The Age of Apocalypse: Marvel's First Mutant and the Challenge of Continuity

In the world of MARVEL Comics, characters like Apocalypse have an intriguing and often complex history. One interesting question that regularly comes up in discussions about the mutant race is Apocalypse's age: why is he considered to be the first mutant? This article delves into the history and potential challenges in maintaining a consistent narrative within comic book storytelling.

The Misunderstanding Behind the Misattribution

In the early days of Marvel Comics, the company acquired the license to Conan the Barbarian, a character from the Hyborian Age, which is set around 10,000 BC. Through the adventures of a Marvel Comics Conan, one of Conan's enemies, the wizard Kulan Gath, plays a significant role. In one of the issues, it was established that Kulan Gath's magic could not affect a specific character named Selene, an immortal being.

As Selene is mentioned in the story, her vast age becomes apparent; she is portrayed as being at least 12,000 years old, with later sources estimating her age around 17,000 years. Strikingly, this makes her one of the oldest characters in the Marvel Universe.

Moving forward to the creation of Apocalypse by Louise Simonson for the series X-Factor, there was a deliberate intention to make him the first mutant. In an interview, Simonson herself has stated multiple times that Apocalypse is the first mutant, known for his shape-shifting abilities and virtually immortal nature.

Comic Book Errors and the Evolution of Truth

However, in the story, Apocalypse makes a significant point about his origins in Egypt, a detail that would later cause confusion. The problem lies in the fact that when the Rise of Apocalypse miniseries was released, it fixed his origin to Egypt. This means that his age was inadvertently reduced, despite Selene's already established prehistoric age.

The challenge in maintaining a consistent narrative is pushed further by the fact that back in the 1970s, research for Marvel Comics was limited to the physical manual checking of data. With the advent of the internet, the writer-researcher's role has shifted dramatically. Today, a quick Google search can help resolve the mystery of when Kulan Gath and Selene were established, thus revealing the discrepancy.

Despite attempts by Louise Simonson to revise Apocalypse's age to 20,000 years in X-Factor Forever, this change was not widely accepted. The consensus remained that all Marvel materials, whether published before or after the change, consistently depicted Apocalypse as 5,000 years old, which would place him in the age of Ancient Egypt.

Retcons and the Nature of Comic Book History

The inconsistent portrayal of Apocalypse's age is part of the broader phenomenon of retcons in comic book history. A retcon stands for 'retroactive continuity' and refers to altering past events to fit the current narrative. Marvel Comics, like other notable publishers, frequently revises its continuity to ensure a coherent story. In the case of Apocalypse, he now falls into the category of the second generation of mutants, while Selene is either the first or the last mutant of the first generation.

These changes highlight the challenges comic book writers face in maintaining a consistent narrative. It is a reminder of the dynamic nature of comic book storytelling, where elements of continuity are often reworked over time to reflect new storylines or broader themes.

For comic book enthusiasts and fans, embracing these inconsistencies and enjoying the evolving narrative can be part of the appeal. The world of Marvel Comics, like any other, is always open to new interpretations and revisions, inviting readers to roll with the changes and appreciate the journey of each beloved character.