Summary

• The Ultimate X-Men series focuses on young mutant Armor growing up in Japan, adding the horrors of adolescence to the mix.
• Peach Momoko, the writer and artist, was given a lot of creative freedom by Marvel and doesn't have to tie her story to the other Ultimate Universe series.
• Momoko chose Armor as her main character because she sees her as a girl in her own shell, always protecting her own bubble and struggling to fit into the world.

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.

The X-Men have long served as metaphors for any marginalized group, facing discrimination at best and much, much worse. However, many fans feel like their struggles hit even harder when the characters are portrayed as teens and young adults, adding the horrors of adolescence to the mix. Peach Momoko's Ultimate X-Men series promises just that, focusing on young mutant Armor growing up in Japan.

Screen Rant's new interview with the writer and artist reveals her thinking behind the hotly anticipated series, coming this March. Momoko was given a lot of creative freedom by Marvel, so although Ultimate X-Men takes place in the same universe as the other current Ultimate Universe series, she doesn't have to tie her story to theirs. Other mutants have been introduced in the canon, like Magik and Storm, but they're in New York or Wakanda; like her Momokoverse, Ultimate X-Men takes place in Japan.

In her interview, Momoko explains why she chose Armor as her main character, both as a mutant and a teenager.

Ultimate X-Men's Armor Is "A Girl in Her Own Shell"

Starting from "What if X-Men...but in Japan?" Peach Momoko began researching what mutants and characters she wanted to use, and discovered Hisako Ichiki aka Armor. Created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday for 2004's Astonishing X-Men, Armor quickly became a fan favorite. In Momoko's eyes, Armor's power took on an entirely different meaning: "But when I read it I felt that the armor is actually protecting Hisako, and the armor is almost a symbolic meaning to 'a girl in her own shell.' She just can’t fit into the world, so she is always kind of protecting her own bubble."

This is reflected in the preview art that's been released. In the past, Hisako's psionic armor has been drawn as something strong, with the young mutant in full control of it. In Peach Momoko's world, the armor doesn't yet move with Hisako, but encircles her, forming a protective barrier that she hides inside. This also ties into the promised themes of adolescence: in the interview, Momoko says, "I felt very interested in this concept, and I enjoy touching on adolescence, these teenager kids going through life and how to live life, in school, [with] adults. I just felt that Hisako was a perfect character for a theme I really like to touch on."

Ultimate X-Men Explores the Real World Problems of Superhero Teens

Armor has often been a protector, but this is a version of the character who needs protection. Momoko says, "I believe that even 30 years ago or 40 years ago, kids' problems...are almost the same as what they are facing right now." Getting bullied, discovering a changing body, wanting to be treated like an adult: Peach Momoko taps into these insecurities in both her art and writing. The Ultimate Universe is one in which many superheroes never existed, so Hisako might not have a mutant mentor as her powers blossom. Peach Momoko's Ultimate X-Men reboot promises adolescent angst by one of the greatest artists working today.

Ultimate X-Men #1 is available March 6 from Marvel Comics.