Warning! Spoilers for Hellverine #7 aheadWolverine's son Akihiro, formerly known as Daken and now known as Hellverine, has followed in the steps of his father more than once, including the terrifying conditions around his apparent death, and possibly, his return from the dead.
After Sabretooth murdered Akihiro and the demon Bagra-ghul brought him back to life, the demon-possessed Akihiro took the mantle of Hellverine and started to investigate the curse of the Hell Hulk, whose body parts influence those around them. In Hellverine #7, written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Raffaele Ienco and Bryan Valenza, Akihiro successfully retrieves all of Hell Hulk's body parts, but he begins to suspect there's more to the creature than it may seem at first sight. Once he taps into the Hell Hulk's head, he receives a vision of the monster's creation.
Akihiro rejects Severith's idea to attach the Hell Hulk's head to its body and es out. The next time Akhiro encounters Project Hellfire's shady scientist, Severith reveals to Akihiro that the Hell Hulk is supposed to be "his greatest creation." Unfortunately, Akihiro can't do anything to stop Severith, as Severith's cane has frozen him in place, encased in an inescapable monument.
Wolverine's Son Akihiro Has Met The Same Fate As His Father
Hellverine #7; Written By Benjamin Percy; Pencils By Raffaele Ienco; Colors By Bryan Valenza
By freezing him and trapping him in a pyramid of bricks, Severith has condemned Akihiro to the same fate as Logan, who was covered in liquid adamantium after confronting Dr. Abraham Cornelius, creator of the Weapon X program. Wolverine actually died in 2014's Death of Wolverine, which is rare for the hero. Wolverine only came back from the dead when the mutant Persephone resurrected him in Return of Wolverine. That said, a slow suffocation as the liquid adamantium hardens is probably one of the worst deaths a Marvel mutant has experienced.
Wolverine's Son Debuts New Power That Logan Could Never Have
As the "Hellverine," Wolverine's son just got one critical upgrade over his famous father, totally upending a dark family tradition in Marvel lore.
Akihiro doesn't have to deal with the agonizing feeling of adamantium turning his body into a living statue, and the pyramid Severith casts around him doesn't crush his body; still, Akihiro probably can't move a single muscle. It's unknown whether Severith's curse allows Akihiro to breathe. If it doesn't, then Bagra-ghul's demonic power is certainly keeping Akihiro alive for as long as the curse lasts. After all, Akihiro breathed underwater while retrieving the Hell Hulk's head not long before his encounter with Severith. Whether that's a blessing or a curse is up to interpretation.
Will Akihiro Break His Curse, Just As Wolverine Did?
Akihiro May Be Able To Break Free Faster Than His Father
Aside from facing lighter circumstances than Wolverine, Akihiro's hellish power puts the odds in his favor. While the true extent of Severith's mystical powers is unknown, Bagra-ghul's power may be powerful enough to break the villain's spell and allow Akihiro to exit his tomb. Akihiro's healing factor and link to Bagra-ghul has allowed him to survive even worse predicaments, including but not limited to having his body and face stretched, cut into pieces, and hung on a wall by Mephisto himself.
Akihiro also has plenty of pending matters to solve, unlike his father. When Wolverine died, he was able to rest easy knowing that the last thing he achieved before the liquid adamantium hardened around him was killing Dr. Cornelius. Akihiro is barely beginning to understand the Hell Hulk, and his first confrontation with Severith likely won't be the end of his intervention in Project Hellfire.
Hellverine #7 is available now from Marvel.
