X-Men Noir #1

X-Men Noir #1 (2009) kicks off with a gritty, hard-boiled twist on the mutant legacy, set in a 1940s-inspired world where Peter, the captain’s son, begins his first day as a detective and stumbles upon a murdered X-Man washed up on the shore. Written by Fred Van Lente and brought to life by Dennis Calero’s striking art, inks, and colors, the issue weaves a noir mystery through shadowy streets and underground circles, as reporter Tom Halloway digs into the case—interviewing figures like the imprisoned Xavier—and eventually dons a costume to hunt the truth, only to find the X-Men are no allies. The cover by Dennis Calero captures the hard-edged mood of this reimagined world.