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Ultimate X-Men (2024) #1-6
Ultimate X-Men Vol. 1: Fears And Hates (Ultimate X-Men
Collects Ultimate X-Men (2024) #1-4.
Visionary creator Peach Momoko (DEMON DAYS) crafts 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, and ignore the political strife boiling 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 brand-group of new Ultimate X-Men - the likes of which you've never seen before!
Visionary creator Peach Momoko (DEMON DAYS) crafts 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, and ignore the political strife boiling 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 brand-group of new Ultimate X-Men - the likes of which you've never seen before!
Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
January 24, 2025
I didn't care for this one.
I found the plot to be a bit draggy, the characters too juvenile, and the dialogue subpar.
The art was nice, though.
I doubt I'll continue but that doesn't mean it won't be your jam.
I found the plot to be a bit draggy, the characters too juvenile, and the dialogue subpar.
The art was nice, though.
I doubt I'll continue but that doesn't mean it won't be your jam.
Read
December 24, 2024This new Ultimate line of Marvel comics is shaping up to be something pretty cool and daring, and Momoko's Ultimate X-Men is the best example of that.
A horror manga about a handful of stressed, traumatised, and vulnerable teenagers who serve as a complete reimagining of the X-Men origin story? And it works?! Yep, stellar stuff. Momoko's art is both unsettling and cartoonish when it needs to be, swinging like a pendulum between the uncanny and the playful. And her characters are a wonderfully likable ragtag bunch of kids.
Ultimate X-Men could easily be called a "risk" and it's one that has fully paid off!
A horror manga about a handful of stressed, traumatised, and vulnerable teenagers who serve as a complete reimagining of the X-Men origin story? And it works?! Yep, stellar stuff. Momoko's art is both unsettling and cartoonish when it needs to be, swinging like a pendulum between the uncanny and the playful. And her characters are a wonderfully likable ragtag bunch of kids.
Ultimate X-Men could easily be called a "risk" and it's one that has fully paid off!
January 18, 2025
This was different !
September 16, 2025
PT Este é o primeiro trabalho que leio da talentosa autora Peach Momoko, e rapidamente se percebe a razão da sua ascensão meteórica em popularidade.
Antes de mais, importa referir que esta é, provavelmente, a BD americana menos “americana” que já li. Momoko traz para o universo dos comics a essência do manga, fundindo os dois estilos de forma absolutamente fenomenal.
Os X-Men aqui apresentados estão completamente irreconhecíveis. A autora segue uma abordagem totalmente original, dando protagonismo e desenvolvimento a personagens secundárias já conhecidas dos leitores, como Hisako Ichiki (Armor) e Mei Igarashi (Maystorm), o que torna a leitura fresca e surpreendente.
Por ser tão diferente do habitual, poderá não agradar a todos os leitores, mas eu adorei. É precisamente disto que a BD americana precisa: novos talentos, capazes de criar algo verdadeiramente inédito.
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EN This is the first work I’ve read by the talented author Peach Momoko, and it quickly becomes clear why her popularity has risen so meteoricly.
First of all, it’s worth noting that this is probably the least “American” American comic I’ve ever read. Momoko brings the essence of manga into the world of comics, blending the two styles in an absolutely phenomenal way.
The X-Men portrayed here are completely unrecognizable. The author takes a truly original approach, giving prominence and development to secondary characters already known to X-Men readers, such as Hisako Ichiki (Armor) and Mei Igarashi (Maystorm), making the reading experience fresh and surprising.
Because it is so different from the usual, it might not appeal to every reader—but I loved it. This is exactly what American comics need: new talent capable of creating something genuinely unique.
Antes de mais, importa referir que esta é, provavelmente, a BD americana menos “americana” que já li. Momoko traz para o universo dos comics a essência do manga, fundindo os dois estilos de forma absolutamente fenomenal.
Os X-Men aqui apresentados estão completamente irreconhecíveis. A autora segue uma abordagem totalmente original, dando protagonismo e desenvolvimento a personagens secundárias já conhecidas dos leitores, como Hisako Ichiki (Armor) e Mei Igarashi (Maystorm), o que torna a leitura fresca e surpreendente.
