Volume 22 in the "Marvel's Mightiest Heroes" graphic novel series from Hachette, collects "X-Men Origins: Jean Grey" (October 2008) and the "Yesterdays X-Men" storyline from "All-New X-Men" issues 1 to 5 (January - March 2013). Jean Grey, who has also been known over the years as Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix, was created by the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby team. She was one of the founding members of the X-Men, and first appeared in "X-Men" issue 1 (September 1963). Born with telepathic and telekinetic powers which first manifested when she saw a friend being hit by a car her origin is retold and reinterpreted in "X-Men Origins: Jean Grey" by writer Sean McKeever and artist Mike Mayhew. This is a nicely told tale that adds depth to the character. It outlines her relationships with her parents, her earliest interactions with Charles Xavier, Professor X and follows her through her adolescence and into her first outing with the X-Men. McKeever's story is rich with little details, but it is the brilliant painted artwork by Mayhew that really lifts it into the special category. The art is both vivid and subtle and gives the overall tale a fantastically realistic grounding. The second story, however, isn't as good and is in fact a bit of a disappointment. The concept is interesting enough – the original X-Men team is whisked into the future to confront the futuristic X-Men and in particular Cyclops who has become the leader of the evil mutants. This gives the creative team of Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen and the opportunity to juxtapose the original more innocent team as envisioned by Lee and Kirby with their more cynical future selves. Unfortunately the art style here just doesn't work for me, although I usually like Immonen's work. The art is too blocky and stiff and the storytelling is poor, with panels confused and difficult to follow and by the end of the third issue I had unfortunately lost interest in the overall story. The book itself follows the established format and is a nicely put together package – hard cover, 168 heavy stock, glossy pages and a range of special features: a creating Jean Grey feature; Grey's Garments; a brief history of Jean Grey and an art gallery. In summary then "Marvel's Mightiest Heroes, Volume 22: Jean Grey" is a mixed bag – a high quality, well presented package, with one excellent, touching story and a rather poor main feature. Overall worth reading – but only just! ( )