Review by Karl Verhoven

Brian K. Vaughan’s three previous volumes of Ultimate X-Men have each featured multi-chapter outings, but Hard Lessons breaks that pattern by providing three separate stories, and it’s his best to date.

He begins with a spotlight on Professor X. So far Vaughan’s interpretation of him has been as a distant authoritarian, which hasn’t made him very likeable. Here Vaughan pulls of the trick of not greatly softening his personality, but displaying a concern for innocents when an idiot mutant attempts to rob a bank. Artist Steve Dillon brings the same goofy naturalism he supplied on Preacher, on what’s a clever use of mental abilities in solving two problems.

Storm and Wolverine left the X-Men after Cry Wolf, and the title story catches up with them three months later. It’s drawn by Stuart Immonen in a toned down and more likeable version of the style used in The Most Dangerous Game. There was the feeling of a mis-step in Vaughan initiating a relationship between Storm and Wolverine, and the misgivings about that don’t entirely evaporate, yet it’s surrounded by much that’s very good. There have also been misgivings about Vaughan wasting the potential of X-Men enemy variants he introduces to the Ultimate universe, but a great surprise accompanies Lady Deathstryke, here dropping the Lady title. It’s a suspenseful interlude with the feeling of setting up something bigger.

Also last seen in Cry Wolf were Rogue and Gambit, departing together on a mission to bring down the Fenris corporation and first seen here looting a casino vault connected with them. “You sure you want your life to be a never-ending series of heists?” asks Gambit. “Absolutely”, replies Rogue. What follows is a hugely enjoyable set-to involving the Juggernaut, drawn by Tom Raney as improbably massive and muscled. It’s a rare superhero comic that’s nothing but an extended fight still managing to entertain, as Vaughan and Raney overcome the limitations with imagination and surprises, all leading to a killer ending.

Next up is the long awaited re-match with Magneto in Magnetic North.