Por ser tão diferente do habitual, poderá não agradar a todos os leitores, mas eu adorei. É precisamente disto que a BD americana precisa: novos talentos, capazes de criar algo verdadeiramente inédito.
--
EN This is the first work I’ve read by the talented author Peach Momoko, and it quickly becomes clear why her popularity has risen so meteoricly.
First of all, it’s worth noting that this is probably the least “American” American comic I’ve ever read. Momoko brings the essence of manga into the world of comics, blending the two styles in an absolutely phenomenal way.
The X-Men portrayed here are completely unrecognizable. The author takes a truly original approach, giving prominence and development to secondary characters already known to X-Men readers, such as Hisako Ichiki (Armor) and Mei Igarashi (Maystorm), making the reading experience fresh and surprising.
Because it is so different from the usual, it might not appeal to every reader—but I loved it. This is exactly what American comics need: new talent capable of creating something genuinely unique.
August 29, 2025
I'm a bit disappointed in this book. I wanted to give this 2.5 stars, but I had to round it up. I like the concept, and the artwork is a good match, but the story is all over the place.
A young girl is being haunted by a shadow being. Could this be a vengeful ghost of her dead friend? However, in times of stress and imminent danger, she manages to call on her hidden power. She also attracts girls with powers.
I have no idea how this fits into the new Ultimate Universe. I probably would have rated this hifger if it was a stand-alone story. It's an interesting concept, but the characters are all over the place, and so is the story. I have no idea if this even fits in with the X-MEN. Why is another point of confusion? Why call yourselves the X-MEN when there are no men on the team?
Every chapter finishes with an explanation of the Japanese legonds used in the story. The book finishes with a thumbnail varient covers gallery and a characters sketchbook.
A young girl is being haunted by a shadow being. Could this be a vengeful ghost of her dead friend? However, in times of stress and imminent danger, she manages to call on her hidden power. She also attracts girls with powers.
I have no idea how this fits into the new Ultimate Universe. I probably would have rated this hifger if it was a stand-alone story. It's an interesting concept, but the characters are all over the place, and so is the story. I have no idea if this even fits in with the X-MEN. Why is another point of confusion? Why call yourselves the X-MEN when there are no men on the team?
Every chapter finishes with an explanation of the Japanese legonds used in the story. The book finishes with a thumbnail varient covers gallery and a characters sketchbook.
June 21, 2024
These kinds of unusual and experimental stories are exactly what I want to see.
November 7, 2024
When it comes to X-Men, for as much as super-heroics and sci-fi ideas that have been displayed since the early sixties, the emotional core has always been about a group of people that are hated and feared. With the mutants have been interpreted over the decades that evoke certain political situations from our world, one frequent theme that has occurred throughout the X-Men stories – comics or otherwise – is the exploration of youth, particularly as a teenager where you feel the most isolated and you are trying to find out who you really are. That idea of the youthful outsider is central to the first volume of Ultimate X-Men.
As part of the Ultimate Universe, which began last year with Ultimate Invasion, this fresh approach of the X-Men mythos centres on middle schooler Hisako Ichiki, who can manifest a psionic exoskeleton, a power that awakens in traumatic circumstances regarding Shinobu Kageyama and his Shadow King form. Along with new friends, each with their own unusual power, Hisako gets involved in the expanding world of mutants, such as the presence of a cult called the Children of the Atom.
Written and drawn by Peach Momoko, who is best known for her Demon Days series that reimagined Marvel’s characters within the framework of Japanese folktales, Ultimate X-Men feels more J-horror manga than superhero comic. Whilst there are references to the X-Men we all know, such as one panel that features the classic Storm, Momoko is not at all interested in using all the key characters and elements that you associate with the X-Men lore.
The first sign of this book’s uniqueness is Momoko’s watercoloured art that does not evoke a traditional presentation of X-Men comics, and instead presents cutesy Japanese teens being plunged into situations that are not far off from a Junji Ito manga. From the art alone, this doesn't really feel like X-Men that will be divisive towards longtime fans, but for those who like their manga may feel more sympathy towards this.
