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'Sai: Dimensional Rivals' #1 is an art-driven fantastic journey
Marvel

Comic Books

‘Sai: Dimensional Rivals’ #1 is an art-driven fantastic journey

One of the most visually striking single issues Marvel will publish this year.

Peach Momoko writes, draws, and curates a new five-issue series tying into the smash-hit video game Marvel Rivals with Sai: Dimensional Rivals. Sai, aka Psylocke, is on a mission through the multiverse thanks to two strangers, while Momoko is aided by Stan Sakai and Iban Coello. Not quite an anthology, this new series is visually stunning while capturing your imagination through art styles and a mystical journey.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Sai: Dimensional Rivals, especially as someone who hasn’t played the game, but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to dive in. As a longtime fan of Momoko’s work, it was a given that the issue would be visually great, but paired with an easy-to-follow story, I was hooked after just a few pages.

The story opens on a bright sky-blue day. Sai lies in the grass, observing the sky and enjoying a butterfly, when a shooting star draws her attention. Her trusty wolf, Logan, lies beside her. The opening is by Momoko, beautifully drawn in exquisite watercolors. We soon see the story is set in feudal Japan, where a blue beastly (get it) looking guy is making money off people in arm wrestling matches. His handler takes note of Sai, and soon they’re chasing after her to get her help.

The opening perfectly sets up why Sai is on an interdimensional adventure, complete with swordfighting and fairly quick exposition to give us a sense of what the larger story is about.

'Sai: Dimensional Rivals' #1 review

Beast is looking good.
Credit: Marvel

Coello takes up the first multiversal adventure in a jump to a story with extremely detailed and pleasing art. Everything is black and white save for Sai’s psyonic blade, which looks cool as hell, like a lightsaber. The art is reminiscent of Star Wars: Visions’ short “The Duel” with a great sense of speed and energy. We’re only two weeks into 2026, but it’ll be a contender for the prettiest action scene of the year. Coello outdoes themselves with the art, and while the story ends rather abruptly (I wondered if I skipped a page), it’s a nice tale that feels complete.

Stan Sakai takes over from here as Sai enters another reality. This story has a fable-like vibe as Sai investigates a suffering town. Soon, she homes in on a town drunk who may have his hands on the town’s misfortune. A longer story than Coello’s, the story has room to take its time, allowing Sakai to draw the feudal Japanese coastal town in great detail. This story also feels complete and shows that Sai is doing good work to help people outside of her larger mission.

Closing out the issue is a short but sweet one-page cliffhanger by Momoko that sets up more adventures to come.

Sai: Dimensional Rivals is a gorgeous, imaginative showcase that proves you don’t need game knowledge to enjoy the ride. Peach Momoko curates a visually daring, emotionally accessible debut that feels more like an art-driven fantasy journey than a standard tie-in comic, and that’s exactly what makes it special.

'Sai: Dimensional Rivals' #1 is an art-driven fantastic journey
‘Sai: Dimensional Rivals’ #1 is an art-driven fantastic journey
Sai: Dimensional Rivals #1
Sai: Dimensional Rivals is a gorgeous, imaginative showcase that proves you don’t need game knowledge to enjoy the ride. Peach Momoko curates a visually daring, emotionally accessible debut that feels more like an art-driven fantasy journey than a standard tie-in comic, and that’s exactly what makes it special.
Reader Rating2 Votes
8.7
Absolutely stunning visuals across every segment, with Peach Momoko, Iban Coello, and Stan Sakai each bringing a distinct, memorable style
Easy entry point even if you’ve never touched Marvel Rivals
Sai feels instantly compelling, grounding the high-concept premise in emotion and purpose
Coello’s segment ends so abruptly it can feel like a missing page rather than an intentional cliff
The larger plot is intriguing but still mostly teased, leaving some readers wanting more connective tissue
9
Great
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