Horsemen of Apocalypse

Universe Marvel Universe Base of Operations Currently Apocalypse's Sphinx Current Members: Disbanded Former Members: Death - Archangel (Warren K. Worthington III), Caliban, Gambit (Remy LeBeau), Wolverine (James Howlett) Famine - Ahab (Roderick Campbell), Autumn Rolfson, Sunfire (Shiro Yoshida) Pestilence - Caliban, Plague, Polaris (Lorna Dane) War - Deathbird, Gazer, Hulk (Bruce Banner), Abraham Kieros Other Members (Honorary, Reserve, etc.): Apocalypse (founder) First Appearance X-Factor #15

The Horsemen of Apocalypse are mutants who either willingly volunteer or are abducted and manipulated into the service of Apocalypse. They take their names from the biblical Horsemen Death, War, Famine, and Pestilence. They are almost always genetically modified by Apocalypse in order to enhance their abilities, or even grant them additional abilities. One such example was Archangel, who after losing his wings, was taken in by Apocalypse, who granted him metallic wings, with feathers that could be used as projectiles.

First modern incarnation

The first modern Horseman recruited by Apocalypse was Plague, a member of the Morlocks, whom he recruited during the Mutant Massacre to fill the role of Pestilence. He then approached ex-soldier Abraham Kieros and granted him the position of War. An anorexic girl named Autumn Rolfson was Apocalypse's third choice and she was given the position of Famine. Apocalypse then saved the dewinged Angel from his sabotaged, exploding plane and chose him to be his fourth and final Horseman, Death. The Four Horsemen were forced to battle one another for leadership, and Death emerged victorious. In a battle against X-Factor, the Horsemen were nearly defeated until Death appeared, shocking his former comrades. Caliban went to Apocalypse and asked for a power boost so he could avenge his fellow Morlocks. Pestilence was slain in the battle and Archangel came back to his senses after assuming he killed his former comrade, Iceman. Apocalypse was forced to retreat with his remaining Horsemen and Caliban. Caliban replaced Angel on the team and became Death.

The Hulk

After a battle with the X-Men in their mansion, Hulk was discovered by Apocalypse and became the third incarnation of War by being supplied with weaponry and a helmet shielding Hulk from his father's abusive and severely distractive spirit. Apocalypse set Hulk against the Juggernaut to test the latter's strength. Hulk was able to stop and overcome the Juggernaut, after being empowered by energy from Franklin Richards' "Heroes Reborn"'pocket universe. He likewise overloaded the Absorbing Man, but came to his senses after he had injured his friend, Rick Jones.

Second incarnation

For his second team of Horsemen, Apocalypse had Wolverine abducted, replacing him with a Skrull imposter to prevent his absence being noted, and pitched him in battle against Sabretooth. The winner of the battle, Wolverine, became his Horseman of Death. As Death, Wolverine battled the X-Men and killed his doppelgänger. Apocalypse then turned Deathbird into his second Horseman, War. Caliban was once again chosen to be one of Apocalypse's Horsemen, this time becoming Pestilence. Pestilence and War fought X-Force and captured Cable. In a battle against the X-Men, Death was unmasked and revealed to be Wolverine. In Apocalypse's lair, Cable escaped and defeated Death in battle. Apocalypse then threatened to kill Caliban. Apocalypse captured Ahab and turned him into his fourth Horseman, Famine. The Horsemen then started collecting "The Twelve". When Death captured Mikhail Rasputin and failed to teleport out with him, he was chased into the Morlock Tunnels by the X-Men. He battled them and regained his memory, thanks to the efforts of Jubilee, Shadowcat, Archangel, and Psylocke. The rest of the Horsemen were teleported to another dimension by Mikhail.

Third incarnation

Following the House of M and M-Day, Apocalypse resurrected, only to find himself in a world with its mutant population reduced to a tenth of what it had been, out of the millions who populated earth prior to his demise at Cable's hands. Bent on becoming the new messiah for mutantkind, Apocalypse assembled a new cadre of Horsemen, with the purpose of wiping out 90% of the baseline human population.

Apocalypse's new Horsemen are Gazer (as War), Sunfire (as Famine), Polaris (as Pestilence) and Gambit (as Death). Gazer was saved from death and forced to battle an archeologist for the mantle of War, which he won with the aid of Apocalypse's majordomo and scribe, Ozymandias. Both Sunfire, who had lost his legs at the hands of Lady Deathstrike and his powers to Rogue, and Polaris, an M-Day victim, were captured, and reluctantly altered into Famine and Pestilence, respectively. Gambit, however, submitted himself willingly to be transformed into Death, as he had come to believe Apocalypse could be helpful to the mutant cause though he would require to be watched. Sunfire was able to break free of Apocalypse's control with the help of Emma Frost, although he was weakened by the experience. Polaris was knocked out by Iceman in the final battle. She was abandoned, saved by Havok, and was debrainwashed by the X-Men. Gazer died defending Apocalypse, stabbed in the back by Ozymandias. Gambit's fate has yet to be seen; Sunfire took him somewhere at the conclusion of the final battle, only to be approached by Mister Sinister.