REVIEW: ‘Ultimate X-Men’ Issue #1

Ultimate X-Men #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It is written and illustrated by Peach Momoko, with a script adaptation by Zack Davisson and letters by Travis Lanham. This is the third ongoing series within the new Ultimate Universe. In it, a shadowy figure haunts young girl Hisako Ichiki.

The plot of this first issue is mesmerising and peculiar. Slow to start but easy to sink into, the world Momoko creates starts quietly and softly. Fresh out of graduation, a shadow lures Hisako away in their first encounter. It is here that the book gets creepy.

The horror within Ultimate X-Men #1 is a journey in itself. It moves from a slightly sinister introduction to a downright terrifying conclusion. The book is much more frantic from the first meeting with the shadow as a power is revealed. The whole comic never strays away from Hisako. Its focus is entirely on her. From a tiny point at the start, so much is learned by the end of the first chapter. There are many mysteries to uncover, with dark secrets and anxieties seeping out of the woodwork. The whole comic is surprising for a first issue, and where it goes from here is a real enigma.

The dialogue is fascinating, varying in intensity depending on who is speaking. Hisako speaks little in Ultimate X-Men #1, and it is quiet and straightforward when she does speak. At first glance, she is a sweet girl with no reason to lie or judge. Isolation and loneliness shape Hisako’s life, shrinking her world significantly in the process.

What happens in this issue only seeks to shrink it further. Her narration is more expansive but still direct and to the point. Likewise, the shadow creatures do not mince their words and have an intense dialogue. They feed on grief and guilt. How accurate these creatures are is a constant question, with evidence proving either eventuality.

The art is a fantastic display of Momoko’s ability. For those unfamiliar, you might have seen Momoko’s artwork on comic covers before. The beauty is impossible to ignore. It is fascinating to see how Momoko’s style works with sequential art. Everything on the page is there to help tell the story.

Sometimes, things can look unkempt, dirty, or unpleasant. It could be an example of how the Maker’s Council has controlled and dulled the world to keep the population under control. The book’s opening uses classic Japanese iconography to provide a sense of location but then delves into more depth as the issue progresses.

Hisako is wonderfully expressive, and her actions drive the plot entirely alone. Her little looks of determination when riding her bike at speed constitute the action for much of the comic, and they are highly effective. Momoko understands that faces don’t have to be lifelike to depict life. Presented as massive and protective, Hisako’s abilities culminate the issue’s work and look terrific.

The shadow creatures are stunningly horrifying. Appearing as a shapeless black mass, their malleability is on display. Their movement can be like ink blotches or puffs of smoke, always unpredictable. Occasionally, a haunting face appears, developing into a brutal image, but Hisako’s reaction draws fear from the reader.

The colors are unexpected. Most of Momoko’s art uses watercolor, adding a faint but stunning shade to most of the issue. The opening, which is relatively calm, brings warmth and life to the comic. The explosion of her powers covers the panel in pink, which is easily the brightest part of Ultimate X-Men #1.

But the shadow seems to draw the color from the world, leaving cold tones instead. The possible origins of the creatures are unknown. If they are figments of Hisako’s imagination, they could symbolise mental illness, which would explain the faded colors. The lettering for the shadow creatures looks beautiful, but it isn’t easy to read. It is white writing on a black background, and the font is difficult to follow.

Ultimate X-Men #1 is Peach Momoko’s masterpiece. There are clear tributes to Studio Ghibli movies, and it is stunning.  The art style, the young character, and talking to mysterious beings all show where Momoko’s influences stem from. The gorgeous art provides a strange serenity within the scariness. The story starts small, only staying with the character for the whole comic. Adding anyone else would immediately dampen and dissipate Hisako’s struggles. The torment she is experiencing is palpable and radiates from the page.

Momoko’s auteur approach to Ultimate X-Men #1 has given her complete control over its execution, and every specific detail is there for a particular reason. The issue expands the world here by heading internationally but does not lose itself in unnecessary exposition. But the wider world can wait; Momoko tells the tale of a young girl’s terror first.

Ultimate X-Men #1 is available where comics are sold.