Review by Karl Verhoven

In the ‘proper’ X-Men continuity Mojo is a particularly troublesome character, partially for his menace in creating livestreamed entertainment endangering mutants, but also for the elastic parameters of his possibilities. As introduced in The Most Dangerous Game his Ultimate counterpart is reduced to a far more understandable concept. Mojo Adams presents a TV show where on the remote island of Krakoa mutants are hunted as filmed entertainment.

It’s a grim premise, and dealing with it has the X-Men split into two separate teams. This is via Brian K. Vaughan playing the card of the inscrutable Professor X giving out contrary instructions he won’t explain to students. “You will address me as Professor, Ms. Grey, and you will not question my decisions” is his imperious response when even Jean Grey is surprised at his choice.

Stuart Immonen draws this arc, and not in one of his more attractive styles. Everyone is jagged and flying out of panels, and backgrounds only rarely depart from basic. The essential elements are present, though, and as with Andy Kubert in Cry Wolf, there’s never any mistaking what’s happening unless it’s being deliberately concealed.

Cleverly, Mojo turns out not to be the major foe, Vaughan introducing another familiar name to the Ultimate universe, but rather turning him into a copy of Kraven the Hunter over in Ultimate Spider-Man. Perhaps in preparation he even has Kitty highlight Kraven beforehand. If the first couple of chapters seem too straightforward, you’ll discover by the end Vaughan has complicated matters considerably. He’s introduced others associated with Mojo, supplied a good twist and the possibility of Phoenix has raised its head. A slow start supplies a satisfying finish.

This can also be found combined with the previous two collections as Ultimate X-Men Ultimate Collection Vol. 5, and Vaughan continues with Hard Lessons.