Mystique: Most Wanted

Mystique (2024) #1-5

by Declan Shalvey (Writer / Artist), Matt Hollingsworth (Colorist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer)

Mystique, one of Marvel's most mysterious and iconic mutants, gets her own ongoing series!

How do you track a subject with a history that contradicts itself? How do you stop a force whose motives change like quicksilver? How do you stop a target who can be anyone? That’s the question that confronts Nick Fury as he stumbles upon a web of lies and espionage leading back to Mystique. From the ashes of Krakoa, the shape-shifting mutant returns to remind the world exactly who she is!

COLLECTING: Mystique (2024) 1-5

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, X Men, Fiction, Comic Book

128 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2025

About the author

Declan Shalvey is an Irish comics artist and writer.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2 stars

I really enjoyed this tale of mutant-style espionage and it’s great to see Declan Shalvey illustrating his stories again. Some of the recent books where he was ‘just’ the writer made me realise that his strength is as a visual storyteller.

[Alex Sarll]

The idea of a Mystique series in which you can never quite be sure which character is the shape-changing antiheroine is brilliant, and Shalvey as writer/artist is a good shout to execute it; he has form for writing twisty capers, plus his art is grounded enough to provide a counterweight to a concept that could have spun off into insubstantiality. Which is not to say this is perfect; writer Shalvey overindulges artist Shalvey by having Raven turn into various familiar faces, not always with much of a story justification, and sometimes stretching which abilities she should be able to access simply from emulating another mutant's form. And by the end it's piling a few too many twists atop twists and beginning to collapse under the weight. Still, there was some fun stuff along the way, and at least the reborn SHIELD gets rejigged sufficiently along the way that Nick Fury Jr no longer feels like he's suffering the pun/ishment from the end of The Shield through no equivalent fault.

[Tyler Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly sure what was going on at the end of this but the story was decent, felt a little rushed at times and some reveals felt way too forced and unnecessary. One thing I know for sure is that I do not fuck with this art, it does not look good.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most Wanted is more of a re-reveal of where SHIELD's at than anything of importance to the X-verse. Mystique gets a spy story, for better and worse. The sneakery is fun, and it's good to see Mystique on the edge of villainy again as she hunts down Destiny. But all the double-crossing and reversals and flashbacks...it's a hard tale to follow. I liked the artwork, which didn't seem to be a hit with many others.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very shapeshifter twisty espionage mystery story involving Mystique's hunt for Destiny, Nick Fury dealing with a diminished SHIELD, and a few minor interactions with other mutants. Largely forgettable, but an actually entertaining read. Don't love the artwork, but not horrible.
Final verdict: A "alright" read, but nothing standout.

[Atomread W. Megaforce · Rating 3 out of 5]

irgendwann war es mir ein Layer von "extrem komplexer Geheimdienst-Stuff, ich hab deinen Plan vorhergesehen und einen Gegenplan gegen deinen Gegenplan meines Gegenplans entworfen" zuviel.

[Aisling · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Andres Pasten · Rating 3 out of 5]

bien escrita, cumple

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Just wish it was an ongoing series!

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rushed, mediocre mini series which could easily be skipped, assuming that when Mystique appears in one of the main Xbooks they give a 2 line recap on it,m

That is about as much as is needed to sum up this series which acts an excuse for Shalvey to draw a bunch of Xmen that he likes.

Can easy be skim read on the marvel unlimited app if you really must know what happened in it.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

En el contexto post caída de Krakoa, es cierto que un personaje como Mística, puede sobresalir de volver a ser temida y odiada y resurgir de la cenizas del sueño mutante. En su existencia siempre cambiante, la adaptabilidad de este personaje ya sea por sus habilidades metamórficas o crudo instinto de supervivencia, la han colocado siempre en una posición escapista y en la sombra. La relación Irene Adler es el único vínculo real para Mística con algo parecido a la estabilidad y felicidad. Por supuesto, esto y mucho de la historia del personaje a través de sus eras comiqueras forman parte de la premisa de esta miniserie en la que Declan Shalvey se muestra como autor completo. Algo apreciado en cómo una historia de Mística realmente cobra gran importancia el plano gráfico. Más si se defiende lo que en "Most Wanted" es una historia de persecucción de espionaje con Nick Furia Jr. queriendo recuperar su libertad y arrojo en las operaciones de campo en una SHIELD totalmente "de oficina".

La miniserie tiene siempre bien medido la cantidad de acción y diálogo e interacción necesaria para que sea más o menos tu empatía con un personaje que recupera gran parte de ese estatus más "antagónico", sigas con mucho interés y ahínco los movimientos de Mística (que es cierto que habría apreciado más si como el propioo Declan menciona que su idea original era no mostrar hasta el último momento a Mística, jugando de verdad con sus habilidades, que el despiporre de que no solo imite apariencias de compatriotas mutantes, si no también habilidades). Llegando a un desenlace ciertamente inesperado y que deja al personaje en un trágico hiatus pero que resulta que para ella es una triste gran víctoria personal.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystique has a plan, and she's going to double cross, blackmail, and kidnap anyone she has to in order to pull it off. Including Nick Fury. Uh oh.

Mystique has had a spy book before, it ran for a while in the mid 2000s, but this is very much a different beast. This time it's Mystique on her own side rather than anyone else's, and she's going to bulldoze her way through things to get what she wants. At first I was a little disappointed at what it was it looked like she was after, since she's been after that before, but her true motivation is a lot more interesting, and given how everything ends here, I'm definitely curious to see what the larger plan is for her going forward. You can't keep Raven on the sidelines for long.

Something I really liked was that this book and Sentinels tie together to explain something, and neither book had any fanfare about it. Sentinels never said 'see Mystique for context' or anything, and there's only a vague 'read more Sentinels here' reference in this trade too. A nice surprise.

And of course, Shalvey's artwork is awesome as always. It's been a while since he's been on a Marvel book, I think he was doing his Image book for a bit, but this is a welcome return, and looks great as always. Perhaps a few too many blocky colour backgrounds, but the actual art itself is grand.

Less of a Miss-tique and more of a More-stique, please.

I'll see myself out.

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think, at another moment in time, I might have responded a bit more positively to this collection. I agree with Shalvey that Mystique is an interesting character to have at the center of a spy thriller, and their notion that a story where you never or rarely see Mystique also sounds fascinating. I think we arguably get too much of her here, though not enough to foreshadow the cost she’s willing to pay come the end of this story. I’m not to Sentinels yet in the current run, nor was I aware that a version of Fury based on Sam Jackson in the films is now Fury Jr of the mainline comics. Love the concept…just wasn’t very sold on the execution, especially art and dialogue.

[The_J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old Fury to New/MCU Fury; Mystique's powers form do not equal function and even if they were Juggernaut gets his powers from a mystical gem. The writer doesn't understand and the reveal cost for the unexplained "win" and the pre-cog asks if it was worth it. But off course she already knows. The art is fine, but the story and contradictions eventually over burden what little of worth is present.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Post Krakoa espionage at its...finest?

It's a fun little story with Mystique and Nick Fury Jr. as the leads. We get to see just how far Mystique will go to protect those close to her. S.H.I.E.L.D. is dealing with massive defunding. No LMD's for those guys.
===
Bonus: We've always known the effects of Cortez's powers? His time boosting Magneto on Asteroid M the prime example

[Logan · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/10:
The concept of being left constantly guessing as to which character is truly the shapeshifting titular character is interesting, but it was wasted on a rushed and boring 5-issue limited series. There are a few neat things that Mystique does, but this ultimately feels like a footnote in her own history rather than a story that needed to be told.

[Nate Deprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story and version of Mystique really worked for me as a villain with a purpose story and I like that Mystique uses cunning and violence to achieve her goals rather than sexual manipulation as she has in too many other stories.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystique is unique. I feel this story did her justice. I get the whole shapeshifting thing, but I don't get how the clothes change. Unless they are part of the shape she shifts to. Or maybe I am trying too hard to make sense out of something that should just be fun.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

being the writer/artist is such a flex

i did think destiny was plotting against mystique again and i was like dude this is such a toxic relationship

is nick fury jr a pre-existing character in the comics? i love that he's just a young samuel l jackson and we all just accept that

[Matt Sautman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of the old Brian K. Vaughn Mystique stories, I enjoyed Raven’s return to an espionage-based character in a story with a series of gradual twists that led to me verbally questioning “what?” aloud multiple times.

[PAUL KEIRNS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is packed full of action. Mystique is always on the attack while trying to accomplish her goal. Even knowing that she can mimic anyone, the way she would slip from one identity to another was interesting.

[Sem · Rating 3 out of 5]

most mid

[Tor · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty solid spy story with Mystique and Nick Fury's kid going head to head. I liked seeing SHIELD's new status quo working out of the basement of the CIA without all of the toys they are used to.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really kind of a dull book. 2 and a half stars, rounded up.

[Rickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good. I love Mystique as a spy and I think her and Nick Fury Jr working together would be amazing in the future (if the ending of this miniseries can be healed a bit).

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love spy stuff. Mystique and Destiny are a fine vehicle for an espionage story in the mutant corner of the Marvel universe. But this book feels a little underwhelming.

[Jack Morelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art elevates this story a lot

[Sophia · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

ok work