Beast, the ex-X-Force boss, might have accidentally handed Wolverine the ultimate weapon to use against one of his longstanding foes.
In Wolverine #34, penned by Benjamin Percy, with artwork by Juan Jose Ryp, Frank D’Armata, and lettering by VC’s Cory Petit, an unexpected hurdle arises in Wolverine’s relentless pursuit of the Beast. As the story unfolds, readers are confronted with an intriguing revelation: Beast has committed a crucial oversight concerning his Wolverine clone army—they remain endowed with an active healing factor, much to his chagrin.
The unfolding pages of the issue unveiled a startling development—the healing factors within the Wolverine clones had started to reinvigorate, dismantling the mental constraints that Beast had painstakingly instilled within them. It became increasingly probable that these clones, now unshackled from their enslavement, would inevitably turn against their creator, Beast. Paradoxically, this unexpected turn of events might prove advantageous to Wolverine in more ways than one. The revelation could potentially grant him an unforeseen advantage in his longstanding quest to vanquish the Beast once and for all. Adding to the intricate web of circumstances, another adversary of Wolverine’s, Sabretooth, lurked in the shadows with an army of his own. Beast’s blunder, in an ironic twist of fate, might inadvertently provide Wolverine with the crucial leverage required to thwart his age-old nemesis.
Beast’s Biggest Blunder
Wolverine’s unwavering determination to eliminate the Beast stems, in part, from the agonizing betrayal he endured at the hands of his former comrade. Beast callously manipulated Wolverine, reducing him to a feral marionette and forcing him to carry out assassinations aligned with Beast’s personal agenda. Astonishingly, Beast failed to grasp the immense challenge of controlling any incarnation of Wolverine, leading him to embark on the ill-fated venture of creating a legion of cloned Wolverines. Intended as weapons against Krakoa’s adversaries, these clones were purposefully bred with diminished cognitive abilities, embracing their feral nature.
However, the Beast grievously underestimated the potency of their regenerative abilities. Once their healing factors surged into action, their intellectual faculties rapidly progressed to nearly normal levels. As a result, a significant number of these clones will probably attain full sentience concurrently, unleashing their pent-up fury upon the very source of their existence—Beast himself.
At present, the notion of mourning the Beast’s fate finds little resonance among those acquainted with his actions. However, the aftermath concerning the destiny of the clones bears greater intrigue. Designed initially as formidable soldiers, these clones encapsulate the sinister implications of the Beast’s manipulations. Regardless of the cruelty inflicted upon them, the Beast imbued them with a sense of purpose. Devoid of the Beast’s presence, the clones would be left bereft, devoid of any purpose or direction. Their existence teeters on a precarious precipice, raising compelling questions about their future once severed from the very creator who endowed them with significance.
This is where Logan, known as Wolverine, assumes a pivotal role. Wolverine possesses firsthand familiarity in contending with his own rogue clones and owing to his recent ordeal of being manipulated as Beast’s pawn, he is likely to harbor a unique empathy toward the plight of these clones. His compassionate nature has already manifested in a merciful act of sparing two clones instead of swiftly ending their lives. Wolverine recognizes that they are living entities thrust into this predicament without their consent. Now, armed with the knowledge of their burgeoning intelligence, he may endeavor to guide them in discovering a purposeful existence within the confines of this world.
An Army of Wolverines Can Take On an Army of Sabretooths
Unbeknownst to Wolverine, a crucial revelation awaits him, one that presents a fortuitous solution to the recent schemes of his longstanding adversary, Sabretooth. In the pages of Sabretooth and the Exiles #5, penned by Victor LaValle, illustrated by Leonard Kirk, colored by Rain Beredo, and lettered by VC’s Cory Petit, a chilling development transpires. In an audacious move, Sabretooth aligns himself with a formidable army comprising alternate incarnations of his own self, directing their collective menace towards Krakoa with the intent of sowing chaos. While a solitary Sabretooth is already a formidable threat, the presence of multiple iterations escalates the situation to catastrophic proportions, particularly when the world believes Sabretooth to be safely incarcerated all this time. Little does Wolverine realize that the existence of the clones, which have recently come to his attention, holds the perfect solution to this impending crisis.
Should Wolverine succeed in rallying the clones to his cause, he would acquire an impeccable army capable of confronting Sabretooth’s impending threat head-on. This legion, comprised of clones infused with Logan’s own abilities, skills, and battle-honed experience, holds the potential to tip the scales in his favor. However, the success of this plan hinges upon the survival of a significant number of clones who turn against their creator, Beast. Wolverine, having endured betrayal in the past, exercises caution and wariness. Yet, Beast’s tendency to underestimate Wolverine’s prowess might serve as a strategic advantage, catching him off-guard when the clone army emerges—an unforeseen force that could be replicated in their confrontation with Sabretooth. The element of surprise becomes a crucial factor in this intricate web of alliances and betrayals.
