Ultimate X-Men has been delivering on taking the opportunity created by the Ultimate Universe to have a completely fresh take on the X-Men franchise. The second story arc for this series started off big with the reveal of Ultimate Mister Sinister as a cult leader working with The Maker’s Council. This version of Mister Sinister gave off an immediate creepy vibe that is unlike his main universe counterpart. The connection this version of the character has to the direction of the mutants in the Ultimate Universe created a lot of interest in where Peach Momoko plans to take this story. Let’s find out with Ultimate X-Men #8
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Artist: Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham
ULTIMATE X-MEN #8 SOLICITATION
“WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE ATOM? What are mutants? Where do they come from? And how has the Maker’s Council been keeping them under control? All these dark questions and more start to unravel as our heroes investigate a murder that, for some reason, the authorities keep covering up! And Shadow King advances his sinister plots!” – Marvel Comics
REVIEW
Ultimate X-Men #8 is exactly what you want from a set-up issue. Peach Momoko, along with Zack Davisson adaptation, made sure to place all the characters in this series in the spots they need to be to make this story arc successful. Having such a chess piece moving chapter will be made even more important if the follow-up picks up the momentum.
Speaking of the strength of Ultimate X-Men #8 was the pacing of this issue. Outside of two key scenes, every scene was about two pages long. Even the two longer scenes, one involving Ultimate Cyclops and the other featuring Armor, were kept three and a half pages. This pacing made every panel important to how each character in this series is developed. Everything was about maximizing the time being given.
This once again highlights the strength of this series being Momoko the writer and artist. We see that with how things are all framed from panel to panel. Moments like when Natsu Tsukishima was shown using her powers for the first time were powerful because Momoko told the story through the artwork. Each character involved in the scene being stunned by this made this all have a feeling of being frozen in time as each character took his moment differently.
Speaking of, this was a great full introduction to Natsu as Ultimate Cyclops. Her backstory is given many relatable elements. The way Natsu used her optic blast out of the one eye she had covered with an eye patch created so many questions. Especially seeing how after she used her optic blast blood started to drip from her eyelid.
Everything else that goes on in Ultimate X-Men #8 came across as connected to what is going on with Mister Sinister in some way. Whether it is the characters like Ultimate Surge, who is a part of Children of the Atom cult, that has direct ties or Armor and Maystorm whose storylines will meet with what is going on with Mister Sinister. Establishing all of these different connections that lead back to the same villain is a great way to build up Ultimate Minister Sinister as a different threat. It certainly adds to Ultimate Minister Sinister’s creepy vibe, both in design and attitude.
The one aspect of Ultimate X-Men #8 that didn’t completely work were the scenes involving Kanon Sainouchi, aka Ultimate Psylocke, and Viper. The way it was placed in this issue was more of a reminder that we were introduced to Ultimate Psylocke and Viper in the previous issue. There scenes didn’t work well in maximizing their page count like other scenes did.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ultimate X-Men #8 accomplishes its goal of setting the stage for stronger chapters in this second story arc for the series. Peach Momoko does so much good character work by understanding when the dialogue or artwork should carry different moments. It is a balance that still makes this a comic book you are invested in while reading it.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
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