The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse

• Core Identity: The Four Horsemen are Apocalypse's personally chosen and technologically/genetically augmented super-powered harbingers of destruction, embodying the biblical concepts of Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence to enforce his Darwinian “survival of the fittest” ideology upon the world.
• Key Takeaways:
• Agents of Evolution: The Horsemen are not a stable team but a recurring cabal, with the roster changing whenever Apocalypse deems it necessary. They serve as his ultimate field agents, tasked with culling the weak and testing the strong to advance his evolutionary goals.
• Tragic Transformations: Many individuals who become Horsemen are chosen at their lowest point—physically broken, emotionally shattered, or ideologically lost. Apocalypse preys on this vulnerability, twisting them into monstrous versions of their former selves, with the transformation of the X-Man Angel into Archangel being the most iconic and tragic example.
• Continuity Distinctions: In the Earth-616 comics, the Four Horsemen are a legendary and terrifying threat with a long, rotating history of members drawn from heroes and villains alike. Their cinematic appearance in the Fox film X-Men: Apocalypse is a self-contained incarnation with a different roster and purpose, and they have not yet appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The concept of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen was introduced during a pivotal era for the X-Men franchise. Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Walt Simonson, the first full team made its dramatic debut in X-Factor #24 in January 1988, as a core part of the “Fall of the Mutants” crossover event. The creation of the Horsemen, particularly the transformation of the founding X-Man Angel into the cold, metallic-winged Archangel (as Death), was a landmark moment in comics. It represented a significant darkening of the tone for the X-Men line, demonstrating that even beloved heroes were not safe from corruption and permanent, horrific change. This move was not only a powerful narrative device but also a commercial success, injecting a new level of drama and stakes into the X-Factor title. The concept draws directly from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse described in the New Testament's Book of Revelation, adapting the biblical prophecy into a tangible, super-powered threat within the Marvel Universe.

The origin of the Four Horsemen is inextricably linked to their master, the ancient and powerful mutant known as Apocalypse.

The legacy of the Four Horsemen stretches back thousands of years, long before their modern debut. En Sabah Nur has employed Horsemen since the dawn of his crusade, selecting powerful individuals from different eras to serve as his personal vanguard. His very first team, the “First Horsemen,” originated in ancient Egypt and consisted of his own children, each embodying one of the four core roles. This ancient tradition established the pattern: Apocalypse would find beings of great potential, often in moments of despair, and use his advanced Celestial technology to “uplift” them, amplifying their powers and twisting their minds to serve his singular vision of a world where only the strong survive. The most famous and impactful incarnation of the Horsemen was assembled in the modern era. Following a devastating battle with the Marauders where his wings were mutilated, the hero Warren Worthington III was consumed by despair. Apocalypse seized this opportunity, offering to restore his wings. The process was a horrific perversion of healing; Warren was transformed into the blue-skinned, metal-winged Archangel, taking the mantle of Death. To complete this new quartet, Apocalypse recruited three other mutants:

• Plague, a Morlock with the ability to induce sickness, became Pestilence.
• Abraham Kieros, a paralyzed war veteran, was granted superhuman strength and invulnerability to become War.
• Autumn Rolfson, an anorexic young mutant with bio-disruptive touch, was transformed into Famine.

This team first appeared during the “Fall of the Mutants” storyline, launching a devastating attack on New York City that forced X-Factor (Warren's former teammates) to confront the monstrous version of their friend. This incarnation set the standard for all future Horsemen, establishing them as one of the most formidable and personal threats the X-Men and the wider world would ever face. Since this time, the mantles have been passed to numerous others, including prominent heroes like Wolverine, Hulk, Gambit, and the Sentry, each time heralding a period of immense conflict and destruction.

It is crucial to note that the Four Horsemen have not appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Their sole live-action appearance is in the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse, which exists in the separate continuity of 20th Century Fox's X-Men film series. In this universe, the ancient mutant Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur) awakens in 1983 after centuries of slumber. Seeking to cleanse the world of its weakness, he follows his ancient tradition of gathering four powerful mutants to serve as his protectors and lieutenants. The recruitment process depicted in the film differs from the comics, focusing less on transforming the broken and more on empowering those who feel like outcasts or have immense power that needs focus. His chosen Horsemen in this timeline were:

• Ororo Munroe (Storm): A young street thief in Cairo who venerated Apocalypse as a god. He amplified her weather-manipulation abilities.
• Psylocke: A mutant mercenary working for Caliban. Apocalypse enhanced her psionic abilities, allowing her to manifest a psionic katana and whip.
• Angel: A mutant cage-fighter whose wings were damaged. Apocalypse rebuilt them as techno-organic metal wings capable of firing razor-sharp projectiles, making him Archangel.
• Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto): Found in a state of profound grief and rage after the death of his wife and daughter. Apocalypse amplified his control over magnetism to a global scale, convincing him to help reshape the world.

