About Heroes

Ultimate X-Men #71
“Phoenix?” Part 3
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Ben Oliver

I really wish X3 movie Phoenix was as nasty as Ultimate Phoenix! Sure, Movie Phoenix was a serious threat, but Ultimate Phoenix is down right nasty! She actually wants to melt Lilandra’s kidneys and make her suffer! I loved it, showed what a powerful entity she really is.

Now, let’s get to the story. Bascially, it’s the X-Men and Emma Frosts’ students versus the Brotherhood at a homecoming dance. With the help of Elliott Boggs, AKA the Magician, the X-Men defeat the Brotherhood.
Elliott has some good moments, I loved how he took out the Blob by tampering with the environment around (and
underneath) him. Fun stuff. Plus, Cyclops acts like a leader and actually does stuff. I’m really upset how Cyke was treated in X3, but Ultimate Cyclops is front and center.

Meanwhile, Lilandra confronts Jean who is all crazy in Phoenix mode. Phoenix is serious! Charles has to come in and stop Jean who is about to melt Lil’s internal organs! Charles shuts down Jean’s mind and she returns to normal—for now at least. The Shiar technician who analyzed Jean’s blood states there is no trace of the Phoenix to be found and tells everyone Jean is suffering from a split personality disorder and she if fruity and insane. Jean is shocked by this and Lilandra and friends leave. Jean cries herself to sleep with a bunch of little green Phoenix goblins surrounding her.

I was about to say how lame this revelation was, until I read the last page. The technician talks to someone on the phone and states that Jean is in fact, the actual factual Phoenix! He states how Shaw was right about Jean being Phoenix, and Shaw was a fool. The Technician tells the telephone that the Hellfire Club will indeed find a way to control Jean and make the Phoenix their slave!

Thoughts/Comments:
I really was upset with how this issue was going until the big reveal at the end! That rocked! I’m so glad Jean is actually Phoenix and not some crazy loon. The fight with the X-Men and Brotherhood was OK, kind of dull though. I liked how we saw more of Elliott and his powers, and Cyclops did stuff! Once more, Ultimate Phoenix is really nasty and takes pleasure out of making others feel helpless. I can’t wait until they do a full out Phoenix story arc in the Ultimate Universe. Have it involve the other Ultimate heroes!

Hmm, maybe Ultimate Dark Phoenix is the mini Bendis and Silvestri are working on? Nah! It’s fun to dream though. I don’t like the art, but the story was fun. I give this issue a B.