Storm is one of the most iconic Marvel Comics characters ever. Since she first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 1975, Storm has risen as a character through the careful guidance of Chris Claremont and his various artistic partners, until, by 1991, Storm was one of the most famous characters in comic books. It makes sense, then, that Storm was chosen to lead a solo comic series in 2024, part of an initiative by new X-Men executive editor Tom Brevoort to launch new solo stars in the X-Men line. Written by Murewa Ayodele and drawn by Lucas Werneck, Storm seemed primed for new heights as a character.
Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant is a brand-new mini-series that seeks to advance the story of the character, picking up where Storm (2024) left off, this time with new series artist Federica Mancin. Unfortunately, this first issue shares some of the core weaknesses that made Storm (2024) a frustrating title to follow.
Narrative Weakness
Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #1 is not a fresh entry point for new readers. This is a miniseries that relies heavily on readers’ familiarity with the previous Storm series and makes very little effort to catch new readers up. There is a density to the dialogue that is refreshing; in an era where comic issues feature increasingly less dialogue and written narration, Murewa Ayodele’s Storm series has thus far packed itself to the brim with dialogue, exposition, and narration. But for all that dialogue and exposition, it will still be a difficult read for new readers, relying heavily on lore and events that happened months ago and making very little effort to catch them up.
We begin with Storm meeting with Susanoo, a Japanese Storm God she had faced in the Thunder War. The Storm God seeks his death at Storm’s hands and warns her that if she does not execute him, the planet he is on will collide with Earth. Storm, someone who has never been afraid to kill, but likewise does not take that act lightly, opts to imprison him instead, with the help of the Avengers. This act brings about a conflict with his followers, who attack a town in France.
The story is presented in a non-linear fashion. A frustratingly non-linear fashion. The conversation between the two characters is chopped up and interspersed throughout the issue, interrupted by a bizarre B-plot involving Scarlet Witch, and the bulk of the issue is spent on the battle in France, against Susano’o’s followers.
The Problems with Depth
To the issue’s credit, the story dwells on what it is like for Storm to fail. She is ineffective in the face of the attack on the French town, leading to the death of hundreds of people. And the guilt and shame of that failure is made clear. Unfortunately, this is all the interiority we are given, and the only truly grounded moment thus far. While it is not unreasonable for a Storm series to explore the divine, a key issue that has plagued Murewa Ayodele’s Storm writings thus far has been the inability to embrace a tone and a scale that feel more congruent with the character readers have known for decades. The grandiosity can be entertaining, but it feels hollow and shallow, and very unlike the character Chris Claremont established. Even far removed from the character Al Ewing wrote in X-Men Red during the Krakoa era.
The jumbled-up narrative is likewise a key flaw in this first issue. There is a significant amount of exposition that doesn’t help new readers catch up with the series, and the way the story is presented makes for a confusing read.
The Art Shines
Federica Mancin is the latest artist to work on Storm, following lead artists Lucas Werneck and Roland Boschi. Mancin, who has worked on Exceptional X-Men before this, is a talented but relatively new artist. Their skill is evident, but so is their inexperience. The work in Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant shows her promise, but it is not up to par with the work Lucas Werneck and Luciano Vecchio did in Storm (2024). Still, it’s the best thing about this first issue, even if there is a need for further polish. Java Tartaglia is the new colorist on the series, and his work complements the art nicely.
Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #1 might be a new #1, but it is not new-reader-friendly. Even those who have followed the Storm series since Murewa Ayodele began it in 2024 will be frustrated by this issue, which features a chopped-up narrative, significant expository dialogue, and a lack of depth. The art is sufficient and shows promise but is not up to par with the previous ongoing Storm series.
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Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #1 Review
Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #1 might be a new #1, but it is not new-reader-friendly. Even those who have followed the Storm series since Murewa Ayodele began it in 2024 will be frustrated by this issue, which features a chopped-up narrative, significant expository dialogue, and a lack of depth. The art is sufficient and shows promise, but is not up to par with the previous ongoing Storm series.
