New X-Men #128
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeNew X-Men #128 is the first appearance of Fantomex — one of the most original and enduring characters to emerge from Grant Morrison's celebrated New X-Men run — making it the foundational issue for a figure who would later anchor Rick Remender's critically praised Uncanny X-Force and appear across dozens of subsequent X-titles. Beyond the debut itself, the issue kicks off the 'New Worlds' story arc, which simultaneously introduced the X-Corporation concept, began retconning the Weapon X program into the broader Weapon Plus mythology (linking Wolverine's origins to Captain America's), and planted the seeds of the psychic affair between Cyclops and Emma Frost that would reshape X-Men continuity for years. Morrison used the issue to bring a distinctly European pulp-fiction sensibility into the Marvel Universe — blending Diabolik, Fantômas, and James Bond archetypes into a superhero context at a time when the X-Men franchise was being reinvented for a new readership. As the opening chapter of an arc that would also include the in-story death of Darkstar, it marks a turning point in Morrison's run where the scope of mutant storytelling expanded well beyond the Xavier Institute.
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The issue was written by Grant Morrison and drawn by Igor Kordey, with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver and Tim Townsend, and colors by Dave McCaig; it was edited by Mike Marts with Joe Quesada as editor-in-chief and Bill Jemas as publisher. Kordey served as a key fill-in artist across multiple issues of Morrison's run, known for working at remarkable speed — a pace that drew both praise for its loose energy and criticism for inconsistency — and #128 falls within a stretch of issues (including #119–120, 124–125, and 128–130) where he was the primary penciler while regular artist Frank Quitely was between arcs. The character of Fantomex was consciously designed by Morrison as a tribute to European pulp heroes: his name derives from Fantômas, his visual persona echoes Diabolik (and by extension the film Danger: Diabolik), his given name Jean-Phillipe references actor John Phillip Law who played Diabolik on screen, and his Weapon XIII designation nods to the Franco-Belgian spy comic XIII.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Fantomex (Charlie Cluster-7 / Weapon XIII), created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Igor Kordey, cover-dated August 2002.
- The issue is the opening chapter of the 'New Worlds' story arc (issues #128–130 of the Fantomex/Weapon XII subplot, within the broader #127–133 arc), which introduced the X-Corporation's Paris branch.
- Fantomex is designed as a homage to European pulp fiction: his name references Fantômas, his look echoes the Italian comic character Diabolik, his given name Jean-Phillipe honors actor John Phillip Law, and his Weapon XIII codename alludes to the Franco-Belgian spy comic XIII.
- Within the issue's narrative, Fantomex arrives wounded at the X-Corporation Paris headquarters and requests sanctuary from Professor X and Jean Grey, claiming to be the most notorious mutant criminal in Europe; his ceramic mask blocks telepathic probing by both Xavier and Jean.
- The issue also advances the Cyclops/Emma Frost subplot: back in the United States, Scott Summers confides in Emma Frost about the strain on his marriage, setting the stage for the psychic affair that would become a defining element of Morrison's entire run.
- The 'New Worlds' arc initiated by this issue introduced the Weapon Plus retcon — establishing that Weapon X (Wolverine's program) was in fact 'Weapon Ten,' part of a longer government super-soldier lineage stretching back to Captain America.
- The story arc concludes with the in-story death of Darkstar (Laynia Petrovna), who is killed during the Weapon XII incident in the Channel Tunnel.
- The issue has been reprinted in New X-Men Vol. 3: New Worlds (trade paperback), as part of the Grant Morrison New X-Men omnibus editions, and in the New X-Men Modern Era Epic Collection: New Worlds.
Cast · 11 characters
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Reprints
Reprinted in New X-Men #3 (2002), New X-Men #2 (2003), X-Men #76 (2003), X-Men #3/2004 (2004), New X-Men Omnibus #[nn] (2006), New X-Men by Grant Morrison #4 (2011), New X-Men Omnibus #[nn] (2012), Marvel Select : New X-Men #2 (2012), New X-Men Modern Era Epic Collection #2 (2025), Phoenix: The Death & Rebirth of Jean Grey Omnibus #[nn] (2025), New X-Men Ultimate Collection #2
Key issues in New X-Men
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