Comics The Ultimate X-MEN Thread

[PWN3R]

Yeah I really REALLY enjoyed Vaughan's run. I still haven't given up on Kirkman yet...I'll see how this arc ends. C'mon, Zombies was fun....

The art was such a turn off though.

 

[Sun_Down]

Switch up Millar and BKV then I agree.BKV made things very fresh and exciting with the characters instead of throwing in action scenes every issue like Millar did.I'm a bigtime Millar fan so that's saying something.

BKV was fun, but you can't seriously be comparing him to Millar. Under Millar, things happened on a much bigger and more exciting scale, and since his absence, it's felt like this book has been playing "smallball".

 

[Colossal Spoons]

^That's why he's at the top of my list.

 

[GNR]

BKV was fun, but you can't seriously be comparing him to Millar. Under Millar, things happened on a much bigger and more exciting scale, and since his absence, it's felt like this book has been playing "smallball".

Problem:Mark's characterizations were so off,everyone was acting badass.Action scenes were inserted into every single issue that the stories got lame after a while.RTWX lost me halfway because it was the same old thing over and over again and became predictable.

BKV kept things new and exciting by throwing curveballs galore.Under BKV's run it turns out Longshot was an actual murderer.Rogue leaves her own teammates for Gambit.The team could barely get a victory.Deathstrike ends up being linked to Storm,not Wolverine.Sinister is a nutjob.Etc,etc.

I could go on about how BKV made this title great for hours.Mark himself has noted that UXM wasn't everything he wanted it to be,plus the man was sick in a bed when he wrote it.Millar is still my favorite writer,but I feel that the majority of his best work came later on and IS still to come.

A bigger and exciting scale?Read Ultimates,that's bigger and better done right.

 

[AndThePickles]

BKV was fun, but you can't seriously be comparing him to Millar. Under Millar, things happened on a much bigger and more exciting scale, and since his absence, it's felt like this book has been playing "smallball".

I agree. The only thing I enjoyed somewhat recently was the Annual. I'm really hoping the series starts to pick up again.


Vaughn is a great writer, but I think I prefer him in Runaways.

 

[FieryBalrog]

BKV was fun, but you can't seriously be comparing him to Millar. Under Millar, things happened on a much bigger and more exciting scale, and since his absence, it's felt like this book has been playing "smallball".

Under Millar all the characters came across as sort of semi-identical snarky badasses. Everyone used the words "dogbreath" and "meatball". The action was too over-the-top just for its own sake. And in the first 2 arcs Millar managed to exhaust just about all the X-men's greatest villains, some in throwaway roles, from Sentinels (throwaway) to Juggernaut (same). Magneto was a ranting lunatic. The one Sentinel that shows up in Bendis's "New Mutants" is more threatening than the several hundred Sentinels shown in Tomorrow People, because they haven't been built up as a threat, its just too much, too soon, and how Magneto basically laughs them off.

All the other Ultimate titles started a little lower-key, went through some origins and built up to a climax. Tomorrow People hit the ground running at 60 mph and never let up, which was a problem for the pacing. I like the UFF and The Ultimates intros more for example.

I loved BKV's run on the other hand, it was so consistent. And the characters were given room to breathe and develop. Even Bendis hit his stride about 2/3 of the way through his run when it stopped being Wolverine and Spiderman Adventures.

Also, I think the art has kept improving. Bachalo just did not work on the title and the early Kubert stuff was alright. But the Finch-Peterson-Kubert-Immonen run was the best.

 

[El Bastardo]

BKV was fun, but you can't seriously be comparing him to Millar. Under Millar, things happened on a much bigger and more exciting scale, and since his absence, it's felt like this book has been playing "smallball".

Well, he -can-. He can make the comparison because it's his opinion. He liked Vaughan more than Millar. So?

As for the other responses... I don't have my Ultimate X-Men trades right now, and I haven't read through them in quite some time, but I don't think I ever noticed Millar characterizing all characters in the same way. I think I shall have to look for that when I get them back. But I will admit that I absolutely loved Millar's run. Then again, Millar and Vaughan are two different things - like we've all said, Millar was large-scale for the most part, and BKV was, for the most part, small-scale. Both have their merits, and both were damn good.

 

[GNR]

Under Millar all the characters came across as sort of semi-identical snarky badasses. Everyone used the words "dogbreath" and "meatball". The action was too over-the-top just for its own sake. And in the first 2 arcs Millar managed to exhaust just about all the X-men's greatest villains, some in throwaway roles, from Sentinels (throwaway) to Juggernaut (same). Magneto was a ranting lunatic. The one Sentinel that shows up in Bendis's "New Mutants" is more threatening than the several hundred Sentinels shown in Tomorrow People, because they haven't been built up as a threat, its just too much, too soon, and how Magneto basically laughs them off.