This team's primary function was to protect Apocalypse while he attempted to transfer his consciousness into the body of Charles Xavier and to aid in his plan to destroy human civilization. Unlike the rotating roster of the comics, this team was a singular incarnation formed for a specific purpose and was defeated by the newly formed X-Men by the end of the film. The adaptation focused on spectacle and showcasing a team of powerful, visually distinct mutants under Apocalypse's sway.

The Four Horsemen are more than just a supervillain team; they are a living ideology, a force of nature given form and purpose by their immortal master.

The core mandate of the Horsemen is to act as the catalysts for Apocalypse's evolutionary wars. They are the “scythe” he wields to cull the weak from both humanity and mutantkind. Each Horseman is a symbol and an instrument of a specific form of cleansing:

• War brings conflict and tests the strength of armies and nations.
• Famine starves the unworthy, ensuring only the resourceful survive.
• Pestilence unleashes plagues to eliminate the genetically frail.
• Death is the final judgment, the ultimate expression of Apocalypse's Darwinian creed.

The structure is a simple, brutal hierarchy with Apocalypse at the apex. He is the master, the “father,” and the god-figure. The Horsemen are his chosen apostles. The selection process is meticulous; Apocalypse seeks out individuals with specific power sets, genetic potential, or symbolic value. He then subjects them to a radical transformation process using his advanced Celestial technology, often augmenting their existing powers, granting new ones, and indoctrinating them into his philosophy. This process is intensely traumatic and often involves breaking the subject's will to ensure loyalty, though strong-willed individuals have been known to resist or break free.

The mantles of the Four Horsemen have been held by dozens of individuals over the millennia. The following are some of the most significant members in the modern era, categorized by their title.

The most prestigious and powerful position, often reserved for individuals with immense power, a broken spirit, or a deep connection to mortality.

• Warren Worthington III (Archangel): The quintessential Horseman. His transformation is the most iconic and tragic. The “Death” persona became a dark part of his psyche that haunted him for years, even after breaking free from Apocalypse's control.
• Caliban: The Morlock tracker was transformed into a powerhouse to serve Apocalypse, later taking the mantle of Pestilence before becoming Death again in a later incarnation.
• Wolverine (James Howlett): During the lead-up to “The Twelve” storyline, Wolverine was captured by Apocalypse after his adamantium was ripped out by Magneto. Apocalypse re-bonded the adamantium to his skeleton and made him the Horseman of Death, pitting him against the X-Men.
• Gambit (Remy LeBeau): Believing Apocalypse could be a force for good for mutantkind, Gambit voluntarily became the Horseman of Death to act as a double agent. The transformation corrupted him, creating a “Death” persona that he struggled to control for years.
• Psylocke (Betsy Braddock): In the pages of Uncanny X-Force, she was briefly transformed into the Horseman of Death by Archangel, who had ascended to become the new Apocalypse.
• The Sentry (Robert Reynolds): During the Apocalypse Twins' rise, the Sentry was resurrected and made the Horseman of Death, serving as their primary enforcer.

Typically chosen for raw physical power, military expertise, or an unquenchable thirst for battle.

• Abraham Kieros: The original modern War. A veteran paralyzed in the Vietnam War, he was granted a powerful body and the ability to generate explosive energy.
• The Hulk (Bruce Banner): After being separated from Bruce Banner, the Hulk was approached by Apocalypse. Seeking a purpose and weapons, Hulk agreed to become War, being outfitted with Celestial armor and weaponry. His incredible strength made him one of the most powerful Horsemen ever.
• Deathbird: The Shi'ar warrior and sister of Empress Lilandra briefly served as War, using her formidable fighting skills and alien physiology in Apocalypse's service.
• Gazer: A mutant who could absorb radiation, Gazer fought for the honor of becoming War but was ultimately killed and resurrected by Apocalypse to serve him.
• Red Hulk (Thaddeus Ross): In an alternate timeline, Red Hulk was shown serving as the Horseman of War.

