Marvel solved the X-Men’s biggest plothole by cracking Omega Mutants

Even for fans of fiction, comic book readers are obsessed with the “facts” they know. For some, the question “Who would win?” isn’t just a theoretical pastime, it’s a challenge of the very honor of the character you stan. They need to be validated in their views. In the world of X-Men there is only one rule: Omega Level Mutant.

However, until 2019, no one knew much more than that an Omega Mutant was. What power was required to be an Omega Mutant? What counted as “power” for a set of characters who controlled weather, shot lasers from their eyes, or simply comprehended every language? Marvel Comics creators had kept the definition soft; an understandable choice for an infinitely expanding universe — you never want to write characters into a corner. It might be restrictive to someone down the line. But then again … restrictions can also breed creativity.

A case study of how hard rules can be applied to a fictional idea is provided by the Omega Mutant debate. Are the current X-Men creators finding it a benefit? Is it a help? They think that it is irrelevant. This is what we did to discover.

Class Omega

Image: Chris Claremont, John Romita, Jr./Marvel Comics

The first mutant character to ever be called “omega” was Rachel Summers, the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from an alternate future. “Upper limit of target-subject’s abilities has yet to be determined,” says Nimrod, the final evolution of the mutant-hunting Sentinel robots, as he gives her the label of “Class Omega.” The term wouldn’t be used again for 15 years, and it’d be nearly 20 years after that before anyone would actually define what, exactly, an Omega Mutant is.

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Throughout the ’90s the phrase “Alpha Level” was used frequently to the same effect, and in 2001’s X-Men Forever #3 Professor Xavier described Iceman and Jean Grey’s “Omega Level Mutant Abilities” as having unlimited potential. The phrase became a standard expression for writers who wanted to let readers know this was an important character.

Meanwhile, in the fan world, debates about who was an “Omega Level Mutant” ran rampant, but rarely went anywhere. The term was so undefined it was difficult to argue why a character should be “Omega Level” at any level more complex than “They’re my favorite!” The meaninglessness of the term was even used as a punchline in X-Men – The Worst X-Men EVER. The Beast described a mutant as “Omicron-Level,” but soon reveals that he just came up with the term because it sounded ominous.

In 2019, it will be possible to do this. House of X/Powers of X heralded a new dawn for Marvel’s merry mutants, and, surprisingly — a firm definition of “Omega Level Mutant.” Using one of his trademark “data pages,” writer Jonathan Hickman clarified that an Omega Level Mutant is “a mutant whose dominant power is deemed to register — or reach — an undefinable upper limit of that power’s specific classification.” He even went on to index 14 currently known Omega Level Mutants, providing the final word on decades of arguments. On Krakoa, those 14 characters are considered the mutant nation “greatest natural resource,” and critical to securing the future of the state.

To me, my X-Men writers

Image Credit: Jonathan Hickman, Tom Muller/Marvel Comics

Unique in the often isolated world of comics, Marvel’s group of creators working on the X-Men line have taken a highly collaborative approach. Al Ewing was the one to answer Polygon’s question about the Omega Level definition and codification of 14 Omega Mutants.X-Men: The Red, The Immortal Hulk() spoke about the practical benefits of clearly defining what is happening when people are working together so closely. “There’s a map of Krakoa, there’s a list of people currently on the X-Men, there’s a list of Omega Mutants and a definition of what that means. […] When you’re sharing fictional space, there’s an advantage to being on the same page.”

But while the definition of Omega Level was relevant to everyone working on the X-Men, it was by no means mandatory — or even contentious. Gerry Duggan (X-Men, Marauders) doesn’t recall much debate on the 14 mutants chosen to be canonical Omegas. “If the definition is ‘no upper limits’ that group fits the bill,” he told Polygon.

Benjamin Percy (Wolverine, X-Force) told Polygon he has little interest in splitting hairs about power levels, and cares “more about the characters’ emotions than their scorecards.” To Percy, all the feats of strength in the world are meaningless is there isn’t a strong story beat behind them — and that maxim bears out in fan reaction as well.

Storm: Marvel comics portrayed the weather-controlling mutant in stories that preceded the Krakoan era as one of their most powerful X-Men. Her fans were informed that big things were on the horizon, with titles such as X-Men: The RedOr Uncanny X-Men: DisassembledShe would appear to make a splash page about weather and nothing else. Sure, she was powerful, but readers just weren’t as engaged as they would become during the Krakoan era — when Storm’s varied adventures including winning a knife fight to maintain her position as Queen of the Solar System.

“Readers adhere to a different system of expectations when it comes to power levels,” Leah Williams (X-FactorX-Men, Trial Of MagnetoPolygon was told by ). “Writers aren’t operating within these same parameters.” This was a common refrain among the X-writers.

