Spinning A Whole Lot Of Plates: Reviewing ‘Ultimate X-Men’ #8
by Scott Redmond
Overview
Things are nearing a breaking point as Armor and her gang move closer to a confrontation with the Children of the Atom in ‘Ultimate X-Men’ #8. An issue that keeps much of what makes this series work while showing off a few elements that could potentially drag things down if they become too much.
Overall
9/10Keeping a grip on any group — especially cult-like ones — is always a very tenuous thing, especially when secrets are involved. That’s what the Maester of the Children of the Atom group is quickly finding out as things start to unravel further with Ultimate X-Men #8.
Our latest entry in the Ultimate-ized Marvel merry mutants’ journey comes once more from Peach Momoko, Travis Lanham, and Zack Davisson.
As always, the unique nature of this book — the different, altered paths it’s willing to walk — remains a true treat. Deep character beats and introspective moments are hallmarks of what X-Men stories should be, and we’re given all that in spades here. There is no nostalgia or trying to recapture something of the past here. Just Momoko wrapping the X-Men in the cloak of Japanese culture while digging for new nuggets of gold with familiar, decades-old characters.
My praise for this book will always remain, especially because it’s taking the Ultimate assignment so seriously.
At the same time, I do begin to worry that it’s trying to do too much at times. This issue alone has to check in with so many figures, spaces, and plotlines. It’s almost like some whiplash-inducing jumping around that has to be one. So much so that there were moments where I honestly could not recall if some characters or beats were ones we already met or focused on. Monthly releases and baked-in universe timejumps aren’t always helpful when trying to build a new world from the ground up.
No matter what, though, it remains a vivid and gorgeous, also very unique, visual journey.
So much darkness and levity wrapped into the same artwork at the same time. Allowing us to feel the growing tension and the darker (sometimes body horror-like) tones but also keeping the massive whimsical energy intact. Even with there being so many characters and spaces, they all have their own unique looks and energy on the page.
No two people or places look the same, and Momoko makes sure we feel their impact. Whether we remember who they are or not.
There is a ton of dialogue and exposition in this issue, as various storylines are coming to a sort of head. Lanham rolls with it all, letting it neatly and organically flow through the pages. Capturing the various tones and emotional beats that we need to hear as we move through the pages. A slew of visual quirks follow the words which allow those beats to be more apparent. This allows all the lettering to seamlessly blend into the world as Momoko draws it, creating this unified powerful energy.
Ultimate X-Men #8 is now available from Marvel Comics.
