Weapon Plus – or the Weapon Plus Program – is a secret governmental paramilitary organisation with the sole purpose of creating super-soldiers to fight in wars, most specifically the hypothesised mutant-human war that many paranoid humans believe will inevitably happen.
Technically, Weapon Plus made its first appearance in Marvel Comics Presents #72 (1991) in the form of the Weapon X program, which at the time was the time was the only known faction of the organisation. However, Weapon Plus was first revealed to exist as a wider parent organisation in New X-Men #128 (2002) when Fantomex revealed to the X-Men that Weapon X, was actually Weapon 10, meaning the X was not in fact an X, but instead the roman numeral for 10.
Weapon Plus History
The origins of Weapon Plus can be traced back to 1940 when both sides of the war sought to create super soldiers to fight in World War II and any wars that would follow.
Before Weapon Plus, there was Project Nietzsche which is considered to be the precursor to the first Weapon Plus program. This was a project carried out by Nazi scientists who had managed to capture the American super soldier, John Steele.
Their aim was to figure out where his abilities came from and use him to create more soldiers like him. Ultimately, this project was deemed a failure as they we unsuccessful in replicating his abilities. Nevertheless, this was just the beginning…
Joseph Reinstein
The project would continue to live on through one of the main scientists involved in Project Nietzsche, Dr. Abraham Erskine. Erskine never agreed with the Nazis or their fascist regime and didn’t want to work with them in the first place.
Obviously, being Nazis, he knew if he rebelled against them this would mean certain death. So, with the help of Nick Fury, he faked his death and defected to the United States adopting the alias, Joseph Reinstein.
Now working with the United States government, he continued his research spearheading Project: Rebirth. Overall, this project was considered an immense success with its most famous test subject being the legendary war hero, Captain America.
Sadly, Erskine was murdered moments after the transformation and most of his research died with him. However, the information that did survive went on to the basis of all future Weapon Plus projects. It’s because this – that despite taking place before the existence of Weapon Plus – Project: Rebirth was later retroactively named Weapon I.
The Birth of Weapon Plus
Weapon Plus wouldn’t see it’s true beginnings as an organisation until 1945, when Truett Hudson (nicknamed Professor Thorton) – a civilian advisor to the U.S. Army who also happened to be the cousin of Wolverine – discovered the underground laboratory of Mister Sinister (Nathaniel Essex).
It was here that he stumbled on the existence of mutants. At the time the existence of mutants wasn’t commonly known to the public. In fact, it was actually Hudson that coined the term mutants in the first place.
Driven by the fear of mutants and also the research he found in the diary of Nathaniel Essex; Hudson created the government funded Weapon Plus Program. All of the research and resources that remained from previous government projects (including Project: Rebirth) were absorbed by Weapon Plus.
The group’s sole intention is to create super soldiers to fight for humans in a supposed mutant-human war. They believe that one day mutants will rise up against humans and overthrow them as the dominant race on Earth.
Weapon Plus Program Members
Each of the Weapon Plus projects has had its own members and leaders. All of which would obviously be considered members of the wider Weapon Plus Program. With that being said, the organisation itself has had three leaders.
In order of their tenure, these leaders are:
Professor Thorton (Truett Hudson)
Truett MacDonald Husdon (nicknamed Professor Thorton) is the founder of Weapon Plus and also the cousin of Wolverine. Whilst acting as a civilian advisor to the U.S. Military he stumbled upon the underground laboratory of Mr. Sinister (Nathaniel Essex). In doing this, he discovered the existence of Mutants and also Mr. Sinister’s research journal.
After bringing his findings back to his employers, the U.S. Government sanctioned him to found Weapon Plus an organisation with the sole aim of creating super soldiers. His personal involvement – if any at all – in most of the individual projects isn’t well documented. But his involvement in Weapon X is well very known.
He was one lead the scientists spearheading the project and is personally responsible for much of what was done to Wolverine. It’s unknown whether or not he knew that Wolverine was his relative, but given his nature, it’s unlikely that this would’ve made a difference to him anyway.
