"That's What All the Best Ones Say": Wolverine Officially Names the Next Cyclops-Level Mutant Hero (Who's Currently Z-List)

Summary The X-Men franchise has a history of turning foes into friends, with iconic villains like Magneto and Emma Frost joining the team.

Wolverine sees potential in Volta to follow in their footsteps, as even Doctor Doom has noticed her abilities and praised her as a warrior.

Volta could become one of the X-Men's greatest champions if she chooses to accept Wolverine's offer, impressing both him and Doctor Doom.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for X-Men #33With decades of history and countless team line-ups, the X-Men franchise includes some of the most beloved heroes in the Marvel Universe, but many of them didn’t start that way. On more than one occasion, the Children of the Atom’s biggest icons have started out with little interest in fighting alongside Marvel’s Merry Mutants. And now, history is repeating itself, as Wolverine has already scouted the X-Men’s next A-List hero – and she currently works for Doctor Doom.

X-Men #33 by Gerry Duggan, Joshua Cassara, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and VC’s Clayton Cowles forces the heroes to call upon the X-Men of Doom, a coalition of Latverian mutants employed by Victor Von Doom himself. Once Orchis’ human leader, Killian Devo, is defeated, Wolverine turns to the Latverians’ field commander, Volta.

As Logan reminisces over how he first joined the X-Men to rescue the original team from Krakoa, Volta stops him, reiterating her disinterest in joining. And while Wolverine’s response, “Yeah. That's what all the best ones say,” may not exactly sway her, he’s right about the precedent that X-Men recruitment has set.

Related One X-Men Villain's Most Powerful Form Was Surprisingly Absent From the Krakoan Era The X-Men's Krakoan Era has remixed and recontextualized much of their history, but one perennial villain has surprisingly not made an appearance.

The X-Men Has A History Of Turning Foes Into Friends

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Many of the X-Men’s premier members never wanted to join the Children of the Atom, and in many cases, they actively sought their downfall. Legends like Magneto, Emma Frost, Rogue, and Juggernaut began their careers as X-Men enemies, and even Wolverine secretly only joined to take out Professor X. But since joining the X-Men, these icons have proven their worth time and again, becoming some of the franchise’s most popular heroes. Clearly, Wolverine sees the potential of Volta to follow in these heroes’ footsteps, and he’s not alone in recognizing the Latverian mutant’s potential.

With so many former enemies having joined the X-Men, Volta could become one of the greats if she so chose.

When Doctor Doom’s X-Men – also known as the Seven Daggers of Latveria – appeared in X-Men #29 by Duggan, Cassara, Cowles, and Marte Gracia, an accompanying data page written by Victor describes Volta Doom as the finest warrior with whom he shares a special bond, even going so far to suggest her as a possible heir. Doctor Doom is one of the most arrogant beings in the entirety of the Marvel cosmos, and his praise is not something that comes easily. If Volta is capable enough that even Doom has noticed, then Wolverine’s own vote of confidence is unbelievably well-founded.

Doctor Doom Isn’t Easy To Please

With so many former enemies having joined the X-Men, Volta could become one of the greats if she so chose. Neither the man called Logan nor Victor Von Doom are the easiest people to impress, and anyone who could manage to make an impression on both men is someone worth watching out for. Doctor Doom’s potential heir may not accept Wolverine’s offer anytime soon, but fans shouldn’t be too surprised if the mutant Volta becomes one of the X-Men’s greatest champions somewhere down the line.

X-Men #29 and #33 are on sale now from Marvel Comics.