Ultimate X-Men #85

Ultimate X-Men #85, released in late 2007, represents a transitional period for the Ultimate Marvel imprint. As part of the 'Sentinels' story arc, the issue explores the aftermath of major ideological shifts within the team. Written by Robert Kirkman with interior art by Salvador Larroca, the series sought to modernize the X-Men mythos for a contemporary audience by grounding the narrative in a more cynical, geopolitical reality compared to its Earth-616 counterpart.

The aesthetic of this era moved toward a cinematic, gritty realism, with Larroca's highly detailed linework aiming to distinguish the Ultimate universe as a mature, prestige-format alternative. While the series initially garnered significant critical praise for its bold reimagining of classic characters, by the time of issue #85, the book was navigating a period of creative churn and fluctuating reader engagement that eventually led to the imprint's soft reboot in the years that followed.