The tension has been simmering in Ultimate X-Men, and issue #11 looks to push things to the breaking point. With anti-mutant protests escalating and young mutants like Hisako and Natus struggling to control their powers, the last issue left emotions high and consequences dire. Will this be the turning point fans have been waiting for, or will the chaos deepen?
Ultimate X-Men #11 juggles a few separate plots well while keeping the slow but certain pace going. Among the plots, a confrontation between Hisako (aka Armor) and Kanon (aka Psylocke) and a scene with the Shadow King are some of the best.
The issue opens with Nico and Moribreaking into Natu’s apartment, where she lives with her mother. They find big trouble they weren’t aware of while Nico uses a power we didn’t know she had. From there, there’s a check-in with Maystorm, and finally, the confrontation between Armor and Psylocke kicks in.
Doing some detective work.
Credit: Marvel
The confrontation is great, with solid visuals from Peach Momoko fully utilizing her awesome watercolors and a strong depiction of energy effects. These two fight briefly, but the fantasy aspect of their powers is on full display.
If you wish for more connections between this and other Ultimate titles, you’re in for a treat. Not only is there a moment connecting to the cliffhanger of Ultimate Spider-Man #13, but Ultimate Black Panther gets a nice nod.
Closing out the issue is a scene with the Shadow King, who literally travels through a television screen. He’s creepy and truly horrifying to look at in a storybook sort of way. He’s interrupting a meeting of mutants who want to save the Children of the Atom mutants from the awfulness of their cult leader.
There seems to be a conversation about mutants being incapable of doing good in a world where they are hated, but it’s not exactly clear. Much like other scenes in this issue, characters almost talk in riddles, never saying things too plainly. Which further inhibits a clear sense of where this is all going or what it all means. Once again, a confrontation of the “good” mutants versus the cult continues to drag out.
Ultimate X-Men #11 offers breathtaking visuals and some standout moments, but its slow pace and unclear storytelling hold it back from reaching its full potential. While fans of interconnected Ultimate stories and artistic excellence will find much to enjoy, the lack of narrative progress may test the patience of those seeking a more immediate payoff.
You must be logged in to post a comment.