toad/Mortimer Toynbee), Magneto’s Island, Republic of Santo Marco | ||
| Fantastic Four #33 (1964) Namor the Sub-Mariner first allies himself with the Fantastic Four. 1st appearance: Attuma | WHEN ATTUMA STRIKES! | |
| X-Men #12-13 (1965) Juggernaut (Cain Marko) attacks the X-Men, looking to have his revenge on his step-brother, Professor X (Charles Xavier); the origins of Juggernaut’s powers are revealed; as a child, Cain Marko caused an explosion when he threw a tantrum over his father, Dr Kurt Marko, showing favouritism to his step-brother – Kurt opted to save young Charles first, then his own son before dying himself, increasing the enmity Cain already felt for young Charles. 1st appearance: Cyttorak (mention), Juggernaut/Cain Marko, Dr Kurt Marko, Brain Xavier, Sharon Xavier-Marko, Crimson Cosmos Armour, Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, Mento-Helmet, Temple of Cyttorak | ||
| X-Men #14-16 (1965-1966) Dr Bolivar Trask first unleashes his Sentinels, giant mutant-hunting robots. 1st appearance: Edna McCoy, Norton McCoy, Master Mold, Sentinels Mk I, Dr Bolivar Trask, Kathryn Worthington, Warren Worthington Jr, Sentinel Headquarters | ||
| Fantastic Four #44-45 (1965-1966) Having already encountered Medusa, the Fantastic Four meet the rest of her clan of super-powered outsiders, the Inhumans. 1st appearance: Gorgon Petragon, House of Agon | ||
| Amazing Spider-Man #36 (1966) Norton G Fester gains superhuman powers from a meteorite, becoming the Looter. 1st appearance: Sally Green, Looter/Norton Fester | ||
| Fantastic Four #52-53 (1966) The Black Panther joins forces with the Fantastic Four against Klaw who’s trying to obtain Wakandan Vibranium from Wakanda; the metal is later revealed to be extraterrestrial in origin; among its capabilities, Wakandan Vibranium can absorb vibratory or kinetic energy. 1st appearance: Black Panther/T’Challa, Force Glove/Sound Converter/Sonic Disruptor, Heart-Shaped Herb, Panther Habit/Panther Suit, Wakandan Vibranium, Techno Organic Jungle, Wakanda |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| Thor #136 (1967) Thor convinces Odin to grant Jane Foster godhood so that they can marry, but Jane fails a test set by Odin who then restores her humanity. 1st appearance: Lurking Unknown, Keith Kincaid, Tuning Fork, Halls of Fear | ||
| Fantastic Four #65 (1967) Crystal and the Human Torch start dating. 1st appearance: Jerome Hamilton, the Kree, Ronan the Accuser, Supreme Intelligence, Universal Weapon | THE COMING OF CAPTAIN MARVEL | |
| Thor #159 (1968) Odin reveals that he transformed Thor into the frail human Dr Donald Blake to teach him a lesson in humility. 1st appearance: Gondolff | ||
| Fantastic Four #81 (1968) Crystal of the Inhumans joins the Fantastic Four; the Human Torch’s fascination with Crystal turns into a serious (but not lasting) relationship. | ||
| Avengers #73-74 (1970) The Black Panther meets his love interest, activist jazz singer Monica Lynne. 1st appearance: Monica Lynne | ||
| Fantastic Four #94 (1970) The Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) and the Invisible Girl (Sue Richards) seek out Agatha Harkness for help raising their son, Franklin Richards. 1st appearance: Ebony, Agatha Harkness, Whisper Hill Identity revealed: Franklin Richards (named) | ||
| Fantastic Four #130 (1973) The infant Franklin Richards shows the first signs of mutant abilities. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #140-141 (1973) Annihilus forcibly unleashes all of Franklin Richards’ mutant psionic potential while he’s still too young to control his abilities; Franklin’s father, Mister Fantastic, tries to shut down Franklin’s mind to stop him from using his powers. | |
| Fantastic Four #150 (1974) Quicksilver and Crystal are married. | BRIDE AND DOOM | |
| Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975) The cloning-obsessed Jackal pits Spider-Man against a ‘Spider-Man’ clone; the clone dies when a bomb set by the Jackal explodes, bringing part of a stadium down on top of him. 1st appearance: Jackal/Miles Warren clone, Spider-Man/Peter Parker clone | THE DELUSION CONSPIRACY | |
| Amazing Spider-Man #151 (1975) Spider-Man drops the corpse of his clone down an industrial smokestack in the hope no one will ever find out it existed and his identity won’t be compromised. | ||
| X-Men #95 (1975) Thunderbird (John Proudstar) is killed on his second mission with the X-Men. | SECOND GENESIS | |
| ✔ | X-Men #106 (1977) Professor X falls unconscious after a stressful encounter with Firelord, allowing his darker emotions to take the form of an “evil’ Xavier called the Entity; the Entity is defeated by Professor X who swears to keep his darker emotions in check. 1st appearance: Dark Xavier (psionic entity) | |
