Summary

• Hulk became one of Apocalypse's Horsemen, proving his power but eventually turning on Apocalypse to save his friends.
• Spider-Man was transformed into the Horseman of Pestilence, showcasing a dark and terrifying alternate universe version.
• Magneto's powerful role as a Horseman in X-Men: Apocalypse proves his ability to turn the tide and demonstrates his strength.

When it comes to Marvel alliances or teams of warriors, there are few who stand on the level of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Named for their corresponding Biblical apocalyptic spirits, the Mutants chosen for the roles of War, Famine, Death, and Pestilence are the lieutenants deployed by the evil mutant Apocalypse.

Believing himself to be the first mutant and leader of their future, Apocalypse sought the most powerful of mutants and either convinced them to him, or forced them to. With these four soldiers appointed, he had the power to run rampant over the Marvel Universe and the X-Men. And throughout the various incarnation of the team, some of Marvel's greatest heroes have been chosen, and upgraded to power levels and forms that must be seen to be believed.

14 The Hulk (War)

Incredible Hulk #456 (Peter David, Adam Kubert, Joe Kubert, Mark Farmer, Digital Chameleon)

While not a mutant, Apocalypse once recruited Bruce Banner into the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and Hulk served as War. This was a case where Apocalypse used his bargaining power to gain his powerful pawn. There was shrapnel lodged in Hulk's brain, and it took away the intelligence he had developed before that accident. Apocalypse offered to remove the shrapnel if he served as War.

Hulk is already one of the most powerful Avengers in Marvel Comics, making him a powerful Horseman as well. However, he ranks below others because removing the shrapnel helped to revert his brain, and he turned on Apocalypse to save his friends.

13 Spider-Man (Pestilence)

Cable & Deadpool #15 (Fabian Nicieza, Patrick Zircher, M3th)

Spider-Man is one of the greatest heroes in the Marvel Universe, which is likely why writers enjoy giving him terrible fates in alternate universes. On Earth-5701, Peter Parker was captured by Apocalypse early in his career and was transformed into the Horseman of Pestilence.

He had all the powers of the regular Spider-Man, along with several additional limbs and a hunger for human bone marrow. Thankfully, this version of Peter was quickly defeated by Deadpool, Cannonball, and Siryn. Despite his brief appearance, this is one of the scariest versions of Spider-Man.

12 Magneto (War)

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

The Horsemen of the Apocalypse finally made it into the X-Men movie universe with the release of X-Men: Apocalypse. While the of the cinematic Horsemen may have paled in comparison to the comic book counterparts (and these film versions of Storm, Angel, and Psylocke all being underpowered compared to the comics), there was one powerhouse on the team: Magneto.

While Magneto wasn't present in the comic book source material behind the film, his famous powers provided a perfect opportunity to show audiences what an 'Apocalypse upgrade' could truly mean. Already one of the most powerful mutants in the X-Men movie universe, it took Magneto alone to drive the threats of the film, and in the end, defeat Apocalypse. And just as definitively as he achieved the feat in the Age of Apocalypse alternate universe, no less.

11 Gambit (War)

X-Men #185 (Peter Milligan, Salvador Larroca, Jason Keith)

Gambit has had some truly terrible ideas over the years, but willingly becoming Apocalypse's Horseman of Death to keep an eye on him was one of his worst. Unsurprisingly, Gambit quickly lost his mind to Apocalypse's influence and became one of his Horsemen for real.

It was only by fleeing to Mister Sinister that Gambit was able to be purged of Apocalypse's influence, but of course, Mister Sinister didn't do this for free. The X-Men aren't known for their brilliant ideas, and willingly becoming the servant of a genocidal tyrant is up there with awful ideas by X-Men .

10 Sunfire (Famine)

X-Men #183 ( Peter Milligan, Salvador Larroca, Aron Lusen)

Sunfire worked with the team when the All-New X-Men first formed. However, Sunfire was from Japan, and that took him from the X-Men, as he fought for his country above all else. He lost his legs battling Lady Deathstrike, and Apocalypse offered him his legs back if he swore his allegiance and became Famine.

Sunfire was one of Marvel's most powerful fire-based heroes, but he also gained the ability to make people believe they were starving, leaving them unable to defend themselves. He couldn't save himself either, as Mister Sinister had to rescue him from Apocalypse's control.

9 Ichisumi (Pestilence)

Uncanny X-Force #1 ( Rick Remender, Jerome Opena, Dean White)

Ichisumi had mutant powers that made her very dangerous. Her body was host to a swarm of beetles, which she could then send out to attack, disfigure, or kill her enemies. However, they retain all the memories of the people they kill and maim and deliver those memories to Ichisumi, tormenting her.

Apocalypse made her Pestilence, a final Horsemen of the Apocalypse following his death. She followed the new Apocalypse, Archangel, and even had children with the former X-Men member. She also survived this storyline, which is more than her fellow Final Horsemen could say.

8 Sentry (Death)

Uncanny Avengers #9 ( Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna, Chris Eliopoulos)

If Sentry was ranked by his actual powers, he would top the list. In Marvel Comics, Sentry was one of Marvel's most overpowered superheroes, and he might be the only person who can defeat Hulk in a fair fight. However, as a Horseman of Apocalypse, he is a step below.

He worked with Daken, Grim Reaper, and Banshee as the Four Horsemen of Death, serving under the twin children of Archangel and Ichisumi. His biggest weakness was his mental instability and his reluctance to keep following any master. A fairly crucial factor in making the most of a commander like Apocalypse.

7 Thunderbird (War)

Exiles #1 (Judd Winick, Mike McKone, Mark McKenna, Jung Choi)

In Marvel's Earth-616, Thunderbird was part of the All-New X-Men as the only hero from America. However, he died on their first mission once they established themselves. The Earth-1100 version, however, lived. In that world, Apocalypse experimented on him and turned him into War.

He had the same superhuman strength, durability, and a regenerative healing factor. He also had a similar trait to Hulk, where he got stronger as he grew angrier. His power was immense as he pierced Galactus's armor with just one punch.

6 Deadpool (The Pale Rider)

X-Calibre #1 (Warren Ellis, Ken Lashley, Phil Moy, Bud LaRosa, Tom Wegrzyn, Joe Rosas)

While everyone knows Deadpool as the fun-loving wisecracking Merc with the Mouth, this isn't how he is in every universe. On Earth-295, Deadpool willingly ed Apocalypse's Pale Riders, a subset of his Horsemen of Apocalypse. This Deadpool variant was absolutely obsessed with feeling pain, and happily ed Apocalypse's army so that he could both feel and inflict pain on others.

This would lead to a brutal confrontation between Nightcrawler and Wade, where Nightcrawler was able to by Wade's healing factor by simply grabbing Wade's head and teleporting away with it.

5 Colossus (War)

Extraordinary X-Men #12 (Jeff Lemire, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, Edgar Delgado, Dono Sanchez-Almara, Joe Caramagna)

In Marvel Comics, Colossus is one of the most peaceful mutants alive. However, if pushed, he is also one of the deadliest and easily the strongest mutants on the X-Men's team. He was also a Horseman of Apocalypse as War.

This happened when Colossus and his team of X-Men ended up stranded in the future, and ended up brainwashed by Apocalypse. He became one of his Horsemen, even when he returned to the present time. Colossus was also powerful enough to demand his free will back after the X-Men captured Apocalypse.