Customer Reviews

Ultimate X-Men Vol. 4: Hellfire & Brimstone

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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).

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.

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.

Issue 21 begins the "Hellfire and Brimstone' story and introduces Kitty Pryde to the Ultimate Universe. #22 explores the Brotherhood of Mutants before degenerating into an uncomfortable fight between Cyclops and Wolverine. The Disneyish artwork and a tired chatroom gag spoil some interesting subplots through #23-#25. Millar's versions of these characters are unlikable compared to those of other Marvel titles.

Story: I loved the story of the fourth Ultimate X-Men story arc. Although it is rushed into only five issues (with the final a double-length), it is one of the best. The novel starts innocently enough: Kitty Pryde joins the X-Men. But soon Jean begins to see terrible visions of the Phoenix. It is revealed Jean has been chosen to be the host of the Phoenix Force. Meanwhile, Cyclops and Wolverine (who earlier tried to kill each other) journey to the Savage Land to fight a computer being only to find Shadowcat is tagging along. I like the idea that the Hellfire Club funds Xavier's operation. The ending is horrible though.

Art: Ya' have to love the art style of issus 21, 22, and 25. But Kaare Andrews art in issues 23 and 24 almost made me gag. It looks like rejected material from a G-rated animated movie. This is probably the only reason this book is rated 5 stars.

Character: Like most of this book, the best of the best. The X-Men's attitudes are much better than theirs in "World Tour" where they seemed addicted to killing. Cyclops and Wolverine got more aggresive than ever when they tried to murder each other. The conflict between Beast and Storm is great, especially when Beast is responsible for Magneto's return at the end. What Iceman does when the whole world is expecting him to blame Xavier for his concusion is great. Ultimate Shadowcat's personality is the same as the old, but it's still great. The new Brotherhood is very daring and stupid, and Sabretooth, Taod, Jagguranut, and Rogue have all left. I don't really get what's with this Prosimian person though- good thing Magneto kills him off.

Although this book is not good for people that do not know mch about the Phoenix Saga, it is a good read for fanatics.

This volume captures several interesting stories of the Ultimate X-Men series, and paved the way for more anticipated action for future issues. The introduction of Shadowcat, Cyclops and Wolverine at the Savage Land, the ambush at the Hellfire Club (which was done with great tribute to the Dark Phoenix saga), the manifestation of Phoenix, the return of Magneto, etc. you get them all in this volume. Once again, excellent art work on the Ultimate X-Men series. I'd love to see a better rendition on the Phoenix manifestation part, but I'm inclined to believe there'll be more to come after the Magneto return saga. Too bad we didn't see the rest of the Hellfire Club members, and Sebastian Shaw's showtime was drasticially cut. Nevertheless, still a great read. Highly recommended.

this is a great buy. This volume shows the apperance of pheonix and shadowcat. it has the return of magneto and the lawsuit of ice-man against the school. Wolverine and cyclops go to the savage land to defeat a killer batch of cyborgs. read this book.

The Hellfire club is in my opinion, very well done
the Phoenix ritual was beautiful
liked it a lot

I'm a old shcool X-men fan , the ultimate X-men Comics are cool . don't get me wrong , but I grew up watching the Fox Kids cartoons and reading the Comics in witch Wolverine , Cyclops , Jean Gray , Storm and Beast were cool , These new comics kinda tone down the characters and give them more of a helpless high school kids theme . I still enjoy reading this collection of books , but not as much as the original , Overall , I say buy it .

This is a really good continuation of the series and has a lot of foreshadowing into later X-Men events. Definitely worth a read. Beautiful artwork as well.