Hudson eventually met his demise at the hands of another Weapon X test subject by the name of Silver Fox.
John Sublime
The being that would come to be known John Sublime is actually a sentient microscopic bacteria colony. It has the ability to possess and “infect” other lifeforms, giving it the power to take control of them on a molecular level.
Beginning life alongside the very first lifeforms on Earth, for years it relished in the endless supply of hosts on Earth. That is until the rise of mutants, when it discovered that they’re the only multicellular lifeforms immune to its “infection”.
It saw them as a threat to its domination of Earth believing they would one day rise and take control. As a result, it began to hate mutants and wanted to do everything in its power to prevent this. It’s unknown what exactly it did to combat against mutants in its earlier years, but many believe it to be the reason for all hatred and fear against mutants on Earth.
Eventually, it took over the body of one of the scientists involved in the Weapon Plus Program, John Sublime. As part of Weapon Plus, it’s said that it pulled the strings in many of the goings on for years. At some point, it replaced Thorton as the leader when Thorton and Weapon X broke away from the rest of Weapon Plus.
Professor William Junger
This is where the confusing inconsistencies of comics comes into play. Until very recently, there had been no appearances or mentions of Professor William Junger but in Wolverine & Captain America: Weapon Plus Vol 1 (2019), he was shown to be the current leader of Weapon Plus. He has only appeared 3 times in total and not much has been explained but here’s what we do know.
William Junger first caught the eye of Weapon Plus director Professor Thorton when he noticed that Junger’s determination to join the army despite being rejected so many times. It’s unknown at which point he was made a part of the organisation but we know that he was a part of the organisation by 1974. We know this because this was when he began experimenting on himself using their resources.
It’s unclear when exactly he was made director of Weapon Plus as it’s also not been made clear when John Sublime left.
Weapon Plus Program
Since its inception, Weapon Plus has been very creative in its efforts to create super soldiers. We’ve seen them try everything imaginable including experimenting on animals, drugging criminals, experimenting with alien symbiotes, and even implanting metals such as adamantium into the bodies of its captives.
From what has been made known, there has been a total of 17 different Weapon Plus programs. Each of these programs has existed as its own splinter organisation with their own leaders and members. Ultimately, they all answer to Weapon Plus, but they create their own initiatives and objectives. They also often continue to exist as splinter organisations well after their inception.
Here’s the lowdown on everything we know about every Weapon Plus Program including the ones that were retroactively included as one of their instalments.
Weapon 0 – Project Nietzsche
Project: Nietzsche was a Nazi super soldier program. It’s considered to be the unofficial precursor to Project: Rebirth (and the Weapon Plus Program itself).
In this program, the Nazis attempted to use two different strategies to create übermensch (super soldiers). These included using the DNA of American soldier John Steele – a golden age superhero who’s first appearance predates Captain America – and using Homo Mermanus DNA. Both of which were unsuccessful.
The project began during World War II. The Nazis captured John Steele hoping to figure out the source of his powers and create more like him. However, their efforts unsuccessful since they couldn’t figure out where his powers had come from, or how to duplicate them. In fact, it’s still unknown where they came from now. Some think he may be a mutant; others suspect he was experimented on by aliens but no one really knows.
Whilst they experimented on Steele, they also attempted to retrieve Homo Mermanus DNA to aid in their objective. Luckily, Namor fought them of and made sure this didn’t happen.
In the end, Project: Nietzsche was completely abandoned. Soon after, one of the main scientists, Abraham Erskine defected to the U.S. after being rescued by Nick Fury.
Erskine’s research on this project went on to be the basis for the future projects as he continued his efforts on the side of the allied forces.
Due to its influence on future projects, Project: Nietzsche was retroactively renamed Weapon 0 after the creation of Weapon Plus.
Weapon I – Project Rebirth
Project: Rebirth – also known as Operation: Rebirth and Project: Super Soldier – was responsible for creating multiple super soldiers. It was founded by the U.S. Government during WWII with the sole purpose of creating an unstoppable fighting force for the allied forces.
