Writer: Mark Millar Artists: Adam Kubert (p), Art Thibert (i)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Plot: The book opens by looking in on Wolverine & Cyclops, as they put the scare into a Russian mob boss who is threatening Colossus' family, thanks to Peter's decision to leave his employment in the Russian mob to join the X-Men. We then visit the grounds of the X-Mansion, as we see Storm is testing out her powers, and also quashing the Beast's concerns that stem from his watching the film "Carrie" one too many times. We then see Wolverine heads off to do his own thing just in time to avoid being on hand when the X-Men are attacked by the Weapon X program. Thanks to their precision planning, as well as the use of some experienced, highly powerful mutants, Weapon X is able to make short work of the unprepared X-Men. As the issue ends the X-Mansion is in flames, while the X-Men are captives, and about to be made operatives of the Weapon X program.
Comments: This book suffers from the lack of character development to serve as a counterbalance for the big action sequences. I mean Mark Millar knows how to deliver exciting, over-the-top thrills, but I'm finding it hard to get too worked up about these characters when we know next to nothing about them. I mean yes we have the quiet moments before the storm, such as the street-smart Storm striking up a romance with the bookwormish Beast, and Iceman being the loose lips that will sink the X-Men's ship, but even these scenes don't really tell us much about the characters themselves. I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking for here, and I realize that by this very statement I've invalidated my complaint, but I do know that the element that makes me concerned about the plight of other characters is not present in this book. The Ultimate X-Men is exciting, and it has some of the best action in comics, but it's not grabbing me like it should.
Then again there is something to be said for a book that realizes the importance of the action sequence in a comic, as if nothing else this series impresses me with it's ability to deliver scenes right out of a summer popcorn flick. The assault on the X-Mansion by the Weapon X forces is truly impressive, and while some fans might be a bit put off by the team's quick defeat, I applaud Mark Millar for giving the bad guys a bit of credit, as far too often writers seem unwilling to show their heroes as fallible. I mean sometimes your the dog, while other time you're the hydrant. Now if the X-Men were folding like cheap tents in every battle than it would become tiresome, but when a villain is able to catch them unaware, then it's great to see the X-Men can be handed their heads. In fact my only quibble with this quick defeat is that we don't really get to see the Juggernaut in action, but rather we only see the aftermath.
Much like his brother, Adam Kubert is a fine artist to have in your corner if you're going to deliver big action, as his work handles the explosive, and the frenzied atmosphere with a sense of style that I'm sure writers love. There's also the fun visuals, such as the double-page spread that opens the issue, as the art makes full use of Wolverine's highly amusing bit of dialogue. However, naturally the highlight of this book is the attack on the X-Mansion as we see the X-Men are taken down with deadly efficiency. I did find myself a bit disappointed by the Juggernaut's release which only hints at the power involved, but the rest of the sequence is full of visual excitement, such as Sabertooth's easy dispatch of the Beast & Storm, and Nightcrawler's battle with Cyclops. We also get another one of Adam Kubert's unique painted efforts, as the last X-Man standing is taken out of the fight by Rogue.
Final Word: If you're looking for X-Men with more action than angst than look no further. If you're looking X-Men plots that move forward at a breakneck pace, and contain numerous surprising developments, then this book should be right up your alley. If your looking for the character development that made you fans of the X-Men, then perhaps you had best look else where, as this is the one area where this book is shooting blanks. What we have is exciting action, with a flat cast. We have humor that is biting, and fresh, delivered by characters who are anything but. I know Mark Millar can develop these characters, but the mystery of this book for me is how we can be eight issues into this series and still know so little about the characters that we're suppose to be investing our interest in.
