CBR: PREVIEW: "Ultimate Comics X" #2

[CBR News]

Courtesy of Marvel Comics, CBR presents a preview of "Ultimate Comics X" #2, written by Jeph Loeb and featuring superstar artist Arthur Adams on interiors and covers. The issue is scheduled to hit stores April 7.


Full article here (http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25168).

[THX1138]

So it seems pretty obvious that Karen is actually Jean...I think everyone saw that coming...but still could be interesting.

Despite how terrible Loeb's New Ultimates was.. I actually did enjoy the first issue of Ultimate X surprisingly. So I think I will pick up this issue. I have to admit this is the one Ultimate U. book that Loeb's done that actually feels different from the 616 Marvel U...hopefully he doesn't run this one into the ground like his other books.

[ProfeZZor X]

Love the art and how graphic it is with the depictions of dead characters. I'll definitely pic this one up. Now, if this book turns out to be a follow up to what happened to the other surviving X-Men, I'd be a happy camper.

[Oblivion87]

If Karen is Jean, then who's the guy narrating?

[Mistvan2]

Probably someone unimportant, someone to lead us into the caracter's background.
Also is it possible that the winged dude (on the cover with all 5 of them) could be Reptil?

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

Why is Loeb okay on Ultimate X, but complete shit on New Ultimates?

[John Zaleski]

hopefully we see more of wolverine's son. i don't want 11098401987234 origin stories. (also i didn't mind new ultimates)

[chickrockguitar]

hopefully we see more of wolverine's son. i don't want 11098401987234 origin stories. (also i didn't mind new ultimates)Yeah, I feel the same way.
I will pick this up though.

[Ratwedge]

Hahahahahahaahahahaha. Emo Jean.

[Joe Franklin]

Hahahahahahaahahahaha. Emo Jean.

Or it's her long lost sister. :wink:

[Warren Worthington III]

It's good to have Jean back.

[Dudebro McTypo]

Or it's her long lost sister. :wink:

Im leaning to this is Ultimate Maddie Pryor

[MarvelMaster616]

I have to admit this is the one Ultimate U. book that Loeb's done that actually feels different from the 616 Marvel U...hopefully he doesn't run this one into the ground like his other books.

That's a pretty tall order. You might as well hope you win the lottery while you're at it because that's about the same chance there is with Loeb and the Ultimate series. For better or for worse, some writers just don't write certain series very well. Loeb was good on Batman/Superman and respectable in most of his DC endeavors. But when it comes to Marvel and the Ultimate universe, he's a fish out of water.

Ultimate X #1 left me unimpressed and disgusted (but not nearly as much as Ultimatum did). I didn't even bother with New Ultimates. The spoilers alone were enough to make me regret eating tacos for dinner the previous night. Loeb and the Ultimate writers in general are trying to basically replace the characters they horribly maimed with new versions. I'm sorry, but you don't make a character look and act like Wolverine and expect him to carry the same weight as Logan. You don't make a new Hulk, a new Black Widow, or a new Wasp and expect them to hold the same value. If this Karen Paige isn't Jean Grey (although it looks like she is), then you're not going to make her the new Marvel Girl and have her carry the same weight.

Ultimatum just left too many gaps to fill. You kill good characters, you don't replace them with lame, pitiful excuses for new versions. The only way Ultimate could be salvaged at this point is if they started bringing characters back. They brought back Thor already and they did the same for Gwen and Beast at some point. Why would they resist doing it again? They're never going to make Jimmy Hudson or Karen Paige as big a draw as Logan or Jean Grey.

If Loeb and the Ultimate editors had any decency they would make like a hockey stick and get the puck out of Ultimate. Either toss the series, start from scratch, or undo Ultimatum. Because in the long run, it's not going to work when the characters that make the series great are horribly maimed and dead.

[Joe Franklin]

Is Sara the 616 Universe Jean's sister's name?

[golga]

If this is really Jean it is stupid in my eyes.Why would Jean go so deep into hiding,she is probabliy the strongest mutant left so she cant be taken down by the army or anyone else.It suprises me that she is not doing something like Moira MacTaggert did in the UU befor she became a druglord.

I hope it is someone else maybe Cyclobs sister and she got his visor from Jean and she can see memories linked to objects she touches.

[CmX]

Why would Jean color her hair if she can telepathically change her appearance?

Eh, I've never cared for Ultimate Jean, so not sure how I feel about this.

[carabas]

She can not telepathically chage her appearance. she can make you telepathically think she looks differant, which is not the same.

And she'd need to pay attention to her hair pretty much every waking moment. Much easier to just dye it.

Assuming it is Jean, which I am unconvinced of, and do not actually care about either way.

[joshtylen]

Well they might have other methods of seeing through TP too. Some of the questions might be answer as we go.

[DKR]

This looks good, and that is defintely Jean.

[Endless Lies]

Lol Jean. But if Loeb is writing this expect Logans son to sleep with Jean. Like father like son lol

[TimberBear]

how can it be jean? narrator says he met karen 3 years ago, but ultimatum happened a few months ago...

[Samorai_black]

how can it be jean? narrator says he met karen 3 years ago, but ultimatum happened a few months ago...

Yea thats what i was thinking. If its Jean the only way i can see around it is if she made people think that she had been around for 3 years

[collegetrunks]

how can it be jean? narrator says he met karen 3 years ago, but ultimatum happened a few months ago...

Forreals, people think they know everythinggg...

[dreyga2000]

how can it be jean? narrator says he met karen 3 years ago, but ultimatum happened a few months ago...

Loeb doesn't pay attention to details like time... It's Jean Grey...

[Endless Lies]

Loeb doesn't pay attention to details like time... It's Jean Grey...

Quoted for truth

[TimberBear]

yeah just goin by those few pages it would seem to be jean...who else would have and cry over cyclops visor...maybe theyll explain the "3 years ago" comment, or its just a sloppy mistake...guess we'll see!