Most famously, Project: Rebirth was responsible for the creation of the war hero Captain America. As such, we saw its first appearance all the way back in the golden age of comics with Captain America Comics #1 (1940).
It’s worth mentioning, that despite this project directly leading to the creation of Weapon Plus, it wasn’t actually a product of it. It was the success of this project and Truett Hudson’s discovery of Mr. Sinister’s laboratory (and the existence of mutants) that led to the founding of Weapon Plus. It’s because of this that Project: Rebirth was later renamed Weapon I.
The project began in 1941 when Dr. Abraham Erskine (taking the codename Joseph Reinstein) left Nazi Germany to work with the allied forces. Picking up where he left off with Project Nietzsche, he soon became successful in his efforts.
Before they successfully transformed the meek Steve Rogers into the ultimate war hero, there were two failed test subjects. They received a prototype of the serum in a process that also didn’t include the Vita Rays that were instrumental in the success of Rogers’ transformation.
These test subjects were Protocide (who died after taking the serum) and Spider-Queen (who’s abilities didn’t manifest until years later).
Eventually, using the combination of Vita Rays and chemicals, they achieved their first success in the creation of Captain America. Unfortunately, Erskine was murdered moments after the transformation and the Vita Ray component of the experiment was lost forever.
Camp Cathcart
Without Erskine (and his knowledge of the Vita Rays), Project Rebirth was left with a massive hurdle to overcome. They wanted to mass produce the result they’d had with Steve Rogers, but they didn’t have the knowledge of how to use or recreate the technology that made it possible.
Wilfred Nagel took the same name previously adopted by Erskine (Josef Reinstein but with a different spelling) and began trying to recreate the process. He attempted to do so by – unethically – gathering 300 African American soldiers as candidates to experiment on at Camp Cathcart. Out of these 300 only 6 survived! These men were Isaiah Bradley, Maurice Canfield, Sgt. Luke Evans, Damon Larsen, Larry Pitts and Jack Harvey. All of which were successfully turned into super soldiers and formed a covert black-ops team.
Unfortunately, after only a handful of missions, only Isaiah Bradley, Sgt. Luke Evans and Maurice Cunfield remained. After this, Isaiah went on to become The Black Captain America. Everything that stemmed from Camp Cathcart was buried under secrecy and largely unknown until many years later.
Project Rebirth was eventually revived many years later as a part of Weapon Plus’s Project Rebirth 2.0. This project used captured symbiotes to create super soldiers. Captain America caught wind of this and shut the program down. Although, this did not stop them since they just relocated the resources to Weapon V (but more on that later).
Weapon II – Project Brute Force
Weapon II – codenamed Project Brute Force – was the first of the official Weapon Plus programs. Their main object was to create super soldiers through the means of experimenting on animals. The research was led by Randall Pierce at the behest of Adam Frost who wanted Weapon Plus to create a private attack force.
They infused animals with cybernetic implants and robotic power armour, to control them and use them as soldiers. They created group comprised of Hip-Hop (Kangaroo), Lionheart (Lion), Wreckless (Bear), Surfstreak (Dolphin) and their leader Soar (Eagle).
This team was actually created to rescue Heavy Metal, a prototype version of the team that were kidnapped by clowns.
Another known test subject is Weapon II (later nicknamed Wolverteeny), a Squirrel who possessed the same powers as Wolverine. He was captured by Shannon Sugarbaker and subjected to all the same experiments Wolverine was forced to endure years later.
Weapon III
It was initially stated that Weapon III included experiments on animals as Weapon II had but it was later revealed to be untrue. There has only been one Weapon III test subject revealed so far, Harry Pizer (later nicknamed the Skinless Man as you’ll soon see why). To begin with he was a mutant with elastic skin that he could control and manipulate.
During the Cold War, he was offered an opportunity to help his country by joining Weapon Plus. He accepted and they enhanced these abilities making his skin more durable and elastic than before. Not only this but they also enhanced his strength.
