REVIEW: ‘Storm’ #9 - The Thunder Beneath The Surface
- Keith M.
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
Storm #9 continues the series’ compelling narrative of resilience, portraying Ororo Munroe as down but never out. Picking up directly from the previous issue’s intense cliffhanger — Storm’s arrest by the FBI — it initially surprises by skipping over the confrontation we were led to expect. Given how violently the last issue ended, I was hoping to see a showdown between Ororo and the agents. Instead, we’re left to wonder how they managed to subdue and contain someone of her power. Perhaps that omission was intentional to heighten the mystery.
Now in custody, Storm finds herself unable — or possibly unwilling — to escape and contact her lawyer, Jennifer Walters (aka She-Hulk). Forced to submit to interrogation, Ororo faces a calculated verbal assault, clearly designed to manipulate her. One striking moment is her admission that she might be a threat to the United States — an unsettling moment as a reader that underscores the weight of the questioning and its intended effect. It raises uncomfortable questions about the government’s current authority over mutants and why they’re so concerned with Charles Xavier’s off-world status, as if his absence (deemed a criminal) is a liability rather than a relief.
Complicating matters is the fact that Victor Von Doom, in his role as Earth’s emperor, appears to be exerting influence over these proceedings. Storm, an American citizen, is still bound by terrestrial law even though larger cosmic forces are at play.
Meanwhile, we’re treated to an entertaining subplot at the Storm Sanctuary. With Ororo detained, Maggott organizes a contest of strength among various heroes and villains, injecting some levity while showcasing underused characters. It’s a delightful interlude that hints at larger narrative threads to come — particularly as the same FBI agents who subdued Storm head to Limbo on mysterious business.
The Limbo scenes are a standout. Writer Murewa Ayodele expands its lore with new revelations, introducing to the story “Essence Blades” — magical weapons once forged by Magik and the Goblin Queen to grant them rule over Limbo. That the FBI has access to such weapons raises serious questions: Why arm demons to stop Storm, who has yet to prove herself an imminent threat? How does the agency even know about these relics? It’s an intriguing moment that may tie into future issues of Storm or perhaps even Magik, especially with Illyana Rasputin slated to return to Limbo in upcoming stories.
A major highlight is the surprise appearance of two fan-favorite Arakkii mutants — Isca the Unbeaten and Jon Ironfire — who join the defense of the Storm Sanctuary against both demonic forces and human interlopers. Their inclusion is not just thrilling but thematically resonant; as veterans of the war against Amenth, it’s fitting that they aid in defeating and repelling the demon invaders. I was genuinely excited to see them, and I imagine many readers will feel the same.
The issue ends on an emotionally charged note. Ororo reflects on her lost time under Eternity’s influence and draws chilling parallels to past traumas — particularly when others have tried to control her body. She vows vengeance on her current manipulator, and the stakes are raised even higher with the revelation that Abraxas, a cosmic embodiment of destruction, has been hidden in her home during the time she wasn’t herself. Eternity intends to use him in a looming battle against Oblivion as his big gun, but the narrative teases an even greater threat: Hadad, the first Thunder God, whose power could eclipse both cosmic forces as well as Eternity and Ororo.
Storm #9 is dense with plot and rich in character. Though we don’t always get full access to Ororo’s thoughts, her physical and emotional toll is palpable. Her strength and endurance continue to define her, even as the forces around her grow more ominous. If Ayodele and artist Lucas Werneck continue on this trajectory, we’re only at the beginning of Storm’s most harrowing — and most heroic — journey yet.
About Storm #9
Release Date: June 04, 2025
Written by: Murewa Ayodele
Art by: Lucas Werneck
Cover by: Mateus Manhanini
Page Count: 26
Synopsis: ETERNITY has grown desperate. He abducts a powerful cosmic entity and hides them in the STORM SANCTUARY, STORM's floating home in Atlanta. What is the identity of this cosmic entity? How will this act complicate the ongoing investigation of the FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION into STORM? Find out in this next chapter of the goddess' saga.
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