Ultimate X4
Encyclopedia
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
. This miniseries is the first canonical team-up of the X-Men and the Fantastic Four in the Ultimate Marvel
universe. The arc consists of two parts, UX4 #1 (December 2005) and UX4 #2 (January 2006).
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 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, but are easily subdued. 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 suits of both teams to provide makeshift psi protection.
The 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 find a way around Reed's modifications and take control of everyone except Mr. Fantastic
and Wolverine
, 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.
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.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
miniseries, set in the Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
universe outside the mainstream continuity. It features a crossover between the Ultimate X-Men
Ultimate X-Men
Ultimate X-Men is a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2001 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running X-Men comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
and the Ultimate Fantastic Four
Ultimate Fantastic Four
Ultimate Fantastic Four is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Fantastic Four comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
. This miniseries is the first canonical team-up of the X-Men and the Fantastic Four in the Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
universe. The arc consists of two parts, UX4 #1 (December 2005) and UX4 #2 (January 2006).
Story
In this story, the X-Men receive a seemingly alien distress signal and fly away with the BlackbirdBlackbird (comics)
The Blackbird is the aircraft used by the fictional superhero team the X-Men. There have been several incarnations of this craft over the years, with Cyclops and Storm as the main pilots.-History:...
to track it down. Only Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, Shadowcat and Iceman
Iceman (comics)
Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
stay behind. In the meanwhile, Rhona Burchill, the Mad Thinker, raids the understaffed X-Mansion and steals Cerebro
Cerebro
In the Marvel Comics universe, Cerebro is a device that the X-Men use to detect humans, specifically mutants. It was created by Xavier and Magneto, and was later enhanced by Dr. Hank McCoy...
, and also manages to frame the Fantastic Four for this crime.
Having stolen Cerebro, Rhona revealed that she was contracted by Advanced Idea Mechanics
Advanced Idea Mechanics
A.I.M. is a fictional terrorist organization in the . The organization first appeared in Strange Tales #146 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
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
Baxter Building
The Baxter Building is a fictitious 35-story office building in Manhattan whose five upper floors house the Fantastic Four's headquarters in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
and fights a surprised and angry F4, but are easily subdued. 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
Mister Fantastic
Mr. Fantastic is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the Fantastic Four. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #1 ....
states that Rhona's mind control
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
abilities have increased frighteningly, and modifies the suits of both teams to provide makeshift psi protection.
The 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 find a way around Reed's modifications and take control of everyone except Mr. Fantastic
Mister Fantastic
Mr. Fantastic is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the Fantastic Four. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #1 ....
and Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, but Reed beats Rhona by reprogramming Cerebro so that instead of gaining ultimate knowledge, Rhona would gain ultimate empathy
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
for others instead. When she tries to flee, Wolverine sabotages her plane, and it explodes. The X-Men and the F4 part ways amicably.
Trade paperback
As with all currently published Marvel Comics, Ultimate X4 has been made available in trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
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.