All the other Ultimate titles started a little lower-key, went through some origins and built up to a climax. Tomorrow People hit the ground running at 60 mph and never let up, which was a problem for the pacing. I like the UFF and The Ultimates intros more for example.

I loved BKV's run on the other hand, it was so consistent. And the characters were given room to breathe and develop. Even Bendis hit his stride about 2/3 of the way through his run when it stopped being Wolverine and Spiderman Adventures.

Also, I think the art has kept improving. Bachalo just did not work on the title and the early Kubert stuff was alright. But the Finch-Peterson-Kubert-Immonen run was the best.

Exactly bud.

 

[GNR]

The rest of the arcs after Tommorrow People weren't as good under Millar.I agree with what FB said about the intro arcs for F4 and Ultimates.That's the way to do it.Kind of hard to believe Mark wrote those as well.

 

[El Bastardo]

I'm pretty sure Millar only plotted the first issues of UFF. At least... I hope so.

Because the dialogue is god-awful. I attribute that to Bendis's name. If Millar wrote that, then... ye gods.

 

[Sun_Down]

Under Millar all the characters came across as sort of semi-identical snarky badasses. Everyone used the words "dogbreath" and "meatball". The action was too over-the-top just for its own sake. And in the first 2 arcs Millar managed to exhaust just about all the X-men's greatest villains, some in throwaway roles, from Sentinels (throwaway) to Juggernaut (same). Magneto was a ranting lunatic. The one Sentinel that shows up in Bendis's "New Mutants" is more threatening than the several hundred Sentinels shown in Tomorrow People, because they haven't been built up as a threat, its just too much, too soon, and how Magneto basically laughs them off.

I wouldn't say that Beast's crippling insecurity was "badass". I wouldn't say that Colossus' inability to come out to his teammates or Jean's repression of the Phoenix were "badass". I think he made these characters very vulnerable. But whatever, no need for an argument here.

 

[GNR]

I wouldn't say that Beast's crippling insecurity was "badass". I wouldn't say that Colossus' inability to come out to his teammates or Jean's repression of the Phoenix were "badass". I think he made these characters very vulnerable. But whatever, no need for an argument here.

Exactly,there's no point in making everyone badass,things get boring fast.BKV got all the characters right.

 

[El Bastardo]

Exactly,there's no point in making everyone badass,things get boring fast.BKV got all the characters right.

I'm pretty sure that Sun_Down was saying that Millar didn't make everyone badass, and cited examples to defend his point of view. ... At least, that's what I got.

 

[FieryBalrog]

Still, Millar barely gave his characters any room to really become their own thing, especially the female characters, for the first 20 or 30 issues Jean Storm and Kitty are basically interchangeable.

And even Cyclops had a sarcastic/ironic attitude.

 

[GNR]

I'm pretty sure that Sun_Down was saying that Millar didn't make everyone badass, and cited examples to defend his point of view. ... At least, that's what I got.

I was agreeing with Balrog.

 

[El Bastardo]

I was agreeing with Balrog.

Oh. Your quoting of Sun_Down is what got me confused.

And I don't remember having that feeling, Balrog. Although, yeah, Cyke was sarcastic/ironic. So? Is there some unsaid rule for the Ultimate universe that says Cyke can't be sarcastic or have an actual attitude, rather than the statue we have in 616? Please.

But, like I said, I'll dig through my trades when I see them again (possibly) on Saturday, or on Thursday when I go to pick up my comics.

 

[El Bastardo]

ULTIMATE X-MEN #72
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Pencils & Cover by TOM RANEY
“MAGICAL” PART 1(OF 3)
He’s a media darling, a vital part of the X-Men dynamic and the newest member of the team. His name—The Magician! Watch him live up to his name in ways you could never conceive. There is more—much, much more about this new mutant than any suspect. Plus—the fallout from the Shi’ar’s test on Jean Grey has drastically unanticipated consequences.

Well, it looks like Oliver isn't staying on as Pencilman. The cover of it looks neat, and maybe it's just the coloring, but Colossus's hair still looks steel-colored. -_- It looks a little bit darker, but not black. Jean has fire streaking from her. Oh, hello, Phoenix. And yeah... look! The Magician! He's so AWESOME. Gag. Unless this has some breathtaking and spectacular conclusion, it doesn't look like it's going anywhere too great. Did the title really need a character and arc like this? It was so well-grounded in a reinvented X-Men mythology up until Kirkman.

 

[FieryBalrog]

Oh. Your quoting of Sun_Down is what got me confused.