| Thor #276-278 (1978) Loki gives cameraman Roger ‘Red’ Norvell the powers to impress Sif, turning him into a red-headed Thor; Red Norvell sacrifices himself in battle to end the threat of Ragnarok. 1st appearance: Iron Gloves New identity: Roger ‘Red’ Norvell as Thor | RAGNAROK | |
| X-Men #129 (1980) Emma Frost is initially introduced as a member of the nefarious Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, operating as their White Queen. 1st appearance: Black King/Sebastian Shaw (shadow), Hellfire Knights, Harry Leland (shadow), Donald Pierce (shadow), Carmen Pryde, Katherine Pryde, Theresa Pryde, White Queen/Emma Frost, Hellfire Club Mansion New identity: Council of the Chosen as the Hellfire Club |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| Avengers #186 (1979) First mention of Magda, Magneto’s wife. 1st appearance: Magda Eisenhardt/Magda Lehnsherr Identity revealed: The Other as Chthon | ||
| ✔ | Uncanny X-Men #161 (1982) Professor X recalls how he and his friend, Magnus, confronted Baron von Strucker and Hydra, many years earlier; this would be their last adventure as friends as the pair realised they had very different beliefs about the future of mutantkind; Magnus would go on to become Magneto. 1st appearance: Gabrielle Haller, Daniel Shomron, Z’Reee Shar (space yacht) | THE BROOD SAGA |
| Marvel Graphic Novel #4 – The New Mutants (1982) Sunspot‘s girlfriend, Juliana Sandoval, jumped in front of bullets meant for him, sacrificing herself. 1st appearance: Cannonball/Sam Guthrie, Emmanuel da Costa, Roberto da Costa, Danielle Moonstar, New Mutants (unnamed), Juliana Sandoval, Reverend Craig Sinclair, Rahne Sinclair | THE BROOD SAGA | |
| Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 (1983) Magneto discovers he’s the father of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. | ||
| Daredevil #190 (1983) The Hand resurrect the deceased assassin Elektra and her soul is purified by Daredevil; Elektra’s mentor, Stick, sacrifices himself to save Daredevil and the Black Widow from the Hand. | ||
| ✔ | X-Men and the Micronauts #1-4 (1984) The Entity returns and pits the X-Men against the Micronauts and starts wiping out worlds in the Microverse; Professor X tricks the Entity in order to defeat him, ending his evil other self’s life in the process. 1st appearance: Dark Xavier (psionic entity) | MICRONAUTS TRIUMPHANT |
| Secret Wars #12 (1985) She-Hulk replaces the Thing on the Fantastic Four when he decides to remain on Battleworld. | SECRET WARS | |
| Fantastic Four #278-279 (1985) When Doctor Doom is believed to have died in battle with Tyros, his memories, personality and knowledge are implanted in young Kristoff Vernard, making him believe he is Doctor Doom; Kristoff first battles the Fantastic Four. New identity: Kristoff Vernard as Doctor Doom | DOOMSDAY PLUS ONE | |
| Thor #364 (1986) After he’s transformed into a frog by Loki, Thor befriends a group of frogs in Central Park. 1st appearance: Bugeye, Grand Thane, Greensong, Puddlegulp | ||
| X-Factor #10 (1986) Power Pack #27 (1986) Caliban is almost killed by Sabretooth when the Marauders start slaughtering the mutant Morlocks under Manhattan; Caliban is saved by Leech, Power Pack and X-Factor. 1st appearance: Blockbuster/Michael Baer, Prism/Robbie, Worthington Building | MUTANT MASSACRE | |
| Uncanny X-Men #221 (1987) Mister Sinister is revealed to be behind the massacre of the Morlocks that resulted in the deaths of many of Caliban’s friends. 1st appearance: Mister Sinister/Nathaniel Essex (full) | FALL OF THE MUTANTS | |
| X-Factor #50 (1990) Having allied himself with Apocalypse in order to gain the power to have his revenge on Sabretooth, Caliban’s new form is revealed. | ACTS OF VENGEANCE | |
| Incredible Hulk #377 (1991) Bruce Banner‘s primary personalities (Banner, the Grey Hulk and Green Hulk) are merged into a single persona, turning him into a new, smarter Hulk. 1st appearance: Susan Jacobson | ||
| New Mutants #98 (1991) Sunspot’s father, Emmanuel da Costa, is murdered by Gideon. 1st appearance: Adam, Deadpool/Wade Wilson, Domino/Vanessa Carlysle, Eve, Gideon, Vail Identity revealed: Cable’s first name is Nathan | A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH | |
| Uncanny X-Men #274-275 (1991) Rogue and Magneto have a brief relationship while living in the Savage Land. 1st appearance: Manacle | ||
| X-Factor #65-68 (1991) Apocalypse infects baby Nathan Christopher Summers with the Techno-Organic Virus; a member of the Askani offers to take Nate into the future where he has a chance of surviving, leaving Cyclops no choice but to give up his infant son in order to save his life. 1st appearance: Askani/Jen Askani, Dark Riders/Riders of the Storm (Barrage, Foxbat, Gauntlet, Hard-Drive, Psynapse, Tusk), Shinobi Shaw, Earth-4935 |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| Incredible Hulk #388 (1991) Hulk takes Jim Wilson (the Falcon‘s nephew and a former Hulk sidekick) to hospital when he’s seriously injured by the assassin Speedfreek. 1st appearance: Speedfreek/Joss Shappe | ||
