Ultimate X-Men | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
Schedule | Monthly |
Format | Ongoing series |
Genre | Super Hero |
Publication date | March 2024 – present |
Main character(s) | Armor Maystorm Nico Minoru Mori Natsu Tsukishima Shinobu Kageyama |
Creative team | |
Created by | Based on the X-Men by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee |
Written by | Peach Momoko, Zack Davisson [1] |
Artist(s) | Peach Momoko |
Letterer(s) | Vc Travis Lanham |
Editor(s) | Wilson Moss |
Ultimate X-Men is a reimagination of the X-Men in the Ultimate Universe, by Peach Momoko with Zack Davisson. Starring Armor as the lead character, the comic has very few links to the classic X-Men characters and locations. Maystorm, another character from the series, was initially created as a variant cover for issue 27 of the 2021-2024 X-Men comic.
Ultimate X-Men by Peach Momoko with Zack Davisson is the third comic released in the Ultimate Universe line, alongside Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate Black Panther. It is a reimagination of the X-Men in general, and the Armor character in particular. The comic also introduces Maystorm, a character that Momoko designed for the variant cover of X-Men #27. [2] That cover was part of a larger project named "New Champions", which produced covers reflecting unexpected sidekicks of other superheroes, such as the recently-created Spider-Boy; Maystorm was the first one to be used in an actual story, while the others would show up in the Spider-Woman comic. [3] Despite being an X-Men comic, the comic has very little in common with the usual products of the franchise. Momoko explained "My Ultimate X-Men isn't directly influenced by classic X-Men stories. I like to believe [Editor-in-Chief] C.B. [Beluski] and Jonathan Hickman chose me because they wanted something completely new and different, so I think sometimes no influences is a good thing". [4]
Hisako Ichiki attends Kirigaya Minami Middle School in Kirisaki City. She can manifest a psionic exoskeleton, a power that awakens in traumatic circumstances regarding Shinobu Kageyama and his Shadow King form. Other students, such as Mei Igarashi and Nico Minoru, have powers as well. Mei has weather-based powers and is a fan of Storm. Nico has magic-based abilities. They find out that they are mutants, and that there is a cult of mutants called the Children of the Atom led by Maester who go after them. Their activity also catches the attention of Kanon Sainouchi and her police officer brother Tatsuya when a briefcase with human remains are found and Tatsuya had to sign a non-disclosure agreement from Emperor Sunfire's minion Viper. As Natsu Tsukishima manifests an eye beam from her right eye while protecting Mori, Armor meets Chimone from the 8-Chome Channel. Maester tells the Children of the Atom that it's time to step out of the shadows as Noriko Ashida secretly live-streams the event. When one of the followers asks if the world is coming to an end, Maester quotes "Yes". As news about the leaked video is made known, Maester tries to get through to Viper about the situation. Shinobu encounters Akihiro who claims that he is the first homo superior and had given his blood to the Children of the Atom. Mei has her encounter with Noriko where they fought each other and over the Children of the Atom's actions. She accidentally injures Noriko who turns down Mei's offer to call an ambulance as "they'll come after her" if they know and to call her mom instead. Protests erupt over the mutants on the streets as Maester tells the Children of the Atom that they will show the people who is superior. Some of the Children of the Atom attack the persisting reporters. Tsubasa's Shadow King form attacks some people pressuring Hisako in giving them information causing Hisako to reveal her abilities to her mother. Natsu Tsukishima accidentally kills her mother with her left eye optic blast. Reporters try interviewing mutants who have no connection with the Children of the Atom. Hisako visits Nico where Mori shows her the information regarding the mutants. Someone later breaks into the abandoned office of the Children of the Atom and claims a mask. [5]
Chase Magnett from ComicBook.com points out that the comic has little relation with the broader narrative of the Ultimate Universe, the usual X-Men tropes, or even the superhero genre. He thinks that the comic aims to expand the franchise's genre boundaries. [6]
Shaun Corley from Screen Rant points out that the comic skips almost all the key characters and elements of X-Men lore, such as the X-Mansion and Sentinels, and characters such as Professor X, Cyclops, Wolverine and Storm. He considers that, by doing so, Momoko focuses instead on the core theme of the X-Men, that of people feeling lonely in a world that fears them. [7]
The X-Men are a superhero team in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in The X-Men #1. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to low sales, following its 1975 revival and subsequent direction under writer Chris Claremont, it became one of Marvel's most recognizable and successful franchises. They have appeared in numerous books, television shows, 20th Century Fox's X-Men films, and video games. The X-Men title may refer to the superhero team itself, the eponymous comic series, or the broader franchise, which includes various solo titles and team books, such as the New Mutants, Excalibur, and X-Force.
Dazzler is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, often in association with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130.
