Rise of Apocalypse #1

Set against the sun-scorched sands and towering golden statues of ancient Egypt, this 1996 Marvel miniseries opens with a striking image of a young, grey-skinned Apocalypse — clad in pharaonic gold regalia, long dark hair streaming behind him — standing triumphant over fallen enemies with a gleaming blade in hand. The cover, penciled by Adam Pollina and inked by Tim Townsend, radiates raw, mythic power, framing him as a force of nature rather than merely a man. Writer Terry Kavanagh and artist Adam Pollina dig into the backstory of one of the X-Men's most formidable foes in "Hammer & Chisel," promising a look at the ancient world that shaped him.