X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Prelude

A single-issue 2011 Marvel release, X-Men: Age of Apocalypse Prelude serves as a direct lead-in to the original fan-favorite alternate reality event. The issue is most strongly associated with artist Andy Kubert, whose work helps bridge the gap between the mainstream X-Men universe and the dystopian world ruled by Apocalypse. Though brief, this one-shot holds significance as a concise, self-contained entry point for readers curious about the origins of that iconic saga.