I have really been enjoying the majority of Secert Wars tie ins I have been reading, but I was most excited about Age of Apocalypse being revisited in this new Battleworld.  I was thrilled with issue one (you can read my review for it on this site *shameless plug*), and couldn’t wait for issue two to be released.  After reading it, I was left really wanting more, and feeling let down.

This issue was basically a retelling of everything that happened in issue one; Baron Apocalypse rules with his iron fist and his ‘survival of the fittest’ beliefs.  The X-Men failed in protecting a young mutant named Doug Ramsey, aka Cypher, who was delivered to Apocalypse’s Elite Forces and sent out into the field with them to speak with the Human Forces to find out if they are harbouring the X-Men, who spring into action to rescue Cypher from Apocalypse’s men.  This issue is basically one long battle scene between the X-Men and the Elite Mutant Force who ultimately take down Apocalypse’s agents, and make off with Cypher and take Cyclops as their prisoner.  We still see all the action from the point of view of Cypher, who through the battle, reflects on how the X-Men once stood as a beacon of hope for the oppressed suffering under Apocalypse, but now seems to act no better then those they are fighting against.  We get a brief scene of Angel in his private club, Heaven, being paid a visit by Sabretooth and Wild Child who has now sided with Apocalypse.  He accuses Angel of knowing about the attack against the Mutant Elite Force and demands he tell him everything he knows to save his own life.  We get a very brief scene with Apocalypse, just bellowing more about how the humans can try to take him down, but will ultimately fail.  The only real hint at something more going on is when Sheriff Carol Danvers is paid a visit by Sabretooth, who says he needs to talk to her.

As mentioned, this issue is nothing more then a rehash of issue one, so I can’t really say Fabian Nicieza gave us a compelling story; we saw all this previously and nothing really moved forward.  I do still enjoy the story being seen through Cypher’s POV and I did like his opinions on what the X-Men have become.  Gerard Sandoval’s art is just as good in this issue from the first, giving us the look and feel of the Age of Apocalypse first shown to us so many years ago, but giving it tweaks here and there to make it his own.

I apologize if my summary of this issue is so blasé, but that is exactly how I felt after reading it.  The story didn’t really move forward, as this was nothing more then a recap of past events.  I still enjoy the characters, the art and the colours, but I really wanted more from this second issue.  I will more then likely pick up the next issue, as I am not ready to completely write off Age of Apocalypse, but I hope the story advances and is able to pull me back in like the first issue did.

Story: Fabian Nicieza Art: Gerard Sandoval

Story: 5 Art: 9 Overall: 6 Recommendation: Pass (unless you want to check out the art)