Why Sabretooth is So Terrifying and Why He Cannot be Included in The MCU
MCU has many creative and brilliant ways to introduce a character in their franchise, but the savage supervillain might be one of the exceptions.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Sabretooth #1 by Victor LaValle, Leonard Kirk, Rain Beredo, and VC’s Cory Petit, now on sale from Marvel Comics
Sabretooth will always be associated with Wolverine, not just because they practically have the same powers and talents, but also because they have a shared history. But no one can deny that he’s one of those characters who is just one writer away from becoming the next big bad.
Following the events of House of X, the Quiet council dispatched the team of Mystique, Toad, and Sabretooth to infiltrate and extract information from Damage Control. Once they acquired what they came for, the Fantastic Four arrived. Mystique still managed to complete the mission because of Sabretooth’s sacrifice. The Great Captain Commander, Cyclops tried to process Sabretooth’s extradition but it was the political brilliance of Emma Frost that sealed the deal as Sabretooth will face trial in the Nation of Krakoa for his crimes during that mission.
While Sabretooth is undoubtedly responsible for the catastrophic outcome at Damage Control, the Quiet Council should be held accountable for enlisting him in that assignment. Victor Creed has been recruited for a number of covert operations over the years. He participated in CIA, HYDRA, and Mission X missions. He possesses a healing factor comparable to Wolverine’s, superhuman strength and agility equivalent to any super-soldier, and a fearlessly aggressive attitude. He is also an accomplished hunter and tracker. His major selling point and what sets him apart from Wolverine is his inclination for brutality.
Inside the Krakoa’s Pit, the X-men team comprising of heavy hitters Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey, and Nightcrawler tracked Sabretooth in order to capture him. Going by his usual demeanor, Victor attempts to create an opening only to be shut down by Jean Grey’s omega-level prowess. As soon as everything seems right, Victor launches a surprise attack at Cyclops, disrupting the great captain commander’s optic blast. Victor then uses Cyclops’ devastating optic blast as a weapon against the rest of X-men. Everyone except Nightcrawler dies on the spot. This extreme brutality could definitely be one of the reasons why the MCU cannot include Sabretooth. His defining characteristic is his acknowledgment that he is a savage beast only capable of destruction and mayhem.
