Reviewer: James Hatton
Story Title: N/A
Written by: Brian Vaughn
Art by: Brandon Peterson
Colored by: Justin Ponsor
Lettered by: Chris Eliopoulos
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Publisher: Marvel Comics
I still get giddy joy when I get to review a book that I love. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy Alpha Flight, but it’s more of a secondary kind of love. It waxes and wanes. It is not as strong and devotional as the love I give to Brian Vaughn’s run on Ult. X-Men. This is an unconditional love that a fanboy only yearns to have for a book.
It’s something special. Something that should be cherished, because for every Brian Vaughn on Ultimate X-Men, there are four Chuck Austin’s on Uncanny.
Story!
Where we last left our young heroes, the seniors were on their way to go find Sinister. The undergrads were all at the school. Sinister was standing outside the gates of the school. Somebody made a mistake in planning, eh?
This is the fight issue, but where we’ve seen the older kids team up and do their thing before – this time the undergrads get to spotlight themselves. Iceman, Rogue, Angel, Shadowcat, Dazzler, and Storm all get a moment to shine. Especially Rogue, who finally gets to use her powers with incredible results.
Through the dealing of Mister Sinister, we get to understand Storm’s stance on Hank’s death. It is well written, well played, and shows you what Vaughn’s spin on Storm is all about. She comes across as the true hero of the story, and whether that was the intention or not, it makes you miss Beast a little.
I want to tell you what’s on the last page. I really do, but it made me grin like a madman, especially since it teases the Ultimatized version of one of my favorite X-characters.
Art!
It’s been said before, but Ultimate X-Men & Ultimate Spidey covers are some of the most heinous covers in the world. They give you no food for thought. No action, except perhaps a single character showing off their talent. The only villains that get to grace covers are Spiderman villains who tend not to appear in the issues they grace the covers of. This month it’s Shadowcat and Rogue looking like bad versions of Mary Kate and Ashley, except without the cuteness or the inability to hold down lunch.
On the interior though, Peterson does everything right. Angel in his full repose is a sight to behold, and he continues to draw Iceman with this perfectly crafted ice-musculature. Not to mention the fact that he details Sinister’s arm tattoos with amazing consistency.
Overall!
God, I sound like this is the greatest comic book ever, don’t I? Well, it might not be, but it is so far my favorite issue of Ultimate X-Men. Vaughn has shown me that he has more knowledge of things ‘X’ than I can imagine. Bendis’ and Millar’s run generally felt a bit too Wolvie-centric, and now we are focusing on the other mutants out there, which is fantastic.
Issue #50 has Gambit coming back, and I just want to hear two words – ‘Morlock’ and ‘Massacre’.
