Such a great issue! I was surprised that we got Marcus continuing the bedtime story, but it makes sense that he is, as last issue wasn’t a done in one story.
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I’m so happy that Marcus knows enough about Calico to make her in-story horse, Ember.
I also like how he may not know Jitter enough that, to him, it makes sense that she announces the character’s name that she is going to mimic. In case this case, that’ll be Hawkeye.
Meanwhile, the Uncanny X-Men are facing off against Elsa Bloodstone, Manphiban, The Living Mummy, Frankenstein’s Monster, Morbius, and Werewolf by Night. I always appreciate narration boxes naming characters.
In classic X-Men fashion, AND horror trope, the team splits up, and we get some fun combinations.
Nightcrawler teleports himself and Logan to Sweet Water Park. We get a reminder that Hurricane Katrina devastated the park, and they still haven’t recovered fully. We should remember that Louisiana still carries the scar of that disaster.
Logan fights Werewolf by Night, who bites Logan.
We are introduced to Elsa’s boss, a charming lady, who has a white wolf for a pet, Salem.
Nightcrawler has to confront German literary hero (?), Frankenstein’s Monster. He rather just talk it out.
Jubilee is confronted by Dr. Morbius, they have a nice chat about how freeing it is to be a vampire, but Jubilee rather not go back.
Gambit fights Manphiban.
I like Logan having such medical knowledge that makes sense. I start having the thought that it is nice that Logan is healing from the bite, and not turning into a were-wolverine. That would be troublesome.
I also like that we see a young Rogue, pre adoption, who really enjoyed horror movies. Scared out of her wits, but enjoys the thrill. Rogue has to deal with both Living Mummy, and Elsa Bloodstone. Elsa informs Rogue that her boss is on her way to Haven House. At least the Outliers are there.
Issue ends with Rogue having to deal with a new threat – Wereverine! So, turns out, not as nice as I thought. Ruh oh.
So rare for a modern comic to reach issue 25! Though Uncanny will be doing it with its next issue. Just to get it out of the way, here is your Fenris trigger warning. I treated myself to the Luciano Vecchio variant cover. We weren’t given this theme cover for Exceptional X-Men, which I would have gladly bough the Kitty Pryde, Emma Frost, and Melee covers. Actually, I probably would have gotten all of them, as I do love the format. Maybe with X-Men United we’ll finally get them? I’m still waiting for the Russell Dauterman Kitty Pryde costume gallery cover.
Issue opens with Cyclops telling the team about the Age of Revelation. I do like the idea that you can just skip AoR, and what you really need to know, you’ll be told through X-MEN dialogue. Future bad because of Doug Ramsey, and 3K (more about them later).
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Scott’s new goal in life? Fix the Present, Save the Future. Such a good team shot here.
Arizona, three miles from Rio Verde. Which is three and a half hours away from Yuma. When I was growing up, there was a popular blue shirt that had, “Yuma, four hours from everywhere else” that is burned into my mind.
We catch up to Fenris, who are eternally gross. Now, they’re super prideful of being white mutants, so they have a new lower level to their grossness.
I do love how out Jed MacKay is with calling the Strucker twins and Fenris (the name of their hate group) Nazis. Why hide behind code words? Also a good time to mention I was wrong about 3K being a clever way of not writing KKK, which makes sense now that we know Krakoa Beast is the Chairman of the Board.
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Then. Cyclops really needs to find Doug.
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Now. Cyclops sends Magik and Psylocke to join the fight. Once we’re done with the Psylocke retro series (which apparently is selling quite well), I would love to get a Magik & Psylocke miniseries.
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These two are great together!
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Then. I love the X-Men sharing a meal together, this team is very close.
Cyclops reveals that AoR had never heard of R-LDS. 70s Beast let’s out a “retrocausality” which sounds very fun to say aloud. I wonder what that would have looked like as a Mortal Kombat finisher?
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Magik telling Psylocke that her sword is sharper, and Kwannon calling Magik a brat. These two are the best.
Again, I just love Juggernaut and Magik being besties. This series has been great with showing Illyana being actual friends with people. I love to see it.
Juggernaut throws a car at Fenris, he’s so upset that they blasted Magik. Taking her out of the fight for the rest of the issue, which one has to do as she can end a fight rather easily.
Psylocke fights Andreas, and Oya fights Andrea.
Quenten Quire, who also can end a fight easily, has been holding back, as he really doesn’t want to enter a white supremacist’s mind – completely understandable.
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Juggernaut helping Magik up, they’re the best!
We finally learn who the mutant is who is in charge of O*N*E* . . . The Crimson Commando, who I barely remember. He’s on the cover of Uncanny X-Men 215, with Stonewall and Super Sabre. I mostly only remember Stonewall because of the historical event, and the cool flight helmet. He’s a WWII veteran, with the mutant power of peach physical health. I own his first appearance, so that’s cool. He is a Claremont / Davis creation.
