When thinking of the X-Men from the Marvel Universe, many immediately think of Wolverine, Professor X, or Cyclops. However, other mutants also deserve attention. This is shown by a powerful goddess who has convinced MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes.
Who is it about? Those who have only seen the X-Men movies by 20th Century Fox know the heroine Storm, played by Halle Berry. There, she was just a side character, and I underestimated her for years. Even as a child, I always thought Wolverine, Magneto, or Cyclops were much cooler.
For me, Storm was always an inconspicuous side character. She had cool powers, as she could manipulate the weather, but I really only noticed her in fighting games like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. That was mainly because of her moves.
However, the new comic Storm – In the Storm of Death
has enlightened me. The mutant is now one of my favorite Marvel characters because she embodies everything I love about the X-Men.
She also has great moments in the animated series:
A Goddess in the Marvel Universe
What kind of comic is this? On August 12, 2025, the first volume of Storm with the subtitle The Storm of Death
was released by Panini. It summarizes the first 5 issues of Storm from 2024, written by Murewa Ayodele and illustrated by Lucas Werneck. Panini sent us an editorial review copy of the new collection.
When I saw that Storm was getting a collection, my interest was immediately piqued. I really liked her episode in the animated series, but I couldn’t imagine what a solo series for the heroine would look like. However, I was captivated on every page.
What is the comic about? The series showcases Storm’s role after the long Krakoa saga of the X-Men. Krakoa was an island exclusively for mutants that turned them into a superpower. By now, Storm is a member of the Avengers and an important ambassador for mutants.
After saving a child from their own powers, Storm is slowly dying. To prevent her death, she meets Mr. Voodoo, who saves her but only under one condition: she must endure for seven days without using her powers.
While she waits with her old X-Men friends, a new problem arises: the powerful Dr. Doom, who is now the Sorcerer Supreme (the role of Dr. Strange), wants to meet to discuss the future of mutants. But Dr. Doom is not a nice diplomat.
The first volume already shows: Storm has everything that makes a good heroine and mutant, and her divine side is also highlighted.
The X-Men Are Simply the Best Group in Marvel
What makes the story so good? On one hand, it starts directly with a dilemma that neatly captures the mutant issues. A young mutant awakens their powers but kills many people in the process. Storm faces the question of whether to reveal this. If she doesn’t, the guilt will fall on innocents; if she does, mutants will once again be in the spotlight negatively.
This is seen from the perspective of someone who is with the Avengers, so is among the world’s great heroes. The mutants in the Marvel Universe have always been an analogy for the real world, and this is also evident in a later example: Storm saves a ship’s crew, but when she lies injured on the ship, they want to get rid of her. They are too afraid that she will destroy everything.
You empathize with Storm and understand from this very personal level the dilemma she’s in. She’s not just a heroine; she represents an entire population group. In this respect, the X-Men provide a pretty good contrast. It’s not only Storm who feels comfortable there. While reading, the pressure dropped, creating a friendly atmosphere that is a nice change in the flow of reading.
Multiple times, you see how she interacts with the realm of gods, giving her a mystical level that perfectly matches her abilities (weather manipulation). She is depicted as an avatar of a spirit world, creating a mystical element during reading that is otherwise missing in superhero stories.
Strongly Illustrated, Especially the Backgrounds
How is Storm – In the Storm of Death
illustrated? Overall, Storm is well depicted, her divine level is highlighted, and she is illustrated elegantly. In each of her panels, she has a certain presence and many, especially the larger panels, are really beautiful, also in how weather effects are handled.
Sometimes I would have wished for a bit more courage to embrace surrealism in the mystical scenes, but that’s really nitpicking at a high level. The battle scenes are also excitingly staged, especially due to the backgrounds and weather effects.
The comic ends with a nice finale, even though a larger plot makes me skeptical that they want to tell something too big, comic-style. However, for X-Men fans and those who want to see a strong representation of a Marvel goddess, the first collection of Storm is a pretty good story.
How can I read Storm
from 2024? The new volume from Panini (In the Storm of Death) is probably the best starting point. While it helps to have information about the Krakoa saga, the focus on Storm makes it not essential for the story. If you want to continue reading but don’t want to wait for a new collection, the individual issues are also available in English. They can be obtained digitally for Kindle or imported from abroad. Another comic recommendation can be found here: A villain managed to defeat Superman without touching him – yet that’s one of his best stories