Considering the world of the X-Men has always functioned as its own universe within the main Marvel Universe, with the Ultimate Universe that was revived by Jonathan Hickman – who launched the X-Men's Krakoan Age – it does seem like Momoko is given free rein to do what she wants with the mutants. As previously stated, this is not a story about superheroes, focusing on girls who are trying to cope with some past trauma, which eventually triggers their mutation and even though they try to keep their powers a secret, their formation as friends and eventually as a team is what drives them.
As this is arguably the most unconventional X-Men story being told, which allows for plenty of uncertainty and hopefully intriguing mystery, the story does move at a slow pace since it’s relying more on the domesticity of its school-bound protagonists, with the occasional splash of horror. However, Peach Momoko is flexing her muscles with Ultimate X-Men that serves a nice contrast to the more back-to-basics route that the main X-Men books are currently going through.
As part of the Ultimate Universe, which began last year with Ultimate Invasion, this fresh approach of the X-Men mythos centres on middle schooler Hisako Ichiki, who can manifest a psionic exoskeleton, a power that awakens in traumatic circumstances regarding Shinobu Kageyama and his Shadow King form. Along with new friends, each with their own unusual power, Hisako gets involved in the expanding world of mutants, such as the presence of a cult called the Children of the Atom.
Written and drawn by Peach Momoko, who is best known for her Demon Days series that reimagined Marvel’s characters within the framework of Japanese folktales, Ultimate X-Men feels more J-horror manga than superhero comic. Whilst there are references to the X-Men we all know, such as one panel that features the classic Storm, Momoko is not at all interested in using all the key characters and elements that you associate with the X-Men lore.
The first sign of this book’s uniqueness is Momoko’s watercoloured art that does not evoke a traditional presentation of X-Men comics, and instead presents cutesy Japanese teens being plunged into situations that are not far off from a Junji Ito manga. From the art alone, this doesn't really feel like X-Men that will be divisive towards longtime fans, but for those who like their manga may feel more sympathy towards this.
Considering the world of the X-Men has always functioned as its own universe within the main Marvel Universe, with the Ultimate Universe that was revived by Jonathan Hickman – who launched the X-Men's Krakoan Age – it does seem like Momoko is given free rein to do what she wants with the mutants. As previously stated, this is not a story about superheroes, focusing on girls who are trying to cope with some past trauma, which eventually triggers their mutation and even though they try to keep their powers a secret, their formation as friends and eventually as a team is what drives them.
As this is arguably the most unconventional X-Men story being told, which allows for plenty of uncertainty and hopefully intriguing mystery, the story does move at a slow pace since it’s relying more on the domesticity of its school-bound protagonists, with the occasional splash of horror. However, Peach Momoko is flexing her muscles with Ultimate X-Men that serves a nice contrast to the more back-to-basics route that the main X-Men books are currently going through.
June 15, 2024
I like Peach Momoko’s art, but I’m not crazy about the story here so far. It feels like it could have been Peach’s own little universe; it feels completely disconnected from what’s happening in the other Ultimate titles.
December 15, 2024
This title is the strangest and furthest from the source arc of the new Ultimate universe and I'm struggling to know what to make of it.
What bothers me I think is the extraordinary ease with which these self-discovering mutants take it, coupled with the unlikely concentration of said mutants in the same place at the same time. It's a bit of a crude trick. All this in a still nebulous development of the endgame after 6 issues.
However, the purely Asian setting, the freshness of the protagonists and Peach Momoko's so cute style, enhanced by her beautiful watercolours, make it a real treat.
It's likely that I would have rated it more harshly if it hadn't been so well illustrated. As it is, I'm hooked enough to go on to the second volume.
What bothers me I think is the extraordinary ease with which these self-discovering mutants take it, coupled with the unlikely concentration of said mutants in the same place at the same time. It's a bit of a crude trick. All this in a still nebulous development of the endgame after 6 issues.
However, the purely Asian setting, the freshness of the protagonists and Peach Momoko's so cute style, enhanced by her beautiful watercolours, make it a real treat.
