Omega-level mutants
{{Short description|Fictional classification of mutant appearing in Marvel Comics}}
Omega-level mutants are the fictional mutants appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics with the most powerful potential of their mutant abilities.
Publication history
In August 1986, the term was first introduced by Chris Claremont in Uncanny X-Men #208 as "Class Omega", but was not explained except referring to an exceptional level of power. It was first used to describe Rachel Summers' powers on which Nimrod reported that "upper limit of target-subject's abilities has yet to be determined."{{cite web|author=Jenkins, Zachary |url=https://www.polygon.com/22989921/marvel-x-men-all-omega-level-mutants-powers |title=One change turned a longtime X-Men debate into Marvel's greatest asset |website=Polygon |date=March 25, 2022 |access-date=June 23, 2024}}
The term was not seen again until the 2001 limited series issue X-Men Forever #3, where Professor X described Iceman and Marvel Girl's "omega level mutant abilities" having unlimited potential. For a time, no firm definition was offered in the comics and the term "omega-level mutant" was simply used whenever a writer wanted audience to know that the character was a big deal (See inconsistency). This led several conflicting opinions and debates among fans as to who or what qualified as omega-level.
In July 2019 during X-Men relaunch of the Krakoan Age, Jonathan Hickman provided an official definition in House of X #1 and listed fourteen omega-level mutants alongside their respective omega power.
In November 2020, a new status quo for Powerhouse, who was considered an omega-level mutant, was established that he was not a mutant in Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #26. Then X-Men's senior editor Jordan White had disagreed with this decision and the change was made due to character's affiliation with Fantastic Four. However in March 2024, Marvel Comics reinstated his previous status as omega-level mutant by revealing that he was repressing his powers.{{cite web|author=Wood, Robert |url=https://screenrant.com/x-men-fantastic-four-franklin-richards-mutant-controversial/ |title="They Made a Decision I Do Not Agree With": X-Men's Senior Editor Calls Out Fantastic Four Twist That Transformed Marvel Lore |website=Screen Rant |date=May 22, 2024 |access-date=June 23, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/110802/fantastic_four_2022_18 |title=Fantastic Four (2022) #18 |website=Marvel |access-date=June 23, 2024}}
After the X of Swords event in 2020, a large number of omega-level mutants were introduced as members of the Great Ring of Arakko. These mutants were not explored until X-Men Red (vol. 2) (2022) by Al Ewing, who also established the fact that "a battle between omega-level mutants is all about versatility, not just raw power."{{cite web|author=Benns, Tristan |url=https://screenrant.com/xmen-omega-mutants-storm-power-strength-versatility/#:~:text=In%20X%2DMen%3A%20Red%20%23,an%20added%20edge%20in%20combat. |title=X-Men Settles a Huge Fan Debate About the Strongest Omega Mutant |website=Screen Rant |date=October 14, 2021 |access-date=June 26, 2024}}
In January 2022, it was revealed that mutants can enhance (at least to some extent) their power to omega-level by further training as Synch had shown potential to achieve omega-level status in X-Men (vol. 6) #7.{{cite web|author=Wood, Robert |url=https://screenrant.com/x-men-most-powerful-omega-level-explained/ |title=X-Men Officially Settles Major Fan Debate About What 'Omega Level' Actually Means |website=Screen Rant |date=May 24, 2024 |access-date=June 23, 2024}}
Definition
Definition given by Jonathan Hickman [emphasis in original]:{{cite web|author=Bacon, Thomas |url=https://screenrant.com/xmen-omega-mutants-marvel-comics/ |title=X-Men Finally Defines The Most Powerful 'Omega Mutants' |website=Screen Rant |date=July 26, 2019 |access-date=June 24, 2024}}
{{blockquote|1=
Omega Level Mutant: A mutant whose dominant power is deemed to register – or reach – an undefinable upper limit of that power's specific classification.
For Example: Both Magneto and Forge are the most powerful mutants of their power types on the planet Earth [Magnetism and Technopathy, respectively], but what makes Magneto, and not Forge, an Omega level mutant is that the upper limit of Forge's measurable powers could hypothetically be surpassed [and, in fact, has by multiple humans on the planet], while the upper limit of Magneto's power cannot be surpassed in any measurable fashion.
