Wolverine's Son Has Finally Found Redemption, But I Admit I Didn't Think It Would Happen Like It Did

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Hellverine #1

Akihiro, the son of Wolverine, has been possessed by a demon who revels in death and gore, and I think it’s exactly what he needed. For his entire life, Akihiro has been driven by rage against his father, but in death, he’s just looking for peace. Ironically, bonding to Mephisto’s pet hellspawn is proving to be the mutant’s best path toward redemption and inner peace.

Hellverine #1 – written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Raffaele Ienco – marks the beginning of Akihiro’s journey as the Hellverine. Before bonding with the demon Bagra-ghul, Akihiro was nothing but a gruesome display of twisted limbs and intestines after being torn apart by Sabertooth.

Now, the son of Wolverine has returned to life, and while obviously, he isn’t in the best possible position, as a longtime fan of the character, I think this experience may be what Akihiro needs to find peace within himself.

Wolverine's Son Akihiro Needs to Prove To Himself – And Readers – That He’s A Hero

Hellverine #1 – Written By Benjamin Percy; Art By Raffaele Ienco; Color By Bryan Valenza; Lettering By VC’s Travis Lanham; Cover Art By Kendrick “Kunkka” Lim

I want to make it clear that Akihiro is a hero; while the son of Wolverine started as an antagonist for the X-Man, he did undergo major character development during the Krakoan Era. After meeting his sisters Laura and Gabby, Akihiro’s hate for his family legacy softened. By Krakoa’s collapse, Akihiro was on the front lines, doing his best to save the nation’s refugees. When Akihiro first became the Hellverine, he used his new powers to free the Destroyers from Project Hellfire. Akihiro, like his father, is a good person who has done many awful things.

However, his greatest character flaw now is his inability to let go of the past and his struggle to conquer his shame. Most of this issue of Hellverine is narrated by Akihiro, as he explains his past, his fears, and his ongoing thoughts while serving out lethal vengeance. Through this, we aren’t just reminded of where the mutant has been, but rather how he feels about those moments. When faced with some of the saddest horrors I’ve read in years, with the opportunity to bring peace to the dead, he admits that he feels hopeful for himself and his future.

As He Becomes Marvel's New "Hellverine" Wolverine’s Son Has Already Learned A Valuable Lesson

Bagra-ghul Delivers Vengeance, Akihiro Offers Peace

Even within the first issue, I started to notice a pattern among the victims that the Hellverine avenged. Every monster that he put in the ground had killed, enslaved, or tortured multiple people, hiding their bodies where no one could find them. These poor souls remain lost and forgotten. Unfortunately, the dead don’t get heroes. Except, they have the Hellverine now. While Bagra-ghul craves vengeance, Akihiro only wishes for the victims to find peace. He even takes it upon himself to find and bury every victim, sending them off with flowers and a proper farewell.

After laying to rest multiple children, Akihiro reflects again. “They needed my help because they felt unsettled, pained, and tormented,” he asserts, “maybe I could find a kind of peace… if I asked for help.” Like Logan and Laura, Akihiro struggles with the idea of feeling weak and inept. He feels that, at this point, asking for help will only burden others. At the beginning of the issue, Akihiro notes that both Wolverine and Project Hellfire wanted to help him, but that he couldn’t accept. Akihiro is tormented, wondering if he should even exist, and yet he chooses to suffer alone.

I Hope Akihiro Truly Finds The Redemption He’s Looking For By The End Of "Wolverine"

The Long-Suffering Character Peace

Akihiro is going through Hell, and it’s only going to get worse from here. But I think that’s the point. So far, we know that the series is going to bring the devilish mutant to significant places of trauma from his past. Akihiro’s only going to find more bodies, more victims, and more dark truths. But, shockingly, he’s already learning from his mistakes. He’s learning that it’s okay to need someone’s help and, hopefully, he’ll learn how to forgive himself. Akihiro’s a hero, but when he reflects on his past, all he can recall are his regrets.

Akihiro is on the road to redemption, but it’s to find redemption within himself. The last person he needs forgiveness from is himself. I couldn’t have expected that bonding the mutant with Mephisto’s pet “punishing artist” would be what heals his inner self, but it looks to be the case. So far, I’m impressed with Benjamin Percy’s direction of the character and I hope that Akihiro’s journey will bring him the salvation he’s looking for. The son of Wolverine deserves a new chance at life, one where he can see the hero in himself that everyone else already does.

Hellverine #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.