Rogue tries to get answers from her mom, Mystique. Destiny was in jail at the moment, so she can’t really provide any insight. Rogue leaves, wanting to talk to Constrictor. Gambit reveals that both Constrictor and Sabretooth are dead, or at least, at the moment.
Destiny states that Rogue will eventually remember everything, so Mystique should have just told her now, it would have been better that way. Mystique wonders if this is another one of her prophecies, but Destiny gets a great line about how that’s just common sense.
Flying in a general direction, Rogue starts using Mystique’s power, even though she never touched her mother. So either Rogue’s powers are broken, or Mystique’s broken powers are causing Rogue issues.
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I like Rogue turning into Emma’s leg, Glob Herman’s arm, Magik’s arm, and Beast’s leg. I imagine Luigi Zagaria had fun thinking of which characters to attempt here. Needed to be mutants we immediately recognized.
Because of Rogue’s powers, I believe, whoever she shapeshifts into, she has that person’s powers, so it isn’t looking like Emma, but still her traditional powers, she would Emma’s physical powers.
As Rogue is falling from a great height, she shifts into Fred Dukes, to absorb the blunt of the impact as she falls through a warehouse. One of those classic normal looking warehouse, full of evil, and goons.
Some gross mutant hating goons are making a arms deal. One of them states that only a mutant can crash through a building and not get hurt. Which immediately makes me think about how any number of superpowered individuals can withstand that fall, and walk away.
Rogue shifts into her 80s look, which is fun. Her arm shifts to Emma’s diamond form to block the bullets. She shifts into her current look, then shifts into some goons to retrieve their information.
Issue ends with John Stelton, who set off this entire adventure, coming home. He saw Rogue, and now wants to make her pay. He has a real Why So Serious grin facial scar.
Solid enough issue. Is Sabretooth currently dead? Is Constrictor? Constrictor is getting his own Secret Wars action figure from the same line I got my Magik from recently.
Issue opens with Wong and Chthon having some tea, and boy time. Then we get to the good stuff. Wanda Maximoff, the current Sorcerer Supreme, versus, Madelyne Pyror, the Sorcerer Supreme of Limbo!
Wanda arrive already on fire, due to the actions of Agatha Harkness from the previous issue. Madelyne shows up, calling Wanda, The Great Pretender. Bernard Chang and Ruth Redmond draw and color a beautiful Madelyne Pryor. Steve Orlando really has her voice right too. Letterer VC’s Joe Sabino makes everything so readable.
Apparently, Agatha (the so-called official Sorcerer Supreme) made a deal with the Goblin Queen herself to take out Wanda. Madelyne is also motivated as she’ll get a lot of cred for taking down Wanda.
There is a telepath exchange, where they are in Limbo, then in Wanda’s mind, then in Madelyne’s. It got a little confusing there.
Madelyne not only reminds Wanda that she comes from the strongest telepathic stock, but that Jean Grey always hated Wanda. Which seems like an odd opinion for Jean to have. Maybe when they first met in X-Men 4, Jean picked up on all of the boys really liking Wanda (maybe even Bobby too, adding to the insult?).
Madelyne keeps getting early wins against Wanda, but then Wanda reveals there is such a thing as phrenomancy, the magic version of telepathy. Wanda plays on Madelyne’s one weakness, her memories of Nathan, which I hate that this is Madelyne’s one weakness, thus, needs to be threaten every time. She just got these memories back, that she worked so hard to obtain, in Dark Web X-Men 3, thanks editorial box, plus, we’ll be talking about Dark Web more this summer on the pod. Just annoys me that this is even a thing Madelyne has to worry about. She’s a mother, and deserves to have these memories be properly hers. Madelyne tries to negotiate that Wanda is a mother, and this is a low blow from her.
Madelyne gives in, giving Wanda the cheapest of victories, I supposed there is an argument to be made that Wanda chose the road with less fighting, but the emotional damage, I don’t love that.
Wanda promises she’ll keep this a secret. Two demons approach, and Madelyne quickly spins it so that she won the battle, and to spread word of the victory to everyone.