And I don't remember having that feeling, Balrog. Although, yeah, Cyke was sarcastic/ironic. So? Is there some unsaid rule for the Ultimate universe that says Cyke can't be sarcastic or have an actual attitude, rather than the statue we have in 616? Please.

No, theres no rule. EVERYONE was sarcastic/ironic and quip-ready. Even Cyke. That was my point.

 

[FieryBalrog]

Well, it looks like Oliver isn't staying on as Pencilman. The cover of it looks neat, and maybe it's just the coloring, but Colossus's hair still looks steel-colored. -_- It looks a little bit darker, but not black. Jean has fire streaking from her. Oh, hello, Phoenix. And yeah... look! The Magician! He's so AWESOME. Gag. Unless this has some breathtaking and spectacular conclusion, it doesn't look like it's going anywhere too great. Did the title really need a character and arc like this? It was so well-grounded in a reinvented X-Men mythology up until Kirkman.

oy! do you notice Iceman and Kitty are holding hands and sliding? Is this the end of Spidercat?

And yea not liking Eliot Boggs splashed all over the cover smirking.

Nice cover though, the inking is MUCH better.

 

[PWN3R]

Well, it looks like Oliver isn't staying on as Pencilman. The cover of it looks neat, and maybe it's just the coloring, but Colossus's hair still looks steel-colored. -_- It looks a little bit darker, but not black. Jean has fire streaking from her. Oh, hello, Phoenix. And yeah... look! The Magician! He's so AWESOME. Gag. Unless this has some breathtaking and spectacular conclusion, it doesn't look like it's going anywhere too great. Did the title really need a character and arc like this? It was so well-grounded in a reinvented X-Men mythology up until Kirkman.

Kirkman is capable of writing a good comic. But his Ultimate X-men hasn't been amazing. Date Night, IMO, started out strong, but it wasn't that great.

I am hoping he finds his groove with this book....

Zombies was run...

Here is the cover...

 

[El Bastardo]

I'm not saying he's not a good writer. That's a pretty ignorant and stupid statement. I'm saying that, at least thus far, he's not a good X-Men writer, and after having the disappointment of Milligan, I'm not willing to give this guy a second or third chance.

I wonder if actually reading and understanding previous issues of the X-Men title you'll be writing, in addition to having knowledge of the characters you'll be writing, is a Marvel prereq. I'm guessing no.

 

[FieryBalrog]

I'm not saying he's not a good writer. That's a pretty ignorant and stupid statement. I'm saying that, at least thus far, he's not a good X-Men writer, and after having the disappointment of Milligan, I'm not willing to give this guy a second or third chance.

I wonder if actually reading and understanding previous issues of the X-Men title you'll be writing, in addition to having knowledge of the characters you'll be writing, is a Marvel prereq. I'm guessing no.

Well to be fair he must've read many of the previous titles because Date Night and Phoenix? tie into that a lot (references to HFC, Sabretooth's death, Rogue/Gambit, etc.) He hasn't really disrespected any past ideas.

In fact I think he's doing decent so far. It could definitely use a little kick in the pants though and I hope something interesting happens with the Magician.

 

[PWN3R]

I'm not saying he's not a good writer. That's a pretty ignorant and stupid statement.

I never meant you said that. Sorry if you took it the wrong way...

I wonder if actually reading and understanding previous issues of the X-Men title you'll be writing, in addition to having knowledge of the characters you'll be writing, is a Marvel prereq. I'm guessing no.

Sadly, you may be right....

Not Kirkman, but some other guys at Marvel make me wonder...

 

[Neptune]

Yeah i think Kirkman is doing a good job. He's no Vaughan or anything (at least not yet) but i'm enjoying date night. I'm not too crazy about the penciller though. They should have Joe Mad draw ultimate.

 

[El Bastardo]

Well to be fair he must've read many of the previous titles because Date Night and Phoenix? tie into that a lot (references to HFC, Sabretooth's death, Rogue/Gambit, etc.) He hasn't really disrespected any past ideas.

Or he was given a sheet telling him what he needs to know.

"Established ideas from past writers:

Jean Grey has been possibly instilled by the Phoenix entity, courtesy of the Hellfire Club.
Gambit is dead. Rogue absorbed him and was last seen with similar red eyes.
Wolverine and Sabretooth fought. Sabretooth seemed to have his head cut off.
Colossus is gay and talks like a drunk Russian.
Nightcrawler is homophobic."

Oh, I'm sorry. Pardon the last one and a half.
It doesn't necessarily mean he's read the stuff, though. And considering how he's written, at least, Colossus's dialogue... well. Tell me it fits the same character we've read over the past 60 issues. I'm just a cynic.