Marvel 2099 is a science-fiction superhero setting with elements of cyberpunk. The Apocalypse special, which accompanies the end of the One Nation Under Doom saga running through the ongoing titles, signals a major change in the setting's status quo.
In the pages of Doom 2099, the returned Doctor Doom had seized control of the USA, breaking the power of the mega-corporations and decreeing that the ultra-rich were no longer above the law. This had a major impact on some of the other 2099 books - e.g. Jake Gallows, star of The Punisher 2099, was now in charge of Doom's law enforcement, no longer a hunted vigilante.
Unfortunately, One Nation Under Doom ends with the villainous John Herod emerging from seclusion, armed with alien technology and horrific weapons, and leading a coup that overthrows Doom's government.
Apocalypse then shows what happens to the resistance - including America’s superheroes - once Herod’s new regime takes power.
2099 A.D. Apocalypse provides examples of:
- Continuity Nod: The magical dampers used to neutralise Metalscream are "Ludgate rods". Ludgate is the real surname of Marvel's magician Doctor Druid.
- Covers Always Lie: John Herod and the X-Man Bloodhawk are both prominent on the cover. Neither appears in the book.
- Defiant to the End:
- Jake Gallows, the Punisher, goes out shooting. At the very end, he stands his ground and prepares to shoot back at the wave spider overhead.
- The Hulk also faces his killers and tells them to bring it on. They do.
- Downer Ending: Herod's forces hunt down the heroes and kill those who confront them. The Punisher, Galahad, Metalscream and Hulk are dead. Doom is missing, presumed dead. The Nyfax studio is stormed and taken off air; Jack Whitlow is killed.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Herod is the Big Bad for the A.D. storyline as a whole, but isn't even seen in this book.
- In Medias Res: The first page shows Herod's wave spiders destroying the White House.
- Killed Off for Real: The Hulk of 2099, Punisher, Galahad and Metalscream are all killed by the new regime. So is newscaster Jack Whitlow, one of the book's lead characters. Versions of some characters reappear years later, in other stories with a 2099 connection, but they seem to remain dead in this continuity.
- Power Nullifier: The Ludgate rods negate magical powers in the area around them.
- Pun-Based Title: A bleak one. The logo makes it clear that A.D. in the title stands for 'After Doom'.
- Wham Episode: For the 2099 line as a whole. Heroes die and the consequences of Doom's downfall ripple across the world.
