Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate X-Men #9! There has been a lot of debate surrounding who is the first mutant in the Marvel Universe, with some pointing to Namor the Sub-Mariner, others pointing to Apocalypse, and still others arguing that mutants existed even before humans, but in one universe, this honor goes to Wolverine – and in another, to his son, Akihiro. Now, fans are introduced to the universe where Akihiro claims his shocking title as Marvel’s first mutant, along with the revelation that his blood has an extra wild (though not unknown) superpower.
In Last X-Men #9 by Peach Momoko, mutant heroes Armor and Maystorm continue their crusade against a villainous cult of mutants called the Children of the Atom. This cult was created by Sunfire, who is a member of the Maker’s Council. This means that the true creator of this mutant cult is the Creator himself, as it is only a fraction of the evil Reed Richards’ plan for the entire reality of Earth-6160. In fact, this issue seems to confirm that the Creator didn’t just gather and radicalize mutants, he “created” them using the blood of one person: Akihiro.
The main antagonist of Last X-Mennicknamed the Shadow King, finds Akihiro in the hospital run by the Children of the Atom in this edition. The Shadow King is the cult’s ‘chosen one’ due to his extremely powerful telepathic powers, which is why he is recovering in the same part of the hospital as the cult’s ‘first mutant’, Akihiro. When the Shadow King approaches a bedridden Akihiro, Wolverine’s son tells him that he is the first mutant and that he gave his blood to the cult, which is used to unlock/increase the mutant powers of the other followers.
Akihiro plays a similar role on Earth-6160 as Wolverine did on Earth-1610.
Final Origins #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Butch Guice
Akihiro has all the same powers as his father (more or less), meaning his blood contains the properties to unlock or enhance the powers of other mutants when they ingest it or ingest it into their own bodies. Throughout this Last X-Men run, readers saw the Children of the Atom ritualistically ingest or pour a dark liquid over themselves, in a practice known as “receiving their gift.” Now, readers know that the liquid was Akihiro’s blood (or a substance created from it) and is used to unlock latent mutant abilities.
Interestingly, the idea that Akihiro’s biological makeup can ‘create’ mutants on Earth-6160 is exactly like the role his father played in the original Final Universe of Earth-1610. As revealed in Final OriginsWolverine was not born a mutant, but rather the subject of experimentation conducted to create a new super-soldier similar to Captain America. However, when scientists played with Logan’s genome, they were able to effectively create a genetic mutation. Not only did they turn Wolverine into a ‘super-soldier’, but they also turned him into ‘Mutant Zero’.
When Wolverine’s DNA was released as some sort of airborne virus, it latched onto those who shared a similar genome with the same mutation potential, turning them into mutants as well. If it weren’t for Wolverine, there would be no mutants in the Ultimate Universe, and it looks like the same applies to Akihiro in the new Ultimate Universe.
Akihiro’s definitive new role in the universe makes this story even better
The Creator knew how mutants were created in the original final universe and controls this process in the new one.
In a meta sense, it’s satisfying to see Wolverine’s son claim the title of Marvel’s First Mutant from his Earth-1610 “father,” offering readers a narrative parallel that connects the new and the old in an interesting and unexpected way. But not only that, this detail enhances the broader story told in Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe. The Creator is originally from Earth-1610meaning he knew how mutants were created in his reality. This is why he is able to control this process on Earth-6160 and, at the same time, eliminate a potential threat to his power: Wolverine himself.
In Free Comic Book Day 2024: The Ultimatesit is revealed that Wolverine was killed by the Creator, as his adamantium skeleton is on display as a trophy in one of the Creator’s warehouses. This is why the Creator is using Akihiro to create mutants in the same way Wolverine created them in the original Ultimate Universe, as Wolverine’s son has historically been less threatening than Wolverine himself but has the same thing to offer in terms of from your genetics – i.e., the extra mutant-creating superpower found in your blood.
Now, the Creator has the means to create mutants in controlled environments, along with a cult-like religion that aims to control them as people, while also taking someone as dangerous as Wolverine off the table. This latest reveal only highlights how interconnected the new Ultimate Universe is as its own continuity, while also honoring the original Ultimate Universe in truly interesting and exciting ways. Furthermore, as mentioned previously, allowing WolverineThe son of claiming the admittedly shocking title of his Marvel father’s first mutant is simply incredible, as is his extra mutant-creating superpower.
Last X-Men #9 from Marvel Comics is now available.