The X-Men have grown, and each new generation now forges a legacy of its own. The original X-Men have regrouped as X-Factor, posing as mutant-hunting humans to track and rescue mutants in danger. The second generation of X-Men continues the fight for mutant tolerance -- but with half its number gravely injured by the Marauders, the mutants' hopes for equality seem dimmer than ever. And the X-Men-in-training called the New Mutants struggle to adjust to their new headmaster, Magneto, formerly the X-Men's deadliest foe. But unseen forces are at work against all three teams, and tragic events are building to a head.
X-Factor has been rocked hard by recent upheavals: the death of Angel; the disappearance of Cyclops' wife and infant son; and an enormous blow-up between former lovers Cyclops and Jean Grey, orchestrated by a sinister traitor within the team. When the Darwinian monster Apocalypse makes his first public strike, can the members of X-Factor pull themselves together long enough to battle his Four Horsemen -- or will the team fracture further upon learning the shocking identity of the Horsemen's leader, Death?
Meanwhile, Storm leaves the X-Men and undertakes a mystical journey to track down old flame Forge -- little knowing she's being manipulated every step of the way. When Cyclops' wife resurfaces in San Francisco, what's left of the beleaguered X-Men must face off against their deadliest foes, the Marauders, to save her. And when the Adversary behind Storm's quest finally reveals himself, the X-Men find themselves called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice; to give their very lives to save a world that fears and hates them.
And when the New Mutants come to the rescue of a strange birdlike creature, they quickly adopt the half-human "Bird-Boy" as one of their own. But helping him get back home will cost the young mutants their innocence as they battle for their lives on an island of savage animal hybrids and cross paths with the mutant-hating Right -- an encounter that proves fatal to one of their teammates.
Plus: X-Factor and the X-Men battle the Hulk. Captain America, Daredevil and Power Pack join the fight when Apocalypse attacks. And X-Factor and the Fantastic Four clash with Doctor Doom. Three stories that changed the world of mutants forever, Fall of the Mutants is a classic collection of changes so significant -- and  losses so bitter -- their aftermath is still felt in the pages of today's X-Men comics.
Collects New Mutants #55-61, Uncanny X-Men #220-227, X-Factor #18-26. Captain America #339, Daredevil #252, Fantastic Four #312, Incredible Hulk #336-337 and #340, and Power Pack #35.