Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate X-Men #9! Marvel Comics’ new Ultimate Universe of Earth-6160 is slowly introducing variants of iconic heroes and villains from Earth-616, and it seems Sabretooth is the latest to arrive. So far, readers have gotten the likes of Tony Stark, Reed Richards, Thor, Hulk, and Spider-Man, just to name a few. Now, Sabretooth might be on that list as well, though in a way that’s a bit more covert than the others – one that would pay off a tease 18 years in the making.
In Ultimate X-Men #9 by Peach Momoko, readers are given a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the main villain of this X-Men series: the Children of the Atom. The Children of the Atom is a mutant cult created by the Maker 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.
Like in the original Ultimate Universe of Earth-1610, mutants aren’t born, they are effectively made, as mutants don’t exhibit powers until they have their mutation unlocked by an outside source. In Earth-1610, Wolverine’s DNA was used to mutate those with latent potential, sparking the creation of mutantkind at large. And, as readers discover in this Ultimate X-Men issue, that honor now goes to Wolverine’s son, Akihiro.
Akihiro’s blood is used to create the Children of the Atom’s mutant-making elixir, allowing the Maker to control when and where mutants are born. However, this version of Akihiro may not be the same one 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
Earth-6160’s Akihiro has Claws Like Sabretooth, Not Wolverine
Upon seeing Akihiro in Ultimate X-Men #9, he looks very similar to that of a ‘Weapon X Wolverine’, as his hair is wild, his eyes are crazy, and his general 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-like appearance: his claws.
Akihiro’s fingernails are long and sharp, and he brandishes them in front of another mutant (the Ultimate Universe’s Shadow King) upon his introduction, implying he uses his fingernails as natural weapons. Unlike Wolverine or Earth-616’s Akihiro, it doesn’t seem as though this Akihiro has the classic three-pronged claws that extend from his forearms, as his claws seem to come in the form of his fingernails, just like Sabretooth.
There are a few other reasons why this theory makes sense on top of the parallel between Akihiro and Sabretooth’s claws. Sabretooth famously has nearly identical mutant powers to Wolverine, so using his blood to create a mutant-making elixir adds up. Plus, their hairy, animalistic appearances have also always matched, meaning this version of Akihiro isn’t too far off from the classic look of Sabretooth. And, perhaps most importantly of all, the Ultimate Universe’s Sabretooth hasn’t been officially introduced yet, leaving the door wide open for Earth-6160’s Akihiro to fill the role.
Wolverine’s Son May Be Sabretooth in the Ultimate Universe, Paying Off an 18-Year-Old Tease
Sabretooth Claimed to Be Wolverine’s Son in the Original Ultimate Universe
On top of everything else, the idea that the new Ultimate Universe’s Akihiro is Sabretooth would also pay off a tease 18 years in the making. In Earth-616, Akihiro is famously Wolverine’s son, implying that the same is true in Earth-6160. Well, in Earth-1610, Sabretooth claimed that he was Wolverine’s son. In 2006’s Ultimate X-Men Vol. 1 #67, Sabretooth accosts Wolverine in the woods outside the X-Mansion, only he wasn’t there to fight, he was there to tell him that he was his son – and the news rocked Wolverine to his core.
However, as the issues progressed, Ultimate X-Men planted seeds of doubt in Sabretooth’s claim, as it seemed he only told Wolverine that he was his son to throw him off guard in a plot by Weapon X to abduct Wolverine and make him one of their unwilling operatives once more. Plus, by the time the original Ultimate X-Men series came to an end, it wasn’t confirmed either 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.
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The new Ultimate Universe’s Akihiro has the same claws as Sabretooth, his powers allow him to be a logical stand-in for Wolverine to unlock latent mutant powers, and the fact that Akihiro is famously Wolverine’s son would finally pay off Sabretooth’s original Ultimate Universe claims that he’s Wolverine’s son. All-in-all, Akihiro being the new Ultimate Universe’s Sabretooth is an exciting prospect that actually makes a lot of sense, and only time will tell if Marvel Comics will make this theory a reality.
Ultimate X-Men #9 by Marvel Comics is available now.
Ultimate Marvel
Created in 2000, the Ultimate Marvel imprint redesigned the entire Marvel Comics universe with a new set of origin stories and relationships. The reboot reinterpreted Marvel continuity from scratch in an attempt to simplify and update the company’s 60-year history for modern audiences. With famous comic book writers such as Brian Michael Bendis, Warren Ellis, and Mark Millar at the helm, the Ultimate universe (named Earth-1610 within the Marvel multiverse) lasted 15 years and provided plenty of inspiration for the MCU.