| Fantastic Four #358 (1991) The Human Torch discovers his wife, Alicia Masters, is actually a Skrull called Lyja; the real Alicia Masters returns. 1st appearance: General Kalamari, Paibok the Power-Skrull | ||
| Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991) Emma Frost’s first students, the Hellions, are murdered by Sentinels led by Trevor Fitzroy. 1st appearance: Trevor Fitzroy, Upstarts | MUTANT GENESIS | |
| Wolverine #57 (1992) Wolverine‘s beloved, Mariko Yashida, dies in his arms. | ||
| ✔ | Uncanny X-Men #287 (1992) A series of flashbacks into the moments before Bishop‘s arrival in the present day; Bishop was witness to the last recorded transmission from Jean Grey, attempting to warn the other X-Men of a traitor within their ranks before her apparent death. 1st appearance: Styglut (Earth-1911), Witness/Remy Lebeau (Earth-1911) | MUTANT GENESIS |
| Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #44 (1992) Juggernaut meets the real Cyttorak for the first time. | THE INFINITY WAR | |
| X-Force #18 (1993) Mister Sinister inadvertently unleashes the Legacy Virus – a plague that only affects mutants – into the atmosphere as part of Stryfe‘s last effort to cause chaos among the mutant population; Archangel leaves Apocalypse to die after the severe injuries he suffered in battle with Stryfe. 1st appearance: Gordon Lefferts, Legacy Virus (unnamed) | X-CUTIONER’S SONG | |
| X-Factor #88 (1993) Random first meets X-Factor, though his alliances and intentions are unclear. 1st appearance: Genegineer/Sasha Ryan, Random/Marshall Stone | ||
| Fantastic Four #376-377 (1993) Mister Fantastic’s father, Nathaniel Richards, travels from the future to the present day to warn his son of a dark future that will spell doom for the Fantastic Four; Nathaniel takes young Franklin Richards into the future, returning him to the present as the teenage Psi-Lord; Nathaniel decides to remain at Four Freedom’s Plaza; after assisting the Fantastic Four as an ally against Doctor Doom, Lyja remains at Four Freedom’s Plaza, hoping to win back the Human Torch’s affections. 1st appearance: Psi-Lord/Franklin Richards (Earth-6311) | FOUR NO MORE! | |
| ✔ | X-Men #25 (1993) The X-Men confront Magneto aboard his new space-station haven for mutants, Avalon; when Magneto rips the adamantium from Wolverine’s bones, Professor X snaps and uses his powers to shut down Magneto’s mind. | FATAL ATTRACTIONS |
| Fantastic Four #384 (1994) Ant-Man joins the Fantastic Four. | FOUR NO MORE! | |
| Cable #8 (1994) Cable’s true identity as Nathan Summers, the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor (the clone of Jean Grey) is finally confirmed. | ||
| X-Men #27 (1993) The X-Men meet Threnody, a prisoner of Mister Sinister who chooses to remain so as she believes only he can help her control her necroplasmic powers. 1st appearance: Threnody/Melody Jacobs | ||
| ✔ | Uncanny X-Men #309 (1994) With his dream for human and mutant peace failing, Professor X recalls the moment in his youth when he lost the love of Amelia Voght by briefly using his powers to make her see things his way regarding the future of mutants; Professor X confesses his actions to Magneto in a dream (though this may, in fact, be an early manifestation of Onslaught). |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) Peter Parker‘s happiness is shattered when the parents he believed had returned to his life are revealed to be Life Model Decoys sent by the Chameleon. | PURSUIT | |
| Alpha Flight #130 (1994) Alpha Flight disband. | ||
| Excalibur #75 (1994) After being lost in the timestream, Phoenix (Rachel Summers) returns Brian Braddock to the present where he renounces his Captain Britain identity and becomes Britanic. New identity: Captain Britain/Brian Braddock as Britanic, Amanda Sefton as Daytripper | ||
| Spider-Man Unlimited #5 [3/3] (1994) Ollie Osnick becomes the Steel Spider. New identity: Spider-Kid/Ollie Osnick as the Steel Spider | ||
| X-Factor #105 (1994) Mister Sinister destroys Malice‘s corporeal essence. | ||
| Web of Spider-Man #117 (1994) Having just come face-to-face with his exact double, Spider-Man (Peter Parker) realises his clone survived their confrontation many years earlier when he meets Ben Reilly. 1st appearance: The Host (Morgan Boone, Chakra/Anjani Sridhara, Medea, Walter Nacht), Dr Judas Traveller | POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY | |
| Spectacular Spider-Man #220 (1995) Mary Jane Watson-Parker reveals she’s pregnant. | WEB OF DEATH | |
| Incredible Hulk #420 (1994) The AIDS virus claims the life of Jim Wilson who contracted it during a blood transfusion; the Hulk makes Jim’s final hours peaceful. | ||
