"I can't - I can't live with this."

"I know."

Wow. This issue really blew me away with it's simplicty and precision.

*spoilers*

The premise is simple...what if there was a mutant born that was so powerful and so deadly, that the only option was to kill them? Who do you send to do such a job? Wolverine of course.

Did Wolverine do the kid a favor, by sparing him from living with the guilt of killing his family and friends?

Was their anything else they could have done?

Just read it as well. On the one hand, fantastic stand alone issue that also fits with the New Mutants "arc".
On the other hand, Bendis is starting to tire me with his 'all dialogue' issues. Its like he's challenging Millar to see who can write the least amount of action.

But back to the story, it was really powerful. The kid just woke up and found out he killed his town. That's like tripping and pushing "the button." There was a character like that in the mainstream New Mutants book, but the only person he killed was his own father, and that was by touch.

Ultimately, Logan probably did do the kid a favor. What kind of life could he lead if all he was is a living weapon. What if someone found out about him? Besides the repercussions Logan said about rounding up all mutants, the military would see him as a weapon. Just drop him in a hot zone and let him wander around. Or worse, cut him open to find the source of the toxin to mass produce it.

As for if they could send anyone else. Well, Colossus comes to mind, maybe Iceman too. And depending on how the toxin worked they could have sent in someone in a biohazard suit. Since the comic showed his sister's blue jeans and t-shirt as unaffected even though technically its made from cotton. (only affected living organics?)

Was there anything else they could have done? A few things. Make him a containment suit. Though without knowing at first how the toxin worked they would have to figure out the breathing.
Put him in an isolated room, a-la proteus. But then he's just a prisoner with his own guilt.

Since he seemed guilt ridden and unhappy, wolverine's solution was probably the best. Though that's a tough thing to say. So maybe Wolverine was sent because he was the only one who could do what was necessary?

I don't think anyone else could have been sent to dispatch an innocent kid, except maybe for Prof. X himself (assuming he gave the order and Wolverine didn't take it upon himself).

I think the quote I gave summed it up in a lot of ways...this innoncent young kid CAN'T live with what he's done and what he's become. Wolverine...who's killed hundreds of [mostly] bad guys knows this...and knows what needs to be done. Even if a physical cure could be found, no mental remedy would ever be available.

"Finish your beer"#### straight-just like Warren Zevon said"enjoy every sandwich."

What could be more painless than Xavier doing a cerebral shut down on the kid. Quick, easy, and Wolverine wouldn't have wasted a beer.

People around here have been complaining that Logan gave a brew to a minor-did it ever touch his lips?

Arrrrgh! I want to read it. Darn me for being so far behind on my reading...and only reading the TPB's.

I have never been a big fan of the Ultimate line. Recently I read though a few of the Ultimate X-Men trades to see what it was like and to give it a fair shake at taking my money every month.
However, It only enforced my belief that the Ultimate line was not for me. It also led me to the thought that Scotland must be a real ####ed up place.
But a friend convinced me to check out some Ultimate Spidy stories and I found myself liking them. So when Bendis starting writing Ultimate X-Men I was kind of interested in seeing if he could make this title better and turn my opinion around completely about Ultimate titles.
I still favor the original Marvel Universe, but I have to say I have never read a better X-Men story than this one. Ever.

See I interpreted this completely differently. I don't think Logan was saying he was going to kill the kid (even though he was) I think he was empathizing with the kid. Knowing he has killed hundreds himself how does Logan deal with the guilt of it all? I think what he is saying is that he understands and knows where the kid is coming from so he gives he kid a solution that he himself can't have. That was a completely soul bearing shot of Logan at the end of the book. You saw his pain and suffering in what he is, and what he is asked to do. I think this Ultimate Logan is a lot more torn up inside than the mainstream and the whole mass murderer thing is just a defensive shell.

I am reading an online chat with Bendis right now over on x-mencomics.com and here's what he said about the latest issue, kind of vague stuff but interesting none the less


quote:
Originally posted by Dafixer
Do you think it was a bit of a contradiction for Xavier to deal with the New Mutant the way he choose to in UXM $41, as opposed to his pacifist agenda? Could there have been a better way? And, was that the Ultimate "Havok?" (Just checking, I mean the name would sure as heck fit.)

BENDIS
"who said xavier is the one that sent wolvie. and no that was not havoc. or dazzler. or emma."

I think its more then obvious that xavier did send him, logan states he found the kid through xavier via cerebro. I thought this issue really stood out in showing the fact that a mutant can be too powerful to live.

So if Chuck did not send Wolverine, could he have found out about it on his own, and took it upon himself to clean up?
Or, with the X-Men under the thumb of Nick Fury, could Fury have sent him?

In a sick sort of way, I thought it cool that it would have been the Professor who found out and then sent Wolverine. As a sort of darker, realist side of Xavier coming though.

Bendis is currently Marvel's best writer by far, I encourage anyone getting back into comics to try his work.

Boy does this open a big can of worms! Now I haven't read the story, and I don't follow the Ultimates so I only know what I have read in this thread. But what do all Mutants expect the Humans to say when they found out that a Mutant killed his own kind because he thought "he was too dangerous". In a rational world, you would say, "look at the way he was, It had to be done!" But people don't always have a habit of being that rational and will likely feed the fire of all humans who see all Mutants as "too dangerous". and need to be exterminated. Definitely a thorn in the side of Xavier's cause. It may be true that the Earth must be defended, but now try explaining that to Mutant hating humans. This will make for an interesting change to Mutantkind.

More Benids stuff
quote:
Originally posted by Namor 1111a
So Brian will Wolverine finally get the back burner in this New Mutants Story arc so the rest of the X-Men can get screen time? Also does Havok join the X-Men during your arc?

Bendis
yes and maybe. no wolvie next issue.