Now operating under the codename Weapon III, he carried out espionage missions and assassinations. One of his missions was to retrieve a relic known as “The Orb of Necromancy”. However, there was someone within Weapon Plus that didn’t want Pizer to retrieve it, so they sent Fantomex to stop him.
Fantomex was successful as he shot Pizer and left him to be found by the Captain Britain Corps who were after him for his crimes. In an effort to render him powerless, they removed his skin.
This ended up having the opposite effect when he taught his muscles to do the same thing he could do with his skin. So, now he not only had his abilities back but he was also much more terrifying without his skin. From this point on he would be known as the Skinless Man.
Weapon IV – Project Sulfur
Weapon IV was initially said to have revolved around experiments carried out on ethnic groups and prisoners. This was later revealed to be false. In actual fact, Weapon IV was Project Sulfur, a program that resulted in the creation of the SO-2 Serum. This is the same serum that would later be used by its leader, Ted Sallis to turn himself into Man-Thing.
Before this, the serum was used to transform multiple others into “Man-Things” with the same likeness and powers as Ted Sallis would later have. Many of these beings are currently unnamed apart from Man-Slaughter (Jackson Strode).
Jackson became a test subject after he broke into Project Sulfur’s base, Blackgrass. He was then injected by Gen. Andrew Plimpton and blackmailed with the – non-existent – antidote into doing missions for them.
Weapon V – Project Venom
It began as the Sym-Soldier Program which was led by Nick Fury during the Vietnam War. The idea was that if they bonded wounded soldiers with symbiotes, they could not only restore them to battle conditions but also make them much more powerful.
But the prototypes failed and Weapon Plus replaced S.H.I.E.L.D., taking control the program (still recognising Fury as the founder). At this point, Weapon Plus began using research from previous super soldier programs to help them achieve success in engineering symbiote super soldiers.
This project saw the successful creation of a team of symbiote super soldiers that were known as Mars Team. This team included Robert Urquhart (their leader), Bob Russell, Matthew Johns and Ezra Sheppard.
Weapon VI – Project Power
Weapon VI – or Project Power – is the program responsible for giving Luke Cage his superpowers. Led by Dr. Noah Burstein, it began during the Vietnam war when he invented the Electro-Biochemical System that created the CIA operative Warhawk.
Later, he began looking for test subjects in Seagate Prison for an experimental cell regeneration project. Here he recruited wrongly accused prisoner, Carl Lucas. During the experiment he was left unattended momentarily and racist prison guard, Albert Rackham, turned the dials all the way up. He did this in hopes it would kill Lucas, but instead it pushed the experiment past it’s intended result giving him superhuman strength and durability.
Project Power was also later responsible for giving a test subject known only as “Adam” a healing factor identical to that of Wolverine.
Weapon VII – Project Homegrown
Weapon VII – codenamed Project Homegrown – carried out experiments on U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War. All of the subjects died apart from one, Nuke (Sgt. Frank Simpson). He was imbued with cybernetic implants under his skin that gave him various abilities including superhuman strength, durability, and regeneration.
They also gave him a second heart that works in conjunction with a set of pills to control his mind state. Red ones to increase his adrenaline, white ones to bring him down, and blue ones to make him relax.
Weapon VIII
Weapon VIII is known to have existed but there’s no specific mention anywhere of what it actually was, who it included or what became of the project. Wikipedia claims that “Weapon VIII experimented on criminals and psychopaths”, and Fandom claims “Weapon VIII used drugs and hypnosis to trigger assassins/sleeper agents” stating that this was revealed in New X-Men #145, however, this is not at all true as there’s no direct mention of Weapon VIII in this issue or anywhere else.
Weapon IX – Project Psyche
Weapon IX – or Project Psyche – was program led by Dr. Michael Hunt. Not much is known about what happened during the program’s activity but we do know that it resulted in the creation of Typhoid Mary (Mary Walker). We also know that at some point during the program Hunt fell in love with Mary.
