Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate X-Men #9! Marvel Comics news Final Universe of Earth-6160 is slowly introducing variants of Earth-616’s iconic heroes and villains, and it seems Sabretooth is the last to arrive. So far, readers have encountered names like Tony Stark, Reed Richards, Thor, Hulk, and Spider-Man, just to name a few. Now, Sabretooth could also be on that list, albeit in a slightly more secretive way than the others – one that would yield an 18-year tease.
In Last X-Men #9 by Peach Momoko, readers get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of this main villain. X-Men series: Children of the Atom. The Children of the Atom are a mutant cult created by the Creator to control the mutant population. The cult recruits people with latent mutant potential, gives them an ‘elixir’ to drink that unlocks their mutant powers, and then keeps them under its control.
As in the original Final Universe of Earth-1610, mutants are not born, they are effectively created, as mutants do not exhibit powers until they have their mutation unlocked by an outside source. On Earth-1610, Wolverine’s DNA was used to transform those with latent potential, triggering the creation of mutants in general. And, as readers discover in this Last X-Men question, that honor now goes to Wolverine’s son, Akihiro.
Akihiro’s blood is used to create the Children of the Atom’s mutant creation elixir, allowing the Creator to control when and where mutants are born. However, this version of Akihiro may not be the same as what fans are used to. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that this Akihiro is actually Sabretooth.
Why Wolverine’s son might actually be Sabretooth in the New Ultimate Universe
Akihiro of Earth-6160 has claws like Sabretooth, not Wolverine
Upon seeing Akihiro in Last X-Men #9, he looks a lot like the one from ‘Weapon X Wolverine’, as his hair is wild, his eyes are crazy, and his overall appearance is reminiscent of certain depictions of his father. However, there’s another detail that sets this version of Akihiro apart from his classic Wolverine appearance: his claws.
Akihiro’s nails are long and sharp, and he brandishes them in front of another mutant (the Shadow King of the Ultimate Universe) in his introduction, implying that he uses his nails as natural weapons. Unlike Wolverine or Akihiro of Earth-616, it does not appear that this Akihiro has the classic three-pronged claws that extend from his forearms, as his claws appear to be shaped like fingernails, just like Sabretooth.
There are a few other reasons why this theory makes sense besides the parallel between Akihiro and Sabretooth’s claws. Sabretooth is famous for having mutant powers nearly identical to Wolverine’s, so using his blood to create a mutant-creating elixir makes sense. Plus, their furry and animalistic appearances have always matched as well, meaning this version of Akihiro isn’t too far off from Sabretooth’s classic look. And, perhaps most important of all, the Ultimate Universe’s Sabretooth has yet to be officially introduced, leaving the door open for Earth-6160’s Akihiro to fill the role.
Wolverine’s son could be Sabretooth in the Ultimate Universe, making up for an 18-year tease
Sabretooth claimed to be Wolverine’s son in the original final universe
Above all, the idea that Akihiro from the new Ultimate Universe is Sabretooth would also yield an 18-year tease. On Earth-616, Akihiro is famously Wolverine’s son, implying the same thing happens on Earth-6160. Well, on Earth-1610, Sabretooth claimed he was Wolverine’s son. In 2006 Last X-Men Vol. 1 #67, Sabretooth approaches Wolverine in the woods outside the X-Mansion, only he wasn’t there to fight, he was there to tell him he was his son – and the news shook Wolverine to his core.
However, as the problems progressed, Last X-Men planted seeds of doubt in Sabretooth’s claim, as it appeared he only told Wolverine he was his son to catch him off guard in a Weapon X plot to kidnap Wolverine and make him one of their reluctant agents once again. Furthermore, the moment the original Last X-Men As the series came to an end, it was not confirmed in any way whether Sabretooth was lying or telling the truth. But now, in the new Ultimate Universe, Marvel has the chance to actually make Sabretooth Wolverine’s son by making Akihiro Sabretooth.
The new Ultimate Universe’s Akihiro has the same claws as Sabretooth, his powers allow him to be a logical replacement for Wolverine to unlock latent mutant powers, and the fact that Akihiro is famously Wolverine’s son would finally offset the Ultimate Universe’s original claims of Sabretooth that he is Wolverine’s son. In short, Akihiro is the new Final Universeof Sabretooth It’s an exciting prospect that actually makes a lot of sense, and only time will tell if Marvel Comics will make this theory a reality.
Last X-Men #9 from Marvel Comics is now available.