The Crimson Commando arrived with a crew, and a press conference, announcing O*N*E*, and Cyclops’ X-Men are working together, then immediately has them stop recording, so mutants everywhere should have some distrust of Cyclops now. Which seems silly, as all it’ll take is for him to reach out to Rogue and Emma, and clear the whole thing up – he’ll probably do that in-between issues.
Cyclops references how the last time he fight Crimson Commando, he died, in Uncanny X-Men 529. Which was the issue Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost with Fantomex were searching for Sebastian Shaw, so I only remember that plot from the issue, but I owned his first and last appearance (until this issue, which I also own, so that’s nice).
We do get a reference to how Cyclops hadn’t realized Crimson Commando was resurrected on Krakoa, so that’s nice that era exists so any mutant can be brought back with ease. As long as they didn’t die in Fall of X (or Rise of X).
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Crimson Commando leaves, knowing he’ll win the long battle.
We get a back up where 70s Beast chats with Animalia, who likes the codename, another legacy of AoR.
70s Beast figures out 3K is actually 3000, otherwise written in Latin, MMM, Make More Mutants, and learns the Chairman of 3K is . . . Krakoa Beast! So, everyone knows what they are up against.
Wolverine : Weapons of Armageddon 4, the first issue didn’t impress me, and the latest promos with Captain Marvel, Spider-Man, and Logan isn’t selling me on it. I’m just burnt out with crossovers after the underwhelming One World Under Doom, Ultimate Endgame, and X-Men Age of Revelation.
Doomquest 1, that’s a hard pass.
. . .
Though writing that, I am still buying into the hype with Reborn : Ultimate Impact 1. Now the Ultimate Universe is maybe done, but the 616 universe is now involved, gets my interest. Plus, it promises to reveal some new major characters (that I’m sure we’ll forget all but two of them in three years)
. . .
Civil War Unmasked 1, this was originally a hard pass for me, but Bishop and the Days of Future Past (which isn’t his future) has me interested in the first issue at all.
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Fantastic Four 11 has a back up story by Stan Sakai, so that’s very compelling.
. . .
weird Spider-Man / Superman is being promoted again. If you use DCBS, this is available now to order, so you better hurry! Don’t wait until March. I’m getting the Erik Larsen Cyborg Spider-Man Superman cover, and Walker D is getting the everyone cover.
. . .
JLAvengers 1 is getting reprinted? I read online that DC is printing the second issue. Such a great story. I own the original four issues, and the gorgeous hardcover collection.
X-Men of Apocalypse Omega, is promising a shocking twist ending, but the series has been highly disappointing thus far, I can only imagine it has to end big to worth the printing of it. Of course, if AoA Shadowcat was involved, at all, I would be writing to a different tune right now.
. . .
Not only is X-Men double shipping with issues 29 & 30, but Magik is on two covers (that we know of) for each issue. I doubt I’m going to have the budget for four of these.
If I’m only doing one cover each, which is the idea, I’ll get Martín Cóccolo’s 29, and Germán Peralta’s 30.
. . .
Cyclops 4, the first issue was fantastic. Magik was in it, so I’m tempted to get the last issue, just in case she bookends the miniseries.
. . .
X-Men United 3, I’m getting Andrei Bressan’s variant cover for sure, it has Magik on it.
I really have been apricating that they are showing us more covers this early on.
. . .
Storm : Earth’s Mightiest Mutant 4, has Storm’s daughter, Furaha, officially making an appearance, after being teased in Hellfire Vigil.
. . .
I’m definitely getting Moonstar 3’s regular cover, with Magik on it.
. . .
Magik and Colossus 4, I’m definitely getting the Nogi San cover, all I’ve been wanting is the option to get solo Magik covers from this series.
Also, recognizing how many images I have been saving, I’m only getting one cover each of X-Men 29 & 30, I do resent the double shipping of that title, I’m not rewarding it by buying twice as many covers. To me, double shipping a title means I can’t support another series.
. . .
Psylocke : Ninja 5, now with Jubilee, so that’s fun. Hopefully once we’re done with this retro series, we’ll get Magik & Psylocke, it feels like that’s where we should be heading.
Rogue 5, the first issue was uncanny.
Wade Wilson Deadpool 4, I did not connect with the first issue.
Inglorious X-Force 5, the first issue was pretty x-treme, in the best of ways.
Generation X-23 4, the first issue was awesome, AND had AoA Shadowcat (for some reason).
Wolverine 20, I loved the Silver Sable arc. I did NOT love the Adamantine arc, so that returning, with Hercules, but debuting the Savage Champions, and teasing a Can’t Spoil Cover, still doesn’t get me there.
