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Ultimate Comics: X-Men (Collected Editions)
Ultimate Comics: X-Men, Vol. 1
Brian Wood (DMZ, Star Wars) takes the helm as "Reservation X" begins, and a brave new world for the nation's surviving mutants starts here! Kitty Pryde tries to lead a nation of mutants, but someone close to her has different plans! Meet Mach Two, former Morlock tunnel refugee turned mutant resistance fighter! Will she side with Kitty, or become a dangerous new enemy? Plus: Rogue gets an unexpected visitor as Storm helps terraform the reservation. The mutants might hold the key to solving world hunger, but what is the deadly cost? What is the Sentient Seed and why does everyone want it? And as the Iron Patriot guest-stars, Mach Two's play for power takes a new turn - and leads to a fatal showdown!
Collecting: Ultimate Comics: X-Men 18.1, 19-23
Collecting: Ultimate Comics: X-Men 18.1, 19-23
136 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2013
124 people want to read
About the author
Brian Wood
1,173 books962 followersBrian Wood's history of published work includes over fifty volumes of genre-spanning original material.
From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.
His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.
He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.
From the 1500-page future war epic DMZ, the ecological disaster series The Massive, the American crime drama Briggs Land, and the groundbreaking lo-fi dystopia Channel Zero he has a 20-year track record of marrying thoughtful world-building and political commentary with compelling and diverse characters.
His YA novels - Demo, Local, The New York Four, and Mara - have made YALSA and New York Public Library best-of lists. His historical fiction - the viking series Northlanders, the American Revolution-centered Rebels, and the norse-samurai mashup Sword Daughter - are benchmarks in the comic book industry.
He's written some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop, Conan The Barbarian, Robotech, and Planet Of The Apes. He’s written number-one-selling series for Marvel Comics. And he’s created and written multiple canonical stories for the Aliens universe, including the Zula Hendricks character.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 7, 2022
Mutants can get a 'cured'!!! There are only around 20 mutants left, and they live on Reservation X. Kitty has to contend with Mach Two, and the remaining mutants, find themselves in a position to solve world hunger, will they? And what happens if they don't? Some really good ideas, just OK execution. A Three Star, 7 out of 12.
2022 read; 2017 read; 2013 read
2022 read; 2017 read; 2013 read
March 12, 2014
The only reason I keep reading these collections is the easy access the Marvel Unlimited app provides. They're actually kind of annoying because there will be whole pages where characters sit down and talk about the interesting things they've done while they were away from each other, which is unforgivable in an artistic medium like comics. After reading Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, Sean Howe describes a disagreement that Chris Claremont and John Byrne kept having during the height of their X-Men run: Claremont was content to have the characters sit around and talk whereas Byrne wanted to draw them doing things. Parts of this collection felt like the Claremont Utopia realized because there's a scene where the Wolverine Wannabe tells Kitty Pryde about the interesting things he did out on a survey mission while sitting at a table drinking coffee. Wouldn't it have made more sense to draw the character out doing that thing instead? "Show not tell" is not a difficult concept sometimes.
August 2, 2017
I was trying to figure out if it's a 3 or 4. It's more like a 3.5. It's by far the best volume of the Ultimate Comics run after Ultimatum for X-Men. After the mutants still here create a area for themselves called Utopia it's time to fix up their community. There's only around 20 left and most follow Kitty's ideas and rules. She is the one who liberated them so why not follow her?
When Kitty and crew create a magic seed that can cure world hunger Tony Stark comes over to help them promote it but also protect them. This volume is heavily focused on the political side of it all. There's very little fighting and mostly people trying to figure out what they want. With Naomi back and going against everything Kitty has going for it, and similar powers to Magneto, we can see them drifting apart. On top of that the remaining mutants are taking sides.