It’s unknown what powers the program enhanced or gave her or if they influenced her Dissociative Identity Disorder in any way. It was previously stated that she was a mutant who developed latent powers and multiple identities after years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father.
The five identities we know about are Innocent Mary, Walker, Typhoid, Bloody and Mutant Zero. The last three have access to her telekinesis, pyrokinesis and telepathy powers to varying degrees but the first three don’t have any access to them at all.
Weapon X
Weapon X is the most well-known of all the Weapon Plus programs. It has been responsible for the creation and enhancement of many superhuman individuals. Created after Romulus used his contacts within the C.I.A. to persuade them to fund a tenth instalment of the program.
Despite Romulus pulling the strings behind the scenes to some degree, Professor Thorton was the official leader of the program. The goal of the program was to conduct experiments on mutants and weaponise them and turn them into super soldiers.
They assembled a team made up of former members of a CIA black ops team, Team X. The first member of Team X they recruited was Wolverine. It was here than his skeleton (including his claws) was bonded with the indestructible metal, adamantium. They also subjected him to the same torture and memory implants as their later test subjects were.
The other members of Team X included Sabertooth (Victor Creed), Silver Fox, John Wraith, Maverick (Sgt. David North) and Mastadon. All of which were mutants possessing various different powers. They all had their memories wiped and replace as a means of controlling them. Initially this was done through the Windsor scenarios but eventually Professor Thorton used a mutant named Aldo Ferro to implant memories using his psychic powers.
Ultimately, Wolverine escape the facility killing multiple staff members on his way out. This caused the higher ups to order for the program to be shut down.
Weapon P.R.I.M.E.
After Wolverine broke free from the Experiment X Compound, Canadian Department K figured out how to replicate his healing factor. This led them to reviving the Weapon X program and creating a new team of mutant test subjects dubbed the Weapon P.R.I.M.E. squad.
This team included the likes of Wade Wilson, who at the time of joining up had incurable cancer. The healing factor kept the cancer at bay, but at the cost of severe disfigurement and mental trauma.
Alongside Wilson, this team also included Kane (Garrison Kane), Copycat (Vanessa Carlyle), Sluggo (Bernard Hoyster), Worm, Washout (John Lopez) and Slayback (Gregory Terraerton).
After Weapon P.R.I.M.E. multiple other teams were formed including both new and returning members.
The new members included Kimura, X-23 (Laura Kinney), Aurora (Jeanne-Marie Beaubier), Native, Madison Jeffries, Marrow, Wild Child (Kyle Gibney), Skel (Simpson), Dr. Cecilia Reyes, Junk (Daniel Silva), Endo (Meifeng), Wildside (Richard Gill), Jack-in-the-Box, Sauron, Chamber, Neuro, Mesmero, Reaper, Fantomelle and Mauvais
Weapon H
The most recent incarnation of Weapon X was led by Reverend William Stryker. This program focused on creating mutant killer cyborgs that could wipe out the whole of mutantkind. Using the DNA of Wolverine and Hulk the managed to create two clones that possessed their powers. They then bonded the skeletons of these clones with adamantium just like they did previously with Wolverine.
The result of this program were two Hulkverine cyborg super soldiers, H-Alpha (Clayton Cortez) and H-Beta (Robert Andrews). H-Beta died after being beheaded by H-Alpha who was the superior out the two.
Weapon XI
Like many of the Weapon Plus programs, Weapon XI was shrouded in secrecy for quite some time. That is until it was finally revealed that Weapon XI was another instalment created by Romulus. When Romulus realised he couldn’t get into Wolverine’s head anymore, he switched his sights to Wolverine’s son, Daken.
In hopes of creating a weapon that could kill Wolverine, he raised Daken to be a ruthless killer and coated his claws with a broken piece of the Murumasa blade.
The World
The World was a high-tech base that was created sometime after the beginning of the Weapon XI program. Located somewhere in England, it had a built-in system that could control the rate at which time flowed within it. This means that many years can pass within the facility when outside it has only been a mere couple of days.