Note: Omega level is a classification of a single mutant power. While it is quite common that mutants manifest multiple powers, only one is normally of Omega level.
For Example: While Jean Grey is both a telepath and a telekinetic, she is only an Omega level telepath. |source=House of X #1 (July 2019)}}
Multiple mutants can achieve the upper limit of a power at the same time on which Jordan White stated that he did not believe there is anything in the definition that said there can be only one.
{{blockquote|
For Example: Both Kid Omega and Jean have the highest upper limit for telepathy that there could be possible.}}
Known omega-level mutants
Inconsistency
Many characters were previously termed as Omega-level mutants or having omega-level abilities: Betsy Braddock, Cable, Rachel Summers and White Queen were excluded from being Omega-level mutants despite being the members of Krakoan Age. While the status of Brian Morrison, Hyperstorm, Gabriel Shepherd, Maddie, Stryfe and X-Man remained unconfirmed after the establishment of definition.{{cite web|author=Cronin, Brian |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-omega-level-mutants-ranked/ |title=Marvel's Omega Level Mutants, Ranked From Least Powerful To OP |website=CBR |date=December 16, 2017 |access-date=June 23, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/every-omega-level-mutant-ranked/ |title=All Of Marvel's Omega-Level Mutants, Ranked By Power |author=Allan, Scoot and Murray, Kirsten |website=CBR |date=May 22, 2024 |access-date=June 23, 2024}} As Krakoan, Julian Keller had also declared himself Omega-level.{{cite web|author=Fields, Ashley |url=https://screenrant.com/x-men-confirms-new-magneto-krakoan-video-game-easter-egg/ |title=X-Men Confirms THE KRAKOAN Is Its New Magneto With an Easter Egg 32 Years in the Making |website=Screen Rant |date=October 2, 2024 |access-date=October 2, 2024}}
Reception
In April and July 2019, Charles Pulliam-Moore from Gizmodo and Thomas Bacon respectively had highlighted the challenges that might come with classifying Omega-level mutants. Pulliam-Moore stated that Omega-level mutants are singled out for being unique but there are also characters with similar powers to them and challenges might come for writers to imaginative things when questions would be asked what can these mutants can do when they are at their upper limit. While Bacon wrote in Screen Rant that a writer writes any superhero as very powerful which could be pointed by fans to add their favourite character into the ranks of Omega-level mutants and writers might come under immense pressure from it.{{cite web|author=Pulliam-Moore, Charles |url=https://gizmodo.com/house-of-x-just-made-marvels-omega-level-mutants-intere-1836679454 |title=House of X Just Made Marvel's Omega Level Mutants Interesting Again |website=Gizmodo |date=July 25, 2019 |access-date=June 24, 2024}}
Regarding Omega-level mutant classification, Amer Sawan of CBR in April 2023, commented that one downside to it was that the system to classify Omega-level mutants changes frequently with constantly shifting nature of the powers and due to this, some mutants who had done incredible things with their powers would lack recognition for being denied the status of omega-level.{{cite web|author=Sawan, Amer |url=https://www.cbr.com/x-men-kitty-pryde-omega-level-mutant-marvel/ |title=One X-Men Veteran Has Always Deserved to be Considered an Omega-Level Mutant |website=CBR |date=April 7, 2023 |access-date=June 24, 2024}}
In May 2024, Robert Wood of Screen Rant hinted the possibility of 'Omega Level' label being altered after the end of Krakoan Age as House of X's definition was defined by in-universe nation of Krakoa. He also commented that even with flaws, a set of rules was created by Marvel Comics for writers to play, challenge and redefine; encouraging the kind of 'logic puzzle' on which superhero stories thrives.
In other media
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Deadpool & Wolverine, Cassandra Nova is referred as an Omega-level mutant by the Time Variance Authority.{{cite web|author=Glazebrook, Lewis |url=https://screenrant.com/omega-level-mutants-mcu-explained/ |title=Omega-Level Mutants Explained As Marvel Confirms They Exist In The MCU |date=July 28, 2024 |website=Screen Rant |access-date=September 2, 2024}}
Notes
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