Here’s Axel Alonso talking to CBR last week, about the upcoming Age of Apocalypse series spinning out of Uncanny X-Force:
[I]t can’t be dismissed as an alternate reality story because it has its roots in “Uncanny X-Force”; events in this story could very well cause a ripple effect in the Marvel Universe in the future.
This kind of thinking, of course, has its roots in the idea that only books that “count” will appeal to fans, and an alternate reality story is exactly the kind of thing that doesn’t “count.” In fact, it’s something that’s even been designed to not “count” in terms of the bigger continuity, because it takes place in a different reality altogether. But at the same time, isn’t the point of setting something in an alternate reality to ensure that it can be – if not “dismissed,” then at least set aside and considered separate from the mainline reality with all of its attendant continuity?
The idea of creating a book in an alternate reality but then hinting that it really might be about the mainline reality as well feels somewhat self-defeating, and the very definition of “aiming to please two audiences, but just ending up disappointing everyone.” Here’s hoping that Alonso’s tease ends up to be empty.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
I dunno, Graeme, don’t X-fans adore alternate reality stories, such as the original Age of Apocalypse serial? And then you have characters such as Dark Beast and Blink crossing over into the regular MU. Ever since the Earth 616 designation was dropped, it’s arguable that every What If counts, as any could impact on the regular continuity.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
I don’t see the issue with this. It was made clear from the beginning that the Age of Apocalypse was a parallel dimension with the core universe and characters have been travelling back and forth between the two dimensions for years. It’s like having a story set in the Negative Zone or something. It’s not like the Ultimate Universe where it was promoted as an actual separate continuity.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
I agree with the earlier posters. With characters crossing over as frequently as they do between 616 and AoA, it really is more like travelling to and from the Microverse or the Negative Zone (as Curse said). Also, AoA has a lot fans of its own, which is why they keep returning to the well. Even Days of Future Past hasn’t been revisited as often as AoA (at least not in the last decade or two).
November 14th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
Will this “historical” comic “send shockwaves throughout the Marvel Universe”? 16 variant covers, and a “shocking death” that will “leave the heroes coping with the aftermath.”