[Earth2Invincible]

It's probably Ultimate Jeean since she did cry over the fallen mutants and had that mag that had all the x-men in it's early days

Wished this series was montly since Loeb actually wrote a good debut issue for this series.

[Frisky Dingo]

how can it be jean? narrator says he met karen 3 years ago, but ultimatum happened a few months ago...


Yea thats what i was thinking. If its Jean the only way i can see around it is if she made people think that she had been around for 3 years


Forreals, people think they know everythinggg...


Loeb doesn't pay attention to details like time... It's Jean Grey...


Quoted for truth

Wow, everyone settle and wait to read the issue. Obviously I could be wrong, but with the “3 years ago” comment and reading the rest of the voice over boxes it seems like the guy narrating is talking from a point later on in time after the events depicted in the preview and whatever else we’ll eventually see. So I took the preview as “Karen” (I agree, seems like Jean) moves to Baltimore after “Ultimatum” and meets this mall cop guy. Events unfold, which we’ll see in the series. And the narration boxes are the mall cop telling the story and how he met “Karen” from the future after everything has happened, so that’s why it’s “3 years ago”.

[VRaptorX]

Any sales numbers yet on issue 1?

And real sales numbers, not the shipped crap. Stupid variants screw that up way too much with 10 to 1 buying ratios for stores. There should be a law that there should never be variant covers for comics ever again. Only time you get a different cover is if years later they release an uncut version.

[WeaponX7373]

Loeb can't even avoid contradicting his own continuity mere months after making it. Oh and by the way me and many other people called Goth Jean a while ago. Way to make everything new and different marvel by giving us new versions of the classic characters you just killed. Ultimatium will change everything it will get us to the point where we can tell stories we couldn't tell before, like what if Jean Grey dyed her hair black?

[Frisky Dingo]

Any sales numbers yet on issue 1?

And real sales numbers, not the shipped crap. Stupid variants screw that up way too much with 10 to 1 buying ratios for stores. There should be a law that there should never be variant covers for comics ever again. Only time you get a different cover is if years later they release an uncut version.

I assume by "real sales numbers" you mean the amount readers actually buy and not the stores themselves. I don't believe the industry really has a way of tracking that and I've never seen "real sales numbers". It's not like comic shops are all part of one chain. And each of them use a different system. I know I've been in stores that use archaic registers that don't scan anything, so they obviously aren't tracking what book you buy. They just type in the price of the book manually.

Nonetheless, the first issue did pretty good in the shipped/ordered sales department. It was 16 in quantity rank and 11 in dollar rank. With over 96,000 issues being ordered.

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/feb-2010-diamond-sales-100304.html

[WeaponX7373]

Well either its good or people are stupid. I personally hope its good but still I am sceptical and refuse to pay good money to Ultimate Universe since all my favorite characters are dead. Well Icemans is alive but I really never could get into Ultimate Spidey after Gwen died.

I also hate the hypocracy going on with dead characters. It seems like the only ones stay dead are X-Men characters. I know Wasp and Hank are still dead but come on. Not a single one of their important characters where killed off and stayed dead. Meanwhile the three biggest hitters of Ultimate X-Men Xavier, Cyclops, and Logan are the only ones staying dead.

[VRaptorX]

Marvel as a whole seems to love just punishing the mutants. Remember M day? Yeah that's still around but Cap getting sniped, that was retconned. The mutants are always the ones getting jobbed out.

And yeah...those Ult X numbers include the tons of copies left because the stores bought so much more just to get the variants....which is why I hate variants. It's so hard to tell what people are really buying.

[dreyga2000]

Wow, everyone settle and wait to read the issue.

Regardless what's in the issue... From past experience.... Not as insult but merely stating fact... Loeb doesn't pay much attention to detail... Warning other readers that basic decrepancies don't count as evidence in this situation...

[Frisky Dingo]

Regardless what's in the issue... From past experience.... Not as insult but merely stating fact... Loeb doesn't pay much attention to detail... Warning other readers that basic decrepancies don't count as evidence in this situation...

I'm hardly a Loeb supporter, I think he's been on a downward spiral for a long time now. And he definitely deserves most of the criticism he's gotten lately.

I wasn't trying to defend his past mistakes, as the rest of my post states I was merely commenting on people getting up in arms about the "3 years ago" thing. I don't think it's that much of a leap in logic to assume that the narration is taking place 3 years after what we're actually seeing depicted in the panels.

[Brian M.]

Marvel as a whole seems to love just punishing the mutants. Remember M day? Yeah that's still around but Cap getting sniped, that was retconned. The mutants are always the ones getting jobbed out.

And yeah...those Ult X numbers include the tons of copies left because the stores bought so much more just to get the variants....which is why I hate variants. It's so hard to tell what people are really buying.

Cap wasn't retconned. It was always planned that he come back. That's called storytelling and plotting.

[VRaptorX]

I come from the thought process that if you try to make us think he's dead, even if you planned from day 1 to bring em back, that counts. So Batman counts too whenever he comes back as well.

[Ziral]

With over 96,000 issues being ordered.

That is the index number. Ultimate X sold 96% of what Batman sold. So that is somewhere in the low 60k range or maybe even high 50k range.

[SayOcean]

Well they might have other methods of seeing through TP too. Some of the questions might be answer as we go.if they could see through tp why would hair dye fool them


She can not telepathically chage her appearance. she can make you telepathically think she looks differant, which is not the same.

And she'd need to pay attention to her hair pretty much every waking moment. Much easier to just dye it.

Assuming it is Jean, which I am unconvinced of, and do not actually care about either way.isnt she like super jean.....i doubt keeping her hair color would be that hard

i really hop its not jean but i wouldnt be surprised

[carabas]

I come from the thought process that if you try to make us think he's dead, even if you planned from day 1 to bring em back, that counts. So Batman counts too whenever he comes back as well.Eh, DC never tried to make us believe Batman died.
He was shown to be perfectly fine if a little time-displaced the issue after he was hit by the Omega Effect, which had been known to transport people through time and space rather than killing them before.

