Marvel’s new relaunch of the Ultimate line has created tons of positive fan response so far. Marvel’s “Ultimate Invasion” put the villainous Maker in the driver’s seat as he attempted to recreate his home. Then the publisher launched an “Ultimate Spider-Man” ongoing title where Peter Parker began to realize his destiny was tampered with by the foreboding villain. “Ultimate Black Panther” positioned T’Challa against the Secret Rulers of the World! Now the “Ultimate X-Men” are rising up from Japan with Armor and Maystorm. What role will these two characters play in the greater Ultimate Marvel Universe? How will “Ultimate X-Men” fit in with the greater line? Also, will writer and artist Peach Momoko be able to craft a cohesive vehicle for the fascinating cast of heroes? Find out in our full review of “Ultimate X-Men” #1!
Cover by Peach MomokoWritten and Illustrated by Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation by Zach Davisson
Lettered by VC’s Travis LanhamVisionary creator PEACH MOMOKO (DEMON DAYS, STAR WARS) creates a new generation of X-Men for an all-new universe! Hisako Ichiki is a teenage girl who just wants to live a normal life – go to school, hang out with her friends, ignore the political strife broiling over after the events of ULTIMATE INVASION – but life has other plans for her. In Japan, urban legends have sprung to life and brought some unusual new powers with them…Meet Armor, Maystorm and a group of new Ultimate X-Men the likes of which you’ve never seen before!
“Ultimate X-Men” #1 kicks off the script on a subdued note a readers as introduced to a version of Hisako loaded with anxiety and wonder. Over the course of “Ultimate X-Men” #1, Momoko reveals the true reason behind Hisako’s subdued, quiet nature throughout the issue. The day of her graduation, Hisako is given a mysterious button with a note requesting that she meet the writer of the message at a nearby temple. This sequence shifts the optimistic but tepid nature of “Ultimate X-Men” #1 into a morose, dark horror story.
“Ultimate X-Men” #1’s mysterious villains and elements of horror bring out a surprising genre element of an X-Men story pushing the franchise forward as a whole. The mysterious nature of the story surrounding Tsubasa lends a personal aspect of the narrative for Hisako. The emphasis this demon or antagonist continues to create towards Hisako’s personal life creates so much conflict for her in the script. Momoko’s characterization in the first few pages build towards so much tension when she introduces the supernatural aspects later on in “Ultimate X-Men.”
“Ultimate X-Men” carries stylized artwork that should breath new life into the comic book medium. Momoko’s ultra-expressive facial expressions and simplistic renditions of character faces evoke a bold approach to comic book storytelling. Momoko is able to switch between so many art styles on the page. There’s a panel halfway into the script showing a strained expression of Hisako with a character face that is so much more detailed than hers lingering in the background. The juxtaposition of the detail in these panels draw so much horror towards the comic book page.
The sequence where Hisako was able to manifest her power was so beautifully strange. Hisako’s intensely detailed expressions in one panel are juxtaposed by the center of the page showing Hisako’s less detailed face surrounded by her Armor ability. Readers never quite know exactly what style Momoko can portray at any moment on the page. Momoko also lends so many small details of the Japanese setting and in the background of any give panel. Momoko’s depiction of the violent, evil character in the story perfectly evokes an element of horror with strained eyes and disparate strands of black goop. To me it was also quite thrilling to see how Momoko would structure each page of the “Ultimate X-Men” #1. There are some pages loaded with panels while others use larger ones to play up the tension of the moment. The visual motifs of the creepy eyes throughout the narrative nicely punctuate the anxiety Hisako is feeling towards the reader. There’s something to be said about just how much Momoko amps up Hisako’s anxiety before she manifests her powers.
Continued below“Ultimate X-Men” #1 is a slow comic book issue focused on fleshing out Armor as Hisako. Thanks to the beautiful visuals and fascinating tone carried by the narrative, the slow pacing in “Ultimate X-Men” #1 is not a problem. Also, the credits page of the issue did a wonderful job connecting the dots towards The Maker’s Council to show how “Ultimate X-Men” will fall in place with the entire line towards the future of the Ultimate Universe. Moving forward, “Ultimate X-Men” must introduce Maystorm and shift closer towards telling an ensemble story. I’m also thrilled to see if “Ultimate X-Men” will unite Maystorm with Storm herself or just what the future of this story holds. It has been disappointing to see the new line of Ultimate titles stay so disconnected from each other. Moving forward, I hope the books become more cohesive and tie additional plot threads together to take advantage of hosting a publishing slate in a shared Universe.
As it currently stands, “Ultimate X-Men” #1 is a simplistic issue that should serve to immerse readers in the fascinating lead character while teasing additional narrative strands in the Ultimate Universe! Peach Momoko gets incredibly personal when fleshing out the story behind Hisako evoking her Armor powers. Plus, the creepy elements of horror fueled by Hisako’s own tragic past add an interesting element of stakes towards this narrative. I was disappointed by lack of the plot threads and hoped to see Maystorm in the debut issue, but I’m more concerned that Momoko doesn’t feel the need to rush with the fascinating script and cast of characters making up the new “Ultimate X-Men” #1!
Final Verdict: 8.0 – “Ultimate X-Men” #1 utilizes bold artwork to craft a unique X-Men debut.