| Thor #477-479 (1994) Odin resurrects Red Norvell to protect Asgard in Thor’s absence. 1st appearance: Hyrm/Hymer | MYTH CONCEPTIONS | |
| Fantastic Force #1 (1994) When the Fantastic Four disband following the apparent death of Mister Fantastic as well as the Human Torch’s desertion, Psi-Lord (Franklin Richards of Earth-6311), is joined by the Black Panther, Devlor, Huntara and Vibraxas to become Fantastic Force. 1st appearance: Fantastic Force | NOBODY GETS OUT ALIVE! | |
| Excalibur #83-85 (1994) Amanda Sefton obtains the Soulsword and gives it to Margali Szardos for safekeeping. 1st appearance: Gravemoss, Shrill | ||
| Incredible Hulk #425 (1995) The Hulk falls out with his allies in the Pantheon – a group descended from the half-human, half-Asgardian called Agamemnon who engage in positive acts internationally that most governments won’t condone – and parts ways with Ajax, Atalanta and the other members of the organisation on bad terms. | ||
| Fantastic Four #395 (1994) Lyja adopts the human identity ‘Laura Green’ to get closer to the Human Torch. 1st appearance: Super Android Model F-4 New identity: Lyla the Lazerfist as Laura Green | ||
| ✔ | X-Men #41 (1995) Having travelled back in time with the intention of killing Magneto in order to allow Professor X’s good intentions for mutants to forge ahead unimpeded, Legion accidentally kills the young Charles Xavier; with his father dead, Legion will never be born which creates a time-paradox, removing the X-Men who’d travelled back in time to stop Legion, with the exception of Bishop (unaffected by the paradox as he was from another timeline, already); before the Earth-616 reality comes to an end, Rogue kisses Gambit. 1st appearance: Apocalypse/En Sabah Nur (Earth-295), Lucas Bishop (Earth-295), Earth-295 | |
| Excalibur #86 (1995) Pete Wisdom and Black Air (a secret organisation funded by the UK government to investigate paranormal phenomena) are introduced. 1st appearance: Black Air, Michele Scicluna, Threadgold, Pete Wisdom |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | X-Men: Alpha #1 (1995) The Age of Apocalypse is fully introduced; with Professor X dead, there was insufficient opposition to prevent Apocalypse from gaining control of the world; Magneto is revealed to have formed the X-Men of this reality; Hank McCoy (often referred to as Dark Beast) is a vicious scientist who works for Sinister, one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse; Sinister’s Prelates, Scott & Alex Summers, work to keep the human prisoners contained so that the Dark Beast can experiment on them; Bishop warns the X-Men of Earth-295 that reality was altered when Charles Xavier died and begins working with them to restore the Earth-616 timeline. 1st appearance (Earth-295): Angel/Warren Worthington III, Blob/Fred Dukes, Elite Mutant Force (Cyclops/Scott Summers, Dark Beast/Hank McCoy, Havok/Alex Summers), Gambit/Remy Lebeau, Jean Grey, Horsement of Apocalypse (Anyss/Nils Styger, Holocaust/Nemesis, Sinister/Nathaniel Essex), Human High Council (Brian Braddock, Emma Frost, Bolivar Trask, Moira Trask, Mariko Yashida), Infinites, Karma/Xuân Cao Mạnh, Charles Lehnsherr, Scarlett McKenzie, Nanny (robot), Sebastian Shaw, Unus/Gunther Bain, Weapon X/Logan, X-Men (Blink/Clarice Ferguson, Iceman/Robert Drake, Morph/Kevin Sidney, Nightcrawler/Kurt Darkhölme, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff, Rogue/Anna Marie Lehnsherr, Sabretooth/Victor Creed, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Wild Child/Kyle Gibney), Heaven Nightclub | THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE |
| X-Man #2-3 (1995) Domino of Earth-295 kills Nate Grey‘s friend, Mastermind, while her team and Sinister are responsible for the deaths of Brute, Toad and Forge. 1st appearance (Earth-295): Caliban, Grizzly/Theodore Winchester, Arkady Rossovich | THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE | |
| ✔ | X-Man #4 (1995) Nate Grey learns Sinister is behind his creation; Sinister intended using him as a weapon against Apocalypse; Nate kills Sinister. | THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE |
| ✔ | X-Men: Omega #1 (1995) With help from the X-Men of Earth-295, Bishop travels back in time to save Charles Xavier from Legion, restoring the Earth-616 reality. | THE AGE OF APOCALYPSE |
| Green Goblin #1 (1995) Phil Urich becomes the new Green Goblin after almost getting his uncle Ben Urich killed. 1st appearance: Fast Freddie/Freddie Glazer, Ricko the Sicko, Lynn Walsh | ||
| Fantastic Four #397-400 (1995) Nathaniel Richards accidentally frees Kristoff Vernard from stasis; Kristoff becomes an ally of the Fantastic Four. 1st appearance: Crimson Cadre (General Ator, Eelak, Glaboo, Margoyle, Pulssus, Rootar), He Who Summons | EVEN THE WATCHERS CAN DIE | |
| Amazing Spider-Man #400 (1995) Following a recent stroke, May Parker dies peacefully in hospital. | ||
