Xavier's Replacement Arrives in Marvel Lore, With Terrifying Psychic Powers: "I'm Always Reading Your Thoughts"
With Charles Xavier officially retiring to space and Jean Grey patrolling the far-off galaxy, the Marvel Universehas a new most powerful psychic hero, and he is one of the most unlikely allies to humankind: the villainous entity known as Onslaught. As Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Doom is creating his own Avengers, enlisting some powerful yet dangerous new villains turned heroes, and Onslaught is among this new team’s deadliest.
...it seems fitting that Professor X's “son” might rise to take his place as the planet’s most formidable psychic force.
In Superior Avengers #1, written by Steve Foxe, with art by Luca Maresca, Doctor Doom has formed a new team of Avengers consisting of Killmonger, Doctor Octopus, Malakith, Ghost, Abomination, and Onslaught, announcing to the public that they are the new Superior Avengers. In the midst of protecting civilians, this new Onslaught tells his team, "I'm always reading your thoughts."
Some of the Superior Avengers appear to be new characters taking up the mantles of classic villains, including Onslaught. Even so, this new iteration is already demonstrating just how powerful he truly is.
Marvel’s New Most Powerful Telepath Emerges After Professor X Retires
Superior Avengers #1; Written by Steve Foxe; Art by Luca Maresca & Kyle Hotz; Color By Mattia Iacono; Letters By Cory Petit
Conceptualized during the “Fatal Attractions” event in X-Men #25 by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert, Onslaught was conceived when Charles Xavier psychically attacks Magneto and leaves him in a coma after Magneto had infamously ripped out Wolverine's adamantium. This moment resulted in Charles Xavier’s frustration with humankind and Magneto’s hatred melding together to form a dark psychic entity later to be known as Onslaught. Once he manifested a physical form, Onslaught became one of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe, possessing both Magneto’s and Xavier’s powers and surpassing even the combined potential of the two.
As the brainchild of Magneto and Professor X’s most negative impulses, Onslaught sought to make mutants the dominant race within a world under his control. Onslaught would later absorb the powers of Omega-level telepath Nate Grey and force Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s son, Franklin Richards, an incredibly powerful reality warper, to be the host of his being, which culminated in a universe-altering threat. Though this newly manifested Onslaught does not appear to be at his full capacity, his power to passively read anyone's mind presents horrifyingly sinister potential.
Onslaught Becomes an Avenger with Power Beyond that of Charles Xavier
Onslaught Once Again Returns to Earth, Showing His Astonishing Power
The original Onslaught nearly wiped out the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four, an outcome only prevented by Franklin Richards, who transported them to a pocket dimension of his own creation. At the height of his power, Onslaught was able to psychically overpower some of Marvel’s greatest powerhouses, including Thor, Jean Grey, and the Hulk. This raises the question of just how powerful this new Onslaught’s psychic abilities are, and whether he is truly the same entity the heroes once battled. With Charles Xavier having left Earth, it seems fitting that his “son” might rise to take his place as the planet’s most formidable psychic force.
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How Onslaught returned to Earth remains to be seen. However, this is far from the first time this dangerous entity has been able to re-manifest into existence. During “Way of X,” Orchis infected a mutant with Onslaught, unleashing him onto the population of Krakoa, where he fed off negative psychic runoff that came from the resurrection protocol, implanting himself within the minds of thousands of mutants. The Krakoa population was able to defeat Onslaught with the help of Legion and Nightcrawler, but his power to latch onto others' minds shows just how persistent he is in returning to Earth.
Onslaught’s Return Under Doctor Doom Spells Trouble for Marvel’s Heroes
Will Onslaught Turn On Humanity Like His Predecessor?
Though this most recent variant of Onslaught appears to be acting as a hero under Doctor Doom, the return of Professor X and Magneto’s brainchild may pose an earth-shattering threat. It remains to be seen whether this is the Onslaught who attempted to obliterate humanity or if this is a new entity entirely; either way, his psychic powers have already been shown to be on par with Marvel’s strongest. Should Doom or Onslaught turn on humanity once again, Onslaught’s omega-level powers and Doctor Doom’s Sorcerer Supreme magic combined have the potential to lay waste to Earth.
Now that Professor X is gone, the amalgamation of Charles Xavier and Magneto’s darkest parts has stepped in to become Earth’s most powerful psychic under the guidance of the Sorcerer Supreme, and current sovereign of Earth, Doctor Doom. Doom’s questionably chosen new Superior Avengers, comprised of former villains, are even more lethal with the addition of Onslaught, who has already shown to have incredible control of his psychic powers. The source of Onslaught’s revival remains a mystery, but his return spells out a catastrophe on the horizon for the Marvel Universe and its heroes.
Superior Avengers #1 will be available on April 16, 2025, from Marvel Comics!
