New X-Men #122

Published in March 2002, New X-Men #122 serves as a pivotal chapter in Grant Morrison’s transformative run on the X-Men franchise. During this era, Morrison sought to modernize the team by abandoning traditional superhero costumes in favor of functional, leather-based tactical gear and shifting the narrative focus toward the school as a hub for mutant culture. This issue, illustrated by Igor Kordey, captures the intense, often psychological tone Morrison established to differentiate the series from the standard tropes of the late nineties.

The issue features the 'Murder at the Mansion' arc, a central mystery that deepened the status of the X-Men as a global educational institution. Kordey’s distinct, gritty artistic style was a frequent point of discussion among readers at the time, as it departed significantly from the polished, house-style aesthetic common to Marvel comics of that period. While polarizing upon release due to its rapid production schedule and experimental visual approach, the issue remains a noted entry in the critical re-evaluation of Morrison's influence on the long-term direction of the X-Men mythos.