| Spectacular Spider-Man #226 (1995) Seward Trainer’s tests reveal Peter Parker is a clone, while the Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly) is the real Peter Parker. | THE TRIAL OF PETER PARKER | |
| ✔ | X-Men: Prime #1 (1995) Nate Grey and Holocaust arrive on Earth-616, having made an the jump from Earth-295 thanks to a shard of the M’kraan Crystal; Dark Beast and the Sugar Man are revealed to be on Earth-616, somehow having been transported from the Age of Apocalypse to Earth-616 a number of years in the past; the Dark Beast is revealed to be the founder of the underground mutant Morlocks; Rogue is revealed to have left the X-Men after kissing Gambit and learning the sins of his past; Gamit himself has been left comatose; the young mutant Dennis Hogan is murdered by anti-mutant thugs, making Professor X question the success of his work to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants; X-Force are revealed to be living at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. 1st appearance: Blaquesmith, Lady Gayle Edgerton, Hound | THE FALL OF AVALON HAVOK’S FALL THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH A NATION RISING THE UNCREATED UNDER ONE ROOF |
| X-Man #5-6 (1995) A stranger in a new reality, Nate Grey meets and befriends Madelyne Pryor (unaware she’s the clone of Jean Grey, his biological mother – though she’s later revealed to actually be Jean Grey from another reality). 1st appearance: ‘Madelyne Pryor’/Jean Grey (Earth-9575) | THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH | |
| ✔ | Uncanny X-Men #322 (1995) Defeated and scared, the Juggernaut turns to the X-Men for help after he’s mercilessly beaten by a being he calls Onslaught who has hurled him from Canada to New Jersey (this is the first mention of Onslaught). | THE FALL OF AVALON |
| X-Force #44 (1995) It’s revealed that Cable freed Sunspot of his Reignfire persona (using his Askani teachings). 1st appearance: Dr Weisman, Weisman Institute for the Criminally Insane | UNDER ONE ROOF | |
| Double Edge: Omega #1 (1995) The Punisher kills Nick Fury when he’s manipulated by Spook into believing Fury was responsible for the death of his family. | OVER THE EDGE | |
| Scarlet Spider #1 (1995) The Looter finds himself working for the new Doctor Octopus (Carolyn Trainer). 1st appearance: Pro | VIRTUAL MORTALITY | |
| Sensational Spider-Man #0 (1996) After Peter Parker retires from costumed adventuring, Ben Reilly drops his Scarlet Spider costume and resumes his old identity when he becomes Spider-Man again. 1st appearance: Armada/David Breyer, Jessica Carradine, Devon Lewis, Professor Ramirez, Shirley Washington, Desiree Winthrop, Daily Grind, ‘Sensational’ Spider-Man costume | THE RETURN OF SPIDER-MAN | |
| Fantastic Four #403 (1995) Kristoff Vernard starts hitting on Ant-Man’s daughter, Cassie Lang, causing friction between them. 1st appearance: Sun Demons (statues) |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| Avengers #394 (1996) Avengers: Timeslide #1 (1996) The Wasp emerges from a cocoon in a mutated, insect-like form following the injuries she suffered at the hands of the corrupted Iron Man fully healed; Avengers travel to the past (actually the past of Earth-96020) to bring young Tony Stark to fight his present day self when he’s corrupted by Kang. 1st appearance: Tony Stark (Earth-96020) | THE CROSSING | |
| Iron Man #325 (1996) Avengers #395 (1996) Teen Tony Stark of Earth-96020 defeats the corrupted Tony Stark of Earth-616; Tony of Earth-616 gives his life to save the Avengers and defeat Kang; teen Tony remains in the present and becomes the new Iron Man. 1st appearance: Iron Man Retro Armour, Mandroid Armor Mk VII New identity: Tony Stark (Earth-96020) as Iron Man | THE CROSSING | |
| Cable #25 (1995) Cable first uses his powers to create a protective aura. | ||
| Cable #28 (1996) Domino first meets Mister Sinister, only to be treated as if she’s nothing to him; Mister Sinister learns about Earth-295 (the ‘Age of Apocalypse’) from Sugar Man. | ||
| Incredible Hulk #440 (1996) The Hulk is caught in a bomb blast while trying to stop a nuclear war under the guise of the Maestro; the world believes the Hulk is dead. 1st appearance: Headgear/Dwaine Hess | GHOSTS OF THE FUTURE | |
| Excalibur #92 (1995) Pete Wisdom is seriously injured when a jealous Colossus sees him with his ex-girlfriend, Shadowcat (Kitty Pryde). | ||
| ✔ | X-Man #10 (1995) Professor X approaches Nate Grey, only to be treated as an enemy; in an unprecedented move, Nate pulls Professor X’s astral form from his body into the physical realm. | THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH |
| X-Man #12 (1996) Threnody escapes Mister Sinister, unaware that he has intentionally allowed her to escape. | THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH | |
| ✔ | X-Men #46 (1995) Uncanny X-Men #327 (1995) Someone momentarily shuts down a secret Sentinel facility in middle America, only leaving the word ‘onslaught’ on every computer screen as a clue to their identity; only a young, amnesiac man in his twenties who looks suspiciously like Magneto emerges in Guatemala, adopting the name Joseph. 1st appearance: Bishop (Mojoverse), Cyke (Mojoverse), Gambit (Mojoverse), Iceboy (Mojoverse), Joseph, Sister Maria de la Joya | IF SINS BE FORGIVEN |
| Uncanny X-Men #328 (1996) X-Force #51 (1996) Sabretooth betrays Boomer’s trust in him in order to escape the Xavier Institute; Psylocke is gutted by Sabretooth; Boomer takes on a new, tougher identity as Meltdown. 1st appearance: Crimson Dawn, Risque/Gloria Muñoz New identity: Boomer/Tabitha Smith as Meltdown | IN THE RED ZONE | |
| Fantastic Four #405, 407 (1995) The Thing obtains a device that allows him to transform back into human form in the jungles of Brazil; the Invisible Woman puts her issues with Doctor Doom aside to save the life of her husband, Mister Fantastic. 1st appearance: Artabazus | STRANGE DAYS | |
| X-Factor #116-118 (1996) Shard, the hologram of Bishop’s deceased sister, becomes affiliated with X-Factor; after clashing with Random in Virginia, Havok is captured by the Dark Beast. 1st appearance: Fall’s Edge | HAVOK’S FALL | |
| X-Men #49 (1996) Chamber and M try reading Gateway‘s mind, only to find one word… ‘Onslaught’; Dark Beast discovers his Earth-616 counterpart and decides to look into replacing him. | ||
| Uncanny X-Men #329-330 (1996) With help from Doctor Strange and Gomurr the Ancient, Wolverine and Archangel retrieve the Crimson Dawn, a mystical life-giving elixir; Psylocke is given the Crimson Dawn to heal the wounds she received in battle against Sabretooth, giving her additional magical abilities and a facial tattoo. 1st appearance: Gomurr, Tar, Realm of the Crimson Dawn |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| X-Factor #119 (1996) Sabretooth ends up in the hands of X-Factor. | ||
| Green Goblin #6 (1996) The Green Goblin (Phil Urich) meets Daredevil. | ||
| ✔ | Cable #29 (1996) Professor X asks Cable to go after Nate Grey; Blaquesmith convinces Cable that his mission is to kill Nate as he’s too powerful and could lose control or fall into the wrong hands. | FALLEN FROM GRACE |
| X-Force #52 (1996) X-Force investigate an old Sentinel base, learning Onslaught has already claimed it and that the Blob and Mimic are working for him | FALLEN FROM GRACE | |
| X-Men Unlimited #10 (1996) Dark Beast kidnaps the true Beast (Hank McCoy of Earth-616) and takes his place among the X-Men. | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT | |
| ✔ | X-Men #50 (1996) A team of X-Men find themselves fighting for their lives against Post, the herald of Onslaught. 1st appearance: Post/Kevin Tremain New identity: Dark Xavier/Entity as Onslaught (face only, cameo) | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT |
| X-Man #13 (1996) Nate Grey kills a number of Marauders (clones of the originals) to protect Threnody. | ||
| ✔ | Cable #30 (1996) X-Man #14 (1996) Cable #31 (1996) After the first meeting between Cable and his Earth-295 counterpart, Nate Grey, turns into all-out war, Cable ends up having to save Nate’s life and earns his trust; Cable is almost killed battling and saving Nate Grey and, while he survives, his powers begin to fail him; Onslaught observes the battle and decides to send Post to test Cable’s capabilities. 1st appearance: Onslaught/Dark Xavier/Entity (voice) | FALLEN FROM GRACE |
| Uncanny X-Men #331 (1996) Cyclops and Phoenix (Jean Grey) investigate the place where the X-Men fought Post, but there are no signs of battle. | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT | |
| Fantastic Four #414 (1996) The older Franklin Richards (Psi-Lord of Earth-6311) disappears into the timestream, allowing Earth-616’s Franklin Richards to return to the present; Franklin gains a new ‘imaginary friend’ called ‘Charlie’ who looks like a young Professor X; the Fantastic Four defeat Hyperstorm (the future son of Franklin Richards and Rachel Summers from Earth-967); the Human Torch realises ‘Laura Green’ is really Lyja. | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT | |
| Wolverine #100 (1996) Uncanny X-Men #332 (1996) Apocalypse’s minion, Ozymandias, first emerges; Cable’s son, Genesis, makes an attempt to restore the adamantium to Wolverine’s bones ends in disaster and death; the bonding process fails, Wolverine’s healing factor mutates him; Genesis (Cable’s son) is killed. 1st appearance: Ozymandias | STONE COLD DEATH | |
| Excalibur #96 (1996) The London chapter of the Hellfire Club accept Magali Szardos as their Red Queen. 1st appearance: Black King/Quentin Templeton, Black Queen/Emma Steed, Red King/Alan Wilson, Red Rook/Scribe, Scratch/Lee Franks New identity: Margali Szardos as Red Queen | ||