It was created with the assistance of A.I.M. who also collaborated on some of the projects that were conducted within it. Eventually, A.I.M. attacked the facility in an attempt to take back their tech back.
At some point, Norman Osbourne tried to take control of The World but was stopped by Wolverine, Fantomex and Captain Marvel (Noh-Varr). Fantomex then took over the now decaying facility that was still largely functional and seen as a valuable target to many nefarious organisations.
Weapons of the World
The following experiments were created inside the confines of Weapon Plus’ The World base under the direction of John Sublime…
Weapon XII – Hunstman
Hunstman (Zona Cluster-6) – or Weapon XII – was the first of the weapons created in Weapon Plus’ high-tech HQ, The World. He was birthed and artificially developed to “manhood” all within a short space of time thanks to the facilities high-tech time bending capabilities. Designed to be a mutant killing machine, he had the ability to force his hive-mind consciousness on to his victims. Essentially turning them into an extension of him that is completely under his control.
Huntsman was initially intended to be one of the Super-Sentinels. This was a team of mutant hunters that was planned by John Sublime to be a part of a publicity stunt that would make the genocide of mutants seem rational to the public.
This backfired when he was accidentally released from his capsule, along with Fantomex (more on him next) who managed to activate his kill switch, which not only killed Hunstman, but sadly, also all the minds he managed to infect up to this point.
Weapon XIII – Fantomex
Fantomex (Charlie Cluster-7) – or Weapon XIII – was another one of John Sublime’s planned Super-Sentinels. Just like Huntsman, Fantomex was birthed and artificially developed within The World. He has three brains for independent parallel processing (thinking about more than one thing at once). His three brains also afford him other powers including creating illusions and the ability to put himself into a self-healing trance.
Another of his physiological enhancements were his ‘nano-active blood’, that programs his mind into the ultimate self-belief and giving him indomitable will. Another of his
He also has a detachable nervous system that is also her own entity called E.V.A. Through her he has the ability of pain suppression, bio-electric charges and can also use her as transport (she can fly). The two are telepathically and symbiotically bonded in a way that they both feel what each other feel and can see what each other can see.
Fantomex also has a slew of other abilities including a limited healing factor, enhanced strength and superhuman agility. After being accidentally deployed, it wasn’t long before he broke away from his creators and began thinking for himself. He helped the X-Men eliminate deal with threat of the super-sentinels and continued to fight crime thereafter.
Weapon XIV – Stepford Cuckoos
heyWeapon XIV was created when John Sublime harvested 1000 eggs from Emma Frost and created a thousand clones. Out of the 1000 only 5 were activated, the rest lay dormant. These girls were Phoebe, Celeste, Esme, Mindee and Sophie, and together they were codenamed the Five-In-One.
As well as possessing all the same powers as their “mother”, the girls are all linked telepathically. They possessed a hive mind with each of them boosting each other’s powers when they work together.
They were sent to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters to hone their powers and learn to be the ultimate weapon so that Sublime could wipe all mutants from the planet.
Here they gained the nickname the Stepford Cuckoos because of their strange behaviour and also found themselves as proteges of their “mother”. Emma Frost did not know of their connection since they had placed telepathic blocks on everyone, so that no one could read their minds.
By the time it was time to carry out Sublime’s plan, only 3 of the original Stepford Cuckoos remained as Sophie and Esme had both previously died in separate incidents. With that being said, the now Three-In-One quickly became the Thousand-In-One as the rest of the clones were activated.
However, during their time at Xavier’s School, the original Three-In-One had become heroes. They didn’t want to see Sublime succeed in his plans. So together, using the Phoenix Force they managed to destroy their evil sisters and stop Weapon Plus.
Weapon XV – Ultimaton
Weapon XV – otherwise known as Ultimaton – was designed to be “the Super-Sentinels’ grand powerhouse”. Just like the other Super-Sentinels, he was birthed and artificially developed within the confines of Weapon Plus’ The World facilities.
He possessed superhuman strength, superhuman stamina, flight, and the ability to emit electromagnetic radiation. The other two sentinels were intended to work with him as a unit. But, as previously mentioned, Fantomex had rebelled and killed Huntsman.
