Mutant Ghost Rider: How New X-Men Lore Gives Mutantkind a Vital Protector
Warning: Contains spoilers for Hellverine #2!Marvel Comics’ X-Menfranchise finally has a new take on Ghost Riderthat it can call its own, as the son of Wolverineofficiallyuses his demonic possessionto become a protector of mutantkind. Though Akihiro’s horrific new hero identity as the Hellverine debuted last year, making him part of Marvel’s supernatural corner of the universe, a new revelation in his ongoing series ties him further back into X-Men lore.
Hellverine #2 – written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Raffaele Ienco – brings Akihiro back to where he was resurrected by the demon Bagra-Ghul, uncovering a post-Krakoa mutant base where a hellish force of evil has started to fester. After Hellverine fails to save a fellow mutant, Doctor Strange delivers a terrifying warning.
Akihiro is connected to the “magic from Hell” that’s now specifically hunting mutants, teeing him up to eventually reach his full potential as mutantkind’s very own demonic defender. Marvel tried to give the X-Men their own Ghost Rider before, but Hellverine seems to actually be taking the title.
Wolverine's Son Must Become A Protector Of Mutantkind, Giving Akihiro’s Redemption Arc New Purpose
Hellverine #2 - Written By Benjamin Percy; Art By Raffaele Ienco; Color By Bryan Valenza; Lettering By VC’s Travis Lanham
Hellverine’s original miniseries wasn’t very closely tied to X-Men lore beyond Akihiro and Wolverine’s place in it, but the character’s new mission officially gives the Hellverine ongoing series a distinct mutant focus moving forward. When mutants become the targets of Mephisto and his minions, they also gain a fierce supernatural superhero that will fight to ensure their safety. With the terrifying new abilities unlocked by his demonic transformation that will help him take on threats from Hell, Akihiro’s new role as a hybrid of Ghost Rider and Wolverine puts him on a fiery path to redemption among his fellow mutants.
On a quest to uncover the secrets of his role as Hellverine, Akihiro’s journey takes him to the North Pole, where he re-discovers the Greenhouse. Since a great and powerful evil has taken root in this place that became a safe haven during the fallout of the X-Men’s Krakoan Era, Hellverine #2 sees a total mutant horror story unfold. Though he finds a way to tame the demon inside of him, Akihiro can’t save any of the mutants here, but departs with a reinvigorated mission to protect his people from the forces of Hell that also give him new powers.
Marvel’s Mutant-Focused Take On Ghost Rider Is Officially A Hell-Raising Addition to X-Men Lore
Mutants Now Have Their Own Supernatural Superhero
Doctor Strange has already said that Mephisto has a sinister plan for Akihiro and Bagra-Ghul, but when the twist in Hellverine #2 reveals that mutantkind as a whole is being targeted, this sets Hellverine up as the most important supernatural character in X-Men lore. After being reformed as a hero, Akihiro’s hell-raising transformation into the new Hellverine has connected him to Marvel’s mystical characters, but this thankfully means he’s not leaving his fellow mutants behind in his new adventures. When other X-Men solo series become less engaged with the mutant world, Akihiro’s supernatural story gives him new importance within it.
He’s not the first mutant to receive a transformation similar to a Ghost Rider, but the son of Wolverine’s new mission against Mephisto could officially make him the X-Men’s strongest supernatural superhero.
Since his rebirth as the Hellverine is still fairly new, Akihiro finds himself struggling to control the sadistic demon within, but it seems that Mephisto’s plan to specifically target mutants could provide further motivation for the hero to level up as a protector of his people. Facing some of Marvel’s most diabolical threats as a mutant defender, Hellverine has definitively become a horror series for the X-Men franchise. He’s not the first mutant to receive a transformation similar to a Ghost Rider, but the son of Wolverine’s new mission against Mephisto could officially make him the X-Men’s strongest supernatural superhero.
Hellverine #2is available now from Marvel Comics.
- Movie(s)
- X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
- X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
- X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men '97 (2024)
- Character(s)
- Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Video Game(s)
- X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine's Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Comic Release Date
- 213035,212968
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
