After more than thirty years clashing with Wolverine, a major X-Men villain just permanently bit the dust. It’s a truly satisfying end for one of the franchise’s most despicable villains, and a major first that just changed the game in a way Marvel can’t take back.
Wolverine Just Killed Off Omega Red
The Ultimate Universe Settles Their Decades-Long Rivalry
In today’s Ultimate Wolverine #10 – from Chris Condon, Alex Lins, Bryan Valenza and Cory Petit – the heroic Opposition (the classic X-Men in all but name) face off against Omega Red and his army of Sentinels and soldiers. Omega Red is a major figure in the Eurasian Republic, which takes in other countries’ mutants to imprison and experiment on.
Marvel’s Ultimate Universe continuity is known for resurrecting its heroes and villains far less frequently than Marvel’s mainstream canon. Given that fans see Omega Red’s decapitated head delivered to Colossus by his brother Mikhail (another classic X-Men villain, and the surprise leader of the Opposition), it’s a safe bet that the villain’s death is permanent.
Omega Red was one of the first villains introduced in Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe continuity. In mainstream X-Men stories, he’s a serial killer supervillain turned experimental Super-Soldier. However, in the Ultimate Universe, he was a prominent figure on the world stage – and one whose death has huge implications.
Our Take on Ultimate Wolverine Killing Off Omega Red
Marvel’s Ultimate Universe is defined by telling stories that the mainstream comics can’t, and killing off major villains definitely fits that brief. The way the Ultimate Universe imprint is structured, each comic follows a hero taking on a different part of the Maker’s worldwide regime. That essentially makes it Wolverine and the Opposition’s role to bring down the villainous rulers of Russia, and Logan just made a big step towards that goal.
What’s more, Logan does the deed with the Muramasa Blade – an iconic weapon that can cut through anything and cancels out healing factors. It’s a major statement about this weapon that in a battle against a villain he’s been clashing with for 30 years over in the mainstream X-Men comics, Earth-6160 Wolverine beheads his enemy and permanently takes him off the board. However, there’s another reason Omega Red’s death is so significant…
This Is a Vital First for the Ultimate Universe
The First of the Maker’s Council Has Fallen
The big bad villain of the Ultimate Universe is the Maker, however he actually runs the planet via his Maker’s Council. Introduced in 2023’s Ultimate Invasion, Omega Red is the first member of the Maker’s Council to be killed. While Black Panther imprisoned the evil Moon Knight and the Ultimates (this continuity’s Avengers) took an eye from Captain Britain, Wolverine just struck the single biggest blow against the Council yet.
The Ultimates’ plan was to bring down the Maker’s council before the Maker escapes from his time-locked lab – an event set to unfold in December’s Ultimate Endgame. While some strides have been made, the Council mostly remains in power and as influential as ever. However, Ultimate Wolverine killing off Omega Red finally starts the clock on truly bringing down the regime.
Logan is set to face off with fellow Maker’s Council members Magik and Colossus in upcoming issues. If he slays them too, then the entire Eurasian Republic could be turned against the Maker’s regime, and the X-Men may even be able to claim it as their own mutant-friendly nation.
The death of X-Men‘s Omega Red isn’t just an awesome moment of permanence from a continuity that’s willing to kill off its villains forever, but the beginning of the tide turning in favor of the Ultimate Universe’s heroes. As ever, Wolverine is the first to spill blood, even in a conflict spread across the entire world.
Ultimate Wolverine #10 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- Movie(s)
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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
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X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
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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)
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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)
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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
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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.