Release: January 2026 | Writer: Peach Momoko & Zack Davisson | Artist: Peach Momoko | Letterer: Travis Lanham
A DARK TURN
Hisako and Kageyama are gone.
After the deadly events of Ultimate X-Men #22 last month, Mei is trying to find what really happened to her friend Hisako. But through all of the events of the last year, we learn of another being that’s been controlling the girl’s path.
You can find my review of Ultimate X-Men #22 HERE!
*SPOILER WARNING AHEAD!*
BRUTALITY! MYSTERY!
The brutality and darkness of the last issue continues this month. In one of the darkest openings to this series that we've seen so far. The power stealing being we’ve seen in past issues has bodies attached to him meticulously. One of these bodies begins to combust as he escapes from this hellish contraption. As his skin burns and drips off of his body, he’s extinguished by one of the scientists watching over them.
This mutant, known as Number 256, lies on the ground charring and is presumably dead. The scientists thought this as well as they wheeled him away to a room to be prepped for incineration. However, when the scientists go back to complete the said incineration, he is not only gone, but he has physically walked out of the room with his number tag around his neck. Oddly enough, he is carrying another body labeled as Number 127 in his hands as well. He slowly, and I can only guess painfully, calls out the names of Kageyama, Tsubasa, and Atom. The name of this burned man is Amano, whom we thought was dead when he slit his own throat during his previous face-off against Hisako.
For those who do not remember, Amano and his friends are the same people who bullied Tsubasa and drove him to take his own life in the beginning of this story. This tragic event is what set this entire journey in motion.
TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Now we look back at pivotal parts of this story since it’s beginning. First, we see Amano standing behind Mei, taking us back to Issue #1. Talking Mei that there are other mutants out there like her, he emphasizes that Hisako specifically will need Mei’s help the most.
Next is Nico, who is warned of the Children of the Atom logo by Amano, who has taken the form of her umbrella. He is also present for the creation of the Secret Society X-Men team name. Amano even spoke to Natsu, which may have led her to join the Children of the Atom so that Mei could find her. He is even revealed to be involved with the Meatcase investigation that was ongoing earlier in this series.
Every time Amano meets one of the girls at key parts of the year, he sends them either a warning or a message to remember. Mei specifically sees him everywhere. He has taken a specific liking to her, as she is the focal point of all of this. This revelation is a great way to finally provide answers as to why she has been acting so strange in some of the previous issues. It finally provides a close to that particular story.
WHAT’S TO COME?
Mei is seen speaking with Natsu who is having some very serious doubts. She has doubts about her powers that she feels are a curse and this fear is holding her back from reaching her full potential. She listens to Mei who consoles her, and even though Natsu doesn’t feel like she’s worthy enough to show her face and take her mask off yet. Mei tells her that she can do comfortably on her own time, when she’s ready.
The growing team of X-Men jump from rooftop to rooftop while finding new recruits. Their main goal is to create a safe world for all of mutantkind. To do that, they all need to come together.
Before we know it, the story shifts from a hopeful and motivated Mei back to the scene of the deaths of Kageyama and Hisako. Mei once again has the shocked, blood-covered look that she wore in the last issue. The shadowy body of Amano hauntingly floats over the blood-stained ground. He speaks to Mei almost like an upset parent. He says that he is ashamed that Mei could not save Hisako. Even so, Hisako killed Kageyama. As he floats higher into the air, Amano says that maybe he should thank Hisako for doing that himself.
Then, he is gone.
Back to current day, Mei is on the rooftop eating her noodles as she reaches, taking in the city below her while she’s on her phone. And right there, we see Iron Lad addressing the world and giving his worldwide speech that was shown in the Ultimates (go read those ASAP!). Finally, the Ultimate stories are all colliding, spelling the end soon for the Ultimate Universe.
Conclusion
This is another good building issue for Ultimate X-Men as we see the finish line of this great story. This time, you can really feel that it is building toward something larger than anything the creative team has done before. From reading The Ultimates, we know that they are preparing for literal end of the world issues. The reintroduction of Amano is interesting, as it shows how he has been such a key figure in the lives of these girls during their past year together. The fact that they all have met under these unique conditions finally confirms that their meeting was, in fact, not a coincidence.
This book was also a fun trip down memory lane. It was great to see all the key moments that Peach Momoko has created along this journey. By seeing these moments, one can really capture how great this book has been since the start. It has had such a natural progression. Every introduction or moment feels as though it was done for a very specific reason, which is something I admire.
As I stated earlier, the brutality of this story has really ramped up over the past two months. If this story is ever adapted into a show or movie, it will be one for the ages. I am genuinely upset to know that this book will not be around in a few months after Ultimate End Game concludes. However, the ride has certainly been a fun one, and we will be riding this train to the very end.