History ComicBook / Onslaught

** The RedSkiesIssues with ComicBook/SpiderMan. While the end of ''Sensational Spider-Man'', Vol. 1 #8 saw [[ComicBook/TheCloneSaga then-current Spider-Man Ben Reilly]] get involved with dealing with Sentinels (seen in ''Amazing Spider-Man'', Vol 1. 415 and ''Spider-Man'', Vol 1. #72), whereas ''Spectacular Spider-Man'', Vol 1. #238 saw Ben chasing the Lizard creature while the invasions of Sentinels going down. For that matter, the end of ''Spider-Man'' #72 saw Ben and Peter resolve to be part of the final battle against Onslaught, but are absent in ''Onslaught: Marvel Universe''.

* SeriesContinuityError: The aforementioned RedSkiesIssues with Spider-Man. While the end of ''Sensational Spider-Man'', Vol. 1 #8 saw [[ComicBook/TheCloneSaga then-current Spider-Man Ben Reilly]] get involved with dealing with Sentinels (seen in ''Amazing Spider-Man'', Vol 1. 415 and ''Spider-Man'', Vol 1. #72), whereas ''Spectacular Spider-Man'', Vol 1. #238 saw Ben chasing the Lizard creature while the invasions of Sentinels going down.

*** The ''Uncanny'' sees Moira [=MacTaggert=] and ComicBook/{{Excalibur}} aware of the crisis and that some of the X-Men were coming for the Xavier Protocols. ''Excalibur'' #100 saw the titular team busy with other matters and Moira surprised by the X-Men's visit.

** The ''Uncanny'' sees Moira [=MacTaggert=] and ComicBook/{{Excalibur}} aware of the crisis and that some of the X-Men were coming for the Xavier Protocols. ''Excalibur'' #100 saw the titular team busy with other matters and Moira surprised by the X-Men's visit.
** ''Wolverine'', Vol. 2. #104 sees Wolverine claim that Cyclops and Jean told him to meet with Gateway. In said ''Uncanny'' issue, Logan's mission to figure out Onslaught's origin was something he decided on his own and was a bit of a moot point since in the same exact issue, the Avengers and other X-Men already sussed out what Logan was going to learn: [[ComicBook/FatalAttractionsMarvelComics It started with Xavier mindwiping Magneto following the latter ripping out the adamantium from Wolverine]].

** ''Uncanny X-Men'', Vol 1. #335 sees Moira [=MacTaggert=] and ComicBook/{{Excalibur}} aware of the crisis and that some of the X-Men were coming for the Xavier Protocols. ''Excalibur'' #100 saw the titular team busy with other matters and Moira surprised by the X-Men's visit.

* SuperpoweredEvilSide: While Xavier is one of the world's most powerful telepaths, Onslaught also had [[SuperWeight telekinesis and magnetism]]. He grew even more powerful upon capturing Franklin Richards and Nate Grey.

** In another example, as ''Wolverine'' #104, Wolverine and Elektra are taken by Gateway to the climax of ''X-Men'' #25 where Magneto tears out the adamantium from Logan's body. Xavier's mindwiping of Magneto is revisited, and it shown that a creepy creature emerged from Magneto's astral body and reached out to Xavier's counterpart, planting the seed that would eventually become Onslaught.

* OnceMoreWithClarity: As noted under "Arc Welding", we're shown the X-traitor tape in its entirety at the official start of the crossover.

** The Hulk cutting loose on and destroying Onslaught's physical body was exactly what he wanted from the heroes, becoming a being of PureEnergy. Thought this led to...

* ArcWelding: The opening of ''Onslaught: X-Men'' does this to the traitor tape that was a part of Bishop's backstory, revealing that Jean sent it after Onslaught attacked X-Men--and hence that the X-traitor was none other than Professor X himself (debunking Bishop's theory the traitor was Gambit), not that he was the first to die (and while he didn't die, either, Jean believed it was Juggernaut; it was also shown the X-Men managed to keep Onslaught from killing Jean the second the tape ended). The story also had Onslaught use an element from the early comics ([[TeacherStudentRomance Professor Xavier having the hots for Jean]]) to try to lure Jean to his side. Additionally, Onslaught's existence is traced back to Xavier mindwiping Magneto in retaliation for ripping out Wolverine's adamantium in ''ComicBook/FatalAttractionsMarvelComics''.

'''Onslaught''' was a 1996 Creator/MarvelComics CrisisCrossover involving nearly every superhero comic book they published at the time. The ComicBook/XMen, [[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avengers]], the ComicBook/FantasticFour and other heroes fight an incredibly powerful OmnicidalManiac which results in the "[[NotQuiteDead deaths]]" of every hero involved (except the mutants, Franchise/SpiderMan and a Banner-less [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]]). Outside of comics, the series is best known for providing the FinalBoss for ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfSuperHeroes''.

** Same thing happened with Comicbook/TheFalcon. He was sporting his armored costume at the time, but is shown wearing his classic 70's uniform during the final battle with no explanation.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Early on, Ben Grimm's newspaper horoscope says that [[Comicbook/HeroesReborn he and a bunch of his closest friends will soon be going on a long trip]].

