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Written by: Peach Momoko
Art by: Peach Momoko
Colors by: Peach Momoko
Letters by: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover art by: Peach Momoko (cover A)
Cover price: $4.99
Release date: August 28, 2024
Ultimate X-Men #6, by Marvel Comics on 8/28/24, concludes the first arc with a confirmation of Shinobu Kageyama’s power and the first battle of the X-Men on a hot playground.
Is Ultimate X-Men #6 Good?
Yep, that description pretty much sums it up. One of the big mysteries of this series has been the identity of the shadow figure, the shadow’s connection to Shinobu Kageyama, and how it all plays into the formation of an Ultimate X-men team. Whether or not you find the answers satisfying is up to you.
When last we left the students in Ultimate X-Men #5, Mei suddenly decided she and her friends should form a team called the X-Men to combat a growing cult of “mutants.” Why the X-Men? Because their assignment papers from school tend to have a lot of Xs on them, of course.
In Ultimate X-Men #6, we catch up with Hisako, Mei, and Nico on a very hot afternoon as they sit in the shade at their local playground, watching their friends Natsu and Mori play basketball. Nico brought a journal of notes her grandmother compiled concerning research into the cult known as the Children of the Atom. Hisako believes the shadow belongs to a member of the cult.
One of the persistent criticisms of this series is the slow and leisurely pace. Here, Momoko steps up the pace a little bit to build on the massive exposition dump from the last issue. The improvement isn’t huge, but noticeable.
The issue shifts to a montage series of scenes focusing on Shinobu Kageyama. The flashbacks confirm he is the source of the shadow. The shadow allows Shinobu to hear and see the thoughts of others, as well as control them with his thoughts. Although this version is very different than the person we know from EArth-616, the preface page confirms Shinobu is the Shadow King.
Well, Shonbou’s Ultimates identity isn’t a massive surprise, but Momoko drew out the reveal as long as possible to build intrigue and keep the readers guessing. Since Shonbu’s identity was guessable almost from his first appearance, the slow reveal didn’t work as well as Momoko probably intended, so it turned out to be a nothing burger.
We also learn that Shnobu is an unstable stalker creep with an unhealthy fixation on Hisako, which is why she keeps running into the shadow. With all the girls assembled on the playground, discussing the Children of the Atom openly, Shinobu’s shadow appears to confront the group. And then they fight.
The issue concludes with teamwork making the dream work, a visit to the “doctor,” and a peak at the Maester-mind behind the cult.
Overall, Ultimate X-Men #6 brings the first mutant team together for their first battle in an arc-ending issue. However, Shinobu’s big reveal turns out to be completely unsurprising. The big battle is barely more than a skirmish that comes off like a Sailor Moon knockoff, and the big finish is little more than a mild cliffhanger.
In other words, Momoko’s take on the X-Men certainly feels different, but the slow pacing and small scale simply lack the wow factor needed to grab the readers’ attention.
How’s the Art? The art is fine for what it is. As you can see from the preview pages, this series looks and reads like a typical Manga. Whether you are or aren’t a fan of Momoko’s style, this issue is more of the same.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Final Thoughts
Ultimate X-Men #6 brings the first arc to a close with the reveal of Shinobu’s identity and the first battle of the Ultimate X-Men. Unfortunately, Shinobu’s identity was guessable almost from the beginning, so the reveal has no impact, and the battle is little more than a playground tussle. What should be a big moment to end the arc barely elicits a mild shrug.
6/10
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