[Vivica Kang]

She seems like Jean...I mean why would they introduce a character that has TK and she has scott's visor? plus "Karen dyed her hair"??? And Mystique did tell Jean she could bring them all back. But she didn't and Loeb does go out of context of timelines...Im not saying it is but. We have to wait and see how this goes.

[Gene M.]

And she'd need to pay attention to her hair pretty much every waking moment. Much easier to just dye it.
Don't women already do that anyway?

ba-dum-tish.

[Adam C]

Assuming it is Jean, which I am unconvinced of, and do not actually care about either way.

Unconvinced? I think the preview was as blatant as possible about her identity without actually coming outright and saying it.

[carabas]

Don't women already do that anyway?

ba-dum-tish.It seems actually very rare in comics for women to even change their hair style throughout the decades, nevermind dye.

[Plawsky]

Any sales numbers yet on issue 1?

And real sales numbers, not the shipped crap. Stupid variants screw that up way too much with 10 to 1 buying ratios for stores. There should be a law that there should never be variant covers for comics ever again. Only time you get a different cover is if years later they release an uncut version.

It did well enough to warrant a second printing, which came out yesterday. The shipped numbers ARE the real sales numbers. Unless you want EVERY comic shop in America to call into Marvel and say "we ordered 20 copies of this comic, but only sold 12," then that's the only number we'll ever see. But that's a good representation, because it shows how anticipated the issue was. If sales drop drastically for issue 2, then it means comic shops saw that the first issue didn't sell well.

[carabas]

Unconvinced? I think the preview was as blatant as possible about her identity without actually coming outright and saying it.
First of all, it's a Loeb story, so half of the clues, at a minimum, will be red herrings.

She seems more like a mutant who was a really bix X-Men fangirl to me. Possibly with a dash of Phoenix in her.

[VRaptorX]

It did well enough to warrant a second printing, which came out yesterday. The shipped numbers ARE the real sales numbers. Unless you want EVERY comic shop in America to call into Marvel and say "we ordered 20 copies of this comic, but only sold 12," then that's the only number we'll ever see. But that's a good representation, because it shows how anticipated the issue was. If sales drop drastically for issue 2, then it means comic shops saw that the first issue didn't sell well.

yeah but then you get pretty info behind the times. I mean gaming has shipped data and actual sales data for there stuff. Why can't comics pull it off?

[carabas]

If sales drop drastically for issue 2, then it means comic shops saw that the first issue didn't sell well."If sales drop drastically with #3 or 4", you mean, what with everything being ordered three months in advance?

[Plawsky]

"If sales drop drastically with #3 or 4", you mean, what with everything being ordered three months in advance?

Well ya, either way. I don't really know the ins-and-outs of the comic business, but it's the same idea.


yeah but then you get pretty info behind the times. I mean gaming has shipped data and actual sales data for there stuff. Why can't comics pull it off?

I'd say that's because games are - for the most part - sold at stores like Best Buy and GameStop that are parts of national chains with computerized inventories and other systems in place.

I can't speak for everyone here, but my LCS is just a few hundred square feet and deals entirely in cash. I don't know if anyone's shop scans each comic when a sale is made, then reports their inventory back to Marvel at the end of each month. Yes, they could keep track of it, but it would just be more time consuming than it's worth to get numbers from every small comic shop in the country.

[VRaptorX]

So it'll take to issue 5 to see what people really think? Oh boy....by the time that happens you might be well beyond irreversible damage if you are doing like a weekly comic.

man...this really is an ineffective system. There needs to be a way to order like a week before hand and print stuff quickly. By now we should have one.

[carabas]

Hang on, doesn't this only come out every other month? There should be some decent numbers representative of actual sales by #3 then.

[WeaponX7373]

If that isn't Jean then Loeb is a moron. She has the cover of time week stashed away, sure anyone can get that, but she has cyclops visor. Where did she get it if she isn't Jean? Ebay?

[joshtylen]

For now she’s looking like Jean. We knew the first issue the character would be related to Wolverine somehow. I think they should use more characters that aren’t alive or used much in the 616 world so I’m glad they are using Jean. I hope they do the bat wing guy next.

[editor28]

Didn't Loeb swear this wasn't an X-book? Because it look like an X-book to me. Even if that black haired lady isn't Jean she's still a mutant, our main character's a mutant, and from the spoiler cover it looks like more mutants are coming.

[WeaponX7373]

Wouldn't be the first time Loeb has lead the fans astray. And come on when the title was announced as Ultimate X did any of us really think it wouldn't be an X-men book.

[dreyga2000]

If this is really Jean it is stupid in my eyes.Why would Jean go so deep into hiding,she is probabliy the strongest mutant left so she cant be taken down by the army or anyone else.

She was taught non-violence (unless necessary) by Prof. X...



It suprises me that she is not doing something like Moira MacTaggert did in the UU before she became a druglord.


How can she it's illegal to be a mutant... they are to be shot on the spot....

[joshtylen]

There was a girl at my school who was always dressed in Goth. She was a loner and was always mysterious. I always thought she was hiding something or wanted to be left alone so that's why she dressed and acted this way. These pages reminded me of that.

I always assume UX would be about mutants after Ultimatum so the X-Men will pop up sooner or later.

[Godlike13]

For a moment i forgot why i was driven away from Ultimate Comics, picked this issue up then i remembered why. Not saying it was bad, just tainted. The Ultimatum taint just doesn't com off. Well, at least i tried :cool:.

[Wolverine12]

Second issue was pretty decent. Nothing mind blowing but not Ultimatum level suckage. I just wish it would come out monthly. I will continue to buy this series and hope for the same level of quality in wrinting. (No need in my eyes to question the quality of art as long as Adams is drawing the book).

