Operation: Zero Tolerance

Operation: Zero Tolerance was an event that transpired shortly after the Onslaught Saga in the Marvel Universe. It was a primary focus of most all of Marvel's mutant-centric titles (specifically those bearing an "X" in their title) throughout the summer of 1998.

Build-up to Operation: Zero Tolerance

Aftermath of the Onslaught Saga

Most of the core non-mutant superhero teams (the Fantastic Four, a number of Avengers and Bruce Banner), along with the surprising aid of Doctor Doom, in the Marvel universe "sacrificed" themselves in order to help destroy Onslaught by leaping into his body, which was comprised of raw energy at the time. The only superheroes who were left outside of Onslaught were all mutants who could not enter into Onslaught due to his ability to siphon their powers. Members of the X-Men were then left to physically attack Onslaught directly and eventually succeeded in destroying him and in the process, seemingly those who had leapt into his energy form as well.

The assassination of Graydon Creed

This led to a great amount of distrust being harboured toward all mutantkind. The presidential candidate and overly outspoken proponent of mutant hatred, Graydon Creed would shortly after be assassinated by what was meant to look like an energy blast of some kind, which would only serve to escalate the festering feelings humanity had toward mutantkind.

The fallout of both of these events served as a springboard for the man known as Bastion to put forth a plea to the government that would allow him begin a plan which would involve the capture and extermination of as many mutants as he could find in order to keep the nation safe from the growing mutant threat.