In a surprise reinvention, the Avengers' latest reappearance is reimagining an iconic X-Men hero, complete with a new codename, costume and killer instinct. See the new look below…
Cannonball of X-Men and Avengers Receives 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.
One of Avengers’ Best Friendships Gets the Darkest Possible Reunion
