The first reason is that once again (I can’t recall the issue, but there was a helicopter and an explosion of rockin’ proportions) we see the Phoenix manifest itself in Jean. I enjoy the Ultimate U because the Phoenix (at least so far) only shows up in a desperate situation and is not yet vying for domination of Jean. The second is the Blob-esque producer of the demented internet-show which started this whole debacle. This is a hard-core individual who proffers up threats which are not the typical “I’m going to violate your mom” or “You wanna go?” sort, but rather more intimate, like “I’m gonna tell the world where you live, and the names of your family members” or “Angel is about to die.” He is also a great character because he is stable and firm while being completely psychotic, driven, and loyal to his word. It should also be said that as a 500 lb albino Rastafarian, he is a bit on the side of disgusting, which only adds to his evil-slantation.

There is a corn-ball fight between the Norse-Japanese goddess of steel-wielding mystery and the X-Men, and I have to say that it seems lackluster and unimportant, except that it allows another appearance of the Phoenix. There is also the kidnapping of Angel, with only one cool result: his being nailed up by the wings in a sort of dungeon by fatty-Jamaica-man, himself. As to what will happen to Angel, I can only surmise that he will either be eaten by his famished captor in a hunger attack destined to occur in his snack-machine-free prison cell, or that he will be rescued after an all-out brawl between the X-Men and the no-doubt heavily armed and arsenally-advanced troops who probably gaurd the internet broadcasting studio. Why not? I myself have a legion of guards at the ready for any possible invasion of those in the world who seek to do good or support the Boob-Teasing Artists’ Union who follow the sexually-charged dictates of certain not-particularly-praised artists.

The art in this book ( Immonen) suffers from overt modernity, and is therefore too mod for the likes and tastes of such as me. It is simple, filled with similar (if not identical) body-types with different heads and clothes on them. It is a parade of paper dolls with interchangeable suits. Only a few of the characters differ from the rest: Nightcrawler, Colossus, Fatty McGee. The rest are all hyper-similar, and this seems to take away from the idea of X-Men being compiled of varying types come together for the general good. But, I must say that it is not bad art, and here we see motion, and movement that is the product of Immonen’s expertise. Due to this, I cannot say that Immonen is lacking in ability, only that his art doesn’t appeal to me. The colors seem to me to be the most redeeming aspect of the art and are beyond superb. Justin Ponsor deserves a big hug by Immonen for filling the vast blank spaces between most of his lines with coloring that is perfect.