What I liked: Loved most of the dialog in this. Most characters are teenagers or young adults. They have no clue what to do and watching Kitty begin to break down is both scary and sad. We also see other characters battle their internal demons and try to find who they are. The idea of the seed was great and having support cast of Tony show up was great because brought new layers to the story that could have fell apart.
What I didn't like: Some characters switch their alliance way to quick. Some felt wrong or not earned. Also stormfront, the prequel story at the end for Storm was just okay.
I really dug this volume. I bumped it to a 4 because I was really invested into the characters this volume. I'm hoping it continues and finishing up strong. Wood gets what the X-Men are about. Wished he wrote the main series now.
When Kitty and crew create a magic seed that can cure world hunger Tony Stark comes over to help them promote it but also protect them. This volume is heavily focused on the political side of it all. There's very little fighting and mostly people trying to figure out what they want. With Naomi back and going against everything Kitty has going for it, and similar powers to Magneto, we can see them drifting apart. On top of that the remaining mutants are taking sides.
What I liked: Loved most of the dialog in this. Most characters are teenagers or young adults. They have no clue what to do and watching Kitty begin to break down is both scary and sad. We also see other characters battle their internal demons and try to find who they are. The idea of the seed was great and having support cast of Tony show up was great because brought new layers to the story that could have fell apart.
What I didn't like: Some characters switch their alliance way to quick. Some felt wrong or not earned. Also stormfront, the prequel story at the end for Storm was just okay.
I really dug this volume. I bumped it to a 4 because I was really invested into the characters this volume. I'm hoping it continues and finishing up strong. Wood gets what the X-Men are about. Wished he wrote the main series now.
June 26, 2013
Reservation X. Brian Wood starts to push the story in a pretty amazing direction here. The idea of the mutants *truly* creating their own country amidst the ashen plains of Utah, interacting with the world in a way that the Utopia of 616 never did, is breathtaking. It's absolutely the sort of thing that the Ultimate universe *should* be doing. [8/10]
One-Offs. The short stories that surround the Reservation X arc are both good: nice bits of continuity tying everything together [7/10].
One-Offs. The short stories that surround the Reservation X arc are both good: nice bits of continuity tying everything together [7/10].
September 16, 2016
I can see a good storyline, very thoughtful, developing here, but this volume has long stretches without a lot of action. Thus highlighting my main critique of modern comics in general and Marvel Ultimate line in particular -- it can take for-f-n-ever to tell a story. And for the purists who read monthly issues, it can be longer and costly.
June 4, 2019
I love Brian Woods work and i love the Xmen, but this was not good at all.
October 30, 2017
I was poised and ready to hate this, I mean - characters outside of their canonical chronological ages, Avengers bullying their US asses into the story, a slew of new mutants (lower case) with strangely familiar powers: what's to like?
Well, quite a lot appears to be the answer. Built around a pair of matriarchs battling for dominance over a dwindling mutant population, the choice of my fave Kitty Pryde and a decent new character Mach Two builds drama into the story. The concept of an authoritarian, anti-permissive US government makes the tale play like a very real one, and the challenge they are given - to start from scratch in an arid, toxic plain - is quite different to the standard baddy terrorises downtown fare of superhero books.
The newer characters fit in quite well and the key driver to the story, what would happen if we could eradicate hunger, will surely open eyes up to geopolitics in a very clear way. Parts of the book were chilling in their authenticity. Great to see a comic taking on the big issues of the day.
Well, quite a lot appears to be the answer. Built around a pair of matriarchs battling for dominance over a dwindling mutant population, the choice of my fave Kitty Pryde and a decent new character Mach Two builds drama into the story. The concept of an authoritarian, anti-permissive US government makes the tale play like a very real one, and the challenge they are given - to start from scratch in an arid, toxic plain - is quite different to the standard baddy terrorises downtown fare of superhero books.
The newer characters fit in quite well and the key driver to the story, what would happen if we could eradicate hunger, will surely open eyes up to geopolitics in a very clear way. Parts of the book were chilling in their authenticity. Great to see a comic taking on the big issues of the day.
