Don’t Pull Back That Curtain: Reviewing ‘Ultimate X-Men’ #7

Something potentially quite sinister lurks within the walls of secret facility that the Children of the Atom call their home. As Armor and friends seek answers, more questions begin to arise.

It’s a whole new arc as Ultimate X-Men #7 kicks things into an even higher gear for the revolutionary new series from Peach Momoko, Travis Lanham, and Zack Davisson.

There are never enough words to just gush about this magnificent title. One that takes the concept of the Ultimate universe and runs wild with it. Not just a reskinned or freshly painted version of what we’ve seen before. Oh, no, this is something completely new and different that features some bits that happen to be familiar.

It’s at least familiar feeling, since many of the faces, names, spaces, purposes, and more have been shuffled and altered to fit the story and its aesthetics.

Momoko is truly a storyteller in every sense of the word.

Comic books featuring super characters tend to fit a few certain molds more often than not. Every so often there is a work that takes those molds, nods at them, casts them aside, and does its own thing. Using many of the same ingredients as the rest of the proverbial dishes, but elevating them to amazing new levels.

That is this book.

Dark, whimsical, humorous, slice of life, and more. We get tons more answers to fit alongside the new questions, as Momoko never loses the human aspect that drew us in so fast. Using the time jumps baked into this universe to build in very profound and natural ways. Doing so in such a subtle natural way that both those in the know and those not in the know will hardly notice. No grand “It’s been ____ months, and we have _____ months till Maker returns!” like some of the other books.

Because, well that wouldn’t fit this book even if she wanted to do that. These kids not only know nothing about the overall situation with the Maker and such, they have far more personal pressing issues. Which is part of that secret sauce that makes X-Men such a delicious realm to follow and play within.

As alluded to in the intro, there is something about the Maester that just screams Mister Sinister to me. From the gaunt appearance to what seems to be a diamond shape on his robe, as well as the mentions of experiments and seeming glee about working with these mutants of the world. If so, the way that he and Viper and Psylocke are integrated here, expanding the cast and universe is perfect.

Visually there is just something comforting, even when it delves into darkness or even body horror, about Momoko’s artwork. Like being wrapped in the comfiest of blankets with a hot cup of your drink of choice and a roaring fire nearby. Cozy and welcoming, giving all the energy of the reality and fantasy of the world. Again, taking that which we know and mixing it around till it resembles that starting point but is mostly something refreshingly different.

Matching that energy beat for beat is the lettering. Giving the character’s voices their power and punch on the page. Lanham really pushes things in a way that lets emotion seep from and through the page, so we feel and hear every bit of it beyond clearly. Whether it’s personality filled or the tone suddenly changes, not a single doubt is in our mind. Which is great since there is a ton to get through in this issue, and a lot of words to give more power.

Every month I look forward to this series with such glee, and I cannot wait to see where they take all of this next.

Ultimate X-Men #7 is now available from Marvel Comics.