Chosen for their ability to control biological processes, drain energy, or inflict withering decay.

• Autumn Rolfson: The original modern Famine. A teenager with anorexia, her mutant power to project withering energy and desiccate organic matter made her a perfect fit. She would later bear Apocalypse's child, Genocide.
• Ahab: The cybernetic mutant-hunter from the “Days of Future Past” timeline was recruited by Apocalypse, using his energy harpoons to drain the life force of his victims.
• Sunfire (Shiro Yoshida): After losing his legs and his powers, a disgraced Sunfire was recruited by Apocalypse. His legs were restored, and his plasma powers were amplified, allowing him to induce intense hunger and starvation in others through flashes of light.
• Jeb Lee: A Confederate soldier from the Civil War era, resurrected to serve as Famine during the Apocalypse Twins' story arc.

Chosen for their ability to generate toxins, diseases, or manipulate biological systems to spread contagion.

• Plague: A member of the Morlocks, she was the original modern Pestilence. Her ability to infect others with various diseases made her a natural choice. She was killed by X-Factor during her first mission.
• Caliban: After his first stint as Death, Caliban was repurposed by Apocalypse to serve as Pestilence, using his amplified strength and ability to spread a mental plague of fear.
• Polaris (Lorna Dane): After being de-powered on M-Day, a mentally unstable Lorna Dane discovered she was infected with Celestial technology that replicated her magnetic powers. Apocalypse activated this tech, making her the new Pestilence, capable of ingesting and metabolizing deadly plagues.
• Ichisumi: An ancient Geisha mutant from the 19th century with the ability to house a swarm of infectious beetles within her body, resurrected to serve Archangel's incarnation of the Horsemen.

In the X-Men: Apocalypse film, the structure is similar but the members' powers and transformations are tailored for the cinematic medium.

• Magneto (War): Not explicitly named “War,” but his role and powers fit the archetype. Apocalypse enhances his magnetism to a planetary level, allowing him to reverse the Earth's magnetic poles and tear cities apart. His motivation is grief and rage, making him the perfect engine of destruction.
• Archangel (Death): As in the comics, Angel's broken wings are replaced with techno-organic metal ones. These wings can be used as a shield and can fire deadly, razor-sharp projectiles. He is the loyal enforcer and aerial combatant.
• Storm (Famine/Pestilence): While not explicitly named, her role is to create cataclysmic weather events. Apocalypse enhances her powers, turning her hair white and allowing her to channel lightning and create massive storms, fitting the thematic role of a destructive natural force.
• Psylocke (Pestilence/War): A skilled fighter whose psionic abilities are enhanced. She serves as Apocalypse's chief bodyguard and assassin, wielding a psychic katana and whip. Her role is that of a precise, deadly warrior.

The Horsemen's primary and, in most cases, only “ally” is their master.

• Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur): The relationship between Apocalypse and his Horsemen is one of a master and his tools, a god and his angels of destruction. He provides them with immense power and a purpose, but demands absolute fealty. He sees them not as partners but as extensions of his will. For some Horsemen, this provides a twisted sense of belonging and strength, while for others, it is a torturous enslavement they desperately seek to escape.
• Clan Akkaba: As the descendants of Apocalypse, members of Clan Akkaba often act as his support network and acolytes. They revere the Horsemen as holy figures and will assist them in carrying out their master's plans, providing resources, intelligence, and a cult-like devotion.
• Mister Sinister (Nathaniel Essex): While not a true ally, Mister Sinister has a complex and often adversarial relationship with Apocalypse. At times, he has worked with Apocalypse and, by extension, his Horsemen, when their goals have aligned, particularly in matters of genetics and mutant evolution. However, Sinister always pursues his own agenda and is just as likely to betray them.

