Summary
- Peach Momoko's redesign of Storm for Ultimate Black Panther is a "dream come true" for her as a long-time fan of the character.
- Momoko's artistic style blends aesthetic and function, creating outfits that not only look visually stunning but also make sense in the real world.
- Momoko's creative approach, and ability to visually distinguish iconic characters like Storm from earlier versions, has led to her rapid success at Marvel.
Editors Note: Peach Momoko’s answers were translated from Japanese with the help of her husband and manager, Yo Mutsu, and have been lightly edited with permission for clarity.
Rising superstar artist Peach Momoko has been tasked with using her novel artistic style to revitalize the exclusive interview with Screen Rant, the artist spoke about her career path, and how it led to this thrilling new opportunity.
Momoko is perhaps best known for the stunning Momoko variant covers she has produced for Marvel Comics over the past several years, though she has also written and illustrated the Demon Days and Demon Wars series for the company. Now, she will play a central role in defining a new, modern vision of the Ultimate Universe.
As a long-time fan of weather-wielding Storm in particular, Momoko stated that "redesign[ing] Storm for Ultimate Black Panther was a dream come true." So far, teaser images for Ultimate Storm have suggesed an exciting, engaging, and dynamic portrayal of the character. Now, Momoko gives Screen Rant the full story.
[Peach Momoko's] work begins in a conceptually grounded place – and from there, she is able to take it in any spectacular, spell-binding direction she pleases. This is one of the fundamental qualities that led to her rapid success at Marvel, and should prove her Ultimate X-Men run to be one of the stand-outs of the freshly revived imprint.
Peach Momoko's Designs Perfectly Blend Aesthetic & Function
Speaking with Screen Rant about the design for Ultimate Storm, Peach Momoko explained that this version of the character, as featured in Ultimate Black Panther, is a "freedom fighter" and her look was created around that idea, in both its style and its sense of practicality. More than just an aesthetic decision, however, the artist/writer stressed the utilitarian dimension of Storm's wardrobe:
"I was really happy and honored when Marvel approached me for Ultimate Storm, I have always loved Storm, and them asking for me to redesign Storm for Ultimate Black Panther was a dream come true. The [design] theme from Africa or Wakanda and, Storm is supposed to be from a "liberation army" [freedom fighter] for Ultimate Black Panther … I have always enjoyed the, you know, “fighting female character” and also the designs of any African or Japanese tribes."
Considering the magical, surrealistic quality of Peach Momoko's art, some fans might be surprised to hear her describe her goal of "design[ing] things that make sense in the real world." In fact, however, this displays a keen creative sense on Momoko's part. Her work begins in a conceptually grounded place – and from there, she is able to take it in any spectacular, spell-binding direction she pleases. This is one of the fundamental qualities that led to her rapid success at Marvel, and should prove her Ultimate X-Men run to be one of the stand-outs of the freshly revived imprint.
Storm has had many iconic looks throughout her tenure with the X-Men franchise. As a result, asking any artist to visually distinguish her for a new continuity is a tall order. Peach Momoko proved to be more than up to the task.
Momoko's Ultimate Storm Captures Lightning In A Bottle
Storm has had many iconic looks throughout her tenure with the X-Men franchise. As a result, asking any artist to visually distinguish her for a new continuity is a tall order. Peach Momoko proved to be more than up to the task. Her style and her creative approach align perfectly with the qualities necessary to draw an impressive, and enduring, take on Storm:
"I also really like to show movement, like outfits that you can actually see movement within the outfit. Something a bit more “real,” you can’t fight in a specific outfit, they would be too tight and wouldn't be natural, so I like to design things that make sense in the real world as well. I have always been interested in that kind of design concepts, like with motion and movement, but also showing strength and beauty at the same time. I feel like Marvel knew that this is the kind of stuff I like to do, so this is probably one of the reasons why they approached me to design the Ultimate Storm character, because of my interests."
Just a few years into her comic book career, Peach Momoko has continually taken the opportunity to thrive at higher and higher levels. This continues as she prepares to leave an indelible mark on the advent of the Ultimate X-Men's latest incarnation, including an exciting new take on Storm.
Ultimate X-Men #1 will be available March 6, 2024 from Marvel Comics. Ultimate Black Panther #1 is available now.