[Marvelboy1974]

OK... i have not had time to get this issue today.. Just for clarification, does issue #2 confirm that Karen is Jean, or is it fan speculation? Is Karen Grant Jean grey in disguise?

[VRaptorX]

It is confirmed now that she is Jean. Outside of that nothing really happens. It's everything you'd expect.

[infernohara]

It is confirmed now that she is Jean. Outside of that nothing really happens. It's everything you'd expect.

Nothing happens? Pffftt. You haven't been reading.

Very good book and yes, it is Jean Grey.

1st: A certain somebody from ASM knows where Jean is all this time and a Ultimate X #1 star meets her.

2nd: The evil leader from Ultimatum has defenses so strong that even a high class mutant like jean can't go through with telepathy.

3rd: Jean is straight fierce with those powers. She really let loose and it was good to see her TK/Telepathy at insane levels without the phoenix.

4th: If you read the book....Jean maybe in trouble further down the road. Her image has been put on blast for enemies and friends alike to know who she may be....even in her new goth-gear.

Can't wait for this Cloak/Dagger looking character next.

[TimWithNumbers]

I really like where this is going, thus far. Loeb's other Ultimate work - not so much.

[Wolverine12]

OK... i have not had time to get this issue today.. Just for clarification, does issue #2 confirm that Karen is Jean, or is it fan speculation? Is Karen Grant Jean grey in disguise?

Never mind they beat meto it

[Serviettedetable]

I've found it quite good... better than the first one actually.

[VRaptorX]

Nothing happens? Pffftt. You haven't been reading.

Very good book and yes, it is Jean Grey.

1st: A certain somebody from ASM knows where Jean is all this time and a Ultimate X #1 star meets her.

2nd: The evil leader from Ultimatum has defenses so strong that even a high class mutant like jean can't go through with telepathy.

3rd: Jean is straight fierce with those powers. She really let loose and it was good to see her TK/Telepathy at insane levels without the phoenix.

4th: If you read the book....Jean maybe in trouble further down the road. Her image has been put on blast for enemies and friends alike to know who she may be....even in her new goth-gear.

Can't wait for this Cloak/Dagger looking character next.

What I mean is that it's basically still a set up. Jean is back, here are her powers, the villains did something to make her angry and are now stronger, and Jean meets Jimmy. It's what you'd expect. We are still in the "welcome to the world" phase. We haven't gotten to the part where things really start to go down.

And to be fair, with her power level that high....I expect a "I had phoenix inside me all along" twist or she'll eventually be able to do what phoenix could do without it. But that will come much later.

[IAMFuzzy]

What I mean is that it's basically still a set up. Jean is back, here are her powers, the villains did something to make her angry and are now stronger, and Jean meets Jimmy. It's what you'd expect. We are still in the "welcome to the world" phase. We haven't gotten to the part where things really start to go down.
We'll probably be waiting until August or October due to the fact that this is every other month.

[VRaptorX]

Which is why I'm saying nothing has really happened yet. I said we'd end up with about a year's worth of origin stories. One origin story equals 2 months. 5 characters equals 10 months wait. And then issue 6 starts everything up really...which is another 2 months later. All in all, that is 12 months.

Now my question is, how many people will sit through and continue reading during 12 months of origin stories? That is a long time to wait for a story to start up.

[Godlike13]

So how long would u guys say before Jimmy and Jean start doing it :cool:

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

So how long would u guys say before Jimmy and Jean start doing it :cool:

That's going to so weird, but I wouldn't put it past Loeb.

[Vivica Kang]

Okay so it's not a X-men comic yet...Jean appears and she knows somethings the others don't...I'm sorry Loeb you cannot lie it's X-men all over! Im picking it up.

[TimWithNumbers]

So how long would u guys say before Jimmy and Jean start doing it :cool:

First page, first panel, next issue.

Based on preview art, there are only two more characters to introduce, right? The winged guy, and the Hulk guy. After that, things should be set in motion.

[VRaptorX]

Actually Liz Allen is also on the group. So we have 3 more issues before the story really comes into play.

And yeah...I'm gonne guess within 20 issues Jean and Jimmy do it. I think Loeb wanted to use the real Wolverine and have them hook up. He did have a Wolverine comic that he wanted to do but Marvel said no. I bet he's just shoving Jimmy into the relationship he wanted Logan to have in his unwritten comic.

[Labor]

Actually Liz Allen is also on the group. So we have 3 more issues before the story really comes into play.

And yeah...I'm gonne guess within 20 issues Jean and Jimmy do it. I think Loeb wanted to use the real Wolverine and have them hook up. He did have a Wolverine comic that he wanted to do but Marvel said no. I bet he's just shoving Jimmy into the relationship he wanted Logan to have in his unwritten comic.
I think the Wolverine book was canned because Michael Turner, who was supposed to draw it, died.

[Earth2Invincible]

This book was good and I was surpised.Wished this was monthly.

The dicussion between Jean and Jimmy is going to be weird their only a couple of yrs apart yrs wise but Jean got it on with his dad and was in a love triangle with him and cyclos lol

[VRaptorX]

This book was good and I was surpised.Wished this was monthly.

The dicussion between Jean and Jimmy is going to be weird their only a couple of yrs apart yrs wise but Jean got it on with his dad and was in a love triangle with him and cyclos lol

How much you wanna bet sleeping with his dad never comes up? Even if Jimmy and Jean sleep together, I doubt they'll ever mention it. Same with Wolverine throwing Cyclops off a cliff.

[Marvelboy1974]

OK. I ran to the comic shop after work to get this issue... I loved it! It was amazing to see Jean use her Tk and TP furiously! I actually really like the black hair and I can't wait to see where this is all going. It was nice to see an issue that focused on Jean for a change.

[boyhangover]

What character from ASM(I assume that means Amazing Spider-man) showed up.

