"Don't be thinkin' I'm gonna invite ya in for coffee an' donuts just because ya drove me all the way up here from Seattle. I still ain't decided whether I should rip yer throat out or not, Ferro."
— Sabretooth
Sabretooth (1993), also known as Death Hunt, is a four-issue mini-series published in 1993 by Marvel Comics, starring Wolverine's arch-foe, Victor Creed - more commonly known as Sabretooth. The series was written by Larry Hama who worked alongside colorist Steve Buccellato, with Mark Texeira providing pencils, inks, and cover art.
The series follows Sabretooth as he is targeted by a strange man only known as Tribune. He is betrayed by his henchwoman, Birdy who has finally become fed up with his constant abuse. One night as he slept, she snuck downstairs to disable the security systems and let Tribune's men inside who successfully capture her boss, but not without trouble. Sabretooth is taken away to Tribune's lab where he is given a strength enhancement and has a bomb implanted in his chest. Tribune warns him of the time limit he's on and wants him to kill another renowned mutant, the shapeshifter known as Mystique.
Victor accepts the contract and heads after Mystique. Along the way, Sabretooth finds out some very shocking secrets about his past from her and what connection this man, Tribune, has to both of them.
Sabretooth provides examples of the following:
- Abusive Parents: Victor's father kept him chained up with a muzzle on his face after Creed tried to bite him when he ripped out his fangs. A flashback shows he was going to murder young Creed but his wife got in the way whom he accidentally kills instead.
- Mystique dropped Graydon at an orphanage so he wouldn't cramp her plans, lost all interest when he turned out to be human, and mocked him when he discovered her true form.
- Agents Dating: When Creed & Mystique (as Zauber) met on their mission to assassinate the same target. They escape together and haul up in a safe-house in Berlin where they began a sexual relationship for some months.
- All Love Is Unrequited: While they shared sexual relations for a few months in Germany, Mystique didn't feel as strongly about Creed as he did for her. While stuck in the safe-house, Mystique (as Zauber) complains they can't go sightseeing but Creed doesn't care since he has something to eat, drink, and her. He even trusted her with the painful memories of his mother. Nevertheless, she left him and faked her death to make it stick.
- Contract on the Hitman: Mystique, a notable terrorist and killer for hire is the target Tribune wants Sabretooth to ace.
- The Dragon: Birdy, who takes out as many invading Ninja as Sabretooth with her giant gun.
- Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: A quality first revealed in this series. When Mystique morphs into Victor's mother, he has a memory of her getting killed trying to protect him from his father which causes Victor to scream out in agony.
- Freudian Excuse: Victor is revealed to have been abused as a child. When Birdy comes across his child self while inside his mind, the young Creed asks if she doesn't want to hurt him but she just hugs him & says he's already been hurt too much.
- I Have No Son!: Victor's first reaction to learning he & Mystique have a child. Not believing that the pencil-necked geek he saw in Mystique's photo could be his son.
- Immortal Assassin: Sabretooth, who possesses a Healing Factor. When Mystique sets him on fire, all it does is make him angrier before he chases after her. Birdy ran him over with her car at one point, but that didn't stop him from coming after her.
- Improvised Weapon: When Sabretooth first catches Mystique she throws wine in his face and uses a lighter to set him ablaze.
- Like Father, Like Son: Graydon kills Birdy to spite Victor and drive him mad without her glow to soothe him. This earns Victor's respect who finally acknowledges Graydon as his "Darlin' baby boy."
- Pet the Dog: Seeing his vindictiveness, Victor gains respect for Graydon, accepts him as his son, and spares his life after being determined to kill him not long ago.
- Shapeshifting Lover: Mystique as Leni Zauber, the woman Creed shacked up within Germany. Creed refused to believe it given how it'd make Mystique. She explains her power keeps her young & goes over their past together, admitting she left the real Zauber's body for everyone to find -faking her death to be done with him.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Sick of the abuse, Birdy helps Tribune's men capture Creed. When he makes it back, she's on the run -having stolen one of his cars & slashed the tires of his other vehicles. We then get this exchangeSabretooth: Hold on, girl! I just needs to talk to you!Birdy: No way, Mr. Creed! You only have meaningful conversations with people when you're killing them!
- Time Bomb: A literal one for Sabretooth, who has it implanted in his chest to g off in 48 hours after he's fully healed, unless he can kill Mystique before then.
- Troubled Abuser: Sabretooth uses Birdy to give him "the glow" which soothes his rages and takes away his painful memories. When she befriends his child self in his mind, the real Victor wakes up and punches her in the face, saying he needs her to make him forget the pain. Before that, she gave him a massage and tells him to relax, which prompts him to throw her in the Jacuzzi for telling him what to do.
- Unpleasant Parent Reveal:: When a young Graydon sneaked away from the orphanage to spy on his mother, he discovers she's a blue mutant. Mystique teased him about his shocked reaction and reveals that she lied about his father being a bond trader, he was something much more sinister.
- Villain Protagonist: The title character in question, who has very few redeeming qualities.
- Would Hit a Girl: Victor with Birdy big-time. When he gets angry he outright punches her in the face, knocking her out and leaving her on the ground.
