Ultimate X-Men #72
	Story Title: 'Magical' (Part 1 of 3) Writer: Robert Kirkman Penciller: Tom Haney Inker: Scott Hanna Colorist: Gina Going Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna Assoc. Editor: John Barber Editor: Ralph Macchio Published by: Marvel Comics Cover by Tom Raney & Richard Isanove
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

I’d apologize for the late review but there is a reason for that. That being given the literal n’ more importantly visual crap-fest that was the previous (Phoenix) arc, I had decided to pass on this one. In fact, I was seriously considering not returning until this whole Magicman…sorry, Magician thingamajig blew over. (I am already passing on the Ultimate Clone saga over in Spidey’s title and even the Zombies over in FF didn’t work in this issue.)

Well, as this review shows, I finally caved in and that I’d attribute to the return of Wolverine. As shown in #68, following a phone call from one Mr. Nathan Fitzgerald (Nicky boy Fury), the feral Canadian had left for parts unknown. Now, it may be something else, but to me it seemed as if he had left explain his appearance in the Ultimate Wolverine versus Hulk mini. Remember that? It’s a six part story, one that I am sure will be completed by the time my son or daughter get into grad school (and I am not even married yet). Well, now he’s back and along with him the sorely missed artistic skills of Tom Haney, Scott Hanna and Gina Going. Last seen in the Date Night arc, their return (especially after the last arc) is all the more…umm, ultimate.

As for the story itself, we start by getting a glimpse at how this version of Xavier operates, with not one but two throwbacks to previously shown characters namely, and of course his cat, Mystique. A point about the cat, the coloring didn’t quite match the one from #61 i.e. the prominent white patch on the head.

Then we move onto the X-Men who are on a mission to save a hospital from the F.O.H. Now there is nothing major here, for this all is being done to show what a kickass (A-hole) character, the Magician is. And although I am repeating myself here, I’d like to give a hand to the art. Just see the fight scene here and then check out the squiggles in the last arc. The proof is in the pudding.

There is also a minor segue-way with Kurt one that sets the foundation for the upcoming annual, as also a showing of how powerful or depending on how you see it, how whacked out crazy, Jean is. Don’t know what’s wrong with her but while I don’t want a replay of the mainline Phoenix story, I sure as hell don’t want the split-personality cop-out from X3 (The Last Stand).

It is the ending that plays back into the main story. Apart from the conversation between Fury and Xavier, both from this issue and from the last part of ‘Date Night’ arc, this revelation also explains the one between Logan and Fury (#69), specifically Logan’s comment about Fury visiting the institute.

Conclusion: After a totally forgettable arc, Kirkman picks up from where we left off in #68, oddly enough with the same art team. Oh, here I go again. Sorry, can’t help myself.

RATING: 8/10 (Almost 8.5)