As the X-Men franchise enters an official new era, Wolverine's son is transforming into a new form that embraces his new powers while honoring his past. While Akihiro was introduced to Marvel continuity as a villain, Wolverine has since put in the work to develop a relationship with his son. For his own part, Akihiro has built links to fellow mutant heroes, going from amoral assassin to true hero. Sadly, that heroism couldn't protect him from the attentions of the demonic Bagra-ghul.

In December, Marvel is launching a brand-new Hellverine series from Benjamin Percy and Raffaele Ienco, following up on May's four-issue miniseries of the same name. The story will see Wolverine's son Akihiro attempt to grapple with his new Ghost Rider powers and the demonic Bagra-ghul. However, unlike the previous series - where the Bagra-ghul transformed Akihiro to look more like his father - this time Wolverine's son is in control, leading to the return of his 'Fang' costume and his unique claws, with two emerging from between his knuckles and one from his forearm.

In a past adventure, Wolverine himself was possessed by the Bagra-ghul, turning him into the first Hellverine. When the demon later possessed Akihiro, it sensed the connection to his father and brought back its previous form, obscuring the identity of its new host. Thankfully, Wolverine helped Akihiro take back control, leading to this new, more balanced version of the Hellverine with its unique design.

As the Hellverine, Akihiro can infuse his body and vehicle with Hellfire, as well as projecting it from his body. He also has extra senses - including the ability to perceive magic and sinfulness - and his healing factor is increased to unbelievable levels.

Wolverine's Son Officially Returns as the Hellverine

Akihiro Gets a Hellish Redesign Thanks to New Ghost Rider Powers

Recently, Akihiro - formerly known as Daken - was killed by Sabretooth in the villain's vicious 'celebration' of Wolverine's birthday. This left him open to possession by the Bagra-ghul and the secretive Project Hellfire - a group who try to harness the Ghost Rider's powers to create living weapons. Akihiro was driven to take lethal vengeance on the guilty without being able to control his actions, as the demonic spirit transformed him into a dark parody of his once-hated father, complete with Wolverine's iconic claws and costume.

However, once Wolverine learned his son was alive, he rode to the rescue, helping Akihiro to master the hellfire within. Now, fans are seeing a new merged Hellverine as Akihiro truly claims the godlike power he's inherited. Akihiro will still need to find ways to cope with the dark influence of the Bagra-ghul, and it seems his first stop in doing so will be Doctor Strange, who is exorcizing the demon in Leinil Francis Yu's eye-popping variant cover.

However, despite his new powers, Akihiro has been resurrected into a very different world. When Sabretooth killed him, mutantkind was fighting for the survival of its newly founded nation, Krakoa. In X-Men's new 'From the Ashes' era, Krakoa is gone for good, and mutants are more hated and feared than ever. The X-Factor team where Akihiro found love and friendship has disbanded, and his family are likewise scattered across the country. While it seemed like Akihiro had finally found peace during the Krakoan era, it now turns out he's left with only his newfound power, leaving him to make hard decisions about how to use it.

Hellverine's New Design Has a Very Specific Meaning

Wolverine's Son Reclaims His Humanity

Hellverine's design for Akihiro's hellfire form may be new, but the costume Akihiro is wearing has its own history. The Fang costume was given to Akihiro in 2022's Marauders #5 (from Steve Orlando and Andrea Broccardo.) It's a traditional uniform worn by the champions of the Lupak alien society, with their most celebrated winning positions on the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. Being given the suit and accompanying Fang codename/title was a major moment that saw Akihiro step out from Wolverine's shadow, embracing his own identity as a hero.

That's a big deal, because Akihiro has had an incredibly hard life. His original codename 'Daken' was an insult foisted on him during childhood, and he later became the Dark Avengers' Wolverine in order to mock his father by performing evil deeds in his name. The Fang codename was the first time Akihiro was acknowledged as a hero in his own right, and Sabretooth brutally snatched that away. Akihiro's subsequent Hellverine form not only robbed him of his hard-won free will, it also transformed him into a twisted copy of Wolverine - something he's been before and fought hard to escape.

Akihiro wearing the Fang costume while in his Hellverine form is a declaration of his heroic intent and his dignity as someone who is making his own choices. It's a triumphant redesign from where Akihiro was just a few months ago, even as it also serves as a reminder of the better life he had earned before Sabretooth attacked.

Wolverine's OTHER Son Is Also Getting a New Lease on Life

After 6 Years, Logan's Son Jimmy Hudson Is Back Too

Strangely, Akihiro's transformation comes at the same time as his pseudo-brother returns to Marvel lore. Wolverine's other son Jimmy Hudson just made his return in Cullen Bunn and Roberto Di Salvo's Venom War: Deadpool #1, where it was revealed he's been hiding beneath New York as a citizen of the hidden Monster Metropolis. Years ago, Jimmy bonded with a cosmic predator known as a Poison (a lifeform which hunts and assimilates symbiotes like Venom.) Venom War has revealed he's essentially going through the same struggle as Akihiro - trying to control the deadly being with which he shares a body.

Jimmy is originally from Marvel's Earth-1610 - aka the 2000s-era Ultimate Universe. He's since made the journey to Marvel's main timeline, where he forged a relationship with the extended Wolverine family. He's currently going by the codename 'Poison.'

Jimmy has been missing for six years of Marvel lore, but he has actually met Akihiro before. The two fought at a point where Magneto had ordered Akihiro to kill Jimmy, putting a severe strain on their sibling relationship. However, now that both are back and harboring monsters, it can surely only be a matter of time until fans get to see a reunion between Akihiro's Hellverine and Jimmy Hudson's Poison, as Wolverine's sons both fight to tame the monster within.

Akihiro's new Hellverine design marks a major turning point in his Marvel story, as he takes control of immense demonic power during a time where every mutant hero counts. Hopefully, this new era will include a reunion between Wolverine's sons, since - while they may have met as enemies before - they now have a lot in common.

Hellverine #1 is coming December 18 from Marvel Comics.