Image: Benjamin Percy, Joshua Cassara/Marvel Comics

“The Krakoans are not really interested in those labels, but the fans and villains are,” said Duggan, a good reminder that the phrase was introduced to readers through the voice of the mutant hunting Sentinel known as Nimrod. In today’s comics, the leaders of mutantkind use the nomenclature, but then again, one of the major themes of House of X/Powers of XThe worst thing about running a country is the distasteful aspect of it all.

Duggan reflected on how these classifications were applied in the stories. Williams commented that most mutants, in-universe, wouldn’t much bother with the classifications. Some, such as Kid Omega, enjoy the title while others just want to help their community. There’s no cultural expectation among mutants that they should strive to become Omega Level, and most of our protagonists don’t want to chase power, but to live their lives in peace. “Omega classifications are for trading cards and fan discussions more than they’re for Krakoan citizens,” said Williams.

But if there’s one place in the fiction where the Omega definition thrives, it’s in Style. As the centerpiece of the Hellfire Gala, last summer’s X-Men crossover event where Krakoa flexed its muscles (and fashion) upon the international stage, Krakoa’s Omega Level Mutants bent their wills to terraform Mars in a day. Under mutant reign, Sol’s fourth planet became the galactic seat of power for our solar system, with Storm on a Martian throne as the Regent of Sol.

Duggan was the author Planet-Sized X-Men #1, the special one-shot that revealed the Krakoan plan, recalled that the X-Men writers room “cooked the [Hellfire]Gala camouflage Planet-Size X-Men.” The surprise made the power stunt all the more satisfying; a celebration of mutant power after years of oppression.

Mars is now known as Arakko and became home to an ancient nation made up of mutants, who are, in contrast with the X-Men, obsessed with power. They have a governmental structure that is exclusively made up of Omega Level mutants. Ewing’s mutant-space-program series, SWORD., used Arakko as an exciting new venue, blending the X-Men’s long history with space adventure and the political gamesmanship of the Krakoan era. This is his upcoming series. X-Men: The RedHe will push for an Omega Level cast to characters.

“I’ve challenged Storm politically, I’ve challenged Magneto emotionally, I’ve challenged Vulcan’s temper and his ego,” Duggan told Polygon. “These are things that have no real bearing on powers. Obviously, the superhero genre requires a little superpowered action, but in the Marvel Universe there’s always someone bigger.”

Image: Gerry Duggan, Pepe Lerraz/Marvel Comics

Change is the guarantee in a franchise that revolves around mutation. This is also true for the Omega Level Mutants. In 2020’s Fantastic Four #26 It was discovered that Franklin Richards wasn’t a mutant anymore, nor an Omega Level one. With the arrival of Arakko, came the opportunity to make as many Omega Level Mutants possible.

“We have a mutant who’s the most powerful at creating metal,” Ewing told Polygon. “They’re a poet, they define themselves as a poet and a sculptor. They can create a mountain of metal by speaking the words, but that isn’t the best use of their power as they see it.”

But innovation isn’t limited exclusively to new characters, it’s been a boon to underserved heroes as well. The mutant known as Synch — who can “synch” with nearby superheroes in order to copy their powers — was a C-Lister who spent the ’90s as an interesting, but underdeveloped hero. Hickman offered him a brief starring role during a very short story. X-Men series. In 2020, he became a member of flagship team of X-Men in Duggan’s turn on the title. Synch was identified as a character who is evolving, through Krakoa’s advancements, and could soon join the ranks of the Omega Level Mutants. And while there will soon be a new team of X-Men, Duggan says “He’s been one of my favorites to write this year. […] I’m not letting go of Synch in year two.”

Image: Russell Dauterman/Marvel Comics

The X-Men writer room defined Omega Level Mutants partly indefinable. This has made it difficult for them to thread a needle. “All of these new characters are like [the metalworking poet],” Ewing said. “They’re universes in themselves, and we get to explore those universes, so the real challenge is not to fall in love with them all.”

The last few years in X-Men comics were a commercial and critical high-point. Omega Level Mutants is just one example of the way X-Men authors have been encouraged and supported to think differently about the X-Men.

“Omega status isn’t a shortcut to raising the stakes sufficiently,” Williams said. The definition has given writers “a much more elegant solution to the one-up-isms of the past where we pit mutants against each other in simplistic terms.”

This doesn’t mean the question of who would win is forever answered, just that the parameters have changed. Even as this nugget of comic book taxonomy has been given more prominence than ever before, it’s less and less critical for giving characters meaningful arcs. Duggan reminded us that “you want your favorite to be important, but it’s the story that makes them important, not the label.”

Defining just who Omega Level Mutants are isn’t the same as saying we always know who would win. It’s simply a continuation of the ethos stated back in the very first issue of House of X/Powers of X. “It’s time to get with the program […] The Professor has changed all the old rules…”