Two of the most powerful mutants in the new Ultimate Marvel Universe are going to war.

Ultimate X-Men #9 finds Mei Igarashi, aka Maystorm, hot on the trail of her own abusive father who she spots wandering the city at night along with his paid date for the evening, Noriko Ashida. When Maystorm catches up to the pair, her father is quick to make a run for it, whereas Noriko is just as fast to put Mei to the test. As it turns out, this version of Noriko is ever bit the powerhouse her primary Marvel Universe counterpart is, although the Surge of the new Ultimate Universe is far more willing to lash out with the mutant abilities imbued upon her by the Children of the Atom.

• Written by PEACH MOMOKO
• Script adaptation by ZACK DAVISSON
• Letters by VC’s TRAVIS LANHAM
• Design by JAY BOWEN & KAT WALKINGTON
• Main cover art by PEACH MOMOKO
• Variant covers by DERRICK CHEW, RIAN GONZALES, and PEACH MOMOKO

Mei’s first appearance came in the form of an unnamed cameo in the pages of 2023’s Ultimate Universe #1 in the issue’s backup story by Peach Momoko. Maystorm grew up inspired by the exploits of Ororo Munroe, better known in this reality as Wind-Rider, whose freedom fighting endeavors made her famous on social media. This made it all the more surprising when Mei’s own weather manipulating powers emerged after she stepped in between her abusive father and her usually soft-spoken mother.

Since her debut, Mei has grown close to fellow mutant Hisako Ichiki, better known as Armor, as well as Nico Minoru, forming the current Ultimate Universe’s first team of X-Men. The trio have gone to great lengths to uncover the secrets of the Shadow King and the dangerous cult known as the Children of the Atom. At the outside of Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men, the Shadow King terrorized the series’ mutant heroes, all before the Children of the Atom’s true intentions were revealed.

In this timeline, the Children of the Atom serve as both a cult dedicated to the rise of mutantkind and as an extension of the secretive council of world leaders who were previously lorded over by the villainous Reed Richards known as the Maker. While the Children of the Atom are controlled by the enigmatic Maester, even he answers to a higher power. Specifically, the Maester answers to Ophelia Sarkissian, aka Viper, who helps to control the Ultimate Universe’s Hi No Kuni, which mainly comprises of what would otherwise be known as Japan.

Ultimate X-Men #9 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics

X-Men

Since their debut in 1963, Marvel’s X-Men have been more than just another superhero team. While the team really hit its stride as the All New, All Different X-Men in 1975, Marvel’s heroic mutants have always operated as super-outcasts, protecting a world that hates and fears them for their powers.

Key members of the X-Men include Professor X, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Wolverine, Iceman, Beast, Rogue, and Storm. Often framed as the world’s second strongest superheroes, after the Avengers, they are nonetheless one of Marvel’s most popular and important franchises.