• The X-Men: As the primary champions of peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants, the X-Men's entire philosophy is antithetical to Apocalypse's “survival of the fittest.” They have been the most frequent and determined opponents of the Horsemen, often facing the heartbreaking task of fighting their own brainwashed friends and allies, such as Angel, Wolverine, and Polaris.
• X-Factor: The original X-Factor team, composed of the five original X-Men, was the first heroic group to confront the modern Horsemen. The battle was deeply personal due to their history with Warren Worthington III. His transformation into Archangel and subsequent battle against them remains one of the defining moments in their history and cemented the Horsemen as their arch-foes.
• Cable (Nathan Askani): The time-traveling son of Cyclops was raised in a dystopian future ruled by Apocalypse. He has dedicated his entire life to preventing that future from coming to pass, making him one of Apocalypse's most persistent and personal enemies. He has fought various incarnations of the Horsemen across multiple timelines.

The Horsemen have only one true affiliation: servitude to Apocalypse. They are the highest-ranking members of his dominion, above his cultists in Clan Akkaba and his other transient servants. To be a Horseman is to be wholly defined by this affiliation; any prior loyalties to groups like the X-Men or the Marauders are violently purged or subverted to serve Apocalypse's will.

The appearance of the Four Horsemen almost always signals a major, universe-altering event.

This is the seminal Four Horsemen story. After being transformed into Death, Archangel leads his fellow Horsemen in a devastating assault on New York City. The event is a brutal showcase of their power, with War's mere presence inciting uncontrollable violence, Famine withering all in her path, and Pestilence spreading a virulent plague. The story culminates in a gut-wrenching confrontation between X-Factor and their former teammate, where Iceman is forced to make Angel believe he killed him to break Apocalypse's mental hold. This event permanently changed Angel as a character and established the Horsemen as an A-list threat.

While not a central Horsemen story, it heavily features Apocalypse and his principles. The story reveals that Apocalypse has a new group of followers, the “Riders of the Storm,” who function similarly to the Horsemen. The event's climax sees Apocalypse critically wounded, leading to a power vacuum and paving the way for future attempts to claim his throne and assemble new Horsemen.

This sprawling epic centered on a prophecy concerning twelve powerful mutants destined to shape the future. Apocalypse sought to capture them and use their power to achieve godhood. For this campaign, he assembled a new and powerful team of Horsemen. Most notably, he abducted Wolverine and made him the Horseman of Death. This storyline also briefly featured a brainwashed Juggernaut as War in an alternate timeline, showing Apocalypse's willingness to subvert even the most powerful beings.

A modern classic that explores the lasting psychological trauma of being a Horseman. The story reveals that Warren Worthington's Archangel persona was a seed of pure evil that eventually consumed him, causing him to ascend and become the heir to Apocalypse. He then creates his own Four Horsemen, recruiting powerful and ancient mutants (Ichisumi, Jeb Lee, Sanjar Javeed, and Psylocke) to serve him. The saga is a profound character study of Warren's internal battle and forces his teammates in X-Force to make an impossible choice to stop him from cleansing the planet.

The terrifying concept of the Four Horsemen has been adapted in numerous alternate realities and media.

• Age of Apocalypse (Earth-295): In this dark reality where Professor X died before forming the X-Men, Apocalypse conquered North America. His Horsemen were the absolute elite of his regime. This reality's lineup consisted of some of the most powerful mutants on the planet: Mikhail Rasputin (War), Holocaust (War, later), Abraham van Helsing (War), Abyss (Famine), Mister Sinister (Pestilence), and Max Eisenhardt (Magneto), who was briefly a Horseman before defecting. They were far more integrated into his power structure, serving as regional governors and generals.
• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): The Ultimate version of the Horsemen was introduced much later and was tied directly to Mister Sinister, who was working to bring about Apocalypse's return. Sinister brainwashed several X-Men, including Iceman, Rogue, Juggernaut, and Vindicator, to serve as his Horsemen, though this was a precursor to Apocalypse's true arrival.
• X-Men: Evolution (Animated Series): In the two-part finale “Ascension,” Apocalypse transforms four of the most powerful mutants on Earth into his Horsemen: Professor X (Death), Magneto (War), Storm (Famine), and Mysterio (Pestilence). Xavier's transformation was particularly shocking and demonstrated the immense power of Apocalypse, requiring the combined forces of the X-Men and their former enemies to defeat them.
• Wolverine and the X-Men (Animated Series): In the series finale “Foresight,” a glimpse into a dark future shows a world ruled by Apocalypse. His Horsemen in this timeline are a corrupted Professor X and three mindless, powerful clones of Cyclops.

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