Ultimate X4

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Ultimate X4
Cover to Ultimate X4 #1. Art by Pasqual Ferry.
Publisher Marvel Comics Schedule monthly Format Mini-Series/Crossover Publication dates December 2005 to January 2006 Number of issues 2 Main character(s) Wolverine, Iceman, Shadowcat, Fantastic Four, Rhona Burchill Creative team Writer(s) Mike Carey Artist(s) Pasqual Ferry

Ultimate X4 is a Marvel Comics miniseries, set in the Ultimate Marvel universe outside the mainstream continuity. It features a crossover between the Ultimate X-Men and the Ultimate Fantastic Four. The arc consists of two parts, UX4 #1 (December 2005) and UX4 #2 (January 2006).

[edit] Story

In this story, the X-Men receive an alien distress signal and fly away with the Blackbird to track it down. Only Wolverine, Shadowcat and Iceman stay behind. In the meanwhile, Rhona Burchill, the Mad Thinker, raids the understaffed X-Mansion and steals Cerebro, and also manages to frame the Fantastic Four for this crime.

Having stolen Cerebro, Rhona it is revealed that she was contracted by Advanced Idea Mechanics to steal Cerebro and turn it over to them. After being paid for her work, Rhona betrays and kills the A.I.M. operatives sent to retrieve Cerebro, since her true intention was to use Cerebro's technology to increase her intellect even further.

The X-Men trio raids the Baxter Building and fights a surprised and angry F4. Burchill then reveals herself as the true culprit and gloats how vastly Cerebro has enhanced her mind, allowing her to take control of peoples' minds and even machines. Mr. Fantastic states that Rhona's mind control abilities have increased frighteningly, and modifies the X-Men's suits to provide makeshift psi protection.

The alien-tracking X-Men find out that the alien message was bogus, and that Rhona's psi barriers have increased drastically. The X-Men trio and the F4 reluctantly team up against the Mad Thinker. Rhona is able to mind control most of the team, but Reed beats Rhona by reprogramming Cerebro so that instead of gaining ultimate knowledge, Rhona would gain ultimate empathy for others instead. When she tries to flee, Wolverine sabotages her plane, and it explodes. The X-Men and the F4 part ways amicably.

[edit] Character dynamics

This miniseries is the first canonical team-up of the X-Men and the Fantastic Four in the Ultimate Marvel universe. Apart from the main plot, following personal interaction takes place:

• Johnny Storm has a soft spot for Kitty Pryde.
• In marked contrast, Susan Storm dismisses Kitty as "cheap".
• Bobby Drake and Johnny Storm hold a testosterone-fueled, but friendly teenage rivalry, obviously fueled by their contrary powers, which is similar to their Earth-616 counterparts.

[edit] Trade paperback

As with all currently published Marvel Comics, Ultimate X4 has been made available in trade paperback form. The paperback also comes with the Official Handbook of the Ultimate Marvel Universe #1-2 inside, which gives details on many characters in the Ultimate Marvel World.