Yeah it's Jean despite the fact that the guy from the comic shop (A customer not the Clerk) said that it didn't say anything about who she was.

[Oddboom]

bleh

this isnt ultimatum bad but its so not interesting

(and i really dont know why you guys like the art its awful)

[Radlum]

The art wasn't that bad, but the cover was indeed awful.
Anyway, for two issues Loeb has managed to mantain an acceptable quality; he is no Grant Morrison, but he seems to be trying to redeem himself (let's just ignore New Ultimates). The only thing that bothers me is the connection to Ultimatum with Sabretooth and Mystique implying that they are working with Pietro and Wanda.

[Sighphi]

So I'm guessing the black dude with wings is Angle's son...
He has sex with some of the help and since his parents are rich they sent the kid away because the kid is half.......................................mutant with wings like him.

[boyhangover]

The art wasn't that bad, but the cover was indeed awful.
Anyway, for two issues Loeb has managed to mantain an acceptable quality; he is no Grant Morrison, but he seems to be trying to redeem himself (let's just ignore New Ultimates). The only thing that bothers me is the connection to Ultimatum with Sabretooth and Mystique implying that they are working with Pietro and Wanda.



Aren't they both dead?

[Chachi]

3 more Origin Issues (June, August, October) means it will be December before the first story arc starts.

[Dam Fox]

How much you wanna bet sleeping with his dad never comes up? Even if Jimmy and Jean sleep together, I doubt they'll ever mention it.

Why would it? Jimmy doesn't know about it and I'm not sure Jean would want to even bring it up.

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

So I'm guessing the black dude with wings is Angle's son...
He has sex with some of the help and since his parents are rich they sent the kid away because the kid is half.......................................mutant with wings like him.

Why are you such a racist for? What makes you think they have to be help?


3 more Origin Issues (June, August, October) means it will be December before the first story arc starts.

This book isn't helping the Ultimate line one bit.

[Plawsky]

This book isn't helping the Ultimate line one bit.

I'd say it is. It's giving the UU a presence of mutants, which there is an unfortunate lack of. Sure it's not really making an impact on the greater Ultimate Universe yet, but it's not a bad story. I'd say that based on the first two issues, this is Loeb's best Ultimate work yet (granted, not a tough achievement there). I think it would be much better though if it came out once a month. The slow pace is most definitely not a good thing.

It might not be helping the UU a lot, but it's certainly not hurting. New Ultimates on the other hand...

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

I'd say it is. It's giving the UU a presence of mutants, which there is an unfortunate lack of. Sure it's not really making an impact on the greater Ultimate Universe yet, but it's not a bad story. I'd say that based on the first two issues, this is Loeb's best Ultimate work yet (granted, not a tough achievement there). I think it would be much better though if it came out once a month. The slow pace is most definitely not a good thing.

It might not be helping the UU a lot, but it's certainly not hurting. New Ultimates on the other hand...

I was speaking more about the shipping schedule.

[Sighphi]

Why are you such a racist for? What makes you think they have to be help?


Wait.... people dont hate mutants in Ultimate world?

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

Wait.... people dont hate mutants in Ultimate world?

I'm speaking about stereotyping servants as black people.

[Dam Fox]

Stereotyping isn't necessarily being racist.

[Sighphi]

I'm speaking about stereotyping servants as black people.

That was stereotyping?
Isnt it a common story for the rich person to fall in love with some of the folks that work for them?

[carabas]

So I'm guessing the black dude with wings is Angle's son...And his secundary mutation would be being older than his father then? Or roughly the same age at best?

I kinda doubt it.

[Mikey Brown]

Damn this was a pretty good issue. I'm actually really liking both the Ultimate Loeb titles. It looks like Ultimates 3 and Ultimatum was done just so he could write these comics. Which is kind of shitty but it made the Ultimate U a pretty unique place.

[carabas]

I'm speaking about stereotyping servants as black people.Thinking back, I do think it would be kinda in character for Angel's father to actually have black staff. He was slime.

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

That was stereotyping?
Isnt it a common story for the rich person to fall in love with some of the folks that work for them?

Being black does not automatically mean you would be a servant. There are servants of many races. You've also expressed your enthusiasm for wanting him to be named Blackbird and wanting a team of all Black Avengers.

[Sighphi]

Being black does not automatically mean you would be a servant. There are servants of many races. You've also expressed your enthusiasm for wanting him to be named Blackbird and wanting a team of all Black Avengers.

So i cant use a story that is pretty much used in all period drama in some version because the kid is black?

And what's wrong with wanting him to be called Black Bird and wanting a Black Avengers team now?

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

So i cant use a story that is pretty much used in all period drama in some version because the kid is black?

And what's wrong with wanting him to be called Black Bird and wanting a Black Avengers team now?

You shouldn't see people in colors, you should just see them as people. A person doesn't have race for your amusement.

[Plawsky]

You shouldn't see people in colors, you should just see them as people. A person doesn't have race for your amusement.

I can understand your anti-racism view here, but I actually agree with Sighphi for once here - he wasn't really being implicitly racist. For this guy to be Angel's son, his mother would obviously have to be black. An easy way to write that story would be to have him hook up with one of the family's workers - which would be totally in character for the Worthington's to hire all black people.

Sure, the story could also have him making babies with some other black chick. Or even that he and Dazzler both carried a recessive black gene and we just never saw that she was pregnant and the child happened to age at an incredible rate. Or the skin color could just be a mutation. There's no limit to the origin stories they could come up with. However, (IF it was Angel's kid) it would make sense that it was Sighphi's suggestion.

All that being said, I highly doubt it's going to be Angel's son. We already have Logan's kid, and I don't even think Loeb would be lame enough to make a team of replacements that's just full of the children of the dead X-Men.