Ultimaton was eventually released when The World was attacked by A.I.M. and wiped out the invaders. Then, after an encounter with Wolverine, Cyclops and Fantomex, Ultimaton escape from The World facility to the Super-Sentinels Orbiting base.
Here, he began to ponder his purpose in life. He started to question whether or not he wanted to be a “mutant-hunting killing machine”.
Unfortunately, Ultimaton was destroyed along with the space station when Wolverine blew it up. Although, he was later resurrected in The World by Fantomex.
Weapon XVI – Allgod
Weapon XVI – codename Allgod – was an airborne viral gas that manifested in its victim’s minds as a religion. It exploited their existing faith in whatever religion they follow and made them feel as though those feelings were directed at it. In doing this is turned its victims into mindlessly faithful followers ready to follow its every order.
It was operated through a gas cylinder that was connected to The World’s brain. Whenever it felt threated it could release the gas and turn all of the inhabitants within The World into a devoted army.
Interestingly, it was because of the origin of its power, that atheists such as Fantomex and Noh-Varr were immune to its infection.
Weapon Minus
Weapon Minus was created as a countermeasure to combat Weapon Plus if they went rogue against the government. Scientists were hired and funded by S.H.I.E.L.D. to counter the projects ran by Weapon Plus. One such example was Doctor Mindbubble who was created as a contingency to Weapon VII. His powers were said to be the result of a mixture of LSD and Super-Soldier Serum.
Alternate Realities
Like everything else in comic books there’s versions of Weapon Plus that exist in alternate realities. In most of these realities Weapon X is the only part of Weapon Plus shown to exist, meaning that in these realities, it may only exist in the form of Weapon X not as a wider organisation.
Weapon Plus (Earth-9411) – This is the version of Weapon Plus that exists in Marvel Panini UK comics.
Weapon X (Earth-1021) – In this reality Weapon X exists as an international peacekeeping force that isn’t bound to America or any other country. The team includes a multi-national roster of England’s Spitfire, Russia’s Vanguard, Canada’s Flashback, Germany’s Maverick, Japan’s Sunfire, and Israel’s Sabra.
In Other Media
In the lore of comic books these are still technically alternate realities. But for the sake of convenience for our readers, we’ll give these their own section. Weapon Plus has appeared in many different mediums over the years, again most of these were in the form of Weapon X not the wider organisation.
TV Series’
X-Men Animated Series (Earth-92131) – In this series it was shown that Weapon X were responsible for Wolverine’s Adamantium implants and the issues with his memories. The program is led by Professor Thorton and Dr. Cornelius. They capture Logan, Sabretooth, Silver Fox, and Maverick.
Then, they plant false memories and brainwash them with the aim of creating an elite team of mind-controlled mutant mercenaries.
X-Men: Evolution Animated Series – Wolverine and Sabertooth were both test subjects of Weapon X. Other members were also mentioned later by Omega Red.
Wolverine and the X-Men – Weapon X appears in this show with Sabretooth, Maverick, and X-23 all being shown as agents. In this show, it’s conducted by Professor Andre Thorton and Dr. Abraham Cornelius.
The second season (if it had happened) was set to feature Deadpool as part of Weapon X. Mystique is also a part of Weapon X in this universe for some reason too.
Movies
Weapon Plus has featured multiple times in various movie universes including the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the main Fox X-men Cinematic Universe and also the universes occupied by other Fox X-Men movies that aren’t considered cannon. In most of these appearances, we see Weapon Plus appear in the form of Weapon X.
Original X-Men Universe (Earth-10005)
X-Men and X2 – We see flashback illustrating how Wolverine was experimented on in the Weapon X program led by William Stryker. Wolverine has no recollection of the events that occurred. The facility used is shown to be at Alkali Lake, Alberta. The dam fails destroying the facility. The X-Men were able to escape thanks to Jean Grey, who held back the water but was killed in the process.
