Omega-level mutants

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 wasn't 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."^[1]

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.^[a] This led several conflicting opinions and debates among fans as to who or what qualified as omega-level.^[1]

In July 2019 during X-Men relaunch of Krakoan Age, Jonathan Hickman provided an official definition in House of X #1 and listed fourteen Omega-level mutants alongside their respective omega power.^[1]

In November 2020, a new status quo for Powerhouse, who was considered 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 as per Fantastic Four, vol. 7 #18.^[5][6]

After the X of Swords event in 2020, a large number of Omega-level mutants were introduced from the Arakko as its governmental body, the Great Ring of Arakko was composed of Omega-level mutants (excluding the adjunct and night seats).^[1] These mutants were not explored until X-Men Red, vol.2 (2022) by Kieron Gillen, who also established the fact that "a battle between Omega-level mutants is all about versatility, not just raw power."^[7]

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.^[8][1]

Definition

Definition given by Jonathan Hickman [emphasis in original]:^[9]

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.

— 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 didn't believe there's anything in the definition that said there can be only one.^[8]

For Example: Both Kid Omega and Jean have the highest upper limit for telepathy that there could be possible.

Omega-level mutants

Achieved or identified before Krakoan Age

Character	Omega power	Issue
Iceman (Bobby Drake)	Negative temperature manipulation[9]	X-Men Forever #3 (January 2001)
Marvel Girl (Jean Grey)	Telepathy[9]
Kid Omega (Quentin Quire)	Telepathy[9]	New X-Men #135 (December 2002)
Elixir (Josh Foley)	Biokinesis[9]	New Mutants, vol. 2 #12 (January 2004)
Vulcan (Gabriel Summers)	Energy manipulation[9]	X-Men: Deadly Genesis #1 (November 2005)
Powerhouse (Franklin Richards)	Universal reality manipulation[9]	X-Men: The 198 Files #1 (January 2006)
Mister M (Absolon Mercator)	Matter manipulation[9]
Storm (Ororo Munroe)	Weather manipulation[9]	Black Panther, vol. 4 #21 (October 2006)
Legion (David Haller)	Power manifestation[9]	New Mutants, vol. 3 #4 (August 2009)
Hope Summers	Power manipulation[9]	X-Men Phoenix Force Handbook #1 (July 2010)

Achieved or identified during Krakoan Age

Character	Omega power	Issue
Monarch (Jamie Braddock)	Quantum reality manipulation[9]	House of X #1 (July 2019)[9]
Magneto (Max Eisenhardt)	Magnetism[9]
Proteus (Kevin MacTaggert)	Psionic reality manipulation[9]
Exodus (Bennet du Paris)	Telekinesis[9]
Genesis	Chlorokinesis[3]	X-Men, vol. 5 #16 (December 2020)[10]
High Mutant Prophet Idyll	Not specified
Idyll the Future Seer	Precognition[11]
Isca the Unbeaten	Not specified
Lactuca the Knower	Universal spatial awareness[12]
Lodus Logos	Not specified
Ora Serrata[b]
Sobunar of the Depths
Tarn the Uncaring	Biological manipulation[3]
Xilo the First Defender[b]	Not specified
Nameless, the Shape-Shifter Queen[14]		X-Men Red, vol. 2 #1 (April 2022)
Uquesh the Bridge[14]		Legion of X #1 (May 2022)
White Sword (Blue)	Healing[14]	X-Men Red, vol. 2 #12 (June 2023)
Kobak Never-Held[15]	Not specified	X-Men Red, vol. 2 #13 (July 2023)
Lycaon Two Wolves[16]
Orrdon, the Omega Rocket		X-Men Red, vol. 2 #14 (August 2023)
Death[17]		X-Men Red, vol. 2 #16 (October 2023)
Famine
Pestilence
War	Pyrokinesis[7]

Achieved or identified post-Krakoan Age

Character	Omega power	Issue
Forge[c]	Technopathy	X-Force, vol. 7 #1 (July 2024)[18]
Krakoan (Julian Keller)	Unspecified	NYX, vol. 2 #4 (October 2024)[19]

