Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Hellverine #3! Ghost Rider-like antihero, Hellverine. While that alone establishes a strong connection between Akihiro and Mephisto, it’s just been revealed that their connection is much deeper than that.

In a preview for Hellverine #3 by Benjamin Percy and Raffaele Ienco, Akihiro has sought out Doctor Strange for help in dealing with a crisis that’s impacting mutants around the globe. As Akihiro discovered in the last issue, the site of his resurrection in the North Pole became engulfed in hell magic, as that was where Bagra-ghul used its demonic powers to bring Akihiro back to life. That area is also where an X-Force safe house was located (and where Akihiro was staying before he was killed by Sabretooth) - which is bad news for mutantkind.

The hell magic spread to the mutant safe house, and from there, it clung to mutants as a whole. It seems the hell magic liked the ‘taste’ of mutant suffering, which is why it is targeting mutants everywhere. Not only that, but Mephisto himself is guiding this hell magic, concentrating it on locations where Akihiro has suffered great personal tragedies. Mephisto seems to derive sick pleasure from Akihiro’s personal suffering. Plus, all the hatred for mutants conjured by hell magic is fueling Mephisto’s efforts, meaning this won’t stop anytime soon - at least, until Hellverine stops it.

Hellverine’s Connection to Mephisto is Hurting Mutantkind

Mutants Everywhere are Suffering Because of Wolverine’s Son

While Mephisto is concentrating the hell magic in locations that hold significance to Akihiro on a personal level, as he derives pleasure from Hellverine’s suffering, the dark energy regarding mutantkind is still global. That means every mutant on the planet is being impacted by this evil magic, which is manifesting itself in a tragically familiar way: bigotry.

Right now in Marvel Comics canon, anti-mutant sentiment is at an all-time high following the fall of Krakoa. Mutants are hated now more than ever, which is something that can be seen in every single ongoing X-Men tie-in title. Interestingly, Akihiro was killed and resurrected during the fall of Krakoa, which means the hell magic his resurrection conjured is secretly what’s been feeding this anti-mutant bigotry around the world. In other words, mutants everywhere are suffering, and it’s all because of Mephisto’s connection to Hellverine.

How Is Wolverine’s Son Going to Stop Mephisto & Save Mutantkind?

Will the X-Men Need to Step In and Lend Their Services?

If the hell magic that was conjured as a result of Akihiro’s resurrection is secretly what’s causing this widespread hatred for mutants, there’s only one question fans should be asking: how is Hellverine going to stop it? Mutants aren’t exactly popular without the influence of demonic forces, after all, so saving them by removing the hell magic from the world might be a tall order. Perhaps the X-Men will have to step in and help Hellverine on his mission - it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve tangled with demons. But even if they do, how will they pull it off?

Right now, there’s no way to know how Hellverine is going to eliminate the hell magic that has latched itself onto mutantkind, or even if the X-Men will be involved at all. All fans know is that Doctor Strange has the utmost confidence in Hellverine to complete this mission. But, until he does, Wolverine’s son has become more dangerous than even Ghost Rider in of his connection to Mephisto, as Hellverine is actively hurting mutantkind by simply existing.

Hellverine #3 by Marvel Comics is available February 26, 2025.