X-Men and Avengers’ Cannonball Gets a Dark New Codename and Redesign
In the recent The Ultimates #21 – from Deniz Camp, Pere Pérez, Federico Blee and Travis Lanham – fans are introduced to “Ballistic”, aka Sam Guthrie’s Cannonball. Cannonball is a former member of both the X-Men and the Avengers, with the ability to generate an impenetrable ‘blast field’ that allows him to fly at incredible speeds while making him impervious to harm.
In the Ultimate Universe, Ballistic is a psychopathic killer – a victim of Emmanuel Da Costa and Emma Frost, who have been brainwashing and weaponizing young mutants. In the issue, Ballistic murders a group of government agents in order to frame Luke Cage’s Avengers for the crime, leading a new regime-backed team known as the ‘Defenders’ into battle.
Cannonball originally joined the Avengers in 2013 as part of Jonathan Hickman’s massive expansion of the team, and still wears the costume he gained as a member. Sadly, in the Ultimate Universe, Sam is an enemy of the Avengers and wears a blue jumpsuit with various corporate sponsors emblazoned across it.
Thankfully, ‘Ballistic’ is taken down by Cage’s Avengers. It’s possible that the team will recruit him as it did Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, however with Emma Frost describing him as “a vindictive psychopath”, it’s unlikely he’ll be trusted, and is more likely to be imprisoned.
One of Avengers’ Best Friendships Gets the Darkest Possible Reunion
While Cannonball is best known as an X-Men character, his time with the Avengers emphasized his bromance with fellow mutant hero Sunspot. That makes it perfectly appropriate that the two ‘reunite’ in The Ultimates #21, taking down Sunspot’s villainous father without ever meeting.
The Defenders are the pet project of Emmanuel Da Costa – a horrific villain and member of the Maker’s global regime. Emmanuel has been seen before in the series, using the blood of various captive mutants, including his son, to steal their powers.
It turns out that the Defenders are Emmanuel’s last chance, and when the Avengers beat them, Emma Frost paralyzes him and allows Sunspot to finish off his predatory father, taking Emmanuel’s place with the permission of the Maker’s regime.
While Sunspot and Cannonball may not be heroic members of the Avengers in this continuity, The Ultimates #21 sees them unite to ‘defeat’ Emmanuel and further the Avengers’ cause – Cannonball by accidentally squandering Emmanuel’s last chance, and Sunspot by using his powers to take out his tormentor.
The Ultimates has included some fascinating twists on classic Avengers lore, but also some unexpected deepcut references to the franchise. Bringing back X-Men‘s Sunspot and Cannonball is one of them, giving the Avengers besties a dark new chapter in their friendship.
The Ultimates #21 is available now from Marvel Comics.