In every age of Marvel Comics history, Apocalypse has stood as the ultimate mutant threat in the past, present, and future. But he has never stood alone. For centuries, the Horsemen of Apocalypse fought alongside En Sabah Nur and executed the ancient mutant’s vision for a world ruled by survival of the fittest. While the original Horsemen were Apocalypse’s biological children, many mutants have carried on their dark legacies by taking up their mantles as War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. Through genetic augmentations, Apocalypse transformed several iconic X-Men heroes and villains into loyal Horsemen, each becoming unrecognizable warriors with lethal, upgraded abilities. Even when these heroes escaped Apocalypse’s control, his influence lingered in their hearts and minds forever.
Now, as Apocalypse leaves his mark in Marvel Animation’s X-Men ‘97 Season 2, let’s take a closer look at his foreboding Horsemen’s history in comics. We’ll break down how Apocalypse turned these heroes and villains into his loyal servants and how they escaped the vice-like grip of his shadow.
