• • Comic Book Reviews
• March 6, 2024

Ultimate X-Men #1 Review

Written by: Peach Momoko

Art by: Peach Momoko

Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson

Lettering by: VC’s Travis Lanham

Editing by: Michelle Marchese, Wil Moss, C.B. Cebulski

Sure, we were all excited for Ultimate Spider-Man, and the dawn of adult Peter Parker. A lot of people were interested to see how the new Ultimate Universe was going to change Black Panther and Wakanda. But truly, I think the most fascinating was Ultimate X-Men. When most of what we had to look at was the image of Peach Momoko’s art — a drawing of a cult fan-classic character, Armor — we had a lot to think about. I don’t think anyone was right.

Ultimate X-Men is Not What You Expected and That’s Alright

Ultimate X-Men #1 is not the X-Men book anyone was expecting. Spending a whole issue on a character who usually is lucky to be a part of team-up books is a bold choice. Basing it in Japan without even a hint of another X-Men hero is even bolder. In many ways, it pays off, and in one way, it may not for a lot of people.

The ways it pays off is heavily due to the Peach Momoko’s art. She makes a point to create a tense vibe that surrounds Armor and Armor alone. The rest of the world walks by her in a way many of us wish we weren’t familiar with. It all works to make us feel as small as Armor does without ever having to get a generic monologue about how the world is closing in on her. The art and the story simply choose to close in on her, and its when she uses her mutant ability that she pushes back the edges of the world.

No Seriously, It’s Okay To Be Something No One Expected

The one way in which it doesn’t pay off is less a bad thing and more of an issue I foresee people having. This never feels like an X-Men book. I don’t think I saw a single mention of the word ‘mutant.’ If it weren’t for the opening blurb about the Ultimate Universe, this could have been a standalone series about Armor in any universe, but the Ultimate X-Men name will sell the title.

People may feel misled by this, but I still suggest you give it a try. It’s well worth the read, and who knows, this issue is only issue #1. For all I know, Wolverine could be in issue #2. Actually, no, that would probably suck. If there has to be another X-Men, let it be anyone else.

Thank You For Reading and Try Ultimate X-Men #1!

Ultimate X-Men is not the book anyone was expecting. For that reason alone I suggest you give it a chance. While it may not work for everyone, we should all dip our toes in something new once in a while.

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