New X-Men #133

New X-Men issue 133, published in 2002, serves as the final installment of the 'Murder at the Mansion' story arc during Grant Morrison’s transformative tenure on the title. Emerging during a period where Marvel sought to modernize its flagship mutant team, this issue was designed to shift the tone of X-Men comics toward a more grounded, high-concept narrative style that diverged from the traditional superhero tropes of the 1990s.

The issue features artwork by Igor Kordey, whose distinct, gritty aesthetic was a hallmark of Morrison's run. While Kordey’s stylized and rushed production schedule often drew sharp criticism from fans accustomed to the glossy, idealized house style of the era, the work remains a significant artifact of the creative tensions at Marvel during the early 2000s, reflecting an editorial push for experimental storytelling that prioritized narrative momentum over classic illustrative polish.