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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Storm : Earth’s Mightiest Mutant 4, has Storm’s daughter, Furaha, officially making an appearance, after being teased in Hellfire Vigil.
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I’m definitely getting Moonstar 3’s regular cover, with Magik on it.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
J.M. DeMatteis wrote about celebrating Sal Buscema’s would be 90th birthday.
Sal Buscema turns 90 today. There's hardly a Marvel character Sal hasn't left his mark on, from Cap to the Hulk, Avengers to Thor. Working with Sal for two years on Spectacular Spider-Man remains a highlight of my career. And the best part? He's not just a great artist, he's a truly good guy.
I had to write, as I always do when Sal Buscema comes up, I have to share how he’s my favorite Spider-Artist. When I close my eyes, and think, Spider-Man, I see a Sal Buscema Spider-Man.
Then I started seeing posts about how Sal Buscema died before his birthday, and I had to make sure I didn’t misread that original post.
Just a few hours after celebrating Sal B's birthday, I got the news that Sal has passed away. An enormous loss for our industry and for all of us who knew and worked with him. Safe journeys, Sal. We'll miss you.
I’m not usually a X-Force type of guy. Usually none of my favorite characters make the team. Sometimes they show up to lend commentary or teleport the team somewhere else.
Cable arrives in the present, with a mission to save the future first mutant president. I immediately think we are making a President Dazzler reference, and I’m all on board for this team.
Cable arrives, but in very rough shape, and has Swiss cheese memory. He has left himself a note, to recruit Archangel, Hellverine, Boom Boom (who I always like to think of her as Meltdown, just to date myself).
Worthington Industries. Warren is having to deal with his board of directors. I love so much thinking about how frustrated they have been with Warren, since . . . forever? Maybe once he was a blank slate, and they could run the business they wanted to? You know, in a professional matter? They reference X-Corp and X-Factor, and how Warren keeps embarrassing them. Stock is low, but what does Worthington Industries even produce?
Cable talks to Warren later, and Warren comments on how they don’t have much history together. I mean, Warren was around for Baby Nathan, and then they were on different X-Force squads, so it does make sense. I immediately whack my brain for any memorable times together, and I’m pretty sure they don’t have much history together. I always do appreciate new X-Pairings.
Cable recruits Hellverine, who doesn’t have a solo title, so he has free time.
Cable recruits Tabitha, who I really appreciate being on this team, as I’m not much for gritty high violence titles, that’s just not my thing. She is bored, classic Boom Boom, and doesn’t even need to pack a bag, she knows Cable has whatever she needs at his base.
I do appreciate that this is a reunion title, and not a retro mini. I rather stories be set in the now with flashbacks to the old, it just feels current. Unless, of course, we’re getting a retro Kitty Pryde, Lockheed, and Magik series, then I’m all on board, variant covers, and all.
The three villains of the issue – Unveil, Speedburn, and DePop, seem interesting. Not too interesting where we’ll miss them once they are brutally killed, but interesting enough to be subjects of plots.
They are attacking Ms. Marvel, who I really like. Inglorious X-Force arrives to help her out.
Ms. Marvel is so me with this team. Heroes can kick, punch, chop, but they shouldn’t be stabbing everybody with flame swords. Or claws. X-Force isn’t really a team meant to inspire. They are the creepers of the dark, sometimes as nutty as their foes. They use force but not The Force.
Ms. Marvel recognizes Cable and X-Force, neither is really her scene.
Cable reveals Ms. Marvel’s future, she will be the first mutant president. Dazzler truly can’t have anything. I am also reminded that Kitty Pryde is meant to be a future president as well. But it hasn’t felt like we have been moving in that direction for some time. Kitty is tired, so I get that.
I do like the idea that Ms. Marvel, being a late teenager, is already looking forward to the four or eight years of not crime fighting. She’ll help the team out, but isn’t willing to join full time.
I like how in the fight, Warren wasn’t using kill blades, but paralyzing darts. Which I can only imagine still hurt like crazy.
Issue ends with Domino having Cable in her crosshairs. I like how she is looking at Leg Party and Housekeeping magazines. Oh, Domino, you are the best.
I’m not sure if she is joining the team, but I would like another lady or two on this team. This is one of the reasons why I wasn’t into the second volume of Weapon X-Men, as it was all dudes.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 