Onslaught: Marvel

In the wake of the X-Men and Avengers uniting against a psychic entity born from Professor X’s dark side, Marvel’s 1996 event "Onslaught" reshaped its universe through a single, pivotal issue. Written by Mark Waid and Scott Lobdell with art by Adam Kubert and Joe Bennett, this one-shot from Marvel Comics chronicles the aftermath of a cataclysmic battle that vaporized Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, forcing a new generation to rise. It matters as the linchpin of the "Heroes Reborn" era, a bold narrative gamble that rebooted iconic characters and redefined the line between hero and villain.