Spoilers for Savage Avengers #6!While lightsabers are the iconic weapons of the Jedi and Sith in the Star Wars franchise, an iconic MCU villain just got one of their own, as the Avengers confront an old enemy with a new name, a new army, and a deadly new weapon.
In Savage Avengers #6, the Savage Avengers - composed of an alternate Miles Morales Deathlok, Elektra, Cloak, Dagger, Black Knight, Anti-Venom, and Weapon H - find themselves chronologically displaced in the year 2099. The team spends most of the issue confused and on the run from Nueva York’s army of cybernetic soldiers known as Deathloks. The heroes are able to repel the killer cyborgs, but it quickly becomes apparent that in this dark future, the merciless Prime Deathlok is the one in control.
At the conclusion of the issue, it's revealed that Prime Deathlok is none other than Ultron. This Ultron is different from the model in Marvel's present. That version is bonded with Hank Pym, and currently a prisoner of the Avengers in a sealed Vibranium coffin. However, by 2099 (the 2099 canon is the official future of the Marvel Universe) it seems Ultron will have returned to his full cybernetic form, adding a double-sided laser sword to his arsenal of weaponry. Ultron also commands an army of Deathlok cyborgs and is wearing a crimson cloak reminiscent of his original identity as the Crimson Cowl - a costume that was homaged in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The issue comes from David Pepose and Carlos Magno.
Ultron Wields a Double-Bladed Lightsaber
Ultron’s upgrades to his body and weapons usually include armies of powerful drones under his command, adamantium reinforcements to his chassis, or long ranged yet devastating armaments including the encephalo-beam and the molecular re-arranger. In this new timeline, however, the newest weapon in his arsenal is rather unique. With his army of Deathloks bowing before him, Ultron stands up from his throne wielding none other than a double-bladed lightsaber. Resembling Sith assassin Darth Maul’s lightsaber, this weapon must be ludicrously powerful for Ultron to wield it over his usual energy weapons and explosives.
One of the explanations for why Ultron would choose to wield a lightsaber is if it could cut unbreakable metals like vibranium, adamantium, and mysterium. Indeed, the recently introduced villain Rapture wields a lightsaber-alike weapon that can do exactly that, so it would make sense for Ultron to claim that technology as his own by 2099. It's rare that Marvel allows such blatant similarities to Star Wars' iconic lightsabers into its world, suggesting this won't be a mere affectation, but rather a genuine power-boost for Ultron, despite the Avengers villain needing anything but.
Savage Avengers #6 is available now from Marvel Comics!