Ultimate X-Men, a Marvel Comics series, has covered 19 story arcs since the first issue's debut in February 2001. Mark Millar wrote most of the first 33 issues, followed by Brian Michael Bendis for 12 issues, Brian K. Vaughan for 20 issues, and Robert Kirkman for 28 issues. Aron Eli Coleite, known for his work on the television series Heroes, took over the book for the remaining seven issues, concluding with his Requiem story. Film director Bryan Singer, who directed X-Men and X2: X-Men United, was scheduled to write 12 issues of Ultimate X-Men with Brian K. Vaughan and X2 scripters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, but was unable to commit due to working on the Superman Returns film. Mark Millar Ultimate X-Men was the second comic to debut as part of the Ultimate Marvel line, predated a few months by Ultimate Spider-Man. Mark Millar reinvented the X-Men with the first X-Men film (which debuted seven months before) as his only reference. The plot of "The Tomorrow People" was what Millar had in mind for the first X-Men film, and "Return to Weapon X" would have been the plot to the sequel. As in the film, Millar's original X-Men consisted of telepath Professor X, Cyclops (whose eyes shoot concussive beams) telepath/telekinetic Jean Grey, weather-manipulating Storm, simian genius Beast, metal-skinned Colossus, and cryokinetic Iceman. In its first year, the series was the best-selling comic book of 2001. The Tomorrow People Originally published in: Ultimate X-Men #1-6 (February 2001 - July 2001) Creators: writer Mark Millar, artist Adam Kubert (#1-4), Andy Kubert (#5-6) Plot outline: The government begins building and releasing Sentinels to hunt mutants after the Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy declares war against humans. Professor Charles Xavier unites a group of teenage mutants to form a group called the "X-Men" to stop the Brotherhood. Millar immediately establishes differences between the mainstream and Ultimate universes by reinventing the pasts and motives of several characters. For example, Jean Grey recruits Colossus after a nuclear arms deal goes bad, and Wolverine joins the team with the ulterior motive of assassinating Professor Xavier. Some themes remain the same, however, such as the love triangle involving Wolverine, Jean Grey and Cyclops. First appearances: Colossus, Cyclops, Beast, Storm, Iceman, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Magneto, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Sentinels, Mastermind, Blob, Toad Notes: This arc's main plot revolves around Wolverine's search for his past and the Weapon X facility.