Ultimate X-Men #2: The Hedgehog Dilemma

Ultimate X-Men #2 – written and illustrated by Peach Momoko with script adaption by Zack Davisson and lettering by VC’s Travis Lanham – continues to explore the mutant section of the fledgling Ultimate universe. Set entirely in Japan, Hisako Ichiki continues to investigate the mystical red armor that sprung from her in the previous issue. Something sinister (but not that Sinister… probably) is also leaking into the world, with shadow creatures and festering emotions coming to life. Hisako is still guilt-ridden over something traumatic involving a past friend as her powers remain a mystery, leading her to meet Mei, another mutant. 

The two go to explore the note Hisako was given, leading back to an abandoned school. The building, infested with similar shadow monsters, leads to Mei revealing her wind-based powers as the duo tries to fight off the monstrous beings. Hisako’s armor flashes again, and the two escape with barely a scratch (but a few broken eggs). Later on, Mei surprises Hisako at their high school welcome ceremony, indicating a future buddy dynamic for the two as a looming threat starts to come into focus. 

Momoko’s storytelling in this issue is a strong continuation of the previous issue, picking up on many of the threads established in the debut. The book, in terms of writing and art, is at its best when leaning into body horror and suspense. Momoko gives a twisted, non-euclidean edge to the spaces that the shadow creatures inhabit, warping common spaces like schools and ceilings into imperfect terrors. The monstrous beings offer a sharp reflection of how infectious and fluid grief can be, sprinkling plenty of self-loathing into the mix. 

Using the existential horror to speak not only on the mutant experience, but the teenage angst is such a straightforward idea that it comes as a surprise how compelling Momoko can leverage it. The budding friendship between Hisako and Mei gives a second heat to the issue that strikes an interesting tonal balance that helps to encapsulate that rock-solid premise, blending the terrors of supernatural horror with the more lighthearted teenage slice-of-life genre. In under 30 pages, Momoko has crafted an organic, dynamic budding friendship between the two that begs for a spinoff Marvel Unlimited series. 

The use of coloring and fluid artwork helps to maintain that balance, striking a balance between the two genres. Momoko’s signature style lends itself to switching between the two, bridging the overly stylized, kinetic manga style of artwork with American superhero tropes. Something is unsettling in the way that the shadow monsters move, operating with motions that come off as too smooth for real beings. On the other hand, that smoothness of movement adds a sense of lightness to Hisako and Mei that extends the notions of stylized artwork over necessary realism. 

Two sides of the same coin is an interesting theme to explore in the issue and is embodied by Hisako’s powerset. The armor that Momoko beautifully brings to life feels like a natural extension of the defenses she’s put up. Using a suit of all-encompassing armor to protect Hisako from shadowy manifestations that are directly linked to trauma and guilt is a masterful crystallization of a theme explored. It gives shades of the A.T. Fields from Neon Genesis Evangelion, which were used as a way to explore the barriers that people put up but also keep beings individual from one another. That use of mysticism and superpowers to explore deep, philosophical elements that are difficult to pin down into words is a refreshing use of the medium. 

Where the issue falters is in the pacing of the story, lacking the balance evident in other parts of the issue. The book is missing the propulsive rhythm of a manga, which runs at a much shorter page rate than Western comics. It is also lacking in the classic page-turning cliffhangers of American superhero comics. Instead, it moves at a steadier pace that evokes the terror of the supernatural without covering much ground. The book reads like two extended scenes with two teases sprinkled in, making for a slow, repetitive rhythm. It’s a minor inconvenience that will probably be remedied when the book is read in trade.