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Reviews

Ultimate X-Men #11 Review

  • Written by: Peach Momoko
  • Art by: Peach Momoko
  • Colors by: Peach Momoko
  • Letters by: VC’s Travis Lanham
  • Cover art by: Peach Momoko (cover A)
  • Cover price: $4.99
  • Release date: January 25, 2025

In Ultimate X-Men #11, by Marvel Comics on 1/29/25, Nico and Mori continue their investigation to find Natsu while Mei finds common ground with the Children of the Atom youngsters.

Is Ultimate X-Men #11 Good?

Recap

In Ultimate X-Men #10, NATSU TSUKISHIMA disappeared after accidentally killing her mother with her optic blasts. The media frenzy around the Children of the Atom also created problems for mutants who aren’t involved in the cult at all: HISAKO ICHIKI (ARMOR) fled her home after neighbors showed up asking questions. Never mind that Hisako’s been stalked by cult member SHINOBU KAGEYAMA (SHADOW KING) for months.

Plot Synopsis

Ultimate X-Men #11 begins with Nico and Mori arriving at Natsu’s apartment to find out where she went. Nico transforms her magic staff into a key to unlock the front door, despite Mori’s protests. They find Natsu’s room in tatters, suggesting (correctly) that something terrible happened involving Natsu’s optic blast power.

Later, Hisako and Mei eat Lunch at a noodle bar to catch up. Mei reveals she’s made contact with young members of the Children of the Atom cult since the cult scattered to avoid public and police scrutiny. Hisako warns Mei not to get involved since the cult is dangerous.

After Lunch, the two split up. Hisako searches a temple on the mountain behind her school. She’s surprised when Kanon, aka Psylocke, arrives and challenges her to a duel. Meanwhile, a small group of youngsters from the Children of the Atom meet at an abandoned location to figure out how to help each other. Everyone wears masks to hide their identities from each other as protection, but it’s clear their leader is Mei.

The issue concludes with one of the Shadow King’s shadows appearing before the gathering, looking for Hisako.

First Impressions

Ultimate X-Men #11 is fine for what it is, but the major criticisms remain. It doesn’t feel like an X-Men comic, it doesn’t appear to fit within Jonathan Hickman’s version of the Ultimates universe, and the story doesn’t appear to be headed anywhere in particular, giving credence to the slice-of-life tone. Nothing about Ultimate X-Men #11 will change your mind in either direction about the series.

How’s the Art?

Peach Momoko’s art, which is what she’s known for, is perfectly fine for a slice-of-life Shojo Manga. The main team (all girls) are cartoonish to the point of being cuddly, the action is light but lacking in threat, and the scene transitions are mostly good. There are a few spots toward the end where inset panels are supposed to reflect brief glimpses of one of the character’s memories, but it’s unclear which character is experiencing the glimpse or what it means.

What’s great about Ultimate X-Men #11?

Technically, there is some plot movement and one or two reveals. Hisako and Kanon are now introduced and aware that each other is a mutant, which could lead to an allyship or a conflict. Mei’s involvement with the Children of the Atom could turn out to be… something. And the Shadow King’s return to continue his creepy stalking of Hisako is unsettling.

What’s not great about Ultimate X-Men #11?

All the pieces described above are valid for what they are, but nothing is coming together for a story that has a purpose and direction. Who is the focal or PoV character? What do they want? Why do they want it? What’s standing in their way? These are the basic foundational aspects of a story that have no answers here, primarily because slice-of-life has “license” to ignore those aspects in favor of a story structure uniquely designed to have no destination.

Considering the construction of the Ultimates universe and the cross-title eventuality of the Maker’s return, a title we know is headed somewhere shouldn’t be less informed about its destination than its readers.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Ultimate X-Men #11 gives you more of the same slice-of-life storytelling you either love or hate. Peach Momoko moves an assortment of plot threads forward by inches, and the artwork is perfectly fine if you’re into Shojo Manga. For everyone else clamoring for an X-Men comic set in the Ultimates universe, look elsewhere.

5/10

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