[MarvelMaster616]

Even though I absolutely hated Ultimate X #1, I did check out issue #2 mainly because I was interested in seeing Ultimate Jean Grey again. I tend to be a sucker for some of my favorite X-characters and Ultimate Jean Grey has always had a soft spot for me. After finishing this issue, I wish she didn’t.

This issue was every bit as bad as the previous issue. In some cases it was even worse. At least in the last issue I could admire the solid artwork by Art Adams. In this issue I didn’t even get that. Ultimate Jean Grey is at least 20-years-old. That was established after the Phoenix arc. Adam’s work made her look like she was 14 at the very oldest. It was really ugly and I never thought I would say that about an Art Adams book. To make matters worse the story was terrible too.

My biggest gripe about Ultimate X #1 was that it was completely unoriginal. It basically took this new Wolverine replacement and plugged in the old Superman Origins story. This issue was even more unoriginal than that. At least the previous issue took plot elements from a series completely separate from X-men and Ultimate Marvel. This issue lifted a plot directly from an issue that came out less than a year ago. So Sabretooth and Mystique show up and try to enlist Jean into their little club? That’s the exact same plot as Ultimatum X-men Requiem! That comic came out in August 2009 and at least that had better fight scenes. This had none of that. It was so bland and dry I just shook my head and scolded every page. I sincerely got the sense that Jeph Loeb and the Ultimate editors aren’t even trying anymore.

In addition the narrator, Dave, didn’t come off as very deep. He came off as a creepy stalker who was obsessed with Karen/Jean. Early on he said he asked her out 10 times before she said yes. Even afterward she didn’t open up. You would think the man would get a clue. He really wasn’t that interesting. If he was supposed to add a different perspective to the series then Ultimate X is really in trouble.

I can’t find any redeeming value in Ultimate X or Ultimate Marvel in general anymore. Two issues in and each time it’s just a rehashing of stories that have already been told and told better by other writers. It’s like nobody at Marvel even cares about the Ultimate Universe anymore. Since 616 has expanded they seem content with leaving Ultimate in the dust. If that’s how they’re going to handle it I’m officially in favor of an all out cancellation of this entire line. Believe me, I take no joy in saying that because I used to be such an avid follower of this series. Since Ultimatum I can’t even read any of the issues I’ve collected because I’m left thinking “Wow, all these great stories are for nothing because everything gets destroyed in the end. Bummer.” If ever there was a need for a total reboot or a One More Day style retcon, this is it. There’s nothing else worth following anymore.

Overall, I would give Ultimate X a pitiful 0 out of 5. I would give it negative ratings if I had to. I wouldn’t even use this comic as toilet paper. I never hoped for a series to fail before. I actually find myself hoping Ultimate completely fails because it would be the only way for something new to come along. It’s a real shame and I wish it hadn’t come to this. Ultimate X is essentially a microcosm of everything I resent about this series now. The sooner it fails the better. :frown:

[Plawsky]

In addition the narrator, Dave, didn’t come off as very deep. He came off as a creepy stalker who was obsessed with Karen/Jean. Early on he said he asked her out 10 times before she said yes. Even afterward she didn’t open up. You would think the man would get a clue. He really wasn’t that interesting. If he was supposed to add a different perspective to the series then Ultimate X is really in trouble.


He wasn't supposed to be interesting. He was just a plain guy from a small town - exactly the low profile that Jean wanted to be involved with. And as far as him "getting a clue," you know none of that stuff really happened right? He thinks it's their two year anniversary but she's only been in Baltimore for a couple months. Jean implanted all of those memories in his mind.

If you really wanted to see Ultimate Jean, I'm surprised this didn't please you - she had insane control of her powers. No, it wasn't action packed, but it didn't need to be. I agree with you that she looked younger than 20s, but I think 14 is a stretch. She's got a young face, but nothing about her body says "young teen" to me (granted, a lot of comics ignore that fact). I think Jean's face when she's trying to get in Mystique's head is much closer to where it should've been all issue. Age inconsistencies are very common in comics - just look at Hope right now - and I feel like none of them are as bad as Beast's inconsistent appearance. Artists get to do their own take on the characters, and some of them just miss a little. Other than that, I thought Adams's art was solid throughout. I loved the spread with the ghosts on Jean's floor, and I really liked his Rogue as well.

You're right, this issue wasn't incredibly original, but a lot of comics aren't. This wasn't supposed to be an earth-shattering issue - it was just meant to tell us what Jean's been up to post-Ultimatum, and show us that Mystique and Sabretooth are hunting down people for the mysterious bad guy.

It's fine that you don't like it, but I think you're being a little harsh in your review. This is definitely not the worst issue of the Ultimate line like you make it seem - in fact it's probably Loeb's best. There was some X-Men pre-Ultimatum that was worse than this imo.

[MarvelMaster616]

He wasn't supposed to be interesting. He was just a plain guy from a small town - exactly the low profile that Jean wanted to be involved with. And as far as him "getting a clue," you know none of that stuff really happened right? He thinks it's their two year anniversary but she's only been in Baltimore for a couple months. Jean implanted all of those memories in his mind.

If you really wanted to see Ultimate Jean, I'm surprised this didn't please you - she had insane control of her powers. No, it wasn't action packed, but it didn't need to be. I agree with you that she looked younger than 20s, but I think 14 is a stretch. She's got a young face, but nothing about her body says "young teen" to me (granted, a lot of comics ignore that fact). I think Jean's face when she's trying to get in Mystique's head is much closer to where it should've been all issue. Age inconsistencies are very common in comics - just look at Hope right now - and I feel like none of them are as bad as Beast's inconsistent appearance. Artists get to do their own take on the characters, and some of them just miss a little. Other than that, I thought Adams's art was solid throughout. I loved the spread with the ghosts on Jean's floor, and I really liked his Rogue as well.

You're right, this issue wasn't incredibly original, but a lot of comics aren't. This wasn't supposed to be an earth-shattering issue - it was just meant to tell us what Jean's been up to post-Ultimatum, and show us that Mystique and Sabretooth are hunting down people for the mysterious bad guy.

