Spoilers ahead for Inferno #1!
Inferno, Marvel’s latest X-Men event, is not only ushering in a new era for Krakoa and its denizens, but it also presents a serious flaw in Wolverine being the only mutant with an Adamantium skeleton. Given the advanced technology available to the X-Men, they could give any mutant an Adamantium upgrade but have chosen not to as of yet. Inferno #1 is on sale now in print and digital.
Adamantium is one of the strongest metals in the Marvel Universe and is bonded to Wolverine’s skeleton courtesy of the Weapon X program. Thanks to his mutant healing factor, the process did not kill him. Other mutants, such as Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike, have Adamantium skeletons as well. Adamantium is not as rare a metal as it once was, and the X-Men even keep a supply on hand to rebind to Wolverine’s skeleton when he dies and is resurrected. But the X-Men’s seemingly endless supply of Adamantium raises a question: why have the X-Men not done this for more mutants already?
Inferno #1, written by Jonathan Hickman, with art by Valerio Schitti, colors by David Curiel, and letters by Joe Sabino, calls out this flaw in the X-Men’s logic. The Orchis Forge is making their moves against Krakoa and have enlisted Nimrod, a Sentinel from the future, to their cause. X-Force, including Wolverine, are dispatched to stop them and during the course of battle, Nimrod blasts Wolverine, reducing him to a smoking skeleton.
Wolverine will be resurrected on Krakoa and Magneto will give him a new Adamantium skeleton, per usual. So, given that the process of grafting Adamantium onto bone is now an easy process—why are the X-Men not doing it more often? Perhaps the biggest stumbling block is that it can kill someone, as their body rejects the metal; Wolverine’s healing factor prevents this from happening to him, but what of other mutants who have healing factors? Furthermore, there are mutants on Krakoa who are healers, such as Elixir, who could easily take care of any problems that might occur. Couple this with the seemingly endless supply of Adamantium, and there is no reason for the X-Men not to give others Adamantium skeletons.
The tactical advantages of an army of Adamantium-laced mutants are enormous. There are mutants with superhuman endurance, but few with healing factors and an Adamantium skeleton offers another layer of power and protection. Not every mutant would get—or need one; the Adamantium would be reserved for those who could truly benefit from it. Mutants with superior fighting skills, such as Domnio or Gambit, would be ideal candidates. Conversely, the X-Men could give an Adamantium boost to those lacking in combat skills, as a way of leveling the playing field.
Wolverine’s Adamantium skeleton has been a hallmark of the character since his introduction. While it once made sense for him to be one of a handful, that has changed, thanks to Krakoa, and this gets called out in Inferno #1.