| Wolverine #102-103 (1996) Elektra takes Wolverine under her wing, setting him on the path back to humanity. | THE WAY OF THE WARRIORS | |
| ✔ | Cable #32 (1996) X-Man #15-17 (1996) Cable and Domino return to Camp Hayden to look for any clues that may reveal Onslaught’s identity; Onslaught employs Holocaust (another refugee from Earth-295) to capture Nate Grey and separate him from Threnody, though Holocaust ultimately fails. 1st appearance: Onslaught/Dark Xavier/Entity (shadow) | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT |
| X-Men #51-52 (1996) Mister Sinister probes Bishop’s mind and learns more about the Age of Apocalypse. 1st appearance: Bastion (cameo) | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT | |
| Spectacular Spider-Man #236 (1996) Sensational Spider-Man #7 (1996) Amazing Spider-Man #414 (1996) Spider-Man #71 (1996) Spectacular Spider-Man #237 (1996) A mystery villain breaks into the Iron Rock facility; ‘Shocker’, ‘Stiltman’ and ‘Trapster’ and others carry out robberies; Spider-Man (Ben Reilly) battles a new Lizard; while recovering from clone degeneration, Peter Parker’s powers cut out. 1st appearance: Delilah | THE PROMISE |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| Thor #497-501 (1996) Following the apparent destruction of Asgard and the Rainbow Bridge, Odin resurfaces as a homeless man; the Enchantress is captured by Ice Giants. 1st appearance: Kimberly Gaunt, Mroht, Pyllar, Snagg New identity: Odin Borson as Wad | THE LOST GODS | |
| ✔ | Uncanny X-Men #333 (1996) The mutant-hunter Bastion calls a meeting at the Pentagon to discuss the threat of Onslaught and a possible resolution. 1st appearance: Bastion (full) | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT |
| X-Force #55 (1996) X-Force free Cyclops after he’s kidnapped by agents of presidential candidate Graydon Creed; GW Bridge misses his chance to apprehend Cable; Warpath is revealed to be on the road with a female mutant called Risque who saves him from Selene. | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT | |
| Incredible Hulk #443 (1996) Janis Jones of Earth-9200 returns to the present day to seek the Hulk’s help against the future incarnation of the Abomination (having previously helped her defeat the future Hulk known as the Maestro), though the Hulk – whose personality seems to have been altered since he was caught in a recent atomic explosion – rejects her request. | ||
| Excalibur #97-98 (1996) Brian Braddock joins London’s Hellfire Club as their Black Bishop; former Black Air agent Scratch abducts Douglock. 1st appearance: Red Bishop/Conrad Strathdee, Nicholas Rutledge New identity: Brian Braddock as Black Bishop | ||
| X-Force #56 (1995) Shatterstar finds evidence that makes him doubt his origins. New identity: Shatterstar as Benjamin Russell | ||
| Generation X #12-17 (1996) Generation X learn Emplate is M’s brother; Skin decides to take Chamber to see Professor X in New York due to the ill effects of his experience with Onslaught, only to be thrown off-course by the X-Cutioner; Emplate infects Synch who tries to hurt his own family. 1st appearance: Bumpkin, Hellions (Bulwark/Oswald Boeglin, Vicente Cimetta, Murmur/Allan Rennie) | ||
| ✔ | Cable #33 (1996) X-Men #53 (1996) Uncanny X-Men #334 (1996) X-Men #54 (1996) Post confronts Cable again and leaves him badly beaten in Baltimore Harbour; Onslaught contacts Phoenix (Jean Grey) directly and reveals the darker side to Professor X; Juggernaut returns to Earth-616 and, after defeating Gambit and Bishop, surrenders himself to Phoenix in the hope that she can help save him from Onslaught; Phoenix learns Onslaught’s true identity; Onslaught makes short work of the Juggernaut. 1st appearance: Onslaught (full) | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT |
| Avengers #400 (1996) Nate Grey goes to the Avengers for help, claiming Professor X has gone insane! | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT | |
| ✔ | Onslaught: X-Men #1 (1996) X-Men #335 (1996) Onslaught makes his move. | ONSLAUGHT |
| ✔ | X-Men Unlimited #11 (1996) Joseph ends up allying himself with Rogue when they discover a town that’s secretly run by the Friends of Humanity; though Joseph doesn’t remember Rogue, he agrees to accompany her to New York. | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT |
| ✔ | Cable #34 (1996) Avengers #401 (1996) Fantastic Four #415 (1996) The heroes join forces. | ONSLAUGHT |
| Excalibur #99 (1996) The Black Queen of London’s chapter of the Hellfire Club checks in with Onslaught; Pete Wisdom explains his history with Scratch. | THE ROAD TO ONSLAUGHT | |
| ✔ | Wolverine #104 (1996) The saga continues… | ONSLAUGHT |
The story continues in ONSLAUGHT (1996) – Coming Soon!
