Ultimate X-Men, a Marvel Comics series, has covered 19 story arcs since the first issue's debut in February 2001. Mark Millar wrote most of the first 33 issues, followed by Brian Michael Bendis for 12 issues, Brian K. Vaughan for 20 issues, and Robert Kirkman for 28 issues. Aron Eli Coleite, known for his work on the television series Heroes, took over the book for the remaining seven issues, concluding with his Requiem story.
Film director Bryan Singer, who directed X-Men and X2, was scheduled to write 12 issues of Ultimate X-Men with Brian K. Vaughan and X2 scripters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, but was unable to commit due to working on Superman Returns.
Mark Millar Ultimate X-Men was the second comic to debut as part of the Ultimate Marvel line, predated a few months by Ultimate Spider-Man. Mark Millar reinvented the X-Men with the first X-Men film (which debuted seven months before) as his only reference. The plot of "The Tomorrow People" was what Millar had in mind for the first X-Men film, and "Return to Weapon X" would have been the plot to the sequel. As in the film, Millar's original X-Men consisted of telepath Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Beast, Colossus, and Iceman. In its first year, the series was the best-selling comic book of 2001.
The Tomorrow People Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #1-6 (February 2001 - July 2001) Creators: writer Mark Millar, artist Adam Kubert (#1-4), Andy Kubert (#5-6) Plot outline: The government begins building and releasing Sentinels to hunt mutants after the Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy declares war against humans. Professor Charles Xavier unites a group of teenage mutants to form a group called the "X-Men" to stop the Brotherhood. Millar immediately establishes differences between the mainstream and Ultimate universes by reinventing the pasts and motives of several characters. For example, Jean Grey recruits Colossus after a nuclear arms deal goes bad, and Wolverine joins the team with the ulterior motive of assassinating Xavier. Some themes remain the same, however, such as the love triangle involving Wolverine, Jean Grey and Cyclops. Notes: This arc's main plot revolves around Wolverine's search for his past and the Weapon X facility. Originally, Adam and Andy Kubert were both to illustrate Ultimate X-Men so that it could be published on a regular basis, but Andy moved to illustrating Origin and was unable to continue. The series' first arc sold extremely well: the first issue sold out, and the fourth and fifth issues sold more than 100,000 copies each to U.S. comic book stores alone.
Return to Weapon X Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #7-12 (August 2001 - January 2002) Creators: writer Mark Millar, artist Adam Kubert Plot outline: While Wolverine is away, Xavier and his X-Men are kidnapped and taken to Weapon X. Wolverine tricks Weapon X into capturing him so he can lead the Brotherhood into Weapon X and free his companions. The mutants are ready to begin a massacre, but General Nick Fury steps in, arrests the Weapon X staff and declares all mutants free. Notes: Millar continues to distinguish settings in the Ultimate universe from their mainstream counterparts. In this arc, Weapon X is introduced as a S.H.I.E.L.D.-initiated project based in Finland to force mutants to carry out covert missions for the government. John Wraith (aka Kestrel) and Abraham Cornelius are established as the heads of Weapon X, while Nightcrawler, Rogue, and Juggernaut have been part of the Weapon X team for some time. Mark Millar had a kidney infection during the summer of 2001 and wrote two of the issues in this arc while hospitalized, leading to a darker-than-normal tone. While Rogue has always been portrayed as a Southern Baptist, Ultimate Rogue is more believing and devout than Rogue in the normal Marvel continuity.
You Always Remember Your First Love Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #13-14 (February 2002 - March 2002) Creators: writer Chuck Austen, artist Esad Ribić Plot outline: Cajun mutant Remy LeBeau (Gambit) is homeless on the streets of New York. One day, he takes in a little girl whose parents have been murdered. When she, too, is abducted, he takes bloody revenge on those responsible: Hammerhead and his mob henchmen. Notes: This is the only arc which features writer Chuck Austen, who got the job of writing Uncanny X-Men because of his work on Ultimate X-Men. This arc preceded Austen's eventual resignation from Marvel and controversy at DC Comics.
A Different World is Possible Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #15 (April 2002)
Plot outline: Professor Xavier talks with Colossus and Magneto about his new book and the mutant war.
World Tour Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #16-20 (May 2002 - September 2002) Creators: writer Mark Millar, artists Chris Bachalo and Adam Kubert Plot outline: The X-Men are shocked to find that Magneto is still alive and Xavier is trying to rehabilitate him. Xavier's mutant son David MacTaggert (Proteus) escapes from Moira MacTaggert's secret mutant hospital on Muir Island and kills thousands while possessing Betsy Braddock. David and Betsy are finally killed by Colossus, who considers leaving the X-Men, but changes his mind. Notes: The Ultimate version of Proteus is an amalgam of Legion (David Xavier, Charles Xavier's and Gabrielle Haller's son) and the mainstream version of Proteus (Kevin MacTaggert, son of Moira MacTaggert). In the original Proteus saga (Uncanny X-Men #125-128, 1979) Proteus is killed by Colossus, who drops a car on him. Millar has described this arc as "X-Men meets Magnolia." In this arc, Colossus' rescue of a capsized submarine crew is an allusion to the real-life Kursk submarine disaster. Millar also hints that Colossus may be gay, with Piotr remarking that his favourite show is Will & Grace (which features a gay male lead).
