Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate X-Men #11!TheX-Menhave had no shortage of costume changes over the years. From the classic black and yellow, to the iconic blue and yellow, to even individualized suits highlighting each member. And now, Marvel’s team of mutant heroes is getting yet another costume change, and it’s like nothing fans have ever seen from the X-Men before.
In Marvel Comics’ solicitation forUltimate X-Men#11 by Peach Momoko, fans are given a sneak-peek at the upcoming issue, including the cover art and official description.
WHO ARE THE X-MEN? RISE OF THE MASKED MUTANTS! Maystorm takes the reins! No more hiding their powers – even if it means hiding their faces! Disenfranchised and despairing after the raid on the Children of the Atom, the man-made mutants seek out leadership – and Maystorm is ready to rise to the occasion!
The new Ultimate Universe was created by the Maker—a deranged alternate reality version of Reed Richards—to be a world without super heroes. Manipulating his way through the timestream to rob your favorite characters of their destinies, the Maker and his Council rule the earth from the shadows, twisting the truth to ensure their domination.
Recently, the Maker has been put in a 16-month captivity. When he emerges, he’ll find a new generation of super heroes, nations, and young mutants ready to fight back!
The newly-introduced mutants of the Ultimate Universeare looking for new leadership after a mutant cult called The Children of the Atom has apparently crumbled. With nowhere else to turn, these mutants look to one of themain characters ofUltimate X-Men: Maystorm. Despite being just a teenager herself, Maystorm seems ready to step up to the challenge of leading these young mutants, setting the stage for the rise of the X-Men in Earth-6160. And arguably the most interesting aspect of this development are the costumes, which have the one thing the X-Men have famously never worn before: masks.
The X-Men are Now Known as “The Masked Mutants” in the Ultimate Universe
Ultimate X-Men#11 is Redefining X-Men’s Marvel Comics Lore
Every mutant featured on the cover ofUltimate X-Men#11 is wearing a unique mask, each one seemingly of their own design. In this way,Ultimate X-Mendoes follow a trend fans have seen with the iconic superhero team before, as the main X-Men of Earth-616 have oftentimes worn their own costumes to stand out as individuals. However, unlike countless other heroes in the Marvel Universe, Earth-616’s X-Men have famously never worn masks.
Many members of the X-Men (like Wolverine and Cyclops) have worn cowls or face coverings as a part of their personal costumes, but that was never done in an effort to conceal their identities.
In Earth-616, the X-Men stand as champions of mutantkind, and offer complete transparency for the sake of winning humanity’s acceptance - and that includes their identities. However, the Ultimate X-Men are not yet ready to reveal who they are to the world, especially following the fall of the Children of the Atom, which previously kept them safe within a tight-knit, secret community (even if it was corrupt). This is a drastic change from establishedX-Menlore, one that’s the direct result of a simple costume change.
The Children of the Atom were Puppets of The Maker, Establishing Personal Ties to the Villain
The Maker is the evil mastermind who traveled to Earth-6160 and remade it to his liking, eliminating basically every superhero in the process. The ones he didn’t eliminate, he made a part of his secret council,The Maker’s Council, which collectively runs the world from the shadows. One member is Sunfire, who organized the Children of the Atom to keep tabs on the mutant population - and perhaps weaponize them. Now that the mutants are without the Children of the Atom, they have a personal reason for wanting to bring The Maker down, and they’re already suiting-up to do just that.
The X-Men have become a team of heroes known as the Masked Mutants inUltimate X-Men#11, with Maystorm stepping up as their official leader, who will assuredly prepare them for their inevitable battle against The Maker. This costume change from the classic aesthetic is more than just an update in appearance that fans haven’t seen before, but something that signifies the rise of the UltimateX-Menin a way that allows them to stand out from the original team - and fans should be very excited about what’s to come.
Ultimate X-Men #11by Marvel Comics is available July 29, 2025.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