. . .
Uncanny X-Men 28, states the New Mutants, and I want to know so much which New Mutants? Karma has to be there, right? I imagine Magik & Dani are having their own series, so maybe not those two? Doug is off doing whatever he does, so that leaves Karma naturally leading this group. Right? I need to know!
. . .
Wiccan & Hulking : Raid of Ultron 1, is Marvel’s Pride issue. It has three variant covers, so hopefully Kitty shows up on one of those.
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Wonder Man 3, has a Russell Dauterman costume gallery variant, so there’s still a chance we get a Kitty Pryde cover from him.
Imperial Guardians 3, has Darkhawk as the main focus of the cover. I love that for my pal, Greg.
Sai : Dimensional Rivals 5, the first two issues have been fun.
Sorcerer Supreme 6, has Somnus, so I like that.
. . .
Infernal Hulk 7 kicks off a X-Men arc, so I might be buying this for a while. Magik on the regular cover, so I’m loving that.
. . .
Godzilla Infinity Roar 4, mentions the X-Men appearing in it, with Cyclops and Jean on the cover. Magik was in the last issues of the previous miniseries, so I’ll probably get this, and keep checking for variant covers.
. . .
Okay, let’s see what I’m committing too!
Reborn Ultimate Impact 1, any variant cover
Civil War Unmasked 1, any variant cover
X-Men 29, Martin Cóccolo’s variant
X-Men 30, Germán Peralta’s variant
X-Men United 3, Andrei Bressan’s variant
Moonstar 3, the regular cover by Germán Peralta
Magik & Colossus 4, Nogi San’s variant cover
Infernal Hulk, the regular cover by Nic Klein
Godzilla Infinity Roar 4, any variant cover
and keeping an eye on Wiccan & Hulking : Raid of Ultron for a Kitty Pryde appearance on a variant cover.
Maybe also Uncanny X-Men 28, pending on which New Mutants appear in it. Recognizing that by the time we know which ones, it’ll be too late to preorder.
So, nine comics for sure, which is going to be expensive (thankfully they are at regular cover price, and not double sized, AND the D in DCBS stands for Discount).
Such an interesting final issue. Lots of story concepts are introduced, and none are concluded. Is this a meta commentary on how cool this series could have been, but with Ultimate Endgame’s force event, we are being denied a proper conclusion, as that’s life sometimes? The title is being murdered, and thus, all of its potential is being stolen? Is that the message?
OR! Is it a situation where we’re getting Reborn : Ultimate Impact so the Ultimate Universe might be returning in some other fashion? I’ll admit, that five part mini appears to be purely about Miles Morales, and the Origin Boxes, funneling the second Ultimate Universe into Armageddon.
Maystorm is having nightmares, she wants to know what happened to Armor.
We meet Miss Y, who appears to be Peach Momoko drawing a very pretty lady. Miss Y is dealing with pills that can only be given to mutants. Appears to be a pill that removes mutant powers.
We are introduced to a mutant girl with fairy ears. Could this have been Meggan? Her name is Reiko.
Mei meets up with Nico to see if there’s anything to be discovered about Armor. Armor’s trinket has a reaction to Miss Y’s pills, so they confront her. Miss Y doesn’t know anything about Armor, believing she’s dead. Makoto Armano, the main focus of the previous issue, appears, nothing like his cliffhanger final appearance. They are determined to find Armor.
Issue ends Maystorm laying down flowers, and being surprised by a text message.
This doesn’t feel like a plot we’ll get properly finished in Ultimate Endgame, but maybe in Ultimate Finale?
I’m not entirely sure how I feel this is going to read in a beautiful omnibus collecting the entire run. I do feel like there must be a meta commentary in this.
Now that this series is over, I’ll share with you dear listener / viewer, I feel like I’ve been checked out of Ultimate X-Men for a while now. Beautiful Peach Momoko art, and plots, but it hasn’t been a title for me, and it only adds to my detachment to the overall Ultimate Universe, that I’ve been feeling for a while now. At least I still have Ultimate Magik as seen in Ultimate Wolverine, but even that feels hallow.
Also, very odd how that series got four more issues, whereas Ultimate X-Men appears to have also needed four more issues? Or one giant issue?
Started off well, but maybe it is time to just end the Ultimate Universe.
Magik and Quinten Quire start out throwing up as a jerk AIM agent change their biological make up to only breathe sulfur dioxide. Cyclops comes in, optic blasts everybody, so we see how cool he is.
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I don’t love that he chastises Magik & Quire, nor that he is looking for soldiers, that doesn’t seem to be his relationship with Magik or Quire. He must be just hyper focused right now.
I love so much Juggernaut barging into the room, and wanting to make sure Magik is okay. They really are the best of friends.