It's likely that I would have rated it more harshly if it hadn't been so well illustrated. As it is, I'm hooked enough to go on to the second volume.
December 16, 2024
I think I'm going to need at least one more volume to really figure out how I feel about this take on the X-Men. Because this is a very bold direction. Make a list of what you expect to see in an X-Men book. Peach Momoko threw out everything on that list except "mutant". And so far, it's not at all clear that these mutants are anything like what most readers expect mutants to be. For one, there seems to be a level of mysticism involved in their powers. This fits with the entire feel of the book, which owes much more to horror manga than it does to Western superhero comics. I personally liked how much this drew on modern Japanese culture. I think my one concern here is that this may not end up fitting in with the rest of the new Ultimate books, so we'll have to see how that goes.
September 24, 2024
Easily the most unique of the new Ultimate books, all my admiration for someone like Peach Momoko, who totally juggles writing and illustration, truely making it a artistic story.
My prime issue with the book is how... disconnected it feels from the greater narrative with the Maker. Which that either works for or against your feelings.
Having said that, there is something cooking here, a bit slowly. We are slowly dipping into this worlds mutants, and I do mean slowly. Teen angst is abundant, from the sad to the pathetic, and it'll be curious how mutations and blood pacts develop. Real curious about that cult too, and what the SK has in store.
My prime issue with the book is how... disconnected it feels from the greater narrative with the Maker. Which that either works for or against your feelings.
Having said that, there is something cooking here, a bit slowly. We are slowly dipping into this worlds mutants, and I do mean slowly. Teen angst is abundant, from the sad to the pathetic, and it'll be curious how mutations and blood pacts develop. Real curious about that cult too, and what the SK has in store.
November 21, 2025
This was a totally weird, but also very fresh and different, take on the Mutants.
In the Maker’s new world, the X-men do not exist (as far as we can tell, with Storm fighting Moon Knight in Wakanda and with a Weapon X skeleton in storage). And whatever the X-men are going to be here has divided fans more than any other Ultimate book.
And that’s good. If I wanted normal X-men, I have almost literally 80 other titles to pick up and sort through and try and piece together and I’m not fucking doing it.
Peach Momoko bringing her distinct style, a punk rock tone, and an Armor-centric mutant story? I’m signed up, I’ve been signed up, and I’m in it for the long haul. You should be too.
In the Maker’s new world, the X-men do not exist (as far as we can tell, with Storm fighting Moon Knight in Wakanda and with a Weapon X skeleton in storage). And whatever the X-men are going to be here has divided fans more than any other Ultimate book.
And that’s good. If I wanted normal X-men, I have almost literally 80 other titles to pick up and sort through and try and piece together and I’m not fucking doing it.
Peach Momoko bringing her distinct style, a punk rock tone, and an Armor-centric mutant story? I’m signed up, I’ve been signed up, and I’m in it for the long haul. You should be too.
November 14, 2024
Люди Ікс завжди були більше, ніж супергеройські пригоди — це історії про ізоляцію, прийняття себе та боротьбу зі страхом і ненавистю до тих, хто «не такий». У серії коміксів «Ультимативні Люди Ікс», створеній Піч Момоко, ці теми переосмислено через призму японської культури та естетики. Принаймні мені так виглядає після прочитання першої сюжетної арки «Ультимативні Люди Ікс: Страхи та ненависть».
Головна героїня, школярка Хісако Ічікі, відкриває в собі незвичні здібності після травматичних подій, пов’язаних із Тіньовим Королем. Її історія — це не класична супергеройська сага, а більш інтимна драма про підлітків, які стикаються з власними страхами та приймають свої мутації, водночас намагаючись залишатися частиною світу, який їх відштовхує.
Малюнок Момоко — це перше, що виділяє цей комікс. Її акварельний стиль, натхненний японською манґою та горором, створює унікальну атмосферу, яка відрізняється від традиційного вигляду коміксів Marvel. Цей підхід може здивувати давніх фанатів Людей Ікс та взагалі супергеройських коміксів, але для шанувальників манґи стане приємним відкриттям.
