Ultimate X-Men: It Doesn't Have To Be This Way
Issue: #15
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: Adam Kubert
Inker: Danny Miki
Colors: Dave Stewart

In preparation for his upcoming tour to promote his new book, Charles Xavier has been asked to write a magazine article to soothe the fear mankind has been harboring for mutants. In the article, he explains the intention of his school, where extraordinary talents are being cultivated. As he contemplates his article, the X-Men play a simple game of baseball. Watching them, he describes young Jean Grey. When Xavier found her she was being held in a mental institution because she couldn't stop hearing voices. Through careful training he was able to supress her incredible powers, and now allows them to be gradually reintroduced. She has been using her gifts to help the police locate missing persons.

Other members of the team use their unique gifts in other ways. Storm brings rain to recession-hit farming communities. Cyclops travels with orphans, hoping to offer them the role-model he never had. Colossus and Wolverine, both former criminals, walk the streets at night, helping those who no one else will help. Though Xavier is proud of Beast's development of alternatives to expensive pharmaceuticals for third world nations, he does worry that Hank spends too much time in the laboratory. Unbeknownst to Xavier, Hank has spent a lot of time on the internet, frequenting X-Men fansites.

Though Xavier was responsible for the defeat of Magneto, he meets with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch as an advisor. Rather than bombing the old order, he recommends fighting through the information age and targeting corporate crime and incompetent government.

Later on, Xavier and Piotr visit the local park. Much to his surprise, Piotr spots a man with gray hair and blue eyes, playing frisbee with severely handicapped children. Xavier reveals that the death of Magneto was simply a ruse, and that he has placed mental blocks in his cerebellum to prevent him from remembering who he is... The ultimate form of rehabilitation.

Back at the mansion the X-Men prepare for a photoshoot to go along with Xavier's article in Timesweek Magazine. But shortly thereafter, Xavier learns that his article has been cancelled, due to being too pro-mutant.

Submitted By: Rob