Ultimate X-Men Ultimate Collection - Book 2

Marvel struck gold when they launched the Ultimate X-Men series. By unshackling the popular characters from four decades of convoluted continuity and starting fresh, they were able to let new fans and old in on the X-Men from ground zero. I've been following this series through these deluxe hardcover collections, which contain roughly a year's worth of individual issues and at least two full story arcs. The second Ultimate X-Men hardcover collection includes the following issues: World Tour (issues #13-18) - In this storyline, Professor Xavier takes the X-Men on a worldwide publicity tour to promote his book and garner some PR for the mutant cause. Unfortunately, Xavier's son David (the Ultimate Universe version of Proteus) breaks free and causes torment on a massive scale. This storyline is remarkably similar to the original Proteus saga, though Millar's version of the character is a lot more twisted. This also introduces the Ultimate Psylocke. Artwork on this run is provided by Adam Kubert and Chris Bachalo. Kubert's art seems to be slipping a bit, though Bachalo's is incredible as always. Hellfire & Brimstone (issues #19-23) - This arc finds uncomfortable allies Cyclops and Wolverine (with stowaway Kitty Pryde) on a mission to the Savage Land, while back home Jean Grey is manifesting the Phoenix, much to the pleasure of the sinister Hellfire Club. As momentous as these events are, they're merely a prelude to the massive story to come, which features the return of the X-Men's greatest foe. Artwork on this run is by Adam Kubert and Esad Ribic. Thief in the Night/Wild Card (issues #24-25) - The debut of Ultimate Gambit, by Chuck Austen and Kaare Andrews. This little stand-alone story doesn't really fit the mood of the rest of the book, but it's a nice addition. It's a shame they never fully developed this version of Gambit. I highly recommend Ultimate X-Men, not only to new X-fans who might be bewildered by the continuity of the older series, but to old school X-Men fans like me. If you keep an open mind, you should find this series quite enjoyable.

This seires of X-men give you a whole range of new and interesting possibility with in the X-men world. Storys have all sorts of soicial problem events and tackel all sides of human life. If you like X-men this seires is for you.

It was really quite nice, I wouldn't say it was extra special but I had also ordered New X men Vol. 1 & 2 and let me tell you those ones make this book look infinitly perfect. So all in all it is worth the money you pay for it and perhaps just a smidge more.

I have enjoyed the Ultimate X-Men title as a reader of the Graphic Novels only. I started with the first two books in paperback form, but after this edition of books 3 and 4 in Hardcover I wouldnt buy or recommend anything else! In fact, if I could I would buy the first Hardcover edition of the series. The book itself is beautifully made and very sturdy. Not to mention looking pretty good on a bookcase. And it's just really cool to have so many pages of good reading in one place. The stories themselves are pretty good two. Mark Millar's writing page by page (as opposed to just the plot) is really bloody good and I'm getting more into the characters that aren't Wolverine more than ever before. The artwork is mostly good tho I wish Andy Kubert would have done more issues. Needless to say it was a page-turner and tho I'm not an age-old fan who was dissapointed with the Phoenix intro - I was a fan from the start of the second X-Men series and I really like the return to just plain adventure stories with a writer who has the courage to mix everything up (for the better). And also, in combination with the previous Hardcover (or Vols 1 & 2 of the Trade Paperback) it's a great read for any new readers.