Історія розвивається повільно, акцентуючи увагу на емоціях персонажів та їхньому шкільному житті. Незважаючи на незвичність і відхід від класичних канонів, перша сюжетна арка захоплює атмосферою та сміливим переосмисленням Людей Ікс. Робота Піч Момоко пропонує свіже і водночас глибоко емоційне бачення проблематики людей із геном Х. І це мені вельми сподобалося, навіть дуже сподобалося.
Головна героїня, школярка Хісако Ічікі, відкриває в собі незвичні здібності після травматичних подій, пов’язаних із Тіньовим Королем. Її історія — це не класична супергеройська сага, а більш інтимна драма про підлітків, які стикаються з власними страхами та приймають свої мутації, водночас намагаючись залишатися частиною світу, який їх відштовхує.
Малюнок Момоко — це перше, що виділяє цей комікс. Її акварельний стиль, натхненний японською манґою та горором, створює унікальну атмосферу, яка відрізняється від традиційного вигляду коміксів Marvel. Цей підхід може здивувати давніх фанатів Людей Ікс та взагалі супергеройських коміксів, але для шанувальників манґи стане приємним відкриттям.
Історія розвивається повільно, акцентуючи увагу на емоціях персонажів та їхньому шкільному житті. Незважаючи на незвичність і відхід від класичних канонів, перша сюжетна арка захоплює атмосферою та сміливим переосмисленням Людей Ікс. Робота Піч Момоко пропонує свіже і водночас глибоко емоційне бачення проблематики людей із геном Х. І це мені вельми сподобалося, навіть дуже сподобалося.
June 20, 2024
So far I’m enjoying this run. I think Peach gets a little too into the art and it makes it hard to add dialogue to a scene. It’s still hard to see where this story falls in the rest of this universe but it’s fun to read.
July 6, 2025
A brilliant and radical reimagining of the X-men universe by Peach Momoko with stellar art and a wonderful new cast. It is a bit slight and too-fast, but it’s undeniable this is a major and important new voice and I’ll be collecting all of the books that Marvel allows the people to see.
December 5, 2024
1.9 stars.
April 13, 2025
I did read this in single issue form and didn't really get it or even appreciate it.
Now collected it is a more cohesive story line and will try to follow it.
very stylized and art is great
Now collected it is a more cohesive story line and will try to follow it.
very stylized and art is great
April 16, 2025
Existem aqueles fãs possessivos que não gostam que mexam um fio de cabelo dos seus personagens. Talvez eu já tenha sido assim, mas aprendi com a vida e com as histórias a ser mais flexível. Então eu acho sempre bem-vindo quando um autor de fora do círculo vem e revoluciona com coisas que tomávamos como certas. E certamente Peach Momoko faz isso na sua versão dos Ultimate X-Men. Ela também não vem trazendo elementos novas para chocar, como faz Millar. Ela traz elementos novas que são próximos da sua realidade, da sua verdade, de elementos do Japão, onde se passa a história. Lendo o trabalho de Momoko eu me senti remetido à ótimas leituras que tive de romancistas japoneses como Haruki Murakami, tem algo ali que eu identifico. Algo que eu também vejo nos mangás, não só os de horror, mas nos mangás em geral. Um "je ne sais quoi" indefinível, mas que paira no estilo da quadrinista que é inerente à cultura japonesa e que se mescla bem ao ser "traduzida" para a cultura ocidental, assim como Murakami faz. Então foi uma ótima experiência ver algo estranho, mas incrivelmente familiar nessa abordagem dos X-Men. Eu simplesmente adorei e quero mais.
January 6, 2025
Yes, this is very different than your average x-men. Yes, the use of the term x-men was pretty forced and weird. BUT, the overall story of weird stuff happening to people and them finding other outcasts and helping each other through the weird, scary stuff - that's like... the whole thing of x-men right? Honestly, I'm not a huge x-men person, so maybe that's why I liked this so much. To me, it was nice to be starting from the beginning in a way so I could learn the characters one by one. Plus, the art is cool and beautiful and unique.
