Skydance recently unveiled the initial trailer for its upcoming WW2 Marvel game, now dubbed Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, following its initial announcement in 2021. The trailer for Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra introduces its ensemble cast, featuring renowned Marvel figures like Captain America and Black Panther, set in Occupied Paris during World War II. While the game's focus appears to be on Captain America and Black Panther, the historical backdrop presents an opportunity for two X-Men characters to potentially make an appearance.
Besides the prominent superheroes, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra also brings forth Gabriel Jones, a member of the Howling Commandos, and Nanali, the leader of the Wakandan spy network in Paris, enriching the character roster. While their specific roles in the game remain unclear, the World War II narrative, with its Nazi adversaries and the looming threat of Hydra, offers a platform to explore some of Marvel's weightier themes. The WW2 setting of the Marvel game also provides an ideal scenario to subtly nod to Magneto and Mister Sinister, pivotal X-Men characters from that era.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra: A Nod to X-Men's Magneto and Mister Sinister
World War II cast a dark shadow on global history, impacting characters within the Marvel Universe profoundly. Among these was Magneto, the X-Men's archenemy, known as Max Eisenhart during the Holocaust. Hailing from a middle-class Jewish family in Germany, Max found himself imprisoned in the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943, where he bore witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust firsthand, shaping his belief that mutants should dominate humanity.
During his internment at Auschwitz, Magneto crossed paths with another infamous X-Men villain, the deranged geneticist Mister Sinister. Initially, a Victorian geneticist named Nathaniel Essex, Mister Sinister was transformed by the mutant Apocalypse into an ageless prelate. Adopting the persona of Mister Sinister, Essex created four clones, one of whom collaborated with Josef Mengele at Auschwitz, conducting genetic experiments on prisoners and earning the moniker 'Nosferatu' due to his unnaturally pale complexion.
The Possibility of X-Men Characters in Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
Direct appearances by Magneto and Mister Sinister in Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra are improbable, as their narratives could warrant standalone games. Given the game's focus on Occupied Paris, a visit to Auschwitz in German-occupied Poland seems unlikely within its storyline. Nevertheless, the game could acknowledge these characters' presence during this period through subtle references, enriching the broader Marvel Universe it inhabits.
In-game dialogues could subtly allude to these X-Men figures, such as Nazi soldiers discussing Mister Sinister's experiments at Auschwitz or mentioning his 'Nosferatu' alias. Additionally, players might stumble upon texts or documents detailing incidents like a Sonderkommando seemingly manipulating objects with telekinetic abilities. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra should seize the opportunity to incorporate hidden cameos or references to Magneto and Mister Sinister, enhancing the game's depth.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is set to launch sometime in 2025.