X-Factor #19

Published by Marvel Comics in 1987, X-Factor #19 arrived during a pivotal period for the X-Men franchise as writers Louise Simonson and Walter Simonson began to reshape the team's dynamics. This specific issue is particularly notable for featuring the debut of Apocalypse, a character who would go on to become one of the most enduring and significant antagonists in the mutant mythos. The narrative focus centered on the team navigating the complexities of their public identity while dealing with the emergence of powerful new threats.

The visual identity of this issue was defined by the energetic and distinct pencil work of Jackson Guice. The design of Apocalypse, conceptualized by Walter Simonson, was intended to project an ancient, indomitable presence, drawing on motifs of Egyptian iconography reimagined through a futuristic, high-tech lens. The introduction was received with immediate intrigue by readers, cementing the issue's status as a cornerstone in the development of the X-Factor series and the broader X-Men publication history.