Hellfire and Brimstone Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #21-25 (October 2002 - January 2003) Creators: writer Mark Millar, artists Kaare Andrews and Adam Kubert Plot outline: The remnants of Magneto's Brotherhood, led by Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, destroy the nuclear arsenals of India and Pakistan to get into the good graces of the U.S. government. Shadowcat is recruited, while Wolverine and Cyclops fight over Jean. All three go to the Savage Land, and Shadowcat saves Wolverine and Cyclops from a giant computer. Meanwhile, the Hellfire Club awakens the Phoenix Force in Jean, and she kills the whole club. The Brotherhood frees Magneto. Notes: While the previous arc was action-oriented, Millar uses this storyline to more fully develop his characters. The love triangle involving Jean, Scott, and Wolverine, heats up and is much more violent than in the original version. In "Ultimate Marvel" Millar depicts Shadowcat as a bright, clever girl, but she's not as smart as her mainstream counterpart (created by John Byrne and Chris Claremont).
Ultimate War Originally published in: Ultimate War #1-4 (February 2003 - April 2003) Creators: writer Mark Millar, artist Chris Bachalo Plot outline: The Brotherhood declares the second war against humanity, and Xavier and the X-Men are branded as traitors. Things get worse when Wolverine and Shadowcat report that Cyclops has been killed in the Savage Land. The Ultimates track down the X-Men and have an all-out fight in New York. Xavier is captured but, thanks to Iceman, the rest escape. Notes: "Ultimate War" is not purely an X-Men arc; rather, it is the first crossover between the Ultimates and the Ultimate X-Men, although it establishes the plot for the "Return of the King" arc. A fight between the X-Men and the Avengers (the mainstream Marvel version of the Ultimates) was also the subject of X-Men (vol. 1) #9 (1965) by Stan Lee.
Return of the King Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #26-33 (February 2003 - July 2003) Creators: writer Mark Millar, artist Adam Kubert and David Finch Plot outline: The Brotherhood plans an attack on humanity. Cyclops is alive, but at the bottom of a pit (thanks to Wolverine). Forge has created a machine to amplify Magneto's powers, but Shadowcat and the X-Men foil the Brotherhood's plans. In the end, the X-Men turn themselves over to the authorities and are pardoned. Betsy Braddock is revealed to be alive after her consciousness passes to the body of a comatose Asian girl named Kwannon. Notes: In this arc, Rogue switches sides of her own free will to help the X-Men prevent a nuclear explosion. In the mainstream Marvel Comics, she switches sides because she absorbs the mind of superhero Carol Danvers (Uncanny X-Men #171).
Brian Michael Bendis After Mark Millar's tenure, Ultimate Spider-Man writer Brian Michael Bendis took over for a year. Bendis was originally slated to write both Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Spider-Man from their conception, but turned down Ultimate X-Men because of the challenge of writing a team book. He has stated that he was going to plot his story in a more character-driven way–especially concerning Wolverine, who has previously tried to kill his teammate Cyclops.
Blockbuster Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #34-39 (August 2003 - January 2004) Creators: writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist David Finch Plot outline: This arc focuses on Wolverine as unknown assailants ambush him. Wolverine tries to learn the motives of his attackers with the help of Spider-Man and Daredevil, stars of comics Bendis had previously written. Wolverine learns they are ex-Weapon X members, and he is then saved by the X-Men. The assailants kill themselves rather than reveal any further information. Later, a S.H.I.E.L.D. attack force arrives and reveals that the Weapon X team members are only flunkies in a larger, more insidious anti-mutant conspiracy. Notes: Colorist Dave Stewart, who colored Ultimate X-Men #39, won an Eisner Award in 2005 for his work on Ultimate X-Men, Daredevil, and Captain America.
New Mutants Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #40-45 (February 2004 - July 2004) Creators: writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist David Finch Plot outline: The first three issues of this arc are stand-alone introductions of individual characters, including Ultimate versions of Angel, Jude the Entropic Man, and Dazzler. Meanwhile, the government has Emma Frost create a mutant team. She recruits Alex Summers, Dazzler, Karma, and Beast. At the team's kickoff a Sentinel is defeated by the X-Men, but not before Beast is killed. Notes: Bendis continued the tradition of modernizing mainstream characters when introducing them into the Ultimate Universe. For example, Dazzler debuted in 1980 as a disco star in the regular Marvel continuity. In Ultimate Marvel continuity, she is a punk rocker. Brian K. Vaughan believed "Ultimate Dazzler...may very well be Bendis' single greatest contribution to the free world," which led to her continued integration as part of the X-Men in his later story arcs. The mainstream version of Emma Frost is a telepath and former member of the Hellfire Club, who later becomes an educator and gains the power to turn into organic diamond. Bendis introduces her Ultimate counterpart as an educator who turns into diamond, without her original powers or membership.
Brian K. Vaughan Brian K. Vaughan created many stand-alone story arcs, tying them together during the final arc. Although he was initially worried about alienating new readers or hard-core fans, he eventually focused on "simply trying to tell great stories about young people who are feared and hated because they're different." He was originally slated to write just four issues, but enjoyed working on Ultimate X-Men and ultimately wrote 20 issues. Marvel asked him to extend his run when production on Superman Returns prevented Bryan Singer from starting his run. Vaughan turned down the offer, and finished his run with "Magnetic North".
The Tempest Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #46-49 (July 2004 - September 2004)