Marvel is revamping a powerful X-Men villain, with a change that could help them topple Magneto. Soon, Earth will come under the control of Doctor Doom in the forthcoming One World Under Doom event. The Avengers will be the first line of defense against Doom, so he has created his own team. The Superior Avengersfollows Doom’s new team of villains–including one of the X-Men’s deadliest foes.
Marvel revealed more information about The Superior Avengers on their website, including a first look at the team’s roster, which consists of upgraded versions of villains such as Killmonger, Doctor Octopus…and Onslaught. Marvel did not give any additional information on the identity of the new Onslaught, nor any other members of the Superior Avengers. Marvel’s solicitation for The Superior Avengers #1 reads as follows:
And there came a day, unlike any other, when Doctor Doom ruled the world…and he needed an AVENGERS team all of his own! Kristoff Vernard, son of Victor Von Doom, has been tasked with building the newest iteration of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! But who are these would-be heroes? And how did they come to be the SUPERIOR AVENGERS? Find out in a tale unlike any other in the landscape that is ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM!
Marvel also provided artist Luca Maresca’s character design sketches, including the new Onslaught.
Far slimmer and smaller than their predecessors, this new incarnation of Onslaught looks far creepier and more sinister.
Onslaught, the Biggest Threat Ever to the X-Men, Explained
Onslaught is the Worst of Professor X and the Worst of Magneto
The X-Men’s rogues gallery is full of powerful villains, such as Proteus and the Shadow King, but it was Onslaught that almost destroyed the team. In the early 1990s, Marvel editorial dictated that Magneto return to his villainous roots, despite a decade spent rehabilitating him. The X-Men creative team responded by having Magneto perform some heinous acts, including stripping Wolverine of his adamantium. In retaliation, Professor X mindwiped his former friend, leaving him in a catatonic state. The X-Men moved on and recovered, but there was trouble brewing just under the surface, as Magneto’s consciousness had somehow infected Professor X.
Onslaught's arrival marked the climax of the "X-Traitor" storyline that had been brewing for years.
The result of this union was the immensely powerful Onslaught. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to Magneto, Onslaught went on a rampage across the Marvel Universe. The X-Men, stunned that they were seemingly betrayed by one of their own, fought back, and in time, Marvel’s other heroes, including the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, joined the fight. During the climactic battle, many of Marvel’s heroes are sent off to a parallel dimension, as chronicled in Heroes Reborn. However, it appeared to the rest of the world they were dead. Onslaught was defeated, but the price was paid.
With many of its main heroes thought dead, and mutants the seeming culprit, public opinion against the X-Men became more intense than ever.
Onslaught’s attack led to ripples throughout the Marvel Universe. With many of its main heroes thought dead, and mutants the seeming culprit, public opinion against the X-Men became more intense than ever. Heroes that survived, such as Daredevil, were forced to pick up the slack the Avengers left behind. Furthermore, in the absence of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil were able to infiltrate the surviving heroic community by posing as a team of heroes: the Thunderbolts. It is easy to see why the X-Men dread Onslaught so much.
Magneto is one of the most recognizable villains in comic history, and his long tenure has included several memorable costume changes.
Sadly, Onslaught would return on multiple occasions, each time seeking to destroy mutants. For the tenth anniversary of the original Onslaught story, Marvel released a five-issue follow-up, titled Onslaught Reborn. Seeking revenge on Franklin Richards in the wake of Decimation, Onslaught reformed itself, this time with a skull-like head, similar to The Superior Avengers character design. Onslaught has proven hard to kill and an even more horrifying variant, fused with elements of the Red Skull, tormented Magneto. The Master of Magnetism was triumphant, but Onslaught would rear his head again in the Krakoan era, where he became something of a boogeyman.
The Return of Onslaught Is Bad News for the X-Men (and the Entire Marvel Universe)
Just How Did Doctor Doom Get Onslaught on His Team?
Onslaught’s return in The Superior Avengers raises many questions, particularly how he was able to return. Previous versions of Onslaught were made of psionic energy and non-corporeal in nature, which allowed him to continually remanifest himself. Whether this can be said of the new Onslaught remains to be seen, but the “skull head” is back. The new Onslaught has a very wraith-like appearance, in stark contrast to the bulky variants that came before. Onslaught is non-corporeal, so giving him a ghostly appearance is a stroke of genius on Maresca’s part.
Doom has used his newfound power to further his ambitions of control, which apparently include bringing a version of Onslaught under his thumb.
How Onslaught ends up working for Doctor Doom in The Superior Avengers will be another central mystery. Doctor Doom recently ascended to the role of Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme at the conclusion of Blood Hunt. Doom has used his newfound power to further his ambitions of control, which apparently include bringing a version of Onslaught under his thumb. As Onslaught is very powerful, it would take someone even stronger to control him. Onslaught could be working with Doom willingly, but if not, then it speaks volumes to how powerful Victor has become.
Doctor Doom and Magneto fought side by side in the 1989 crossover event Acts of Vengeance.
Finally, questions remain over why Doctor Doom would want Onslaught on his team. Onslaught’s return comes at a dark period for the X-Men, and seeing their old foe at this critical time is the last thing they need. This is especially true for Magneto, who has become an increasingly important figure to Earth’s mutants. Onslaught was forged from parts of Magneto. It is possible this new Onslaught is a “psyop” against Magneto on Doctor Doom’s part, designed to get under the Master of Magnetism’s skin, and provoke him to action, allowing Victor to topple him.
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