Marvel Returns to the Age of Apocalypse

Fans and retailers prepare for the second coming of the Apocalypse! Marvel celebrates the 10th anniversary of the legendary AGE OF APOCALYPSE epic in March, with the first of four trade paperback collections, a brand new one-shot, and limited series.

Says Marvel’s Director of Sales David Gabriel, “One of the things we are most proud of here, is our ‘open door’ relationship with the retailers and the fans. We listen…and let me tell you, day after day, there is no other story that we are asked to revisit more than AGE OF APOCALYPSE. Both for new material, and collecting the classic stuff. Currently the orders for X-MEN: THE COMPLETE AGE OF APOCALYPSE EPIC BOOK 1 TPB are phenomenal, unheard of for a classic trade, tracking right up there with Ultimate X-Men trade numbers…and this is only the first volume!”

X-MEN: THE COMPLETE AGE OF APOCALYPSE EPIC BOOK 1 TPB will be followed by another three volumes, spaced out through 2005 and early 2006. Special Projects Senior Editor Jeff Youngquist is feverishly working on these exhaustive volumes, “Anything less wouldn’t do Apocalypse justice. As you’d imagine, it’s a bear compiling these things, but we’re taking the time necessary to make them everything the fans have been clamoring for!”

Heeding the call of fans, Marvel is also releasing NEW Apocalypse material in March, starting with the X-MEN: AGE OF APOCALYPSE – ONE-SHOT. Written by Scott Lobdell, Tony Bedard, Larry Hama, Akira Yoshida with pencils by Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert, Tony Daniel, Mark Brooks, Paco Medina, Talent Caldwell, Roger Cruz and Kia Asamiya, the one-shot revisits the AoA world with four original stories featuring characters the fans already know and love. It features a special wraparound cover by Ultimates superstar artist Bryan Hitch…

…then it’s on to the X-MEN: AGE OF APOCALYPSE six-issue limited series, shipping weekly. Written by Akira Yoshida, with pencils by Chris Bachalo, it has Magneto and the X-Men tracking down a retired Weapon X, to help combat an unbeatable force unleashed by Sinister. In addition, all six covers with interlock into one unifying image!

Fans of the limited series also won’t want to miss the March two-parter AoA extra running in EXILES #60 and #61. Tony Bedard and Jim Calafiore deliver a special story featuring two of most popular EXILES characters -- Blink and Sabretooth -- who got their start in the original AoA event.

To help keep track of the action, Marvel will be publishing the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE: X-MEN - AGE OF APOCALYPSE 2005, which will include in-depth bios on more than 40 denizens of the Age of Apocalypse – from Abyss to Weapon X. The Handbook will feature an all-new cover by superstar-in-waiting Mark Brooks, digitally painted by Justin Ponsor.



AGE OF APOCALYPSE CHECKLIST

March

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse One Shot – the all new excitement begins here!

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Part One of Six

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Part Two of Six

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Part Three of Six

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Part Four of Six

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Part Five of Six

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Age of Apocalypse 2005

Exiles #60

Exiles #61

April

X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Part Six of Six

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With a library of over 5,000 proprietary characters, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused in four areas: entertainment (Marvel Studios), licensing, comic book publishing and toys (Toy Biz). Marvel facilitates the creation of entertainment projects, including feature films, DVD/home video, video games and television based on its characters and also licenses its characters for use in a wide range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, snack foods and promotions. Marvel's characters and plot lines are created by its comic book division which continues to expand its leadership position in the U.S. and worldwide while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property.