Generation Next #4

Generation Next #4, released in 1995, was a pivotal chapter in the Age of Apocalypse crossover event that reshaped the X-Men line of Marvel Comics. This limited series followed a group of young mutants mentored by Colossus and Shadowcat, tasking them with rescuing Illyana Rasputin from the Core. The creative team, led by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Chris Bachalo, utilized a gritty, high-stakes narrative tone that mirrored the dystopian alternate reality of the event.

The visual identity of the issue is heavily defined by Chris Bachalo’s distinctive, angular, and highly expressive art style, which became a hallmark of the mid-1990s aesthetic. By focusing on the moral complexities and high mortality rates of the teenage heroes, the series aimed to provide an emotional anchor to the sprawling, apocalyptic crossover. It was received as a standout title for its experimentation with visual storytelling and its commitment to the darker, more desperate atmosphere that defined the Age of Apocalypse saga.