2004) Creators: writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist David Finch Plot outline: This arc focuses on Wolverine as unknown assailants ambush him. Wolverine tries to learn the motives of his attackers with the help of Spider-Man and Daredevil, stars of comics Bendis had previously written. Wolverine learns they are ex-Weapon X members, and he is then saved by the X-Men. The assailants kill themselves rather than reveal any further information. Later, a S.H.I.E.L.D. attack force arrives and reveals that the Weapon X team members are only flunkies in a larger, more insidious anti-mutant conspiracy. First appearances: Daredevil, Dum Dum Dugan Notes: Colorist Dave Stewart, who colored Ultimate X-Men #39, won an Eisner Award in 2005 for his work on Ultimate X-Men, Daredevil, and Captain America. New Mutants Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #40-45 (February 2004 - July 2004) Creators: writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist David Finch Plot outline: The first three issues of this arc are stand-alone introductions of individual characters, including Ultimate versions of Angel, Jude the Entropic Man, and Dazzler. Meanwhile, the government has Emma Frost create a mutant team. She recruits Alex Summers, Dazzler, Karma, and Beast. At the team's kickoff a Sentinel is defeated by the X-Men, but not before Beast is killed. First appearances: Angel, Dazzler, Havok, Emma Frost, Karma Deaths: Beast Notes: Bendis continued the tradition of modernizing mainstream characters when introducing them into the Ultimate Universe. For example, Dazzler debuted in 1980 as a disco star in the regular Marvel continuity. In Ultimate Marvel continuity, she is a punk rocker. Brian K. Vaughan believed "Ultimate Dazzler...may very well be Bendis' single greatest contribution to the free world," which led to her continued integration as part of the X-Men in his later story arcs. The mainstream version of Emma Frost is a telepath and former member of the Hellfire Club, who later becomes an educator and gains the power to turn into organic diamond. Bendis introduces her Ultimate counterpart as an educator who turns into diamond, without her original powers or membership. Brian K. Vaughan Brian K. Vaughan created many stand-alone story arcs, tying them together during the final arc. Although he was initially worried about alienating new readers or hard-core fans, he eventually focused on "simply trying to tell great stories about young people who are feared and hated because they're different." He was originally slated to write just four issues, but enjoyed working