July 11, 2013
I think it was Brian who recommended this to me, b/c Kitty Pryde is one of the major characters and he knows she's my #2 all time favorite comic book character! I don't really keep up with the Marvel universe aside from the occasional X-book, and this one did a better job than most of catching me up on the many many comics I didn't read (is Captain America seriously the president???). Other good things: Kitty Pryde character development/trying to be a leader; Tony Stark hangin' out. Not-so-good things: ridiculous art (the dudes all have weirdly bulky necks, the ladies are just boob holders); an annoying power struggle led by a moody teenage girl; Storm and Kitty's longtime friendship is not really acknowledged here.
I like Brian Wood, though, and will definitely keep up on this to see what else he does with Kitty!
I like Brian Wood, though, and will definitely keep up on this to see what else he does with Kitty!
August 17, 2023
The mutants supported Captain America, believing he would end the concentration camps and summary executions of mutants. He did and introduced a more politically acceptable genocide. The mutants can choose between "mutant reversion therapy" or a reservation built on a former nuclear testing ground with dead top soil. Our heroes choose the later, and they optimistically, or sarcastically, call it UTOPIA.
The basic idea here is a good one, and this is a good setup for a story. Although we could question the obvious references made to both LGBTQ oppression and Indigenous genocide while not including Indigenous or queer characters. I've heard dystopias referred to as stories where white people are treated as minorities and this is one where that definitely applies. But the premise is still solid. The execution is less so. The story itself is fine, perfectly functional, but I really feel like it could have been a classic.
The basic idea here is a good one, and this is a good setup for a story. Although we could question the obvious references made to both LGBTQ oppression and Indigenous genocide while not including Indigenous or queer characters. I've heard dystopias referred to as stories where white people are treated as minorities and this is one where that definitely applies. But the premise is still solid. The execution is less so. The story itself is fine, perfectly functional, but I really feel like it could have been a classic.
May 10, 2024
3.5. This is just the current Krakoa era of X-Men, but better. I feel it handles starting a country better and more realistically, plus it also has the element of creating a valuable resource to give to the rest of the world. The political dissension and strategy added some tension to the plot. The random couple pairings strike again with Bobby and Paige, which came out of nowhere. The characters are pretty cool, there are about 20 mutants left, and even though we don't get to know all of them, I feel it handles the main characters well. I especially liked Kitty & Nomi, and Kitty & Jimmy's dynamic. Also Tony Stark & Jimmy's interactions reminded of the MCU RDJ Tony Stark and a more murderous Tom Holland Spider-Man :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2019
Brian Wood has written some very good books but I'm not a fan of his X-Men work, whether in the 616 or not. Here, the plot makes sense but it moves so fast that it makes characters seem completely irrational. The addition of of an Ultimate seems to take away from the X-Men side of the book. Sadly, so much damage has been done to the actual X-Men, this title probably can't recover. The art was okay but never stood out. Overall, a title that doesn't have a voice in a world that's passed it by.
June 6, 2022
Just OK. Some interesting plot but motivations seem shallow and the writing is pretty trite. It feels like they backed themselves into a corner and aren’t sure where to do with the mutants in the Ultimate Universe…
October 9, 2017
Just kinda dumb?
May 13, 2019
The remaining X-Men that didn't take the cure gets their own country Utopia and tries to survive led by Kitty
October 24, 2014
I would like to think that I haven't rotted my brain out by reading comic book after comic book (hey, I still read novels, too!) but this book that focused on building a society versus Super powered people fighting bored the hell out of me.
That might not be the most accurate statement. What I would say is this- when the Ultimate Universe began, around 14 years ago, Mark Millar made the young X-men characters compelling, each with their own unique personalities. It was some of Millar's best work. Then, as different writers attempted to fill his shoes, each of the X-men characters lost their distinction, and they became interchangeable.
