Ultimate X-Men #98 Cover featuring Rogue drowning in the Ultimatum Wave (Mark Brooks art)

ROGUE seemingly lost in the Ultimatum Wave

One of my favorite covers from this amazing series, ULTIMATE X-MEN. I recently reread the 100 issue series and fell in love with all the various writers and artists work for a large variety of different story arcs. There were a lot of adventures from this alternate reality long running X-Men series. I really enjoyed all the twists and very different character stories that still held true to the core of the characters. Rogue being one of my favorites, as she in this world comes from the WEAPON X camp and is an even more tortured soul. She, still at the core, is alone and virtually untouched. She had quite a journey in this series and at this point, where this initial run comes to a close, she is featured on the cover drowning from the Ultimatum wave.

In the story, Rogue is only figuratively drowning from the wave that comes and destroys most of the Ultimate world. She was never really in the water, but at this point her character is untrustworthy and practically dead to the X-Men team due to her recent choices. In this massive issue, which is the start of the ULTIMATUM story arc, lots of characters do drown in the wave and the X-Men team has to make some very hard decisions. Rogue is drowning in her emotional state and reverts back to her dark original team.

The gorgeous work from Mark Brooks captures this series so well. It’s my first and hopefully not last piece of his art. Getting this cover is an awesome representative piece for the entire series and a great way to celebrate what it meant to read and enjoy all the various works put into it.