- "Hear me, inhabitants of this world. This is a message. A message to every man, woman, and mutant. You have lost your way, but I have returned. The Day of Reckoning is here."
- ―Charles Xavier telepathically broadcasting Apocalypse's message to the world.
The Return of Apocalypse was an event that occurred in 1983 of the revised timeline. It saw the world's first mutant, Apocalypse, awaken from a millennia-long slumber and consequently deciding to destroy the world to remake it in his image.
Background[]
Fall of Apocalypse[]

Apocalypse's pyramid collapsing
In 3600 BCE, Apocalypse ruled over Egypt with his Four Horsemen at his side. However, some of Apocalypse's followers saw him as a "false god", and plotted his downfall. On the day that Apocalypse prepared to transfer his consciousness into the body of a new mutant, a group of conspirator guards unveiled huge blocks that they used to facilitate the destruction of the pyramid where the transference ritual was taking place. As the pyramid collapsed around them, the guards inside tried to attack a dormant Apocalypse in his new body, but the Four Horsemen quickly disposed of them.
However, three of the Horsemen met gruesome fates from being crushed by the debris of the crumbling pyramid. Before she was killed herself, the last remaining Horsemen used her telekinetic abilities to create a protective barrier around Apocalypse's inert body, allowing him to survive under the ruins of the pyramid for the next millennia. [2]
Global Reformation[]
In the aftermath of Apocalypse's downfall, the humans began reforming the world, leading to the eventual creation of the various new cultures, civilizations and the birth of various technologies such as nuclear weapons. Additionally, more pyramids were constructed by Egyptian slaves a millennium after the coup.[2]
Return[]
Reawakening in 1983[]

Apocalypse reawakening
In 1973, due to the actions of a time travelling Wolverine, the existence of mutants was exposed to the world at the Paris Peace Accords. [3] In response, a number of cults have formed under the belief that mutants were a sign of God. One of these cults, Ashir En Sabah Nur, worshiped Apocalypse and their activities caught the attention of the CIA. As a result, agent Moira MacTaggert was assigned to keep track of them.
In 1983, MacTaggert followed Ashir En Sabah Nur to the underground ruins of Apocalypse's pyramid in Cairo. However, she unknowingly allowed sunlight to enter the chamber, which completed the transference ritual and revived Apocalypse from his slumber. As Apocalypse teleported away, his power caused the underground chamber to destabilize and collapse, killing Ashir En Sabah Nur and triggering tremors around the world. MacTaggert was able to escape just in time, and returned to CIA Headquarters with the information she had obtained on Ashir En Sabah Nur. [2]
Recruiting Storm[]

Apocalypse enhancing Storm's powers
Arriving in Cairo, Apocalypse wandered through a busy marketplace, where he witnessed a young Ororo Munroe use her mutant abilities to steal cash from a vendor. The vendors pursued Munroe and cornered her with the intention of cutting one of her hands off for stealing. At that moment, Apocalypse arrived and used his powers to behead several of the vendors, entrapping the last remaining vendor in a wall.
Munroe brought Apocalypse to her place, where he was able to tap into the radio waves from Cairo's satellites to learn about the modern world and the millennia of history that unfolded while he was dormant. Now able to speak English, Apocalypse told Munroe about his plans to "save" the world from the "false gods" that have taken the Earth. His first act in doing so was to enhance Munroe's powers so that she could be one of his Horsemen. [2]
Recruiting Psylocke[]

Psylocke confronting Storm and Apocalypse
Garbed in new attire, Munroe brought Apocalypse to the location of Caliban, a mutant who could help them find other mutants powerful enough to join Apocalypse's Horsemen. Caliban refused to help without payment, and aimed a gun at Apocalypse, who proceeded to disintegrate the weapon with just a glance. Caliban's bodyguard, Psylocke, quickly aimed her katana and psionic blade at Apocalypse and Munroe. Sensing the true potential of her power, Apocalypse enhanced Psylocke's abilities and convinced her to join his cause. Enthralled by Apocalypse's promises of power, Psylocke agreed to locate mutants who could join their crusade. [2]
Recruiting Angel[]
In the year 1983, Angel appears in an underground fight club in Berlin, Germany where he's managed to defeat the Blob and now has to face off against his newest opponent, the young German mutant, Nightcrawler . He first has the upper hand but is eventually defeated by him after Mystique intervienes and ruins the Night Club and saves Nightcrawler while elaving Angel with damaged wings causing him to go back to his home and get drunk out of rage.
During his drunken rage, he's introduced by Apocalypse where he's assembling his Four Horsemen. At first, Angel throw his empty beer bottles at him but is eventually convinced into joining him and gets new powers.
Recruiting Magneto[]
After the tragic deaths of his wife and daughter, Erik Lehnsherr returned to the factory to kill all his colleagues who had reported him to the police. There Apocalypse appeared with with his new Horsemen and recruited Erik to his cause. He transports himself, his Horsemen, and Erik to Auschwitz and teaches the latter to enhance his metal powers by controlling the Earth's magnetic poles. As a result, Erik destroys the camp after remembering the horrors he had experienced throughout his life. He then appears in Cairo where he and the Horsemen assist Apocalypse in destroying modern civilization to remake the world in the image of Apocalypse but the X-Men came to save Charles Xavier. During the battle, Raven arrives and tells Erik that he hasn't lost everything , convincing Erik to have a change of heart and turn on Apocalypse. After a brutal battle, Jean unleashes her powers on Apocalypse and destroy his armor which allows Magneto to impale him and Jean to finally finish him off. He then helps rebuild the X-Mansion but leaves still being distrusting of humanity.
Aftermath[]
After the battle, Xavier and Moira rekindle their relationship, Erik and Jean help reconstruct the school, but Erik refuses Xavier's offer to stay and help teach. Peter likewise decides not to tell Erik yet that he is Erik's son.
Using confiscated Sentinels, Hank and Raven train the new X-Men recruits: Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Ororo Munroe, Kurt Wagner, and Peter Maximoff.
Gallery[]
References[]
Events in the Revised Timeline | |||
Coup on Apocalypse (3600 BCE) • Cuban Missile Crisis (Cuban Beach Battle) (1962) • Vietnam War (1955 - 1975) • Saigon Rescue Mission (1973) • Pentagon Prison Break (1973) • Attack on the White House (1973) • Massacre in Poland (1983) • Return of Apocalypse (Nuclear Weapon Incident - Rescue at X-Mansion - Rescue at Alkali Lake - Battle of Cairo) (1983) • D'Bari Invasion (Endeavour Rescue Mission - Red Hook Incident - Train Chase) (1992) • Hunt for Ajax (Chase of Ajax • Highway Massacre • Scrapyard Showdown) (2015-2016) • Assault on DMC Convoy (2018) • Battle at the Essex House (2018) • Westchester Incident (2029) • Massacre at Munson Farm (2029) • Chase Through the North Dakota Woods (2029) |
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