As the X-Men franchise enters an official new era, Wolverines son is transformed into a new form that embraces his new powers while honoring his past. While Akihiro was introduced to Marvel continuity as a villain, Wolverine has since been tasked with developing a relationship with his son. For his own part, Akihiro has built bonds with fellow mutant heroes, from amoral assassin to true hero. Unfortunately, this bravery could not protect him from the attention of the demon Bagra Gul.
in December, Marvel is launching a brand new Helverine Series by Benjamin Percy and Raffaele Ienco, followed up on May’s four-issue miniseries of the same name. The story will see Wolverine’s son Akihiro attempt to grapple with his new Ghost Rider powers and the demonic Bagra-Gul. However, unlike the previous series – where the Bagra-Gul transformed Akhiro to look more like his father – this time Wolverine’s son is in control, leading to the return of his ‘fang’ costume and his unique claws, with two emerging Between his knuckles and one of his forearms.
In a past adventure, Wolverine himself was possessed by the Bagra-Gul, turning him into the first Helverine. When the demon later possessed Akhiro, it sensed the connection to his father and brought back his previous form, obscuring the identity of his new master. Thankfully, Wolverine helped Akhiro take back control, leading to this new, more balanced version of the Helverine with its unique design.
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Helverine #1 (2024) |
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Release date: |
December 18, 2024 |
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writer: |
Benjamin Percy |
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Artist: |
Raffaele Ienco |
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Cover artist: |
Kendrick Lim |
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It’s hellfire-fueled, claw-slashing action in the mighty Marvel Manor as HELLVERINE blazes a new path across the Marvel Universe! The demon Bagra-Gul possessed Wolverine, turning him into a killing machine… but Logan is no stranger to caging the beast in his soul, and the demon learned his heroic ways. Now Akhiro has been resurrected, and the two must learn to live as one – the Helverine! But they can’t do it alone – Enter: Doctor Strange! |
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Wolverine’s son officially returns as the Helverine
Akihiro gets a hellish redesign thanks to the new Ghost Rider Powers
Recently, Akihiro – formerly known as Daken – was killed by Sabretooth in the villain’s vicious ‘celebration’ of Wolverine’s birthday. This allowed him to open possessions of the Bagra Gulen and The Secret Project Hellfire – a group trying to harness the powers of the Ghost Rider to create living weapons. Akihiro was driven to take deadly revenge on the guilty without being able to control his actions, as the demonic spirit transformed him into a dark parody of his once-hated father, complete with Wolverine’s iconic claws and costume.
However, once Wolverine learned his son was alive, he rode to the rescue, helping Akihiro to master the Hellfire Inn. Now, fans see a new merged Helverine as Akihiro truly claims the divine power he has inherited. Akihiro will still need to find ways to cope with the Bagra-Gul’s dark influence, and it seems his first stop in doing so will be Doctor Strange, who exorcises the demon in Neill Francis Yu’s eye-popping variant cover.
However, despite his new powers, Akihiro was raised in a very different world. When Sabretooth killed him, Mutantkind was fighting for the survival of his newly founded nation, Krakoa. In X-Men’s new ‘From the Ashes’ era, Krakoa is gone for good, and mutants are more hated and feared than ever. The X-Factor team where Akihiro found love and friendship has disbanded, and his family is also scattered across the country. Although it seemed like Akihiro finally found peace during the Krakoan era, it now turns out that he is left with only his newfound power, leaving him to make difficult decisions about how to use it.
Hellverine’s new design has a very specific meaning
Wolverine’s son reclaims his humanity
HelverineThe design for Akihiro’s Hellfire form may be new, however The costume Akihiro wears has its own story. The Fang costume was given to Akihiro in 2022 Assassin #5 (By Steve Orlando and Andrea Braccardo.) It is a traditional uniform worn by the champions of the Lupak foreign society, with their most celebrated members winning positions on the Shire Imperial Guard. Being given the suit and accompanying Fang codename/title was a major moment that saw Akihiro step out of Wolverine’s shadow, embracing his own identity as a hero.
This is a big deal, because Akhiro has had an incredibly difficult life. His original codename ‘Daken’ was an insult from him during childhood, and he later became the Dark Avengers’ Wolverine in order to mock his father by performing evil deeds in his name. The Fang Codename was the first time Akihiro was acknowledged as a hero in his own right, and Sabretooth brutally snatched that away. Akihiro’s subsequent Helverine form not only robbed him of his hard-won free will, it also turned him into a twisted copy of Wolverine – something he was before and fought hard to escape.
Akihiro wearing the fang costume in his halverine form is a declaration of his heroic intent and his dignity As someone who makes his own choices. It’s a triumphant redesign of where Akihiro was just a few months ago, even as it also serves as a reminder of the better life he earned before Sabretooth’s attack.
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Wolverine’s other son is also getting a new lease on life
After 6 years, Logan’s son Jimmy Hudson is also back
Strangely, Akihiro’s transformation comes at the same time as his pseudo-brother returns to Marvel lore. Wolverine others Son Jimmy Hudson was back in Cullen Bunn and Roberto Di Salvo Venom War: Deadpool #1where it was revealed that he was hiding under New York as a citizen of the hidden monster Metropolis. Years ago, Jimmy bonded with a cosmic predator known as a Venom (a lifeform that hunts and assimilates symbiotes like Venom.) poison war revealed that he was essentially going through the same struggle as Akihiro – trying to control the deadly being he shares a body with.
Jimmy has been missing for six years from Marvel’s study, but he did Actually met Akihiro before. The two fought to a point where Magneto ordered Akira to kill Jimmy, putting a severe strain on their sisterly relationship. However, now that both are back and harboring monsters, it can surely only be a matter of time before fans get to see A reunion between Akihiro’s Helverine and Jimmy Hudson’s PoisonAs Wolverine’s children both fight to tame the monster within.
Akihiro’s new Helverine design marks a major turning point in his Marvel story, as he takes control of immense demonic power in a time where every mutant hero counts. Hopefully, the new era will include a reunion between WolverineHis sons, because – although they met before as enemies – they now have a site in common.
Helverine #1 Coming December 18th from Marvel Comics.