Welcome, X-Fans, to another uncanny edition of X-Men Monday at AIPT!
FAN EXPO Boston 2025 may be in the rearview mirror, but I’ve still got interviews to share from Artist Alley — including this quick one with rising comic artist (and Marvel Stormbreaker) Simone Di Meo! X-Men Monday recently spoke to writer Jeph Loeb, who heaped praise on his X-Men of Apocalypse collaborator.
“His pages excite me, and by now, I feel like I’m trying to keep up with an F1 racecar driver,” Loeb said. “The action and drama are on equal par. On top of which, he’s inking and coloring his own work, and that always brings out something special and astonishing.”
So when you hear that — and you’re in the same convention center as Simone — how do you not strike up a conversation? Read on to see what Simone has to say.
Courtesy of Chris Hassan
AIPT: Welcome to X-Men Monday, Simone! So, X-Men of Apocalypse — how does it feel to have a superstar comics writer like Jeph Loeb gushing over your artwork and wanting to work with you?
Simone Di Meo: I’ve been a big fan of Jeph’s for years. I read a lot of his books with amazing artists like Joe Madureira. I’m really lucky to work on this project — but sometimes, I also feel under pressure for this reason, because a lot of people know Jeph’s work and I need to do my best to create something special with him. So I’m trying to use this experience to improve my art and skills.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: Well, on that note, when X-Men of Apocalypse was announced, you mentioned you’re working to build the best book of your career. In what ways are you pushing yourself as an artist?
Simone: For this book, I just try to recognize the things I need to fix based on my past work. I think the readers will recognize the change, because I changed a lot. And not in terms of style — my goal is to create something much easier to read. I did Batman and Robin, and I put a lot of energy into the pages. Sometimes, I think it was too much!
Jeph is an amazing storyteller, so I’m looking at his scripts and trying my best to make everything easy to follow. It’s hard sometimes, because there are a lot of characters. But I hope that after this series, my storytelling will be even better!
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: Were you an X-Men fan before working on this project? And if so, what was your first X-Men experience?
Simone: I’m an X-Men fan for sure, but my first experience was with the films…
AIPT: X-Fans, at this point in the interview, Jeph Loeb — who was also tabling at FAN EXPO Boston — approached Simone’s table. So, of course, I’m going to include that!
Simone [To Jeph]: Jeph, sorry about this…
Jeph Loeb: Now everyone’s going to be talking about you and not me!
Simone: It’s strange to talk about you with you here.
Jeph: OK, then I’ll go. [Walking away] But right now, I should say, Simone Di Meo is the guy!
Simone: But after seeing the X-Men movies, I read a lot of the classic X-Men series, and I’m a big fan.
AIPT: Who is your favorite X-Men character you’re drawing in X-Men of Apocalypse?
Simone: I love to draw Sabertooth. And Wolverine is one of my favorites for sure, because I can create dynamic poses or something crazy with him. I love to draw all of the members of the team we have in the series. But Sabertooth is my favorite right now.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: Finally, before I let you get back to the con, do you have an idea of what you’d like to work on after X-Men of Apocalypse?
Simone: I’m Marvel exclusive for the next few years and get to work with this amazing company. Right now, I’m drawing a lot of X-Men, so maybe the next project is like a solo book [Laughs]. Maybe with some backgrounds or skyscrapers. I would love to draw Spider-Man for sure — I’m a big fan of Spider-Man. I love Miles Morales. So, fingers crossed.
AIPT: I’m crossing them too! But on that note, thanks for stopping by X-Men Monday, Simone!
X-Fans, you can pick up X-Men of Apocalypse: Alpha #1 when it goes on sale September 3, 2025. And for this week’s X-Men Monday eXclusive, you get a taste of what Simone and Jeph have cooked up via the issue’s lettered preview, thanks to our friends at Marvel.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
But wait, there’s more… FAN EXPO Boston 2025 coverage on the way! Return to AIPT later today for my interview with writer Tini Howard, where we reflect on her work with Betsy Braddock and Rachel Summers in the X-Office, as well as look ahead to her upcoming creator-owned BOOM! Studios series, Marian Heretic.
Until then, X-Fans, stay eXceptional!
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