Ultimate X-Men: Hellfire & Brimstone Part 5
Issue: #25
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: Adam Kubert
Inker: Danny Miki
Colors: Chris Sotomayor

In New York City five X-Men arrive at the "coming out" party of their secret financiers, The Hellfire Club. News cameras are everywhere as Jean Grey, Ororo Monroe, Peter Rasputin, and their mentor Professor Charles Xavier are wearing their very best. They walk the red carpet into the magnificent ballroom. Xavier telekinetically lifts his wheelchair over the steps and lands perfectly in the center of the foyer. While the teens are greeted by people such as Alan Greenspan, Arnold Schwarzenegar, and Ted Turner, Professor Xavier meets the current Grandmaster of the Hellfire Club, Sebastian Shaw, of Shaw Industries. As the two cordially discuss business the mood behind the scene is devious, as Hellfire Club members prepare for the events of the evening. Shaw proposes a toast to Xavier, but it is merely a ruse, as he gives the signal to his people to enact the plan they've been practicing for over six months.

The Hellfire henchmen pull plasma rifles from hiding and blast Colossus and Storm, knocking them out. Shocked, Xavier pleads with Jean to take action, but she stands by idly, without response, as he is blasted out of his wheelchair to the floor. Hours later, the X-Men stir, and find themselves bound vertically to a stone platform, with Jean, dressed in a green cloak, standing in the middle of flaming altar. Benhind her, in the center of a pentagram, stands Shaw, who explains the Hellfire Club's true motives for funding the Xavier Institute. To allow Xavier to help Jean deal with her telepathic abilities, thus ensuring she can withstand her destiny. The destiny the Hellfire Club has been planning for centuries. Using Jean, they planned to summon the Phoenix, a millenia old ancient god that they hope to replace the gods of earth with. The god comes forth, posessing Jean. Angered with Shaw for attempting to command it, Phoenix incinerates all of his Hellfire workers. Revealing itself as a benevolent force, Phoenix transfers every asset owned by Shaw to Xavier's name, cures sick children all over the city, and purifies several of the world leaders attending the Hellfire get together. She also vaporizes Sebastian Shaw. Shocked, Xavier pleads to Jean to cease her show. Using his telepathy he submerges the Phoenix force deep into Jean's subconciousness, causing a huge explosion in the Hellfire mansion.

The X-Men escape the building only to recieve an emergency signal from Beast. Ambushed by the Brotherhood of Mutants, Hank's mind was invaded by their telepaths, and the truth about Magneto was revealed to them. Telephone poles, cars and pipes begin to float into the air, meeting to spell out "THANK YOU CHARLES" high in the sky.

At an undisclosed location, Magneto and the Brotherhood plot their next move. Magneto thanks the man responsible for his retrieval, Prosimian, by stabbing him with a lamp. He demands that the mutants who have abandoned the organization return and apologize within 24 hours.

Submitted By: Rob