Ultimate X-Men #18: The Secret Is Out

Having finally found Hisako, the would-be X-Men’s reunion is cut short when she dives into the crucified Akihiro after Kageyama, leaving her friends to deal with the wrath of an enraged Maester as his plans begin to unravel and Hi No Kuni starts to learn of their existence. 

After over a year of set up, Peach has finally put the final pieces in place to start toward the book’s climax. While we already know that Ultimate Spider-Man will be ending with its 24th issue in December of this year, it’s still unclear if that’s the case with the other first generation Ultimate books as well (X-Men and Black Panther). If it is, then this issue is a near perfect start to the climax of these girls’ journey. 

Throughout its run so far, Ultimate X-Men has stayed true to itself since the very first issue. Slowly but surely expanding its characters as they navigate in this world that will soon begin to hate and fear them. A majority of these faces are new even if the powers are similar, but the core themes of being an outcast, finding community, facing discrimination, and accepting who you are in a world that seeks to destroy your individuality still ring very true. This book isn’t X-Men in name only, it deserves its title.  

Peach’s manga-like art style makes the book a breeze to read, and her colors beautifully give each scene their proper weight and atmosphere. Whether the girls are racing through the neon lights of Tokyo, or ghost hunting at a moonlit shrine, nothing is out of place. Her storytelling is also deliberately paced, though there are moments where things can tend to drag just a bit.