Ultimate X-Men #44 SPOILERS!!

[melperfect]

Writer: Brian Bendis

Penciler: David Finch

Good solid issue. Emma Frost has introduced her New Mutants (including one X defector) on the steps of the Capitol building , and the X-Men have come to see for themselves thanks to a heads up from Nick Fury.

But the introduction is interupted by............wait for it....................Sentinels! In what is a very intimidating (almost) double page spread. The X-Men of course react.

Bendis and Rucka IMO, have nailed the characterization of Wolverine better than almost anyone, and the Bendis version shines in this issue. Logan tries to train Angel with dubious results, he is the first to throw himself at the Sentinels and gets seriously wounded, for most people it would be serious anyway. There are a lot of complaints out there that Wolverine is too often the focus of this title, Bendis writes him so that he deserves to be.

I'm a little upset that Brian's run is coming to an end with next issue now that he's really starting to hit his stride, but oh well, Brian K. Vaughn will be up next for 4 issues.

Anyway, good issue, best one since Angel's debut. A

[YDLM]

This issue just made me want to see Finch version of IRON MAN.The Avengers are going to rock. Was it me or did Alex look a lot like Gambit? Why would Emma wear that outfit and expect to be taking seriously?I dont honestly believe that the President during a press conference would stand by a woman who basically wearing Victoria Secret Identity line.

[Randy A]

When i went into my comic shop today I dropped this title as a way of saving a little bit of cash. After reading the way this one ended, I will for sure be picking up the next one.

[cyclopsfan]

Yeah, especially since they killed off.....

Just out of curiosity... i know they said alex was joining emma's crew, but he sure looked alot more like gambit... is gambit on their team, or just the way alex was drawn?

[CountD]

Finch's cover and inside pencils were once again amazing.

I expect this not to lose any momentum with the next Brian up.

(and yes, the sentinel splash was breathtaking) Exceptional.

[gOgIver]

I want to give this issue an "F: Oh God, why did I buy this?" but that would not really be fair. It's just to me Millar's UXM was elegant and grand and I find this stuff to be common and jumbled compared with it.
:(

[YDLM]

Goglver, it just you:D

[gOgIver]

Originally posted by YDLM
Goglver, it just you:D

Thank God for that!:)

If people stopped buying it, it would get canceled and UXM is one of my favorite titles. There were a couple of bright spots in the Bendis run but I guess those were writen by Rucka;) inside joke I really liked #34 and the issue with Wolverine and the kid in the cave.

BTW James Asia agrees with me. Ultimate X-Men Discussion (http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11603&highlight=ultimate+x) maybe he'll chime in :)

And maybe bigmentalross & Split Persona will have something to say as well :D:cool:

[YDLM]

Having James Asia agree with you isnt exactly a good thing. The guy doesnt like Bendis at all.:rolleyes: I didnt like Blockbuster but the rest of the Bendis/Finch run I have enjoyed a lot.Return of the King was very disjointed to me, and Kubert putting in subpar work instead of his usually spectacular work didnt do Millar any favors.

[KSChris]

Oddly enough, Return of the King has been my favorite arc of the entire series.

[The 'Nam]

Originally posted by YDLM
Goglver, it just you:D

no its not!!!!!:)

i enjoyed Millars take much much better. Bendis focuses on too much of one character to be on a team book, especially with a team this size. Im sure Avengers will be good, because he will get more than 12 issues, but still....

im dropping this book anyway after Bendis finishes his arc. Brian Vaughan just does not appeal to me. The Hood was good, but everything else......eh.

[gOgIver]

I've got DaReekstah & The 'Nam backing me up!
:D:p:cool:

I like Bendis on Daredevil & USM though so maybe it's just team books... Bring me a copy of Avengers #500 please :)

[YDLM]

Originally posted by The 'Nam
no its not!!!!!:)

i enjoyed Millars take much much better. Bendis focuses on too much of one character to be on a team book, especially with a team this size. \.

That not true of the "New Mutants" story arc, only one issue focused on Logan and wasnt really Logan that they focused on.IMHO,Millar focused just as much on Logan as Bendis has.

DRS just agreed that he liked Return of The King, and not that he didnt like Bendis's run.So Goglver, you just got one backup;)

[The 'Nam]

Originally posted by YDLM
That not true of the "New Mutants" story arc, only one issue focused on Logan and wasnt really Logan that they focused on.IMHO,Millar focused just as much on Logan as Bendis has.

DRS just agreed that he liked Return of The King, and not that he didnt like Bendis's run.So Goglver, you just got one backup;)

what i meant was that Bendis works better with one character than with a whole team. sorry, bad wording on my part.

[tippy]

the entire series has been class but it did get a little disjointed around the return of the king part. i was a little confused around then (i think due to the ultimate war storyline) i recently reread uxm #41 and it was prolly the best of the lot.

[Godfather]

I'm going to have to agree with a lot of people. This Bendis arc is just not happening. I mean I'm not feeling this story. Nothing is grabbing me. And honestly, are the "New Mutants" supposed to be like X-Factor? Got most of the team for it...

If it wasn't for the Sentinels, I wouldn't have gotten excited in the least about this whole arc. I'm not all giddy over the new characters introduced either.

Overall I'd give this issue a C, just not Bendis' best work.

[Xaraan]

Bendis does a better job of characterization that Millar, but can seem to only focus on some (or even fewer than some) of the characters when he writes. Millar does really well with the team books, touching on each character a little bit and writing these big movielike plots. I have liked both of their runs for their own strengths, but I did enjoy Millar's run a little more.

That being said I have enjoyed this recent arc of Bendis' because it does deal a little more with the whole team and I wish he was staying on a bit longer. Brian Vaughan will probably rock though, so I'm not too concerned.

The whole issue felt a bit like build up to me without enough action, but I guess that is how they meant it. They did an excellent job with the confusion aspect of the attack and the way they showed the sentinels from below, looking up at them was very intimidating. Too sweet.

[Skyldt]

Originally posted by YDLM
Was it me or did Alex look a lot like Gambit?
no, for a minute i thought he was gambit. confused me there...

[The Creeper]

Originally posted by Skyldt
no, for a minute i thought he was gambit. confused me there... I thought the same.


Okay issue. Looking forward to the sentinels!

[Auron]

ULTIMATE X-MEN #44
Well, Nick Fury has a conversation with Xavier and reveals the recent stirrings at the White House. Xavier learns of Emma’s involvement. Scott learns of his brother’s involvement. The New Mutants are formed and Beast is one of them. And the Sentinels attack during the announcement of the new team, who prove to be very easily frightened. So, not much happens we weren’t expecting. I have to be honest, I haven’t been wild about Bendis’s run on UXM. It’s good, but somehow fails to be as instant masterpiece as most of his superhero work. This issue probably bothered me the most in his run thus far. For one thing, not a lot of surprises. Maybe I’m spoiled, but I’m accustomed to Brian shocking me with wild revelations. He doesn’t do that here. The only surprise is Beast’s choice. I thought Beast wanted nothing to do with Xavier’s agenda. Under all the Glitz, the new mutant agenda is no different. Also, I just like to think he’s too intelligent to go for such a blatant public relations coup. A lot of people seem to think that Bendis is the best thing to happen to the X-Men since Claremont’s original offerings. I’m not sold. Also, didn’t Millar do that ending already? EDIT: One thing I was reminded of: The opening with Logan and Angel was excellent. That brings the rating up to
7.5 out of 10