Magazine Speculation Part 4: Marvel Graphic Novel 17
Parts of this post also appeared in the Comic Book Scalping video series, “This week in Speculation.” Excerpts from this article originally appeared in episode 6. This video and more can be found on our youtube channel.
This week I want to talk about the first appearance of Apocalypse. Apocalypse first had a cameo appearance in X-Factor #5 from 1986 and had his first full appearance in X-Factor #6 but there is one earlier appearance that isn’t highly recognized.
Marvel Graphic Novel #17: Revenge of the Living Monolith came out October 1985, eight months before the X-Factor #5 cameo appearance. In Uncanny X-Men #376, published in January of 2000 the story retconned Marvel Graphic Novel 17 saying that unnamed benefactor to the living monolith was actually Apocalypse in disguise. Also, The Marvel Wiki-page lists Marvel Graphic Novel #17 as the first appearance of Apocalypse.
This is a book that can easily be found for under $20 in a back-issues bin at your local comic book store and even online. CGC 9.8 copies sell for $200 – $250. There is also a second printing of this book – the way to tell the difference between first printings and later printings is the price on the front cover. First prints of Marvel Graphic Novel #17 have a 6.95 / 7.95 price while later printings have a 9.95 / 12.50 price.
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I love this site.jimmy is the man.didn’t realize this had a second print .soe of these marvel graphic novels are worth the hunt #tesitfy blind adam out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3XLIUVz52g
If you’re going to count retconned in non-appearances as firsts, Apocalypse is also the villain behind Moses Magnum’s power up in Uncanny X-Men #118-119. When those issues were reprinted in Classic X-Men #24-25, pages featuring Apocalypse were added.
Its not a non appearance. He’s apparently in the background. Also Classic X-Men #24 and #25 came out two years after X-Factor #5 and #6.
He’s not, it’s a retcon just like the Moses Magnum thing. Let me put it this way, do you know why Apocalypse is in shadow on the last page of X-Factor #5? Because the leader of the Alliance of Evil was supposed to be the Owl, but Bob Layton left the book and replaced by Louise Simonson, who wanted to go in a different direction.
https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-42/3/
Thanks for the info – wasn’t aware of the second print – never noticed the World Trade Center towers on the cover either.