December 10, 2024
I've always said the antics of the X-Men feel far removed from everything else going on in the Marvel Universe and someone must have been listening, because the new Ultimate Universe take on X-Men has the famous mutants start not in America, but Japan! Its a radically different book in art and genre, but I appreciate big swings in this industry, and I think this really works!
The spooky mysteries at school are a nice hook, and its interesting to see familiar X-Men tropes in a different culture (mutant cults in the vein of a Japanese doomsday cult is an inspired idea), but the characters are what really grabbed me. Its hard *not* to care about Hisako and Mei as we watch these kids deal with stuff like survivor's guilt and homelessness at an early age. School life ends up being a sanctuary for them (much like the Xavier Institute), and you just want to hug them and say, "Everything will be ok!"
Something to note going in is that this book is a slow burn and really doesn't get going until the start of the next volume, so I really think people are better off waiting for an opportunity to snag both volumes before trying this series. If you're looking for something different from the normal Marvel fanfare though, I think this will whet your appetite.
The spooky mysteries at school are a nice hook, and its interesting to see familiar X-Men tropes in a different culture (mutant cults in the vein of a Japanese doomsday cult is an inspired idea), but the characters are what really grabbed me. Its hard *not* to care about Hisako and Mei as we watch these kids deal with stuff like survivor's guilt and homelessness at an early age. School life ends up being a sanctuary for them (much like the Xavier Institute), and you just want to hug them and say, "Everything will be ok!"
Something to note going in is that this book is a slow burn and really doesn't get going until the start of the next volume, so I really think people are better off waiting for an opportunity to snag both volumes before trying this series. If you're looking for something different from the normal Marvel fanfare though, I think this will whet your appetite.
August 12, 2024
While on its own it isn't absolutely horrible. But let's be real, this isn't even an X-Men comic. This has nothing we love about X-Men. Not our favorite characters or even the overarching mutant narrative.
I know this is a different universe and the Maker obviously changed mutant history as well, but this doesn't even connect to that narrative all too well.
It's a weird little corner of this new universe that I personally think is a miss overall. Again the story on its own isn't horrible and if it wasn't X-Men but an armor comic I'd rate it higher although the pacing is weird and sometimes very little happens in each issue.
I know this is a different universe and the Maker obviously changed mutant history as well, but this doesn't even connect to that narrative all too well.
It's a weird little corner of this new universe that I personally think is a miss overall. Again the story on its own isn't horrible and if it wasn't X-Men but an armor comic I'd rate it higher although the pacing is weird and sometimes very little happens in each issue.
January 15, 2025
The Ultimate title I was most excited for is sadly my least favorite out of the four series so far. The art is amazing but the story hasn’t grabbed me yet
September 29, 2024
Not my kind of book but kind of interesting?
December 3, 2024
No idea who okayed this book or where it’s headed. Only reading out of curiosity because it is included on Marvel Universe app. I would not pay for this series.
January 3, 2025
If you don't follow the big two comics publishers (Marvel and DC), you might not be aware that they're both currently - alongside their regular comics - running "reboots" of their bigger comics. For Marvel, it's the Ultimate line of comics, and for DC, it's Absolute. They've both done similar things in the past but there's a nice synchronicity this time.
Anyway, the idea is that they're good jumping on points for readers that might be interested in Batman, Spider-Man, the X-Men, etc., but get lost when trying to start reading a long-running comic with years and years of canon and characters they might not be familiar with. They also allow creators to be a little more free with the stories they tell, existing as they do without all the baggage of that canon.
I loved Ultimate Spider-Man, Vol. 1: Married With Children, which was a fairly by-the-numbers "Spider-Man starts out in his 30s in a modern setting" story with a few changes to make things fun.
This, by comparison, is a wonderfully strange departure from typical X-Men. Writer-artist Peach Momoko sets the story inJapan (it turns out it's not Japan proper, but in a slightly-different-than-our-Earth Japan-ish place), focusing on a mixture of existing Japanese characters from previous X-Men books (Hisako Ichiki - Armor, Nori Ashida - Surge, and Nico Minoru, from The Runaways) as well as a few new characters. And with these characters she tells a strange story that's more slice-of-life, with a bit of traumatic horror, than it is a superhero comic. And I absolutely loved it.
Hisako's haunted - both emotionally and literally - by the suicide of her friend. A shadowy specter begins appearing before her, blaming her for her friend's death, and soon people that drove her friend to kill himself begin dying by apparent suicide. While this is going on Hisako learns she has mutant powers and soon finds others that do, too.
If you aren't familiar with Peach Momoko's art, do yourself a favor and search it out real quick. It's beautiful, expressive, and evocative, and not at all typical Western comic art.
I'm thoroughly hooked and I'm excited to see where this goes next, and I'm honestly impressed that Marvel was willing to go so far off the typical track with a mainline comic like this.
Anyway, the idea is that they're good jumping on points for readers that might be interested in Batman, Spider-Man, the X-Men, etc., but get lost when trying to start reading a long-running comic with years and years of canon and characters they might not be familiar with. They also allow creators to be a little more free with the stories they tell, existing as they do without all the baggage of that canon.
I loved Ultimate Spider-Man, Vol. 1: Married With Children, which was a fairly by-the-numbers "Spider-Man starts out in his 30s in a modern setting" story with a few changes to make things fun.
This, by comparison, is a wonderfully strange departure from typical X-Men. Writer-artist Peach Momoko sets the story in
Hisako's haunted - both emotionally and literally - by the suicide of her friend. A shadowy specter begins appearing before her, blaming her for her friend's death, and soon people that drove her friend to kill himself begin dying by apparent suicide. While this is going on Hisako learns she has mutant powers and soon finds others that do, too.
If you aren't familiar with Peach Momoko's art, do yourself a favor and search it out real quick. It's beautiful, expressive, and evocative, and not at all typical Western comic art.
I'm thoroughly hooked and I'm excited to see where this goes next, and I'm honestly impressed that Marvel was willing to go so far off the typical track with a mainline comic like this.
September 3, 2025
Certainly sets a mood, and does a good job of taking us down AJ entirely different path to meeting mutants for the first time.
Did I enjoy it?
Eh
Was it a well-constructed story, with beautiful art? Sure!
Do I care about the characters? I’d care more, but I couldn’t connect most of them to their 616 counterparts and that drove me a bit batty.
And the style - not sure if this’d be considered anime, but it sure isn’t my groove either way.
Hope you enjoy it more than I did. At least by the end we’re finally acknowledging actual mutants - but more in AJ oblique way, like that old tv show Heroes did (by barely giving you a taste of what they could do).
Did I enjoy it?
Eh
Was it a well-constructed story, with beautiful art? Sure!
Do I care about the characters? I’d care more, but I couldn’t connect most of them to their 616 counterparts and that drove me a bit batty.
And the style - not sure if this’d be considered anime, but it sure isn’t my groove either way.
Hope you enjoy it more than I did. At least by the end we’re finally acknowledging actual mutants - but more in AJ oblique way, like that old tv show Heroes did (by barely giving you a taste of what they could do).
April 20, 2025
A fantastic start to one of the few completely new takes on the X-Men. Using some of the characters from the Japanese X-Men, Peach Monoko’s take puts the action squarely in high school. Turning the X-Men into a manga-style school/horror mystery is a brilliant move as we identify with the characters’ struggles to find out the mystery behind their powers. And with all Peach Monoko works, the visuals are amazing, surreal but still very grounded in character. This volume includes books 1-4. While wildly creative, the plot doesn’t move quickly, and very little is revealed. I’m up to book 7 in the individual issues, and the plot picks up. So hand some patience with v1 and enjoy the ride.
August 26, 2025
First Peach Momoko in the bag!!! I’m so glad I read this collected instead of issue by issue. It’s such a slow burn I think it would be painnnnnful if not for the trades.
I love the horror-flecked story and cute art. It makes me nostalgic for a time in my life when I read more manga.
I love the horror-flecked story and cute art. It makes me nostalgic for a time in my life when I read more manga.
December 4, 2025
'X-Men'e bunu yapanlar cezasız kalmamalı.
February 10, 2025
That's NEW! And weird. And I loved it!
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