It's fine that you don't like it, but I think you're being a little harsh in your review. This is definitely not the worst issue of the Ultimate line like you make it seem - in fact it's probably Loeb's best. There was some X-Men pre-Ultimatum that was worse than this imo.

Believe me, I'm as surprised as you that I didn't like this. Usually it takes a LOT for me to not like a comic with Jean Grey as the centerpiece. But here I am. Maybe I am being a bit too harsh, but when an entire series is destroyed and so many characters are butchered as they were in Ultimatum it's hard to give much leeway. I could forgive age inconsistencies and what not if there wasn't the shadow of Ultimatum looming over the comic, but that was not something the story had earned.

In addition, if they're going to destroy so much of the series and the characters, wouldn't fresh originality be practically required? If after going through all that nothing original comes of it, then is it really worth it? You seem to think so, but I don't. It's just giving too much leeway to a series with so few reasons to do so. I understand this was catching up with Jean post-Ultimatum, but that didn't mean it had to be so bland. This is a bimonthly series. Being bland simply is a luxury when it takes so long for another issue to come out. The first issue was painfully bland, essentially throwing the old Superman origin story into the mix. This was even worse by throwing another story that is technically mere months ago in comic time and less than a year ago in real time. There's just no excuse for that lack of creativity, especially when so much was destroyed to get to this point.

Even if you think Jeph Loeb is doing a good job, you have to ask yourself. Was this worth Ultimatum? Was this worth killing so many promising characters? Say what you will about the Ultimate X-men series before Ultimatum, but it was not irredeemable. So long as the characters were still ALIVE it was possible for any writer to come in, offer a fresh take, and completely revamp the series. Now that Ultimatum killed them, there's no chance whatsoever for that story to be told. They essentially threw the baby out with the bathwater. That's what happens when characters are killed. All the potential dies with them. Series have been brought back from mediocrity before. I remember when Wolverine Origins was getting panned by critics constantly, but it did get new life as fresh new stories were introduced. Ultimate X-men will never have that chance and neither will the other titles. It's a real shame because it pretty much handicaps this entire line. I've found that a lot of fans won't consider a comic if their favorite character isn't in it. Ultimate killed some of the most popular characters in Marvel. How many fans are going to be as passionate as they once were if they know their favorite characters are dead and they have to settle for second rate replacements?

I'll say it again. Ultimate needs to be rebooted. It's the only way this series can ever be good as it once was again.

[Plawsky]

Even if you think Jeph Loeb is doing a good job, you have to ask yourself. Was this worth Ultimatum? Was this worth killing so many promising characters? Say what you will about the Ultimate X-men series before Ultimatum, but it was not irredeemable.

No, this was by no means worth Ultimatum - I'm not trying to say this. But I've just accepted that Ultimatum happened, and I'm moving on. I'm trying not to let the taint of Ultimatum hurt my opinion of new Ultimate titles. I don't think this redeems Loeb of the garbage he gave us that ruined the UU, I just think it's a step up - and therefore in the right direction.

I also agree with you on the shipping schedule. Bimonthly shipping for these books is a terrible idea. I don't know if that's Loeb's choice or the editors', but it's definitely going to hurt the book. I would much prefer if Loeb was only doing X and it shipped every month - I don't want him on Ultimates in any way.

I'm sorry you didn't like it - it seems like you're just not going to like anything in the wake of Ultimatum. As much as I would also like a retcon, we've just got to move on. I'm optimistic that we're going to get back to an acceptable status quo - hopefully soon. The main reason I'm excited for the rest of this series is that I hope it results in a new volume of Ultimate X-Men (HOPEfully not written by Loeb).

[Sighphi]

You shouldn't see people in colors, you should just see them as people. A person doesn't have race for your amusement.

Are you Stephen Colbert?

[carabas]

So i cant use a story that is pretty much used in all period drama in some version because the kid is black?Well, see, it is not period drama. It is set in the here and now (or at least a very outdated looking Loebification of the here and now with drag races and stuff), not the nineteenth century.

[carabas]

All that being said, I highly doubt it's going to be Angel's son.And unlike Logan, Angel is still a teenager himself, of course.


You're right, this issue wasn't incredibly original, but a lot of comics aren't. This wasn't supposed to be an earth-shattering issue - it was just meant to tell us what Jean's been up to post-Ultimatum, and show us that Mystique and Sabretooth are hunting down people for the mysterious bad guy.
Aw no. Seriously? Did he really go back to that well already? A mysterious bad guy? He hasn't even resolved his other, red, hulkish mysterious badguy yet and that has gone on for how long now? Two years?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/Gugenheimer/Lol-stuff/facepalm_wrong.jpg

[Sighphi]

Well, see, it is not period drama. It is set in the here and now (or at least a very outdated looking Loebification of the here and now with drag races and stuff), not the nineteenth century.

Period drama is where most of the rich-falling-for-the-help stories are.
Anyway, that is not the point, the point is that he had a kid and like some rich people do they got rid of it.

[carabas]

Period drama is where most of the rich-falling-for-the-help stories are.
Anyway, that is not the point, the point is that he had a kid and like some rich people do they got rid of it.Angel is a teenager. If he had a kid, it would be a toddler. And period drama is perhaps wher you find people falling for the help, but it is also where you find Victorian era fashion and Shakespeare-looking guys.

[xwolvie]

I've been happy to see Rogue... even as Mistyque disguise! :smile:
I hope to Know what happened to her and also to Storm and Colossus.

[Sighphi]

Angel is a teenager. If he had a kid, it would be a toddler.

If you didn't know.

You are reading a comic book.


And period drama is perhaps wher you find people falling for the help, but it is also where you find Victorian era fashion and Shakespeare-looking guys.

ok.

