Comics to PS #1: WildStorm's Armageddon, Revelations, Number of the Beast

This three part journey to World's End, the post-apocalypse of the WildStorm Universe, actually makes a pretty good adventure.

The premise behind the three series are as follows:

Armageddon:

The Wildstorm version of an oracle - a super AI named Void transports several characters into a disturbing future in which the entire world has been affected by nuclear explosions. The result is that the Earth - a spiritual entity in its own right, has been twisted and so varied plagues and storms of physical, psychic, and magical forces burden the survivors.

This is a great way to get together a high level part for an epic game in my opinion. Another option is that several personages in the world are brought into the future. Some, seeing this hopelessness, might feel the need to protect only their race/religion/nation/family. This would be interesting as once allies become foes in the end times - like if Christians and Muslim coworkers went at each other during the Rapture.

Revelations:

One woman, Nemesis, seeks to prevent the cataclysm but barely manages to piece together the problem. Sadly, for all her efforts she will fail. This is probably the most controversial arc. Can a DM justify running an adventure where the PC's actions are doomed to failure? Really this would depend on the players' comfort level with failure and also their level. For example, just because they are low level mooks in the present doesn't mean they don't become important in the future.

"Must protect John Conner" anyone?

Number of the Beast:

The Apocalypse. The way this was done in the series was actually pretty clever, since the central problem was dealing with the explosion of superheroes in the WWII era. These classic heroes were placed against their will into a virtual reality to lie dormant in their bunker until their country might need them again (a twisted take on King Arthur's slumber).

While seemingly campy and innocent, these heroes are just as powerful as the modern day capes. The heroes experience armageddon constantly in this virtual reality, which is reset if any of them ever start to catch on. This time however they manage to get free, which prompts a response from the government to unleash cloned versions of The High (think Superman). The ensuing conflict leads to utter disaster.

I think the idea that the hubris of petty people destroying the world is far more painful than an outside Elder Evil. Mind you, there is plenty in the Elder Evils book that can be turned to reflect this kind of plot. I could see a god like Phlotus or St. Cuthbert making some kind of abomination to cleanse the world only to watch it go horribly wrong. Though its hard to make a justifiable apocalypse when you have gods running around. One could shore up Spell Plague.