Credit on “X-Males” are sadly incomplete (after season 1, the tip credit would solely checklist the primary voice forged), so sources differ on when the recasting occurred. By my ear, although, Colicos voiced Apocalypse in 4 episodes: “The Treatment” and “Come The Apocalypse” in season 1, and the two-parter “Time Fugitives” in season 2. Even along with his restricted time, Colicos bought to ship some unforgettable traces:
“I do know extra of this world than you may have even dreamed! That’s the reason I have to destroy it!”
“The previous world passes away. Collectively, we will forge a brand new one in fireplace and blood! From the ashes of this world, I’ll construct a greater one!”
“Go forth my Horsemen, and let chaos cleanse the world!”
My private favourite is in “Time Fugitives,” when a person seems to be at Apocalypse in concern and exclaims, “A mutant!” A steel-eyed Apocalypse scowls and declares: “I’m as far past mutants as they’re past you!”
When “X-Males” premiered, Apocalypse had solely debuted within the comics six years prior; Louise Simonson and Jackson Guice created him in 1986 as a villain for his or her comedian “X-Issue.” Tellingly, Apocalypse’s first look on “X-Males” adapts the one and solely factor he was recognized for on the time: Turning the X-Males character Angel into one in all his 4 Horsemen, with new wings of metal.
As the primary actor to ever play Apocalypse, when the character was nonetheless fairly younger, Colicos’ voice set the usual — for Blendick, in fact, but in addition for future Apocalypse actors like David Kaye and Oscar Isaac. That voice grew to become a key a part of why younger “X-Males” followers (and even some future “X-Males” writers) remembered Apocalypse, along with his dominance within the animated collection making certain a continued A-list function within the comics.
Apocalypse’s true identify, En Sabah Nur, supposedly means “the primary one” in Marvel Comics. (In actuality, the three phrases are Arabic for “The Seven Lights,” i.e. daybreak.) Simply as Apocalypse marked the daybreak of the race of mutants, each future Apocalypse actor attracts on John Colicos’ exemplary work as they maintain the character alive.