Warning! Spoilers for Sabretooth & The Exiles #2 ahead!The X-Men villain Orphan-Maker has alternated between terrifying and silly throughout his 34-year comic history, but the full extent of his powers have never been revealed until now. Marvel's mutant heroes have amassed quite the impressive rogues' gallery over the years, with their villains ranking among the most iconic in comic history. The Dawn of X relaunch marked the beginning of the new Krakoa Era in X-Men history, and a slate of new titles has allowed an unprecedented number of classic X-Men friends and foes to finally get their time in the sun. Perhaps none have benefited more from this opportunity than the villainous duo of Nanny and her mysterious ward, Orphan-Maker.
Nanny and Orphan-Maker have recently been exiled from Krakoa following a stint in the Pit for murdering humans. Sabretooth & The Exiles #2 by Victor Lavalle and Leonard Kirk sees Orphan-Maker once again interred, this time in the hands of anti-mutant organization Orchis. Nanny understands the risks: when she first found Peter, now the Orphan-Maker, he was a child in the hands of Mr. Sinister. Sinister had discovered young Peter's potential and had planned to use him as a doomsday weapon. However, even Sinister was perturbed by young Peter's power: he's not just a nuclear bomb, he's explosive force that would cause an extinction level event. Without the containment of his armor, Orphan-Maker possesses enough power not just to cause mass destruction, but to eliminate all life on Earth.
Orphan-Maker Possess Apocalyptic Power
Orphan-Maker's armor of Nanny's personal design has been the only thing containing his immense power. Only a single force on Earth is capable of removing him from it: his own desire to take it off. Dr. Barrington, the Orchis scientist attempting to exploit his power, takes advantage of the child-like Orphan-Maker and manipulates him into doing just this. Barrington pays for her hubris, as even the simple act of attempting to remove his helmet is enough to (apparently) instantly kill Barrington. This first activation of Orphan-Maker's full power is not just the realization of Mr. Sinister's fears, but Professor X's as well. Following his death on Arakko, Peter was resurrected through the Krakoan Resurrection Protocols. The resurrection had the unexpected effect of rapidly maturing Peter's body and mind. However, as the process was occurring, Xavier peered into Orphan-Maker and discovered his true nature: while Professor X would never consider any mutant ability any less of a gift, Orphan-Maker also bore a curse, one he should never be allowed to share.
Some Understood How Dangerous Orphan-Maker Really Is
Nanny and Orphan-Maker made their debut back in X-Factor (1986) #31 by Louise Simonson and Walter Simonson, and in thirty years this is the first time readers have received even a glimpse of the incredible power contained in Peter's armor. Orphan-Maker has instead relied on more traditional firearms both in combat and to establish his name in the mission of killing parents so that Nanny may take their children into her care. A true testament to the skill of Nanny's technological prowess, she once commissioned a second suit of armor to contain another immensely powerful mutant child, the Omega-level Franklin Richards, in Avengers #299-300 from Walter Simonson and John Buscema.
The removal of Orphan-Maker's armor has triggered a meltdown, both literal and figurative. While the unique nature of his resurrection brought Peter into adulthood overnight, developmentally he remains very much a child. Orphan-Maker seems more terrified of being in trouble with Nanny than he does the imminent end of the world, and it remains to be seen if the X-Men-adjacent Exiles can prevent him from going critical and ushering in the apocalypse.
Sabretooth & The Exiles #2 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.