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. Charles 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 Thomas 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.^[20][9]

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.^[21]

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.^[8]

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.^[22]

Notes

1. These characters were once termed as Omega-level mutants or having omega-level abilities before the establishment of definition: Betsy Braddock, Cable, Professor X, Rachel Summers and White Queen were confirmed to be not omega-level as they were excluded from the list in House of X #1 despite being the members of Krakoan Age. While the status of Brian Morrison, Hyperstorm, Gabriel Shepherd, Maddie, Stryfe and X-Man remained unconfirmed.^[2][3]
   • The similar term "beyond omega-level" was never defined but used for Matthew Malloy, Powerhouse, Vulcan and X-Man.^[4]
2. Ora Serrata and Xilo were merged as Xilora in X-Men Red, vol. 2 #18.^[13]
3. Forge created a machine that allowed him to reach at omega-level while using it.^[18]

References

1. Jenkins, Zachary (March 25, 2022). "One change turned a longtime X-Men debate into Marvel's greatest asset". Polygon. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
2. Cronin, Brian (December 16, 2017). "Marvel's Omega Level Mutants, Ranked From Least Powerful To OP". CBR. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
3. Allan, Scoot and Murray, Kirsten (May 22, 2024). "All Of Marvel's Omega-Level Mutants, Ranked By Power". CBR. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
4. Wood, Robert (June 30, 2024). "X-Men: The 10 Most Powerful 'Beyond Omega Level' Mutants, Ranked". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
5. Wood, Robert (May 22, 2024). ""They Made a Decision I Do Not Agree With": X-Men's Senior Editor Calls Out Fantastic Four Twist That Transformed Marvel Lore". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
6. "Fantastic Four (2022) #18". Marvel. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
7. Benns, Tristan (October 14, 2021). "X-Men Settles a Huge Fan Debate About the Strongest Omega Mutant". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
8. Wood, Robert (May 24, 2024). "X-Men Officially Settles Major Fan Debate About What 'Omega Level' Actually Means". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
9. Bacon, Thomas (July 26, 2019). "X-Men Finally Defines The Most Powerful 'Omega Mutants'". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
10. Zachary, Brandon (December 30, 2020). "X-Men: Marvel's Omega-Level Mutants Population Just SKYROCKETED". CBR. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
11. Jones, Jonathan (August 20, 2022). "X-Men: Marvel's Omega-Level Mutants Population Just SKYROCKETED". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
12. Benns, Tristan (August 27, 2023). "X-Men's Most Unbeatable Villain Admits Even She Fears 1 Omega Mutant". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
13. "X-Men Red (2022) #18". Marvel. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
14. Miller, Chris (October 7, 2024). "15 Most Powerful X-Men Heroes Introduced in The Last Decade". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
15. Benns, Tristan (August 26, 2023). "Marvel's New Omega-Level Mutant Has a Better Version of Wolverine's Claws". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
16. Jones, Jonathan (March 17, 2023). ""Imagine an Omega Wolverine": Marvel Teases Game-Changing New Mutant". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
17. Wood, Robert (November 21, 2023). "Death Is the Coolest New Hero to Join the X-Men in Years (& the Key to the Franchise's 2024 Success)". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
18. Schlesinger, Alex (August 23, 2024). "X-Men Lore Changes Forever, With New Machine That Turns Normal Mutants Omega Level". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
19. Fields, Ashley (October 2, 2024). "X-Men Confirms THE KRAKOAN Is Its New Magneto With an Easter Egg 32 Years in the Making". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
20. Pulliam-Moore, Charles (July 25, 2019). "House of X Just Made Marvel's Omega Level Mutants Interesting Again". Gizmodo. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
21. Sawan, Amer (April 7, 2023). "One X-Men Veteran Has Always Deserved to be Considered an Omega-Level Mutant". CBR. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
22. Glazebrook, Lewis (July 28, 2024). "Omega-Level Mutants Explained As Marvel Confirms They Exist In The MCU". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 2, 2024.