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ULTIMATE X-MEN #10
"Return to Weapon X Part Four: In The Heart of Darkness"
Highly Recommended (9/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: Adam Kubert
Inks: Art Thibert
Colors: Transparency Digital
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Mark Powers
Price: $2.25 US/$3.50 CAN |
With all the chaos going on with The Authority, I'm more grateful than ever that Marvel is doing Ultimate X-Men, which
serves as a nice substitute for that type of next-level super-heroics. The X-Men
in the grasp of Weapon X has so far been a more interesting story than the X-Men
vs. Magneto opening arc, and Millar is giving us a good and unflinching look at
the world of black ops for the mutants. Amidst changes galore for the characters
and status quo, we have an interesting and action-packed espionage story and
some truly frightening adversaries, and the artwork, whether it's by one of the
Kubert brothers or by Tom Raney, has been nice stuff to look at as well. It's
been over a year now for the Ultimate line, and it doesn't seem to have lost any
of its ability to entertain yet.
I love that rather than simply
focusing on "when does the escape happen?", the creative team has decided to
show us a little of what goes on while the X-Men are enslaved at Weapon X.
Seeing the X-Men operate as a covert military unit is quite entertaining, not
altogether different from the way the team has operated in various incarnations
but with a bit of a realistic and dirty tinge to it that makes it interesting.
In particular, giving them all jet packs and using their powers in more
straightforward and violent ways, such as Iceman taking out a helicopter or
Cyclops blowing an entire path through soldiers, is something different and new.
It simultaneously shows why Weapon X is so effective and why they're so
horrific.
The always-enjoyable dialogue
is here as well. Wraith's arrogance and mean-spirited humor comes through in his
communications with Colossus or Jean Grey, bringing an element of dark humor to
the dire situation they find themselves in. It's entertaining on one level to
hear Wraith's quips, but it also really fleshes out his characterization as a
monster, and makes the inevitable revenge something to look forward to.
Visually, the book continues
to stun. Small things like Storm's ever-present rain storm or the reflection of
Fury's captor in his teacup blend with huge things like a double-page spread of
Colossus derailing a train or Cyclops detonating a complex to provide us with
the equivalent of a well-shot summer movie. In addition, the anguish portrayed
on the characters in the closing quarter of the book really helps to bring out
the feelings of helplessness and pain that they're feeling as a result of their
capture.
Millar is really taking the
characters in directions that they're going to have to deal with, as well. Jean
Grey's decision this issue, and her final actions, are not the types of things
that can be easily forgotten, and they will change the character. The same is
true of Beast's physical changes, or the growing friendship of the team members
in their captivity.
Several months ago, if you'd asked me what my favorite super-hero title was, I'd probably have answered The Authority. Now I'm more likely to say Ultimate X-Men, and that'll probably be the case as long
as Millar is writing the book at least.
Email Randy Lander comments about this review. |
