The Mahkent power sets are confusing to some as it hasn’t been explained what they are or how they ended up with their ice abilities. So that’s what we’re going to do now. As Stargirl Season 3 is about to hit the airwaves in about six weeks, it’s our job to establish how each individual’s power sets work and how they influence their character growth.
We’ve covered in a previous article the history of the Icicle family in all DC Comics media, from the comics to the screen. As a warning, we will mark this article as having spoilers. Before we continue, we need to clarify that we won’t be jumping too deeply into speculation. We’ll touch on it briefly, but that’s it. So, without further delay, let’s dive into our explainer.
What Are The Mahkents?
One of the essential parts of understanding the Mahkents is knowing what they are. It is rumoured that they are descended from the Jötnar of Norse Mythology. Now, there is evidence to back this up. During the episode, ‘Brainwave’, the Mahkents speak a Norwegian prayer with supernatural links.
For those not up to par with Norse mythology, the Jötnar are supernatural creatures. Among these types of figures are Frost Giants. Anyone who knows about Marvel Comics knows Thor’s adoptive brother, Loki, is a Frost Giant. Therefore, we believe the Mahkents might be Frost Giants or descended from them, which explains their power sets. But do we know this for sure? Unfortunately, we’re willing to admit defeat if we’re wrong.
Power Sets – Why Are Some Different?
Notably, their power sets differ every time one of the Mahkents appears on the screen. Why is this? It’s unclear as to why, as it has not been explained. First, we’ll discuss everything we know, going by character.
Jordan Mahkent
The son of Sofus and Lily Mahkent, Jordan’s powers were inherited from his parents. However, unlike them, he had strong cryophysiology, enabling him to turn his entire body into solid ice. We’ve wondered why he could do this, but Lily and Sofus cannot. At first, we thought it might’ve been due to their advanced age. However, Stargirl Season 2 established that Cameron doesn’t appear to be able to do this either. This seems to be backed up in the trailer for Season 3.
What if the reason for Jordan’s cryophysiology was that both of his parents had abilities? We learned during Season 2 that Lily had powers after threatening Cindy Burman if she ever went near Cameron and attempted to recruit him. In the finale of the same season, it is revealed that Sofus, too, has the same abilities as his wife.
We’ve yet to see Lily and Sofus fully use their powers. It could be possible that the next generation is more powerful than their predecessors. Outside of this, Jordan’s powers range from simple ice breath and not feeling the cold to being able to lower the temperature of any area he is in.
Sofus and Lily Mahkent
Despite their advanced age, Lily and Sofus Mahkent are Jordan’s proud parents and Cameron’s grandparents. While mysterious, they’re not afraid to voice their opinions… in their native Norwegian. We have seen that the couple’s power sets are rather basic and minimal. Unlike their son, their cryophysiology is limited, with only their eyes going icy. Moreover, this may be because of their age, though this is unconfirmed. They also both have ice breath.
They seem to have a conflict of interest regarding whether Cameron should know about their lineage and his happiness. Lily wants to control the narrative, while Sofus wants to spare him the pain and let him smile again, especially after his father’s demise.
Cameron Mahkent
Coming from a line of super-powered beings, there was every chance that Cameron Mahkent might’ve inherited some of these abilities. However, as it has been hinted at since the Season One episode, ‘The Justice Society’, like his grandparents, he cannot transform himself into packed ice as his father could; however, his powers are still developing.
Cameron’s abilities had a fifty-fifty chance of manifesting because it appears that his mother, Christine, was human. This might also explain why he cannot (currently) turn himself into packed ice.
From what we have seen, Cameron has ice breath, and the Season 3 trailer confirms he has some form of cryophysiology. However, the Season 2 episode, ‘Summer School: Chapter Nine’, alludes to Cameron having a power unique to him outside the primary cryokinetic forces his elders have. The hallucination, bought on by Mike Dugan’s fear of his involvement in Jordan’s demise becoming known to Cameron, has an icy telekinetic whip-like ability to choke Courtney’s stepbrother. If this information gets out, could Cameron and Mike become enemies?
Remember that this was just a vision that might not be accurate to Cameron’s powers. Also, we need to remember that Cameron doesn’t understand or speak Norwegian. He mentions this in ‘Brainwave.’
All In The Family
A while ago, we discussed whether Christine, Cameron’s mother and Jordan’s wife, was aware that her son could end up with powers like his paternal family. We said at the time that it was possible, as it was heavily implied that she was aware of what her husband and his family were. Ultimately, this brings us to the last part of the article.
Did Christine have powers of her own? Given the evidence, we don’t believe so. Otherwise, Lily, Sofus or Jordan would’ve mentioned it. Again, though, she would’ve known about her husband and in-laws having abilities. It is unclear whether it occurred to her that her son would develop the power sets of his paternal family later. In a lot of ways, we sympathise with the family. Again, though, she possibly knew it would be a possibility, which brings us to the last point we wanted to address.
When Do The Power Sets Start To Manifest?
This final part is tricky territory, as we only have Cameron to go off. There has been no conversation amongst Jordan, Lily or Sofus regarding when one’s powers start manifesting. It may be different for every person, but at the same time, there could be a potential cut-off date.
We mention Cameron because we know that as of Season 1, he was roughly sixteen, and the first signs of his powers coming through were his ice breath. First, he blew out the candle on the cake he and Jordan dedicated to his late mother; this was the first indication to the audience that he was like his father. However, the next sign comes months later when his hand cramps up, and he drops his paintbrush, which is revealed, again to the audience, to be iced over.
Then, we get Lily and Sofus revealing what they are to their grandson on an open street. Now, it could be possible that Cameron was a late bloomer. We mention this because Jordan didn’t want his parents to tell his son about his heritage. Icicle isn’t the type of guy to hide something like this unless he doesn’t think it’s necessary.
It’s possible that when Cameron didn’t show signs of having powers at a certain age, his father possibly thought it wouldn’t happen. The same applies to his grandparents. Unfortunately, however, they broke the promise they had made their son before his untimely demise at the hands of Mike Dugan.