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| X-Men: The Road to Onslaught Omnibus vol.1 | Sabretooth Special: In The Red Zone #1 Starjammers #1-4 Uncanny X-Men #322-328 Uncanny X-Men Annual ’95 Wolverine/Gambit: Victims #1-4 X-Men #42-47 X-Men Annual ’95 X-Men: Prime #1 X-Men Unlimited #8-9 |
| X-Men: The Road to Onslaught Omnibus vol.2 | Archangel #1 Black Knight: Exodus #1 Fantastic Four #19 Further Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix #1-4 Rise of Apocalypse #1-4 Storm #1-4 Uncanny X-Men #329-332 Wolverine #101 Xavier Institute Alumni Yearbook X-Men #48-52 X-Men & ClanDestine #1-2 X-Men/Brood: Day of Wrath #1-2 X-Men Unlimited #10 |
| X-Men: The Road to Onslaught vol.1 | Uncanny X-Men #322-326 X-Men #42-45 X-Men Annual ’95 X-Men: Prime #1 X-Men Unlimited #8 |
| X-Men: The Road to Onslaught vol.2 | Sabretooth Special: In The Red Zone #1 Uncanny X-Men #46-49 X-Men/ClanDestine #1-2 X-Men Unlimited #9 |
| X-Men: The Road to Onslaught vol.3 | Archangel #1 Uncanny X-Men #329-332 Wolverine #101 Xavier Institute Alumni Yearbook X-Men/Brood: Day of Wrath #1-2 X-Men #50-52 X-Men Unlimited #10 |
| X-Men: Prelude to Onslaught | Cable #32-33 Uncanny X-Men #333 X-Man #15-17 X-Men #50 |
| Cable & X-Force: Onslaught Rising | Cable #30-31 X-Force #49-56 X-Force/Cable Annual ’95 X-Man #14 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Annihilus Revealed (vol.8) Fantastic Four Omnibus vol.5 Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four vol.13 | Fantastic Four #140-141 |
| Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men vol.2 Uncanny X-Men Epic Collection: Second Genesis (vol.5) Uncanny X-Men Omnibus vol.1 | X-Men #106 |
| Cosmic X-Men Omnibus Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men vol.9 Uncanny X-Men Epic Collection: The Brood Saga (vol.9) Uncanny X-Men Omnibus vol.3 X-Men: Starjammers by Dave Cockrum | Uncanny X-Men #161 |
| Bishop: The Coming of Bishop Uncanny X-Men Epic Collection: Bishop’s Crossing (vol.20) X-Men: Bishop’s Crossing X-Men: Blue & Gold – Mutant Genesis Omnibus X-Men: We Are The X-Men | Uncanny X-Men #287 |
| Uncanny X-Men Epic Collection: Fatal Attractions (vol.23) Wolverine Epic Collection: Inner Fury (vol.6) X-Men: Fatal Attractions X-Men: Fatal Attractions Omnibus X-Men Milestones: Fatal Attractions | X-Men (1991) #25 |
| Marvel Visionaries: John Romita Jr X-Men: The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix | Uncanny X-Men #309 |
| X-Men: Legionquest X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse Prelude | X-Men (1991) #41 |
| X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse vol.1: Alpha | X-Men (1991) #41 X-Men: Alpha #1 |
| X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse Omnibus | X-Man #4 X-Men (1991) #41 X-Men: Alpha #1 X-Men: Omega #1 |
| X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse vol.1 | X-Men: Alpha #1 |
| X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse vol.3: Omega X-Men: The Complete Age of Apocalypse vol.4 | X-Man #4 X-Men: Omega #1 X-Men: Prime #1 |
| Excalibur Visionaries: Warren Ellis vol.1 X-Men: The Age of Apocalypse Companion Omnibus | X-Men Prime #1 |
| X-Man: The Man Who Fell to Earth | Cable #29-31 X-Man #10, 13, 15-17 |
| Onslaught vol.1 | Uncanny X-Men #322 |
| X-Babies Classic | X-Men #46 |
| Cable & X-Force: Onslaught | Cable #32-33 |
| X-Men/Avengers: Onslaught Omnibus | Cable #32-33 Uncanny X-Men #333 |
| X-Men/Avengers: Onslaught X-Men Milestones: Onslaught | Uncanny X-Men #333-334 X-Men #54 X-Men Unlimited #11 |
| Excalibur Omnibus vol.3 Excalibur Visionaries: Warren Ellis vol.3 | Excalibur #99 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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