The point was always to make the Ultimate Comics X-men different from their 616 counterparts, but in doing so, they created a bunch of characters with familiar names and powers, but without consistant personalities.
In the past five or six years, the editors of the Ultimate Universe have done the absolute worst things they could possibly do to each of the Ultimate characters. Really, once they reached Ultimatum there was no redemption.
That long explanation brings us to this book- a team of characters, with interchangeable personalities who have each gone through the most miserable of existences. Does that sound like a book you would enjoy reading?
That might not be the most accurate statement. What I would say is this- when the Ultimate Universe began, around 14 years ago, Mark Millar made the young X-men characters compelling, each with their own unique personalities. It was some of Millar's best work. Then, as different writers attempted to fill his shoes, each of the X-men characters lost their distinction, and they became interchangeable.
The point was always to make the Ultimate Comics X-men different from their 616 counterparts, but in doing so, they created a bunch of characters with familiar names and powers, but without consistant personalities.
In the past five or six years, the editors of the Ultimate Universe have done the absolute worst things they could possibly do to each of the Ultimate characters. Really, once they reached Ultimatum there was no redemption.
That long explanation brings us to this book- a team of characters, with interchangeable personalities who have each gone through the most miserable of existences. Does that sound like a book you would enjoy reading?
September 30, 2025
Read this review or all of my reviews on my site!
So here we go again again (again?). Another Volume 1.
It could have been an interesting story. The Mutant Cure. The last 20 or so mutants (in the US/public). Divisions even among them. A Mutant Seed that can cure world hunger.
But it’s all moving so fast I barely even have a chance to get to know anyone we didn’t already know. And those left feel different.
If this has been the start of Ultimate X-Men, opening with Ultimatum? That would have been cool. As it is? Meh.
Almost to the end. Onward!
Notes. Minor spoilers.
Where do you even go from a story like that?
Handy. Mildly terrifying.
And so very temporary.
March 6, 2016
Brian Wood continues a solid run on the reign of Kitty Pryde. The last twenty (?) mutants in the USA have been granted an arid, toxic piece of Utah land to claim sovereignty over. The kids call it "Utopia" and begin life anew. Xavi-Kitty finds her Magneto in Nomi Blume aka Mach 2, and a whole new reason for humans to hate them when they develop a "mutant seed" that can grow anywhere and adapt to anything, possibly ending world hunger.
STOCKHOLDERS don't sound like the most exciting villains on paper, but Wood manages to wring some good action out of the dozen X-teens being besieged in their desert fortress by private security firms, and it's exactly the kind of stuff a minority oppression parable like the X-Men should be handling.
Kudos for not having the Kitty/Nomi binary as clear-cut as you initially think it's going to be, with Kitty expertly making backroom deals with the likes of Tony Stark and Nick Fury to ensure Utopia's survival. Kitty means well, but Nomi's got some points!
STOCKHOLDERS don't sound like the most exciting villains on paper, but Wood manages to wring some good action out of the dozen X-teens being besieged in their desert fortress by private security firms, and it's exactly the kind of stuff a minority oppression parable like the X-Men should be handling.
Kudos for not having the Kitty/Nomi binary as clear-cut as you initially think it's going to be, with Kitty expertly making backroom deals with the likes of Tony Stark and Nick Fury to ensure Utopia's survival. Kitty means well, but Nomi's got some points!
January 26, 2015
I actually really loved this one; good storyline, awesome mix of characters in a new setting, my favourite Southern Belle... And oh man, some really gorgeous art in this collection. Rogue is great. I'd have liked to see a bit more reasoning behind the Mach Two group; why would you follow a 14 y/o girl, especially when you're Psylocke and omega level, but altogether, really awesome. I'm not the biggest fan of Kitty Pryde, but she was pretty cool in this one.
The plot was very easy to follow in this one, especially nice as I've not really been keeping up with X-men recently. I'd peg this as a nice one to start with if you're getting into X-Men, as there's a limited amount of characters, and the ones that are included are very cool.
