REVIEW: ‘Ultimate X-Men #22’ - Armor Overshadowed No More
- Keith M.
- 47 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men run has been a standout, impressive even among the bold reinventions across the Ultimate line’s four core titles. The book’s distinctive Japanese setting and all-female cast already set it apart, but Momoko handling both writing and art has allowed her to craft something unmistakably her own. The result feels uniquely “Momoko,” yet remains accessible and entertaining for longtime X-Men fans and newcomers alike.
In Ultimate X-Men #22, Momoko circles back to the core conflict that hooked readers from the very beginning: the tension between Hisako and Kageyama. Last issue pitted the X-Men against the Children of the Atom, empowered by the MY-X biological weapon. The children proved an issue until Kageyama, the Shadow King, arrived and neutralized their powers. Since the MY-X formula originated from his abilities, he was able to clear the battlefield of everyone, but Armor and the X-Men.
Kageyama’s fixation on Hisako is as unsettling as ever, and their clash dominates the issue, echoing their confrontation in Ultimate X-Men #1. Back then, Hisako’s armor gave her the edge she needed to survive. But both she and the boy who became the Shadow King have evolved since that first encounter, and the outcome this time is far from certain. Hisako may have her friends beside her, but Kageyama continues to show just how overwhelming his power can be.
The final pages of the battle land with a ton of force – shocking, but clearly foreshadowed if you revisit the series’ opening issue. It’s an emotional chapter, and Momoko delivers on every level. The art is stunning, especially during the climactic showdown between Armor and the Shadow King, and the writing and panel layouts amplify each emotional beat, even when the palette turns muted and gray.
Though this issue feels like an ending, the story isn’t over yet as the Ultimate Universe carries on for a few more months. While I’m eager to see how far our heroines are pushed, I do hope they survive the experience.
About Ultimate X-Men #22
Release Date: December 03, 2025
Written by: Peach Momoko
Art by: Peach Momoko
Cover by: Peach Momoko
Page Count: 27
Synopsis: THE FINAL SHOWDOWN BETWEEN ARMOR AND SHADOW KING! Kageyama has proclaimed death to Hisako! But the X-Men aren't going to go down without a fight!
