Warning! Spoilers ahead for Ultimate Wolverine #3!

Ultimate Universe puts an incredibly dark twist on the hero, with Gambit demonstrating how much of an absolute killing machine he’s willing to be for mutantkind’s liberation.

In Ultimate Wolverine #3 – written by Chris Condon, and illustrated by Alessandro Cappuccio – the tyrannical Colossus deploys his military forces, including a brainwashed Wolverine, to take out Gambit and the rest of the mutant Opposition when the Eurasian forces fall into a trap. With a charged chess piece, Gambit incinerates one of the Eurasian soldiers with an incredibly powerful explosion strong enough to leave only a skeleton behind.

It is clear this variant of Ultimate Gambit didn’t come to play, but it also goes to show just how much power Gambit keeps locked away, no matter the universe.

Ultimate Gambit May Be More Powerful Than His Earth-616 Counterpart, Setting up a Way More Brutal Hero

Ultimate Wolverine #3 – Written By Chris Condon; Art By Alessandro Cappuccio; Color By Bryan Valenza; Letters By Cory Petit; Cover Art By Alessandro Cappuccio & Frank Martin

Marvel's relaunched Ultimate Universe has been a bleak reality for mutants, with the X-Men existing as dictators like Colossus and Magik, brainwashed weapons like Wolverine, or militarized freedom fighters battling for mutant liberation, like Gambit. That is to say, many heroes' origins have changed, and it is possible that Ultimate Gambit never met Mister Sinister, or had him remove a piece of his brain. Moreover, the Eurasian government has been weaponizing powerful mutants like the Weapon X program but on a much grander scale, with similarities to New Sun’s origin of being experimented on by the government as a child.

With or without Omega Power, his lethal methods show just how powerful Gambit could be if he didn’t hold back.

Gambit, in the main Marvel Universe, has developed a moral com that minimizes casualties and protects life, but Ultimate Gambit is a mutant who faces an even more tyrannical regime willing to persecute and weaponize mutant-kind. Gambit from the Maker’s Ultimate Universe is arguably a hero with a more battle-hardened attitude and survival instinct, making him a variant far more willing to go to extremes. Ultimate Gambit is a leading member of the Ultimate Universe’s version of the X-Men, and, with or without Omega Power, his lethal methods show just how powerful Gambit could be if he didn’t hold back.

Marvel Shows Gambit Has Been Restraining His Immense Power, But He Has Always Had Incredible Abilities

Gambit Vs. Galactus, From Marvel Zombies: Resurrection #4 – Written By Phillip Kennedy Johnson; Art By Leonard Kirk

Gambit may not be touted as the Gambit’s hand to completely obliterate a zombified Galactus. Though Galactus was weakened due to his zombie infection, it’s still a moment that shows Gambit wields almost inconceivable power with his hands alone.

While Gambit’s power is usually depicted as kinetically charging playing cards and projecting them at his foes in a fiery pink explosion, his abilities extend far beyond what he usually displays. Not only can Gambit charge any physical object with kinetic energy, but he can also control when an object explodes and how massive the explosion will be, as seen with his landmine chess pieces. Ultimate Gambit exhibits how lethal Remy LeBeau’s explosive capabilities can be if he’s pushed to his limits, and if he is at his peak capacity, Gambit is a beyond omega-level mutant.

As a Hero With Beyond Omega-Level Potential, Gambit Is The Unrecognized Powerhouse Of The X-Men

Gambit Has Demonstrated God-Level Power Repeatedly

Prior to his career as an X-Men, Gambit’s mutant powers were so rapidly increasing that he sought out Mister Sinister to remove a piece of his brain, which made it easier to control his kinetic abilities. Even though Earth-616 Gambit lost the ability to reach his prime power levels, the full extent of his powers can be seen with his variant New Sun, who could control energy on an atomic level, phase through different dimensions, and managed to kill his Earth’s Phoenix. The full extent of Gambit’s powers sures even the X-Men’s strongest, taking him to near god status.

The New Ultimate Universe Gambit has the potential to be on par with Gambit’s most powerful variants.

Gambit achieving omega status is not an isolated incident; the main Marvel Universe's Gambit also acquired the pinnacle of his power level when he became Apocolypse’s Horseman of Death. As Death, Gambit’s abilities reached new heights as his Kinetic blasts received a boost that allowed him to disintegrate all matter, change the particles in the air into toxic gas, and his lesser-known power of psychic charm is amplified into full-on telekinesis. With his psychic charm, Gambit also had the ability to corrupt and control others.

In Gambit #24 – written by Fabian Nicieza, with art by Yanick Paquette – New Sun reveals he becomes “an expression of the kinetic flow of the universe” when his powers are restored. With this in mind, it’s apparent why Gambit, throughout his various iterations, can take down cosmic beings like the Phoenix Force and Galactus. In his brief but impressive exhibit of his abilities, the New Ultimate Universe Gambit has the potential to be on par with some of Gambit’s most powerful variants in X-Men history. He may even be strong enough to kill Ultimate Wolverine.

Ultimate Wolverine #3 is available now from Marvel Comics!