Ultimate X-Men #69
	Story Title: 'Phoenix' (Part 1 of 3) Writer: Robert Kirkman Penciller: Ben Oliver Inker: Jonathan Glapion with Jay Leisten Colorist: Jason Keith Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna Production: Kate Levin Editor: Ralph Macchio Publisher: Dan Buckley Published by: Marvel Comics
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

Okay, one thing right off the mark. The change of art sucks. Not that the previous one was all that great, but almost anything would be better than what is in this issue.

Starting with the ‘Date Night’ arc, Robert Kirkman gets on with the second one (Phoenix?) and although there is nothing to exactly to fault about his style of story telling, in fact I like the way he is able to start and work the various sub-plots. However, that being said, I can’t help but feel as if he is pulling punches in the way he starts to tell something and just getting to the really ‘in your face’ part, gives up. More on this later.

We pick up with Angel, the now ex-X-Men and recently admitted student at Emma Frost’s Academy of Tomorrow. He is taking a peaceful nap, at least that is the way it looks to his roommate. What he is doing is touching bases with his boss…Professor Xavier. As we know, (Ult.X-Men #65) he left the X-Men under the pretense that he had been expelled while in reality he is acting an undercover agent for Xavier by keeping an eye on Emma, her school and students.

However, it is neither him or the homecoming (where Peter/Colossus is gone too as Northstar’s date) that is the main focus of the issue….well, not until later. That honor goes to the latest addition to Xavier’s brood, Elliot Boggs and to ‘title’ character of this issue, Jean Grey a.k.a. Phoenix. As for Elliot, I will say that I will give him the benefit of the doubt…for now. He acts pretty much as a star struck kid, ready to don a ‘costume’, jump into the Blackbird and be an X-Men. And the way the issue ended, he is going to get his wish….and there in lies the ‘magic’.

As for the other X-Men, Jean and Xavier are going to do the whole Church of Shi’ar thing (more to come in next issue). Arriving at the institute, Liliandra shocks everyone present when she brings a brand new X-wing, built exactly to the same specifications as their previous one. (Destroyed Ult.X-Men #65). Don’t know how this turns out, and how Lilandra’s relationship with (semi-dictator) PROFESSOR Xavier develops, but as it is a different take on the whole Phoenix thing, (and with Kirkman’s record) I for one hope that it doesn’t frizzle out.

And as long as we are on the subject of frizzling out, the way Rogue and Bobby are depicted here (i.e. their Danger Room session with Storm), it made me think that their scene was originally supposed to be in the previous issue (especially given its cover and the solicitations). We also have Wolverine and Fury doing their whole secret thing. Wish they’d already get it over with….before it grows long in the tooth.

The two members visibly absent are Kitty and Kurt. With Kitty a regular on her beau Spider-Teen’s series, I understand her absence. But what about Kurt? Weren’t he and Peter supposed to realize that they had more in common that they ever knew? (or something like that) This brings me back to the ‘giving up’ comment….and to the end of the review.

And oh, the Brotherhood makes an appearance by crashing the homecoming party over at Emma’s.

Conclusion: Nothing wrong. Nothing great either. Artwork sucks.

RATING: 7/10