New X-Men #137

Published in 2003, New X-Men #137 serves as the penultimate chapter of Grant Morrison’s transformative run on the X-Men franchise. This era, which began in 2001, sought to modernize the team by discarding traditional spandex costumes in favor of a leather-focused aesthetic and shifting the narrative tone toward high-concept science fiction and psychological drama. The issue represents the aftermath of the harrowing 'Planet X' storyline, focusing on the team's attempts to recover in the wake of Xorn's devastating betrayal of the Xavier Institute.

The interior art for this issue was provided by Phil Jimenez, whose detailed, fluid linework was instrumental in capturing the emotional weight of Morrison’s complex scripts. Jimenez's visual approach was designed to contrast with the stark, cinematic style established by earlier artists on the series, grounding the heightened reality of the mutants' lives. The issue was received as a pivotal moment in contemporary comic history, noted for its focus on character development and the lasting consequences of the trauma inflicted upon the school's student body.