Omega Red

Omega Red (Arkady Rossovich) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. In 2009, Omega Red was ranked as IGN's 95th-greatest comic book villain of all time.^[2]

Omega Red
Omega Red as depicted in X-Men (vol. 2) #18 (March 1993). Art by Andy Kubert.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	X-Men (vol. 2) #4 (January 1992)[1]
Created by	John Byrne (writer) Jim Lee (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Arkady Gregorivich Rossovich
Species	Human mutant
Team affiliations	The Hand Red Mafia Weapon X-Force The Marauders
Notable aliases	Arkady Gregorivich Vasyliev Arkady
Abilities	Keen intellect Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes Enhanced healing Carbonadium coil housed within each arm Life-force absorption Poisonous pheromones

The character made his live-action debut through a cameo appearance in Deadpool 2, portrayed by Dakoda Shepley.^[3] Additionally, Len Doncheff, Richard Newman, and Colin Murdock have voiced Omega Red in animation.

Publication history

Omega Red first appeared in X-Men #4 (vol. 2, January 1992), and was created by Jim Lee and John Byrne.^[4]

Fictional character biography

Little is known about the past of Arkady Rossovich except that he was a serial killer born in Soviet Russia. He was captured by the Interpol agent Sean Cassidy and turned over to the KGB, which wanted to experiment and attempt to create a supersoldier similar to Captain America. Omega Red was given carbonadium coils in his arms that slowly poison him and require him to drain the life force of others to survive.^[5][6]

At some time in the past, the Soviet government decided that Omega Red was too unpredictable and treacherous to be relied upon. As such, he was placed in cryogenic suspended animation until a method could be found to control him. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Omega Red is revived by Matsu'o Tsurayaba, the leader of the Hand. Omega Red became a warrior serving Tsurayaba and was led to believe that Wolverine knew the whereabouts of the Carbonadium Synthesizer which could save his life, and sought him out in an effort to find this device. In doing so, he comes into conflict with the X-Men many times.^[7][8][9]

Omega Red is killed after being stabbed in the heart by Wolverine.^[10] The members of the Church of St. Mitrophan later obtain Omega Red's corpse and resurrect him in a mystical ceremony. However, the resurrection is incomplete, leaving Omega Red in danger of dying again until the Russian mafia uses Magik's abilities to restore him.^[11]

During the Krakoan Age, Omega Red seeks asylum at Krakoa. Wolverine tries to persuade Magneto that Omega Red is too dangerous to be allowed on the island, as he poses a serious threat to its residents. Omega Red is captured by Dracula, who gives him the Carbonadium Synthesizer in exchange for serving him.^[12]

It is later revealed that Omega Red has been killed under unknown circumstances.^[13] He is resurrected by the Five, but has no memory of his death or rebirth, allowing him to serve X-Force as a double agent.^[14]

Powers and abilities

Omega Red is a mutant with superhuman strength, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes, and the ability to secrete pheromones referred to as "Death Spores". The spores are fatal to humans and can kill within seconds. Furthermore, Omega Red possesses durable carbonadium coils in his wrists and the ability to drain the life force of others.

Omega Red is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant and military tactician. He was trained in various forms of armed and unarmed combat by both the Soviet government and various organizations throughout the Japanese and Russian criminal underworlds. Highly intelligent, he has quickly become highly skilled in the management of criminal organizations.

Reception

In 2018, CBR.com ranked Omega Red 17th in their "Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World" list.^[15]

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

An alternate universe variant of Omega Red from Earth-295 appears in "Age of Apocalypse". This version is a businessman with ties to the mutant underground and the black market.^[16]

Days of Future Now

An alternate universe variant of Omega Red appears in "Days of Future Now" as a member of X-Force.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe variant of Omega Red from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel imprint. This version is an enemy of Spider-Man who possesses organic tentacles.^[17]

Ultimate Universe

An alternate universe variant of Omega Red from Earth-6160 appears in the Ultimate Universe imprint. This version is a member of the Rasputin family, who rule over Russia.^[18]

In other media

Television

• Omega Red appears in X-Men: The Animated Series, voiced by Len Doncheff.^[19]
  • Omega Red makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the X-Men '97 three-part episode "Tolerance Is Extinction" as a member of the Winter Guard.^[19][20]
• Omega Red appears in the X-Men: Evolution episode "Target X", voiced by Richard Newman.^[19] This version is a Hydra operative and former member of the Weapon X program.
• Omega Red appears in Marvel Anime: Wolverine, voiced by Ryūzaburō Ōtomo in the Japanese version and JB Blanc in the English dub.^[19]
• Omega Red appears in Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red, voiced by Mick Wingert.^[19]

Film

• Omega Red appears in Hulk Vs, voiced by Colin Murdock.^[19][21] This version is a member of Weapon X's Team X.
• Omega Red makes a cameo appearance in Deadpool 2, portrayed by Dakoda Shepley. This version is a prisoner of a mutant prison called the Ice Box.^[3]
• An Omega Red film was in development at 20th Century Fox before it was canceled.^[22]

Video games

• Omega Red appears in X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse as a Danger Room simulation.^[23]
• Omega Red appears as a playable character in X-Men: Children of the Atom, voiced by George Buza.^[19]
• Omega Red appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, voiced again by Len Doncheff.^[19]
• Omega Red appears as a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, voiced again by Len Doncheff.^[19]
• Omega Red appears as a boss in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, voiced by Steve Blum.^[19] This version works for Mikhail Rasputin and Apocalypse.
• Omega Red appears as a boss in the Game Boy Advance version of X2: Wolverine's Revenge.^[24]
• Omega Red and a variant who joined the Horsemen of Apocalypse appear as playable characters in Marvel Puzzle Quest.^[25][26]
• Omega Red and a variant who is powered by the Phoenix Force appear as playable characters in Marvel Strike Force^[27]