X-Men: The Last Stand – Scott Summers returns to Alkali Lake after been drawn to it telekinetically. Jean (who has been reborn at this point) accidentally kills him.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine – This movie went into more depth about how Wolverine became the man he is. It was heavily centred about his experiences with Weapon X. Weapon X is shown to be the tenth instalment created by the lab (suggesting the existence of a wider Weapon Plus). We see the process of Wolverine receiving his adamantium skeleton and we also see Wade Wilson (played by Ryan Reynolds) appear.
In this movie Wade is Weapon XI but is also referred to as Deadpool due to his powers being “pooled” from other mutants kidnapped by Weapon X. This adaptation of the character wasn’t very well received by fans due to the poor choices that were made. They sowed his mouth shut, gave him optic blasts and was given retractable blades that emanated from his arms (amongst many other abilities that Deadpool doesn’t usually have).
Wade was decapitated during the climax of the movie but he’s shown to still be alive in a post-credit scene.
Revised X-Men Universe (Earth-TRN414)
X-Men: Apocalypse – Alkali Lake appears and is ran by William Stryker. In 1983, he captures member of the X-Men. When Jean, Scott and Kurt break into the base to rescue them, they release Wolverine who is being held prisoner as their test subject. He tears through the base wearing headgear based on the designs featured in the original Marvel Comics Presents #72-84 story arc.
Deadpool (2016) – Despite not being mentioned as Weapon X in the movie, the program that experiments on Wade Wilson has been confirmed to be Weapon X.
Logan Movie Universe (Earth-17315)
Logan (2017) – The Weapon X program is referenced. In this new timeline, Zander Rice’s father is said to have been one of the scientists responsible for bonding Logan’s skeleton with adamantium.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-19999)
The Incredible Hulk (2008)– In this movie, an experimental super-solider serum created by Dr. Reinstein is shown to exist. We see General Ross take the serum from a holding facility with containers that are marked “Weapon Plus”.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – Project Rebirth (Weapon I) appears as Strategic Scientific Reserve project. Its purpose is to create a new line of Super Soldiers to aid the allied forces in World War II. Much like most of its other counterparts it was led by Dr. Abraham Erskine.
Hulk Vs. Animated Movie – (Earth-8096)
Hulk Vs. Animated Movie – Weapon X appears and features a group named Team X that includes Deadpool, Sabertooth, Omega Red and Lady Deathstrike. They’re sent to detain Hulk and Wolverine so Professor Andre Thorton can wipe their memories and turn them into his weapons.
Video Games
Capcom’s Marvel Fighting Game Universe (Earth-30847) – In Wolverine’s appearances “Weapon X” is the name of a super move. In the move, Wolverine dashes at his opponent and throws an automatic combo, then jumps head-first into the air creating an energy field in the shape of an X over his opponent.
X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (Earth-TRN007) – Weapon X is heavily featured in this video game. In this first level Wolverine tells his story to Beast. Later, Wolverine returns to Weapon X in search of a cure for the Shiva Strain Virus. This is virus is embedded within Weapon X test subjects as a contingency if they should rebel.
X-Men Legends Universe (Earth-7964) – Weapon X is featured in a flashback level in X-Men Legends. The player has to escape from the Weapon X facility.
Weapon X then returns in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse. The Weapon X facility is used as a hub.
X-Men: The Official Game (Earth-10005) – This game was related to the original X-Men universe and dives further into Wolverine and Lady Deathstrike’s affiliation with Weapon X.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Weapon X is featured.
Novels
Wolverine: Violent Tendencies – In this non-canonical novel, a reference made to Weapon 0 under the name “Weapon Null”. It’s explained to be an early abandoned rendition of the super-soldier program. Weapon Null revolved around bio-enhancements of soldiers that transformed soldiers into organic weapons. What resulted was a set of deformed creations that were to expensive to maintain and transport. Hence why the program was abandoned. Wolverine crosses paths with four of the more successful of Weapon Null’s creations (Bipolar, Blowtorch, Cypher and Slammer).
