Mutant X Captain America. Why does SEO gotta be like this?
So there’s an overlooked series in Marvel’s X-Men franchise. Why? Because Marvel co-producers couldn’t convince the makers of a TV show to come up with a different name.
While the main star of this What If? style universe is the main universe’s Havok, other characters like Bloodstorm reappear in series like Paradise X. But the character who catches my attention is a unique Captain America. But this iteration has no name and his powers remind me of other characters. Here is my theory on the identity of Mutant X‘s Captain America.
Mutant X Background
Mutant X is the spin-off epic of Howard Mackie’s X-Factor. In this alternate universe, a number of elements from Marvel’s What If? scenarios are present. For example, a six-armed Spider-Man and Storm fully embracing her vampirism for heroics. Havok of the main Marvel Universe ends up in the body of his counterpart, who leads a mutant team The Six.
Super Soldiers=Mutant X?
The Super Soldier Serum has a long history of users with the earliest giving peak human potential. But a few attempts to recreate this formula result in some greater augmentations, often with severe side effects. Some of the most notable derivative Super Soldier formulas include the Black Widow program and Luke Cage’s Power Man Process. But now it’s time to compare the Mutant X Captain America with a few other characters. Because there aren’t a lot of mutants with Super Soldier augmentations.
Almost Mutant X Captain America
The Sentry is notable character whose origin is tied to one of the most powerful super formulas. Interestingly, this was a joint project between the US and Canada. Unlike in Mutant X, Canada is a militaristic superpower who stole Project Rebirth’s resources for its military.
Remember that this is before Weapon X was retconned into being a successor to Project Rebirth. Besides, mutant Captain America and Robert Reynolds share a few traits. Aside from the hair and eye color, their serums came with some very severe side effects. While Bob isn’t a mutant, the Golden Sentry Serum does empower The Void, a deadly dark force symbiotically linked to Bob’s mental state. Like the mutant Captain America’s jingoist conditioning that has him unleash a dangerous amount of power.
Roided Out Cap
Anti-Cap also shares traits with the nameless mutant. This Navy volunteer was the subject of an experimental super drug. But the traumatic events that followed in addition to the nameless recruit’s mental status triggers an unstable mind. As such, his superiors tried to find ways to dispose of him when they start to lose control of both Anti-Cap and their project’s secrets. While Anti-Cap is nowhere near as powerful as Mutant Cap, it stands to reason the latter could’ve ended up like the former.
Alternate Mutant X Captain America?
While the main Marvel Universe has a few select examples of people similar to the Mutant Cap, the other universes might provide insights…right?
Ultimate Marvel(?)
In the Ultimate Marvel universe, many characters have gotten their powers from a Super Soldier Serum arms race. As a matter of fact, mutants resulted from Weapon X’s attempts at a Super Soldier. While it wouldn’t surprise me that a mutant got a super soldier serum, there are no records of survivors.
Earth-1287…Hello!
One other Earth certainly has better ties between mutants and super soldiers. This world’s think tank’s serum had something dubbed the Volga Effect. It essentially weaponizes the mutant genome for more stable if self-destructive superpowers of anyone who takes it. Sound familiar?
Mutant X Captain America is?…A Nobody!
Whoever the Mutant X Captain America is, I don’t think his true identity is the point. The similarities with Sentry and the Volga Effect shed more light on the serum than him. Because that’s the point.
Marvel Comics has a history of revisiting ideas they forgot about including Mutant Cap. Between the Sentry and Volga Effect, they’re more like echoes or crossbows. Each independently invented and further developed after ideas build on one another.
As for Mutant X Captain America, he’s more of an ad for the idea rather than a real character. What makes him noteworthy is what he represents. Because despite Mackie’s tries, he couldn’t make Mutant Cap stick as a character. He was just another idea thrown on top of a lot of others without direction.
But the ink’s not dry yet! Where super soldiers and mutants collide is a good idea that can happen again. Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.