Illyana Nikolaievna Rasputina is a fictional character, a comic superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, the character first appeared in the Giant-Size X-Men #1. llyana Rasputin is a member of a fictional species of humanity known as mutants, who are born with superhuman abilities, and has also possessed magical abilities as well, as a result of her interactions with the demonic supervillain Belasco. She is known under the codename Magik.
The Shadow King is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is particularly associated with the X-Men family of comics. His nemesis is the X-Men's leader, Professor X, while he also figures into the backstory of the X-Man Storm. As originally introduced, Farouk was a human mutant from Egypt who used his vast telepathic abilities for evil, taking the alias Shadow King. Later writers established Farouk as only the modern incarnation of an ancient evil entity that has been around since the dawn of humanity, who became one with Farouk when he grew older.
Deathbird is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Keith Pollard, the character first appeared in Ms. Marvel #9. Cal'syee Neraman is part of a segment of the extraterrestrial Shi'ar race with a mutation.
Dust is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character usually appears in X-Men-related comic books. Sooraya is a mutant with the ability to transform her body into a pliable cloud of dust.
Runaways is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series features a group of teenagers who discover that their parents are part of an evil crime organization known as "the Pride". Created by Brian Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, the series debuted in July 2003 as part of Marvel Comics' "Tsunami" imprint. The series was canceled in September 2004 at issue #18, but due to high numbers of trade collection sales, Marvel revived the series in February 2005.
Surge is a superhero appearing in the American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as a mutant, a member of the student body of the Xavier Institute, and a member of the former New Mutants squad. She maintained her powers post M-Day and was the leader of the New X-Men.
Nico Minoru, briefly known as Sister Grimm, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created in 2003 by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona, the character debuted in Runaways #1. Like every member of the original Runaways, Nico is the daughter of the super-powered villains calling themselves "the Pride"; in her case, she is the daughter of dark wizards. Upon finding out, Nico runs away with the rest of the runaways but later discovers that she inherited her parents' magical aptitude. Whenever Nico bleeds, a powerful staff emerges from her chest, called the Staff of One, allowing Nico to bend magic.
Molly Hayes is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character debuted in the award-winning series Runaways. Like every member of the original Runaways, she is the daughter of evil villains with special abilities; after the other older Runaways learn more about themselves, they raid Molly's home to find out her mutant abilities had already manifested. Often called "Mol" for short, Molly is the youngest Runaway and her innocence often serves as humor in the series, but she has demonstrated great insight at critical moments.
Abigail Brand is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Joss Whedon and artist John Cassaday, the character first appeared in Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #3. Abigail Brand belongs to the subspecies of humans called mutants, who are born with superhuman abilities. She is the Commander of counterterrorism and intelligence agency S.W.O.R.D.
Pixie is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Hailing from Wales, Pixie belongs to the subspecies of humans called mutants, who are born with superhuman abilities, and to the species of humanoid magical beings named fairies, who are born with supernatural powers. Her hybrid mutation grants her pixie-like eyes, colorful wings that allow her to fly, and "pixie dust" that causes hallucinations.
Armor is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, the character first appeared in Astonishing X-Men vol. 3 #4. Armor is a Japanese mutant who enrolled at the Xavier Institute as a teenager and retained her powers after the events of Decimation.
Prodigy is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, and Keron Grant, the character first appeared in New Mutants #4. Prodigy was a student at the Xavier Institute. The character has also been a member of the X-Factor, the New X-Men, and the Young Avengers at various points in his history. Prodigy is one of the main characters of the second volume of NYX in July 2024 where he is now a professor at Empire State University (ESU).
Jean Grey is a member of the X-Men, and has been included in almost every media adaptation of the X-Men franchise, including film, television and video games.
Psylocke is the name of two connected fictional mutant superheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men.
Jason Stryker is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is usually depicted as the mutant son of William Stryker and an enemy of the X-Men.
The New Mutants is a graphic novel published in 1982 by Marvel Comics. Written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by Bob McLeod, it introduced a new team of characters as teenage counterparts to the team of superhero mutants, the X-Men. It returns to the premise of the original X-Men, which featured a group of students, while retaining the diversity in race and social background introduced to the X-Men by the second incarnation of the team. The New Mutants is the fourth publication of the Marvel Graphic Novel branding and the first spinoff of X-Men. It was followed by an ongoing series in 1983, also titled The New Mutants.
Children of the Atom is a comic book series written by Vita Ayala, and illustrated by Bernard Chang and Paco Medina and published by Marvel Comics. The title was launched in March 2021 as part of Reign of X, a relaunch of Marvel's X-Men related titles.
The Ultimate Universe is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics beginning in 2023. Reimagining several classic Marvel characters in a new fictional continuity, Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch's Ultimate Invasion limited series depicted The Maker shaping a new world order in his image, resulting in Earth-6160, a new one preceded by alternate history.