Ultimate X-Men

[GrinwithoutaCat]

Hello!

Apologies if this sounds like a really silly question, but I'm very much a comics newbie. I enjoyed the X-Men movies quite a bit, and started to look up some of the characters on Wikipedia, which made me REALLY want to try out some comics. Ultimate X-Men seemed the easiest to get into without being lost, so I bought the first two collection books, which collects something like the first 20 issues I think. The problem is, it's not quite grabbing me, and I think it may be the art, but I'm not sure. Do you think it's worth sticking with? Does the art style change later on, or are the stories good enough that I should just get over my issues with the art? The only other comics I've read was The Ultimates, and enjoyed the art in that one a lot more.

[Chaos_Alfa]

Hello!

Apologies if this sounds like a really silly question, but I'm very much a comics newbie. I enjoyed the X-Men movies quite a bit, and started to look up some of the characters on Wikipedia, which made me REALLY want to try out some comics. Ultimate X-Men seemed the easiest to get into without being lost, so I bought the first two collection books, which collects something like the first 20 issues I think. The problem is, it's not quite grabbing me, and I think it may be the art, but I'm not sure. Do you think it's worth sticking with? Does the art style change later on, or are the stories good enough that I should just get over my issues with the art? The only other comics I've read was The Ultimates, and enjoyed the art in that one a lot more.

You should also try Ultimate Spiderman, it's very good.

[Joe Franklin]

The Brian K. Vaughan and Stuart Immonen run on Ultimate X-Men was the best by far. I think it's the volume 5 or 6 hardcover? But not sure?

[striderhirryu2]

Hello!

Apologies if this sounds like a really silly question, but I'm very much a comics newbie. I enjoyed the X-Men movies quite a bit, and started to look up some of the characters on Wikipedia, which made me REALLY want to try out some comics. Ultimate X-Men seemed the easiest to get into without being lost, so I bought the first two collection books, which collects something like the first 20 issues I think. The problem is, it's not quite grabbing me, and I think it may be the art, but I'm not sure. Do you think it's worth sticking with? Does the art style change later on, or are the stories good enough that I should just get over my issues with the art? The only other comics I've read was The Ultimates, and enjoyed the art in that one a lot more.

Is it Kubert, Bachlo or both that are bothering you? Ultimate X-Men never really had a consistent art team. Millar's run is broken up between Adam and Andy Kubert, Bachalo, Raney, Kaare Andrews, and Finch. When you hit the 7th trade or so, Bendis and Finch do a 12 issue run and then BKV comes along with Brandon Peterson, Andy Kubert, and then 12 with Stuart Immonen.

[Genocide]

Any of Vaughn's runs on Ultimate X-Men are awesome you'd probably be hooked after reading them

[runwild01]

When I started picking up the hardcovers, I found Bachalo's run to be very off putting (which is odd because I loved much of his Gen. X art as a kid). I enjoyed the Kurbert brothers runs and thought the artists during Bendis and Vaughn were good. Oliver's run during the Kirkman era was not my favorite.

If the story and art haven't grabbed you yet, Ultimate X-men may not be your thing. I second you trying Ult. Spider-man.

[Arryc]

Yeah, I am not always crazy about the art either, but as other people have posted, it changes pretty frequently.

The best stories are in the middle of the series, but I do think it's worth reading everything up to that point instead of jumping right to it. That way you get more connected to the characters and see how they develop.

If you're looking for another X-Men book, Astonishing X-Men (#1-24) is absolutely phenomenal. The only issue is that if you don't know anything that led up to that point, it might be a bit confusing. However, I don't think it is too difficult to catch up on the important things you need to know before starting it.

Also, the Uncanny X-Men in the '80s is classic.

[VRaptorX]

Just a word of advice if something does grab you and make you stick with it....stop right after the Apocalypse arc and then pretend that everything you may read after that as a completely new continuity. Apocalypse really works better as an end to the series.

[blankpage]

i'm also going to have to recommend you try Ult. Spider-Man. i tried reading X-Men first and quickly lost my place and fell behind because it lacked consistency. in USM it's the completely opposite. it's easy to keep track of by arc and really grabs your attention.

[MarvelMaster616]

Hello!

Apologies if this sounds like a really silly question, but I'm very much a comics newbie. I enjoyed the X-Men movies quite a bit, and started to look up some of the characters on Wikipedia, which made me REALLY want to try out some comics. Ultimate X-Men seemed the easiest to get into without being lost, so I bought the first two collection books, which collects something like the first 20 issues I think. The problem is, it's not quite grabbing me, and I think it may be the art, but I'm not sure. Do you think it's worth sticking with? Does the art style change later on, or are the stories good enough that I should just get over my issues with the art? The only other comics I've read was The Ultimates, and enjoyed the art in that one a lot more.

I agree that the art wasn't the best at the beginning of the series, but it was nowhere near bad enough to bring the whole series down. People here complain about the art for Ultimate Spider-Man since Ultimatum yet plenty of readers don't seem to mind it. And if you take the current Ultimate Spider-Man and hold it up to the early issues of Ultimate X-men, I bet you a steak dinner you'll find X-men to be the least messed up.

I will say that it definitely gets better during the Brian K. Vaughan run and there were even some parts of the Kirkman run with Billy Tan that had some decent art. Overall, Ultimate X-men was a great run and the fact that Marvel outright destroyed it in Ultimatum remains one of the biggest travesties this series has ever committed. It's the reason I haven't had any love for the Ultimate titles and plan to burn my entire Ultimate collection at one point because now it disgusts me so much I feel sick to my stomach just talking about it.

[Nimrod's Son]

It's weird that those issues aren't really grabbing you because I thought Millar's run on Ultimate X-Men was some of the finest X-Men stories I've ever met and loved the crazy Bachalo art.
If you don't like UXM I'd recommend New X-Men by G-Mo and various other artists (including Igor Kordey doing some of the worst art I have ever seen in a mainstream comic. ever). Apart from Kordey's terrible fill-ins, this is some brilliant comics. Great ideas, (mostly) great art, and morrison has a great handle on the characters including his hysterical Beast.

[Sparrowsabre7]

I really liked the Cable and Apocalypse arcs. I know some people find them distasteful but I liked the twist on ultimate Cable's origin and though the Apocalypse arc is over in a bit of a hurry I still think it's an enjoyable read.

[Phelpzy]

The art might be bad but the series is amazing until you get toward the end. After the Apocalypse arc it kinda goes down hill until it dies. Try Ultimate X, it's only 3 issues in, issue four coming next month! The stories kinda slow right now but it's a good read and Art Adams art is glorious!!!!