70s Beast confronts Cyclops about the solider remark. I like to think Illyana and Scott had a chat off panel about it as well, as he was being overly performative. Cyclops gets a message, and is off to Nebraska. He is going to take a Quinjet, which I thought was a mistake, but makes off wonderfully later.
Roxxon is changing Mister Sinister’s Orphanage into a new data center. Dr. Robin Honover reveals some information about Scott’s first days here. He was protecting Alex so fiercely he bit a few guards. I love that we get some editor boxes, always handy. Classic X-Men 41 & 42 are the stories to check out.
I thought Alex was adopted immediately, but it would make sense that he would have stayed here for a few days until the adoption was finalized. Scott leaves, giving Alex a call, which I appreciate that he would want to call his brother after this. We get another editor box referencing X-Factor V5 8, so they haven’t talked since then. We are reminded that Alex blew up the orphanage in Hellions 4.
Meanwhile, Donald Pierce is creating new Reavers, but he has a new plan to make them more loyal, and not as hateful, so that’s progress. Two Reavers see a Quinjet, and immediately shoot it down, thinking they are going to take some lame Avengers captive. Fun to see that get paid off so quickly. Instead, they get one of the more dangerous X-Men, Cyclops! I do like how Donald Pierce recognizes the danger they are in.
What they don’t know, is that Scott hit his head on the way down, so he doesn’t have control over his optic blasts. A mutant the Reavers were hunting finds Scott, so at least he isn’t alone, nor is she now.
Since we’re having editorial boxes, I wonder if we’ll get a reference to X-Men Unlimited V1 31, where Scott was blinded, and has to use all of the skills his fellow X-Men taught him. Kitty taught him some defense moves that are referenced in that issue.
I love this comic so much! If any X-Man needed a redemption arc, it is Colossus. Ashley Allen, German Peralta, Arthur Helsi, and VC’s Ariana Maher brought me my favorite comic of 2026, well, until X-Men United gives it a run for its money.
Issue opens with Colossus having a bit of a nightmare. Once again, Illyana tells Piotr that she hates the “Snowflake” nickname, but it sticks this time – which I really appreciate.
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Nightmare ends with Colossus in a grave with the great loves of his life – Kitty Pryde (in her Exceptional outfit, which I love), Domino (huge shout outs for remembering her!), Nightcrawler, so his Excalibur crew, a guy in a trench coat, maybe Black Tom? Then two lady skeletons I don’t recognize.
Colossus is being hunted by some magical threats in Russia, which seems like what he should be doing is going to ghost towns instead of currently habited farms, as people are getting hurt. Magik finally locates him, she hasn’t seen him since the Hellfire Vigil, and they do a quick catch up.
I do like how this comic hits the highs of Colossus, that he will be the one to make the sacrificial play, and break a neck if he has too. More on that later.
This does feel like Magik’s ongoing, but now with 100% more Colossus. I do like how this first issue opens with a dream sequence, just like Magik’s first issue. Also, we saw a dead Kitty Pryde there too. Oh, Ashley Allen, why are you having German Peralta do this to Pryde Nation?!
They go back to their parents’ farm house, and it is so charming that Piotr immediately starts thinking he can live here again with Magik. Like buddy, that hasn’t been her home in years. And I’m sure whenever she tries to conjure a childhood memory, it is always ALWAYS tainted by her thoughts immediately going to Limbo soon after. That, or her parents were murdered there, while she hid under a bed scared out of her mind.
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They come across a child who freaks out as Colossus is covered in blood. Magik makes Colossus more presentable, but at the cost of his glorious beard. Which is my sole criticism of this issue. Why did we have to lose his beard?!
We learn the current threat is Lady Midday, she, of course, has a bigger boss. There’s always a bigger fish. A proper legend, which is fun pull.
Lady Midday allows Magik to defeat her in the first round, as now she knows Illyana’s strengths – of which, she has many.
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To combat her fully, she creates four elemental versions of her. I am such a sucker for elemental threats. We get Earth, Wind, & Fire, with Water. Wind immediately takes Magik’s breath away, and as a verbal spell caster, prevents some moves on Magik’s part.
Magik comes up with a plan. Colossus makes for good bait, they want him anyway. She essentially gets the elements to take each other out. Proper Lady Midday arrives, to taunt them, and Colossus is just done.
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Colossus Riptides Lady Midday. Magik sees her magic signature float away, but allows Colossus to think he got this win.
Issue ends with the Big Bad, and the editorial page refers to him as The Immortal. I imagine we’ll learn more about him next issue as we go to St. Petersburg.
What. A. Great. Comic! I love this.
BlueSky amigo, and great follow, Project Legacy X informed me that the blonde with the headbane is Kayla from Krakoa.
Would have been good to see Nereel in there, or Zsaji.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 