** The titles displaying the Crossover's logo were generally separated into two types, with directly affected titles branded "Onslaught: Phase (1, 2, or 3, depending on the month)" while the more Red Sky types were billed as "Onslaught: Impact (1, 2, 3)". Most of the "Impact" issues featured the heroes (e.g. ComicBook/SpiderMan) facing Onslaught-controlled Sentinels. Interestingly enough, there was an issue of ''Comicbook/ThePunisher'' that had criminals hiding out inside the remains of a destroyed Sentinel.

* AWizardDidIt: Though other mutant heroes couldn't enter Onslaught's field (they'd get possessed), the Avengers' Scarlet Witch was able to make an exception for herself with her powers.

** The fact that even before Thor tearing Xavier from him, Onslaught could move about independently can be traced back to [[ComicBook/XMan Nate Grey]] pulling Xavier from the astral plane during their first encounter.
** The Hulk cutting loose on and destroying Onslaught's physical body was exactly what he wanted from the heroes, becoming a being of PureEnergy.

** The existence of Onslaught himself given he was created when [[ComicBook/FatalAttractionsMarvelComics Xavier lashed out at Magneto over the latter's ripping out of Wolverine's adamantium.]]

* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Turns out, the final form Onslaught desired was a GlassCannon in conparison to his physical firn, and becomes the reason of his defeat.

* RedHerring: The aforementioned "ArcWelding", "OnceMoreWithClarity", and "PlotArchaeology" ultimately made Gambit's role in the X-Traitor subplot this, as again ''Onslaught: X-Men'' opened with the reveal the garbled tape Jean made about the X-Traitor was really about Xavier himself and she'd believed Juggernaut died, debunking Bishop's belief that the Witness, an older Remy, was the traitor and started the massacre of the X-Men with Xavier.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In an issue of Spider-Man, Peter Parker and [[ComicBook/ScarletSpider Ben Reilly]] defeat a few Sentinels and run off at the end of the issue to help the other heroes fight Onslaught. They never show up in any of the battles with no explanation.
* AWizardDidIt: Though other mutant heroes couldn't enter Onslaught's field (they'd get possessed) the Avengers' Scarlet Witch was able to make an exception for herself with her powers.

* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: The original motivation of Onslaught was to KillAllHumans for their oppressing of mutants. Then he saw the world [[ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse X-Man came from]] and decided that mutants are bastards [[KillEmAll too]].

'''Onslaught''' was a 1996 Creator/MarvelComics CrisisCrossover involving nearly every superhero comic book they published at the time. The ComicBook/XMen, [[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avengers]], the ComicBook/FantasticFour and other heroes fight an incredibly powerful OmnicidalManiac which results in the "[[NotQuiteDead deaths]]" of every hero involved (except the mutants, Franchise/SpiderMan and a Banner-less [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Hulk]]). Outside of comics, the series is best known for providing the FinalBoss for ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfSuperHeroes''.

* SuperSupremacist: Onslaught inherited this attitude from Magneto and initially sought to bring about Erik's dream of a mutant-ruled Earth. After reading Nate Grey's mind, he became disgusted with mutants too and dropped it.

* EnemyWithin[=/=]EnemyWithout: Xavier's evil side had already manifested in physical form once before in the ''X-Men vs ComicBook/{{Micronauts}}'' series as well as a WholeEpisodeFlashback issue during ''ComicBook/ThePhoenixSaga''.

* ArcWelding: The opening of ''Onslaught: X-Men'' does this to the traitor tape that was a part of Bishop's backstory, revealing that Jean sent it after Onslaught attacked X-Men--and hence that the X-traitor was none other than Professor X himself (debunking Bishop's theory the traitor was Gambit), not that he was the first to die (and while he didn't die, either, Jean believed it was Juggernaut; it was also shown the X-Men managed to keep Onslaught from killing Jean the second the tape ended). The story also had Onslaught use an element from the early comics ([[TeacherStudentRomance Professor Xavier having the hots for Jean]]) to try to lure Jean to his side. Additionally, Onslaught's existence is traced back to Xavier mindwiping Magneto in retaliation for ripping out Wolverine's adamantium in ''ComicBook/FatalAttractions''.

** The existence of Onslaught himself given he was created when [[ComicBook/FatalAttractions Xavier lashed out at Magneto over the latter's ripping out of Wolverine's adamantium.]]

* PlotArchaeology: As noted under "Arc Welding", this picked up the X-traitor tape subplot, revealing that despite Bishop thinking ComicBook/ProfessorX was the first to die, Xavier was ironically ([[SplitPersonality and unknowingly]]) the traitor himself. Furthermore his origins are tied to Xavier's mindwipe of Magneto in ''ComicBook/FatalAttractions''.

* SplitPersonalityTakeover: What happened to Xavier, as Onslaught had been growing in Charles since mindwiping Magneto in ''ComicBook/FatalAttractions''.

* EnemyWithin[=/=]EnemyWithout: Xavier's evil side had already manifested in physical form once before in the ''X-Men vs ComicBook/{{Micronauts}}'' series as well as a WholeEpisodeFlashback issue during the original Phoenix Saga.

* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: The original motivation of Onslaught was to KillAllHumans for their oppressing of mutants. Then he saw the world [[ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse X-Man came from]] and decided that [[NotSoDifferent mutants are bastards]] [[KillEmAll too]].

* SpoilerCover: ''X-Men'' volume 2, #54 features the reveal of Onslaught as Professor X and a cover with a silhouette on Onslaught. While the normal cover featured the words "The secret revealed" in the silhouette, a variant holograph cover doesn't -- instead, it features Charles's head front-and-center in the silhouette.