ULTIMATE COMICS X #5
The Ultimate Universe changed when Ultimate Origins revealed mutants were created by the government while Ultimatum changed the status quo after killing leading mutants Charles Xavier, Magneto, and Wolverine. Now Ultimate X establishes the new status quo of mutants following the events of Ultimatum.
Recently another status quo change shook up the Ultimate Universe with Death of Spider-Man, leading to various new Ultimate series which will be relaunched in September including the Ultimates, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Ultimate X-Men.
The five-issue Ultimate X series began last February 2010 and the final issue is released today in June 2011. The final issue was suppose to wrap up in May however the delay between issues doesn’t hurt as much as all the pieces will be falling into place during next month’s Ultimate Fallout leading to a new Ultimate X-Men series in September.
Ultimate X gathers together various mutants under Karen Grant who is actually Jean Grey. Jimmy Hudson is the son of Wolverine, Derek Morgan has retractable wings, and Liz Allen exhibits fire-controlling abilities are gathered together under Karen Grant. Meanwhile the son of Magneto Quicksilver gathers his own team of mutants including Liz Allen’s brother Teddy.
Writer Jeph Loeb begins with Sabretooth ambushing Wolverine’s son Jimmy Hudson. Karen recruits Bruce Banner and his alter ego the Hulk to play the enforcer bashing Sabretooth. The confrontation leads to a face-off and a standstill against Quicksilver and his team. Karen reveals she teamed up with Nick Fury who is providing intel to keep them one step ahead of the government. The idea came from the late Wolverine wanting to have a “Plan B.” Meanwhile Quicksilver is preparing his team along with her sister the Scarlet Witch to prevent the government from “curing” them of their gifts.
Jeph Loeb (Batman: The Long Halloween) and artist Arthur Adams (Longshot) has set the agenda for the new Ultimate X-Men series launching in September. Terrific dialogue capturing beliefs and grounding it with the series. This is one of Jeph Loeb’s best work after Hulk #23 which revealed the origin of the Red Hulk. Using Jean Grey to control the Hulk was brilliant. Arthur Adams brings his classic style from his days of Longshot and the X-Men Annuals. A great finale leading to the new Ultimate X-Men series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – 5 OUT OF 5
