X-Men's Coolest New Hero Ransom Unlocks His Maximum Power, Putting A Dark Twist on The Idea of A 'Healing Factor'

Warning: Spoilers for Uncanny X-Men #5X-Men has introduced several new mutants into its roster in Marvel's From the Ashes era, but one in particular stands out as a serious powerhouse. Ransom, a member of the Outliers, just showcased his black hole superpowers in an unexpected way that would make anyone squirm. Thanks to his dark twist on a mutant healing factor, Ransom is already the X-Men's coolest new hero.

In Uncanny X-Men #5 by Gail Simone, David Marquez, Matt Wilson, and Clayton Cowles, the X-Men make their stand against the undead forces of their scariest threat yet, the Hag. While the team's veteran heroes lead the charge, the Outliers ready themselves for their first proper battle as members of the X-Men. Ransom steps up and, shockingly, instructs his opponents to kill him. When they oblige by striking him in the chest, he says, "That's the spot exactly."

Rather than dying after being stabbed, Ransom charges up energy in his fist and hits back with astonishing force. This sequence shows off his unique mutation, proving that he has the darkest healing factor in X-Men lore.

X-Men's Latest Recruit Unleashes His Full Power in the Darkest Way Possible

Ransom's Subversive Healing Factor Is One of Marvel's Creepiest

The average mutant wouldn't survive getting stabbed directly in the heart, and Ransom's specific mutation explains how he's able to pull off such a feat. In Uncanny X-Men #3, he reveals that he was born without a heart. Instead of a heart, Ransom has a black hole in his chest. Now, he's shown that he can channel this black hole's power into his fist by getting struck where his heart should be, since his chest is the source of his mutation. Essentially, Ransom needs to die in order to power up, making his healing factor one of Marvel's most disturbing.

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Typically, a healing factor can heal the user from a standard injury, but death can't always be healed even by a superpower. For instance, Deadpool's healing factor fails to save him in Deadpool #6 by Cody Ziglar and Rogê Antônio when he gets fatally wounded by a blade that inflicts damage on a molecular level. Without an intact physical form, his healing factor has no effect, resulting in his death. Ransom, meanwhile, appears to be immune from dying if he's hit in the chest. He therefore has a key tactical advantage in not needing to defend a part of his body that most view as a vulnerability.

Ransom's Immunity to Death Makes Him X-Men's Most Promising New Hero

The Outliers Have Already Made an Impression in Marvel Lore

Ransom, along with his fellow Outliers in the X-Men, is making his mark in the Marvel Universe with his intriguing inversion of a mutant ability. His black hole superpowers have endless possibilities beyond their capacity to save him from death, with the true extent of them remaining to be seen. The other Outliers also show promise, such as Jitter and her vast repertoire of powers, and it won't be long before they can go toe-to-toe with their mutant mentors. If Ransom's first demonstration of his dark powers is this impressive, he's sure to be one of the X-Men's strongest fighters in no time.

Uncanny X-Men #5 is available now from Marvel Comics.

X-Men

The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.