Contains Spoilers for Ultimate X-Men (2024) #10!The newUltimate X-Mencontinues to perfectly blend the mundane and the horrific, and its version ofCyclopsis to my mind, the darkest moment yet, and shows that Cyclops’ origin was honestly pretty tame. This is an upsetting and uncomfortable book at times, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. The book’s tone in genius, and this new ‘Cyclops’ moment is only the latest example of why.
Ultimate X-Men (2024) #10—written and illustrated by Peach Momoko, Script Adaptation by Zack Davisson, and lettered by Travis Lanham — flips Cyclops' origin on its head in brutal fashion, asCyclops’ Ultimate Universe equivalent, the young Natsu, accidentally kills her mother with an optic blast in a scene that made me recoil.
Natsu is an unwilling member of the ‘Children of the Atom,a cult of mutants, and as the cult finally go public, Natsu’s mother tries to get daughter to take part. The two argue, and Natsu uses her powers in anger, accidentally shooting a hole through her mother’s head.
“There’s Some Body Horror Here”: Ultimate X-Men Promises to Reinvent Marvel’s Mutants with Body Horror Powers
As Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe expands with a new X-Men team, the series’ writer and artist Peach Momoko promises some body horror surprises.
The Ultimate Universe’s Cyclops has Accidentally Killed her Mother Using Optic Blasts
This first shot turns Natsu’s mother into a mirror of her daughter, since Natsu’s optic blasts only come from one eye, which she usually covers with an eyepatch. What’s worse is that as Natsu cries over her mother’s body, her tears just activate her power again and again, causing her to accidentally desecrate her mother’s body. If this wasn’t hard enough for Natsu, her best friend, Mori, mentions that Natsu has a complex about hurting people with her powers stemming from a time she hurt a classmate with them. This is literally Natsu’s worst fear come to life.
I’m also worried for how this will impactUltimate X-Men’slarger story of mutants finally revealing themselves to humanity. #10 also sees the media confront other brashyoung members of the Children of the Atom, who attack the assembled press. The cult’smaester, a puppet for this world’s secret ruling council, is quickly losing control of the narrative even among his own disciples. Human mutant relations might be heading the way of mainstream continuity, with mutants hated and feared. If that’s the case, Natsu’s accident might only be another log on the fire for a nascent breed of bigotry.
Mutant Matricide Isn’t Unheard of
If There’s One Thing That Connects Every Version of the X-Men, it’s Trauma
This isn’t the first time a mutant’s powers have resulted in the deaths of their family, but to my mind, this might be the strongest use of the trope ever. The most famous example comes from the originalUltimate X-Men (vol 1) #41— set in a completely distinct universe from the current series. In that issue — written by Brian Michael Bendis, penciled by David Finch, inked by Art Thibert, colored by Frank D’Armata and lettered by Chris Eliipoulos — a teen named Jesse kills an entire town when his toxic powers catalyze.That world’s Wolverine mercy kills himin a brutal moment.
That Wolverine moment is one that you never forget after you read it, but it’s a story that could only work as a one-shot, unlike Natsu’s moment, which will have actual consequences. Natsu has to live with this, andUltimate X-Men (2024)#10ends with her friends, the newly formed X-Men, on route to meeting her, only knowing from her texts that she’s ‘hurt’ her mom. None of these kidshave good relationships with their parents, so I can’t imagine how they’ll react to the scene they find, nor how they’ll comfort Natsu.
Peach Momoko’s Style Only Makes This Moment Worse
And by Worse, I Mean Better, but More Horrific
One of the best things about this specific moment is how Momoko depicts it as an almost-clinical act. The moment is bloodless, and that’s somehow all the worse. It’d be one thing if there was blood everywhere, but Momoko shows restraint, and the holes in Natsu’s mother are clean and precise. My honest first thought was that she got turned into a block of Swiss cheese, and my immediate second thought was getting upset at myself for thinking that. By not being bloody, it actually drawsmoreattention to itself.
This moment is only another example of the tightrope that Momoko’s been walking withUltimate X-Men’stone.From the string of mystical suicides following Armor, to Surge practicing Enjo kōsai, essentially acting as an underage escort for older men, this book has been shockingly dark. Every time I feel myself relaxing, falling into the ‘coziness’ of Momoko’s mangaka-inspired watercolor style, she finds a way to make the story horrific.Ultimate X-Meniskinda ‘slice of life’ (and that’s no insult), but life can be just as upsetting and confrontational as more outlandish fantasies, especially if you’ve got optic blasts likeCyclops.
Ultimate X-Men (2024) #10is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Ultimate X-Men (2024)
Visionary creator Peach Momoko creates a new generation of X-Men for an all-new universe! Hisako Ichiki is a teenage girl who just wants to live a normal life — go to school, hang out with her friends, ignore the political strife broiling over after the events of ULTIMATE INVASION — but life has other plans for her. In Japan, urban legends have sprung to life and brought some unusual new powers with them… Meet Armor, Maystorm and a group of new Ultimate X-Men the likes of which you’ve never seen before!
Cyclops
Cyclops, a.k.a. Scott Summers, is the X-Men’s core team leader and one of the first characters to appear in the franchise. As a human/mutant hybrid, Cyclops has the power to launch massive bursts of energy from his eyes that are regulated through the use of a specially designed visor. Despite his calm and collected demeanor, he tends to lose it when in the presence of a fellow team member, Wolverine.