The plot was very easy to follow in this one, especially nice as I've not really been keeping up with X-men recently. I'd peg this as a nice one to start with if you're getting into X-Men, as there's a limited amount of characters, and the ones that are included are very cool.
May 25, 2015
This has real potential to be a great series. I'm not the biggest fan of the art. It's a little too sexy and cartoony. It just never felt like it was the right art for the story.
Kitty Pryde is awesome. I love where she is. I don't however think that only twenty mutants would opt to not take the cure. I mean out of thousands only twenty considered their powers essential to who they were? Not buying it.
Also I feel likeWood has too many balls in the air. Where is Piotor? What is Mach Two's deal?what is Karen Grant's agenda? Hopefully he actually answers most of these but I'm not holding my breath.
Kitty Pryde is awesome. I love where she is. I don't however think that only twenty mutants would opt to not take the cure. I mean out of thousands only twenty considered their powers essential to who they were? Not buying it.
Also I feel likeWood has too many balls in the air. Where is Piotor? What is Mach Two's deal?what is Karen Grant's agenda? Hopefully he actually answers most of these but I'm not holding my breath.
July 4, 2013
It feels like the X title is finally back at a place that feels fully fitting for the ultimate universe.
Everything here is a pretty great read, although I don't feel I understand why Storm has so easily stepped into the background of leadership after leading an uprising not long ago. I also am a little miffed that they numbered this Trade "Volume 1" instead of continuing the numbering from previous trades.
Everything here is a pretty great read, although I don't feel I understand why Storm has so easily stepped into the background of leadership after leading an uprising not long ago. I also am a little miffed that they numbered this Trade "Volume 1" instead of continuing the numbering from previous trades.
July 22, 2013
I have hated the wasted opportunity of Ultimate Xmen so long it is intoxicating to actually enjoy a trade paperback of it. This start-over volume is smart and complicated, balancing a relatively large cast while going to great pains to emphasize the smallness of it (the opposite strategy of, say, Fraction's equally smart run on the regular title). The art is a little annoying, especially where women are concerned, but that fainting from damnable praise I suppose.
June 7, 2016
meh. ok concept but definitely not stand-alone and didn't really get anywhere with it by end of volume. but then, I rarely love superhero graphic novels especially the ones that reference every other character in the universe (Captain America, Nick Fury, Iron Man e.g.) I much prefer the X-Men movies that keep the X-men universe discrete from Marvel universe.
points for good art, minus points for kids acting like brats but then somehow made the leaders of adults
points for good art, minus points for kids acting like brats but then somehow made the leaders of adults
December 18, 2013
What. I understand the Ultimate universe wants to be different but this is kind of a whole lot at the same time. Also - a character who is Wolverine w/o actually being Wolverine? And a villain that can manipulate metal? Nice original direction there. Double also - mutants cure world hunger and that's the B PLOT?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2014
It was difficult for me to care about the goings-on when the majority of the characters are so unpleasant. I don't really believe that only about 20 mutants in the US chose not to take the "cure." With only 20 left in one area, would they really be so totally at one another's throats? (And if they are, I kind of believe they deserve extinction.)
October 25, 2015
Alternate world, similar characters. And yet it just doesn't ring true. And everything is just plot driven and skin deep. This would have been a better book with actual different characters and real world building. The art is okay and the writing is not bad. It just doesn't add much. And having Kitty be important but not really Kitty is just annoying.
January 17, 2014
Decent. Brian Wood is a huge step above Nick Spencer, but I'm really just waiting for this series to end if I'm going to be honest.
January 26, 2014
Tough times for Kitty Pryde!
April 26, 2014
Mr. Wood seems to be taking this book in a bold new direction, and I'm all for it.
August 3, 2015
I really like the development of and focus on Ultimate Kitty Pryde throughout Wood's run on this title.
July 20, 2013
Love the artwork
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews