Ultimate X-Men returned to dealing with their original villain in the Ultimate Shadow King. With it Armor, Maystorm, and company have been dealing with yet more horror element as the Shadow King seeks his revenge. While visually this series continues to be at the top of its game Shadow King continuing to be the big bad is really running out of steam. Hopefully we will see the conflict with this villain ended sooner rather than later as there are so many great X-Men villains that could use the Ultimate Universe treatment. Let’s see how things turn out with Ultimate X-Men #14.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Artist: Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham
ULTIMATE X-MEN #14 SOLICITATION
“The Shadow King returns…more powerful than ever! Will Armor be the first to fall?” – Marvel Comics
REVIEW
Ultimate X-Men #14 continues the trend of this series being carried by the unique style of Peach Momoko’s artwork. There really is no other comic book that has the type of imagination that Momoko delivers visually. Though how much the visuals can carry this series is really put to the test with how tough it is to keep track of what really goes on and how things are resolved. If we can call how things end in the Astral Plane a resolution of any sorts.
The confused feeling coming out of Ultimate X-Men #14 is a massive dropping of the ball. Especially considering this whole Armor and Shadow King story has been going on since the series started. This deep into the series life span there should be a greater sense of clarity to the direction of these characters. Even if the results are the same the way we get there does not have to be as messy as they are.
It ultimately comes down to Momoko trying to juggle too many character arcs along with tying into the greater Ultimate Universe that becomes the stories greatest weakness. The inclusion of Viper and the ties to what the Maester, aka Ultimate Mister Sinister, is doing adds a layer that weakens the structure. This story needed to be much simpler with Maester being too underdeveloped so his presence isn’t as deep as one would hope.
Because of that there is also a feeling that this entire Shadow King story has dominated Ultimate X-Men for far too long. The story we get here should’ve been several issues ago. There is a deep feeling of the story being stretched with how Shadow King is developed as an antagonist.
This ends up hurting Armor’s character arc as Hisako Ichiki guilt in relation to Tsubasa has become her defining trait. There hasn’t been a deeper exploration for Hisako as she is stuck in this place that Shadow King has been manipulating for fourteen issues now. Because of that when Hisako’s narrative just sort of ends your not left surprised or wondering what happened to her. Just like the rest of the cast, you as the reader move on because Hisako becomes a character you quickly forget about.
The disappointment around Hisako’s character arc is made greater when we see how Momoko does a much better job with Maystorm. If nothing else, Ultimate X-Men #14 proves this series needs to, if it isn’t already, be built around Maystorm. She has the depth in the way she deals with Surge in their rematch and other developments you need from a lead. Maybe if that was the case the entire time we would’ve gotten to the X-Men moment much sooner than we have.
The Maystorm vs Surge rematch is where Momoko was at her best. Both the visuals and writing were on point to really get over this personal rivalry that has been built. Which made for how Nico and Natsu’s role in helping with this battle better because the focus was defeating Surge. This in turn led to Maystorm leading the Children of Atom as the X-Men with Kanon work as a good new starting point for the series.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimate X-Men #14 shows the best and worst of this series all in one package. Visually, the imaginative artwork that has made this stand out from all other Marvel titles is alive and well. It is the resolution, or lack thereof, when it comes to the overarching Shadow King and Armor narrative that the ball is dropped. By the end all we can hope for is that Maystorm and the rest of the cast move on so we start getting the X-Men series this comic book should be.
Story Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 5.5 Night Girls out of 10
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