[Seccruz]

I've been happy to see Rogue... even as Mistyque disguise! :smile:
I hope to Know what happened to her and also to Storm and Colossus.

Yeah me to. You gotta wonder though why Mystique wants Jean to work with them so hard, this is the second time she and Sabes approach her...

[xwolvie]

Yeah me to. You gotta wonder though why Mystique wants Jean to work with them so hard, this is the second time she and Sabes approach her...

Nothing good, I guess :evilsmile:

By the way, I enjoyed this issue.:smile:

[misfit84j]

Why hasn't Creed's eye healed itself?
And whatever happened to his four adamantium claws? Totally forgot about them.

[Sighphi]

Why hasn't Creed's eye healed itself?
And whatever happened to his four adamantium claws? Totally forgot about them.

Six ONE SIX

[misfit84j]

Darnit. Why hasn't Ultimate Sabretooth's eye healed yet?

[DKR]

Darnit. Why hasn't Ultimate Sabretooth's eye healed yet?

Loeb forgot.

[Paploo the Ewok]

Maybe it's like X-men Forever, where his powers aren't as powerful as they used to be, so he can't grow maimed body parts back as efficiently anymore?

Really digging this comic and "Karen's" new look. Hadn't read much Ult.X-men before, but Art Adams on an ongoing? Everyone should check that out.

[misfit84j]

Loeb forgot.

Lol that's awesome because he also forgot that Doom had hooved feet right?

[WeaponX7373]

Darnit. Why hasn't Ultimate Sabretooth's eye healed yet?

Loeb can't be bothered with little things like a characters powers, consistant writing, or basic writing compatence.

Time for a reboot clap clap. Time for a reboot clap clap.

And to be fair Ultimate line would be cool if they hadn't stolen everything cool about it and shoved it into the 616 universe. I mean really I'm shocked Nick Fury hasn't turned black yet.

[striderhirryu2]

Loeb can't be bothered with little things like a characters powers, consistant writing, or basic writing compatence.

Time for a reboot clap clap. Time for a reboot clap clap.

And to be fair Ultimate line would be cool if they hadn't stolen everything cool about it and shoved it into the 616 universe. I mean really I'm shocked Nick Fury hasn't turned black yet.

They ought to do it in the same vein of when The Punisher became black and teamed up with Luke Cage. Racism always made the funniest comics

[Dam Fox]

Lol that's awesome because he also forgot that Doom had hooved feet right?

Loeb had nothing to do with that. Ultimate Doom only had the hooves in his first appearance. When he came back in #30, his legs were normal (or appeared that way). That was when the title was written by Millar.

[striderhirryu2]

Loeb had nothing to do with that. Ultimate Doom only had the hooves in his first appearance. When he came back in #30, his legs were normal (or appeared that way). That was when the title was written by Millar.

But it was drawn by Greg Land. Tracing Immonen's Doom is just not as fun as tracing from porno.

[Jared]

It's weird how Ultimate X seems to be dealing with the terrible events of Ultimatum in a serious, dramatic way...yet the series in which those events made it all feel cheap and juvenile.

This was a good issue. Again, I find it hard to believe this is the same Jeph Loeb. Maybe he should adopt a pseudonym.

Considering Jean's power, isn't it obvious why bad guys would want to recruit her?

One of Jean's coworkers was a Spidey character, right?

[carabas]

Loeb had nothing to do with that. Ultimate Doom only had the hooves in his first appearance. When he came back in #30, his legs were normal (or appeared that way). That was when the title was written by Millar.And it was on panel. Ult. Doom still has the goat legs, he just started wearing big boots over them.

Now, if you want to get picky, Ultimate Doom does not have blood, flesh, bone... like most peope. He is a metal man. So whoever it was that got his head squished in Ultimatum, it was not Ultimate Doom.

[boodha]

Well, see, it is not period drama. It is set in the here and now (or at least a very outdated looking Loebification of the here and now with drag races and stuff), not the nineteenth century.

Lol, yes, at the beginning of the first issue I thought this was meant to take place in the 50's or 60's; really needed a while to comprehend it's supposed to be set in the present.

Anyway, I'm quite shocked how much I enjoyed this second issue. I really hated most of Loeb's other UU work, including the first ish of UX. But this ... was ... good :eek: !?!

And I think the "guest" from ASM some other dude was talking about is the Coffee Bean (the coffee shop).

[Don Yoyo]

Anyway, I'm quite shocked how much I enjoyed this second issue. I really hated most of Loeb's other UU work, including the first ish of UX. But this ... was ... good

I still find it hard to believe the same guy is writing New Ultimates, which has bad writing, ridiculous clichés all over it, a rushed plot and overall the same level of quality as Ultimatum. I cringed through most of the first issue of New Ultimates, while I greatly enjoyed the issues of X. I mean, what the heck???

[shankarma]

Omg what a good issue man keep doing it loeb and the art was really good I love the lips for some reason and I can't belive they tricked me into to thinking it was rogue but it was her mother o wish she would make a real apprace ohh and Jean she is a bad bitch that's a bad bitch right there loved all of it

[HotDawgJohnny]

why was it rumored this book was going to be Ultimate Alpha Flight?

non the less its a good read and can't wait for the team to form and get into action

[Don Yoyo]

But now that there seems to be a pattern in the recruiting, I wonder how the winged black man will be related to the X-Men? After all, it makes sense that Jimmy would search first for people related to the original team, because he would know where to go and what to look for.

[carabas]

non the less its a good read and can't wait for the team to form and get into actionI very much doubt anything of the sort will happen. It doesn't seem like a team book at all.

[Cruelly_Innocent]

is anybody going to talk about the "3 years" stuff?, I personally hate Loeb's work, but is seemed everybody was having a good ol' bitchfest for the first 3 pages about that and now nobody is even going to acknowledge that the guy actually explained it?

Ultimatum was probably the worst thing I've ever read. However, I actually like this book.