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Warning: Spoilers for Ultimate Black Panther #16!Marvel just found its next game-changing threat as a new Black Panther villain proves to be immune to X-Men’s Storm. The villain in question is the element of Vibranium itself as it appears in the new Ultimate Universe. More specifically, it’s a spirit named The Progenitor that lives inside Vibranium. The Progenitor’s existence isn’t just complicating Black Panther’s use of Vibranium, but making matters all the more complicated for Storm.
Ultimate Black Panther #16 expands the lore of the X-Men franchiseby establishing how The Progenitor is immune to Storm’s powers. The God of Vibranium finds himself fighting with T’Challa when the Black Panther signals for Storm to intervene.
The Goddess of Thunder (at least according to Thor) hails down a flurry of lightning and thunder, but The Progenitor isn’t phased in the slightest. The Progenitor shoots the entirety of Storm’s attack back at her. In all of her years with the X-Men and as a solo hero, never has Storm been dominated so definitively as she is here.
The Progenitor Easily Defeats Storm, Immune to One of the X-Men’s Strongest Mutants
Ultimate Black Panther #16 by Bryan Hill, Carlos Nieto, David Curiel, and VC’s Cory Petit
When Storm made her first appearance as a member of the X-Men, Marvel wasted no time in establishing Ororo Munroe as potentially the strongest mutant that the franchise had ever seen up until that point. To this day, Marvel has maintained such a status quo for the character to the point that Storm today is revered as, essentially, the world’s second most powerful mutant next to Jean Grey. As the X-Men’s most powerful mutants, Storm and Jean are considered gods among humankind.
Storm made her Marvel debut in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men #1 by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum.
In Storm’s case, she is not actually a god. However, among the X-Men and the wider superhero community, her power comes closest to matching godlike ability. The Progenitor, on the other hand, is an actual god, with previous issues establishing both him and the space he occupies within Vibranium as a malevolent cosmic force. Just as Jean’s cosmic-level power sets her apart from Storm and gives her the edge, that same scale of power is what allows the Progenitor to overpower Storm without lifting much of a finger.
Even Storm Has Limits in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe
Ultimate Black Panther Confirms Earth’s Strongest Element Can Shut Storm Down
As immense as Storm’s full power is, it may be irrelevant to discuss the former X-Men member solely within the context of the original continuity without first examining how she differs from the version who faces The Progenitor. This alternate version, known as Ultimate Storm of Earth-6160, is introduced in Ultimate Black Panther #1 by Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli. In this new universe, she enters the story as Killmonger’s girlfriend and operates under the pseudonym Wind Rider. Feared for her immense power, she even saves the great King T’Challa, leaving him in awe and on his knees.
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Much like in her introduction to the official Marvel canon, Storm is established in the new Ultimate Universe as a force to be reckoned with and an all-powerful hero. However, the comic has shown that there are elements that are immune to Storm’s power. In Ultimate Black Panther #5, T’Challa and co. have in their possession a rapidly growing green ore that acts as Vibranium’s cosmic opposite. When Storm attempts to use her powers, the freedom fighter’s abilities are of no use to the mysterious element. Storm may be strong, but even she is useless to Earth’s strongest compounds.
Storm’s Defeat Proves No Hero Can Outmatch Marvel’s Strongest Elements
Vibranium’s God Shows That Even Omega-Level Mutants Have Limits
Storm’s confrontations with these elements suggest that, at least in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, no mere person can be stronger than an element, even someone as powerful as Storm. Assuming that Vibranium is no match for Storm, it makes sense as to why Storm gets cast aside so swiftly by The Progenitor. If Storm is no match for Vibranium or other powerful elements, then she is surely no match for someone who is the actual physical embodiment of Vibranium itself.
This isn’t a knock against Storm or what she’s capable of, but rather a testament to the cosmic-level power of compounds like Vibranium, especially if they can overpower some of Marvel’s strongest characters. While audiences often debate which heroes are stronger than others, it’s rare, if ever, that the conversation shifts to which heroes are stronger than elements like Vibranium or Adamantium. Perhaps it’s time to explore that discussion more deeply, examining which materials in the Marvel Universe can overpower even its most powerful characters, just as Vibranium and its godlike embodiment do to Storm.
Ultimate Black Panther #16 is available now from Marvel Comics!
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.
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