Ultimate X-Men Vol. 4: Hellfire & Brimstone [Paperback]

Mark Millar (Author), Adam Kubert (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up | Series: Ultimate X-Men

Collects Ultimate X-Men #21-25.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Marvel; Direct Ed edition (October 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785110895
• ISBN-13: 978-0785110897
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Along with Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar has been one of the key writers for Marvel Comics in the 21st century. After proving himself in the '90s as a talent to watch while writing for DC Comics and the UK comic 2000AD, his arrival to Marvel came at a time when Ultimate Spider-Man had just shot up the sales charts. It was in this environment that Millar made his first major contribution to Marvel with Ultimate X-Men, as Millar integrated forty years' worth of X-Men history, characters and lore into a solid two-year run, making the companion title to Ultimate Spider-Man every bit the creative and commercial success. Next up was The Ultimates, a new rendering of the Avengers that was to continue building on the success of the Ultimate line. He and artist Bryan Hitch pulled it all off in spades: The Ultimates and its sequel, Ultimates 2, were ensconced at the top of the sales charts every month; what's more, they were critical successes, as well. Meanwhile, Millar was invited to enter the regular Marvel Universe to take a stab at two of its most iconic characters: Spider-Man and Wolverine. Paired with industry heavyweights to draw his stories -- Terry Dodson on Marvel Knights Spider-Man and John Romita Jr. on Wolverine -- Millar brought the same fast-paced and cleverly constructed plots with which his Ultimate fans were already familiar. Amid building a small library of Millarworld indie comic books -- including the titles Chosen and Wanted, the latter of which was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Angelina Jolie -- he managed to write Civil War, the epic seven-issue miniseries that definitively reshaped the landscape of Marvel's heroes. Kick-A**, a Marvel Icon project done in tandem with John Romita Jr., made an impressive impact on the sales chart before also being adapted for a major motion picture. In addition, Millar has reunited with Civil War artist Steve McNiven in both the pages of Wolverine and their creator-owned book Nemesis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the second book, but still good., March 31, 2003

By 

J. B. Monkey "Internet Bum" (Seatte WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimate X-Men Vol. 4: Hellfire & Brimstone (Paperback)

I really enjoy the Ultimate X-Men books, but I thought this one was the worst so far for two primary reasons:
One Kaare Andrews should stick to doing Disney cartoons and quit the comics buisness. The third and fourth parts to this book look like rejected cells from Atlantis: the Lost Empire.
Two, they try to do too much in the fith section, introducing both the Helfire Club (something I feel the series could probably have done without anyway) and the dark phoenix, as well as ressurecting Magneto all in one issue.
That being said this is still a great comic, infact the whole series is really inspired. I liked the second and fifth books the best (I thought Wolverine switched sides way too fast in the first book and proteus as a plotline is kind of blah).

2.0 out of 5 stars down right boring, May 14, 2011

By 

Trey - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ultimate X-Men Vol. 4: Hellfire & Brimstone (Paperback)

Normally after i read a terrible book like World Tour I just skip around but since I've always been an X-Men fan I decieded to be leinent. BUT IM SORRY THIS WAS TERRIBLE. Now I'm not even talking story wise I'm talking artwise too. And since I'm not going to make this reveiw long I would really not sudjest this to anyone unless your collecting the entire series like me. P.S this book made forget about goin in order so I went from 1-4 to 18-19 and now 8 and now I'm getting 15.

4.0 out of 5 stars Kitty Pryde, The Phoenix and more..., January 11, 2008

By 

Madelyn Pryor "Goblyn Queen" (Mesa, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ultimate X-Men Vol. 4: Hellfire & Brimstone (Paperback)

In the fourth completion of Ultimate X-Men, Marvel collects issues 21-25. This book can stand alone, but it is much easier to understand if you've already read Ultimate X-Men v.3, World Tour. In that, Charles's son, Proteus rips into his father and the X-Men, leaving Iceman in very bad shape. As this story begins, the team is still picking up the pieces of their lives and team after that battle. Relationships are in doubt, the team is healing mentally and physically, and in the midst of all this comes Kitty Pryde. Jean begins getting visions/hallucinations of an ancient deity named the Phoenix, the Professor's benefactors are revealed, and one of the X-Men's most deadly villains makes a surprising come-back.

I have read previous reviews and I wanted to give my opinion on a few things others have brought up.
#1: This is NOT regular X-Men. Mark Millar, the author, is known for his edgy work, and there are many elements found in these versions of the characters that are non-conforming to regular marvel continuity. If this is surprising, upsetting, or alarming to you, than just pick up any one of the MANY regular X-Men collections. I especially recommend the Essential X-Men series if you like the regular versions better.
#2: The art in this graphic is a little uneven. The graphic begins and ends with the art of Adam Kubert- but it's a little rough and not his best work. It's still gorgeous, just a little more stylized than normal. About 1/3 of the art is provided by Kaare Andrews and Digitally Painted by Dave McCaig. This art is reminiscent of Paul Dini and looks like panels from Ultimate X-Men the Cartoon. I can see how this style may not appeal to everyone, and it does not really fit in with the normally dark tone of the story but it is NOT terrible as others have called it.

I recommend this book to comic book fans as long as they get it with an open mind. Is this volume going to be an exact retelling of the Phoenix saga? No. For that buy the Dark Phoenix Saga by Claremont and Bryne ISBN 0785122133. This is a different imagining, a different take. Take it for what it is, and enoy the very different read Hellfire and Brimstone provides.