Then we get to the ongoing plot again, but I loved the Madelyne Pryor Limbo pages so much. We didn’t even get a reference to Magik, which I miss, but also love that Madelyne is the Queen of Limbo, and doesn’t need to mention Magik at all times. One of the panels of memories of baby Nathan had Logan, Colossus, and Storm in it, but no Kitty Pryde. I guess we really are waiting until X-Men United before we see Kitty in a monthly comic for more than a page.
The Veshanti Trio are annoyed Agatha isn’t getting the job done. I love the pages of the WandaVision family (my favorite family tree in comics, even after losing the Magneto branches – but I imagine we still keep those, just those are broken lines now? Maybe?). I like Vision stating he needs to spend more time with his flesh sons.
Agatha shows up to Strange’s old house, rips Wong from his tea party, but Wanda shows up in time to stop Wong from getting too hurt.
Be nice if Madelyne Pryor will show up again in this series. That’s how you’ll get me to stay interested.
I love the Kinney sisters so much! I’m still not sold on the Scout code name for Gabby, but she uses it in her special Scout’s Cool Attack Name, so if she likes it, I’m on board.
Laura senses her friend, Kiden, is around, who has time wrapping powers, who we last saw in NYX, so that’s nice that we haven’t forgotten that series.
The sisters were saving Celia, who wants to be an X-Man, so I immediately love her. Gabby checks to make sure Celia is okay, as Laura follows the trail.
I am such a sucker for a costume gallery, and we get a wonderful splash page of all of Laura’s costumes.
Laura has to fight a robot version of herself, which is cool.
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I was having the thought that sometimes Kitty Pryde appears in a number one comic of Laura, but I wasn’t expecting to see her. But then Laura catches up to Not-Kiden, and we see an image of Age of Apocalypse Shadowcat, that I was definitely not expecting to see!
I should buy the Laura comics that are on my wishlist, I have a set of comics I want to buy next time, but the next month, I should work on those. X-23 (2018) 1 & 7, and X-23 Deadly Regenesis 1.
Not-Kiden is out of sorts, and can’t remember her name, then her powers age her up, and she turns into a skeleton in front of Laura. I feel so bad for her, we didn’t even get her name.
Laura grabs a motorcycle and continues the trail. Gabby borrows a motorcycle, and they end up at a perfectly normal building. Almost too normal. Fake-normal evil building. They’re attacked by a dozen Laura robots, Gabby wants to keep one, but Laura says no. They’re creeping, but Gabby wonders if they are creepy to them Gabby is the best.
Issue ends with five new mutants (but not New Mutants) arriving, annoyed their security system has been destroyed, BUT! excited to see the Kinney sisters there to join them.
I’m really loving this arc! I really like Mehta and the new Vindicator. I know they are the worst, but I love them for it. Plus, they don’t get along with each other, just adding to the enjoyment.
I also really appreciate Mehta finding a way to weaken Logan. She has a gadget that can give him heart attacks.
Vindicator is about to give the old Morlocks, Erg & Ape, enhanced interrogations, when Alpha Flight shows up to stop her. They were supposed to watching Silver Sable, who escapes, as she’s no longer being watched. The new Morlocks, Chowdown & Deepfake, rescue Logan, using the skills he taught them.
I like that Silver Sable gets a win over Vindicator, so they’re 1-1 now. Sable was caught off guard, but now has time to notice Vindicator protecting her right leg, where her shield is the weakest at. I guess every shield needs to have a weak point? For some reason?
Issue ends with the return of fan favorite, Adamantine, so I guess I’m not going to enjoy the Hercules arc as much? Silver Sable is sticking around for another issue, so maybe we’re still in for a good time?
Adamantine is in an arena of sorts, and there is a reference to Romulus, who will be featured in an upcoming Cerebro episode. I’ve checked the Travis Starnes list, and I don’t own issue comic where Romulus appears in, nor is there any on my wishlist.
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.
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.
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 