Marvel fans have long debated which Omega Level mutant is the most powerful or who would win in a fight if they were all gathered in one place, but X-Men writers have a totally different take on the importance of the 'Omega Level' phrase.
While the concept of Omega Level mutants has been around since 1968's Uncanny X-Men #208 by Chris Claremont, Dan Green and John Romita Jr., recent X-Men writers told Polygon that they're not entirely concerned with figuring out which mutant on Krakoa is the strongest. Rather, while X-Men Red writer Al Ewing said there is an ongoing list of Omega Level mutants on Krakoa for creators to reference, the term is a fluid one that can potentially change depending on the character. "All of these new characters are like [the metalworking poet]," Ewing said. "They're universes in themselves, and we get to explore those universes, so the real challenge is not to fall in love with them."
X-Factor and X-Men: The Trial of Magneto writer Leah Williams added, "Readers adhere to a different system of expectations when it comes to power levels. Writers aren't operating within these same parameters." She also noted, "Omega classifications are for trading cards and fan discussions more than they're for Krakoan citizens" and "Omega status isn't a shortcut to raising the stakes sufficiently."
Instead, X-Men creators agreed that giving a mutant the Omega Level status is an opportunity to explore characters in new ways. "I've challenged Storm politically, I've challenged Magneto emotionally, I've challenged Vulcan's temper and his ego," Ewing said. "These are things that have no real bearing on powers. Obviously, the superhero genre requires a little superpowered action, but in the Marvel Universe there's always someone bigger."
An Omega Level mutant is someone whose powers don't have any real upper limit for that ability's specific classification. These mutants are considered to be deadly and include such characters as Robert Drake/Iceman, David Haller/Legion, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, Ororo Munroe/Storm, Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Jamie Braddock/Monarch, Nathan Summers/Stryfe and others.
The X-Men are currently about to enter into a new chapter for the mutant island of Krakoa with "Destiny of X." Following the X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine prelude series, "Destiny of X" now launches into full gear with new issues of Mauraders, X-Force, X-Men Red, X-Men, Wolverine, New Mutants and more. Marvel also recently published Immortal X-Men #1, a new ongoing series from writer Kieron Gillen and artist Lucas Werneck that focuses on Krakoa's Quiet Council and the dramatic politics guiding the island into a new age.
Source: Polygon