Beginning with Storm #1 back in October 2024, Nigerian writer Murewa Ayodele launched a new solo arc for Ororo Munroe, aka Storm, as part of the “From the Ashes” relaunch following the end of the first Krakoan age. The solo title represented an exciting new creative direction featuring one of Marvel’s most prominent and beloved X-Men characters, with Ayodele delivering the type of writing and storytelling worthy of a legacy character like Storm, with a huge following and tremendous potential for carrying a solo title. Now, in February 2026, the saga continues with a new title with a new numbering system titled Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #1, which continues Ayodele’s narrative while also signaling an exciting shift in creative direction and focus.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #1!
Following the conclusion of the Thunder War in Storm #12, Ororo is still dealing with the fallout of the consequences stemming from the conflict with the thunder gods. One of those consequences of that conflict is the fate of the thunder god Susanoo. Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #1 opens with Storm meeting with Susanoo on Rage, the Rogue Planet, which is the cousin of Ego, the Living Planet. Susanoo sits with a sword driven into the ground while he waits for Storm to arrive. During their meeting Susanoo shares with Storm that he must commit seppuku, a form of ritual suicide, in order to redeem himself and restore his honor. He has chosen Storm to be his kaishakunin, or second, one who assists by decapitating the person committing Seppuku right at the moment where the agony of dying is at its most intense in order prevent a lingering death and to swiftly end their suffering.
Susanoo chooses Storm to help aid him in Seppuku, a form of ritualistic suicide. (Credit: Marvel Comics)
Susanoo choosing Storm to be his Kaishakunin demonstrates the level of respect that he has for Storm, as he has chosen her to participate in a very intimate moment at the end of his life. However, this request presents a tremendous conflict for Storm, as she has sworn to never take a life. Knowing that Storm likely would refuse the offer, Susanoo prepared a scenario that he hoped would force Storm to agree to his request. Using his sword, he has placed the Rogue Planet on a collision course with Earth. However, Susanoo says he will spare her homeworld if Storm agrees to help him end his life. Storm begrudgingly agrees to aid Susanoo, but makes him a cup of tea before we can see how the events play out.
Meanwhile, in a scene totally unrelated to what is going on with Storm and Susanoo, we have a couple in Kansas City that are making out on a couch. The male leaves the couch to go into the bathroom, and he brings his phone into the bathroom with him. While he is in the bathroom, he is mysteriously murdered, and Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, the new Sorcerer Supreme (see Sorcerer Supreme #1 for more details), is called in to investigate the crime scene. By the end of the issue, we do not quite know how this connects to Storm’s story arc in this series, but we do know that Ororo and Wanda’s path will cross at some point in this title.
From there, we find out that Storm did not go through assisting Susanoo with seppuku; instead, she poisoned the tea with a muscle relaxant to buy her enough time to rally the Avengers, with the intention of imprisoning Susanoo in a pocket dimension until such time that he is no longer a threat to humans or himself. This move shows how clever Storm is and the lengths she will go to avoid having to needlessly and senselessly take a life. While Storm stands by her decision here, she does express some regret that she had to betray Susanoo’s trust to do so, even if in doing so she saved the Earth from total destruction at Susanoo’s hand.
Next, Ororo is called to Biarritz, France, to repel an invasion of monsters who have attacked under the orders of Akujin, Susanoo’s war general. Akujin’s demands are simple: release Susanoo from imprisonment, or else a city on Earth will be destroyed every five days. Storm and the dragon storm god, Sugaar, fight valiantly, but they are unable to repel the invasion, and Biarritz is left brutally devastated, with lots of death and destruction left in the wake of the invasion. The issue ends with Storm at her lowest, feeling that she failed in her role as Earth’s protector. It’s a level of vulnerability and humility that is rare for Storm, a character who is usually so regal, level-headed, and confident in herself and her abilities.
Ororo Munroe’s heroic journey under Murewa Ayodele continues in Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #1, a new title that carries over the themes, plot points, and characterizations from Storm. In this first issue of the new title, Ayodele brings Ororo down to her lowest point, leaving readers to wonder whether Storm can find renewed faith in herself and her abilities and restore her sense of honor as she secures her role as the Earth’s most powerful protector.
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