Rapper Method Man (a.k.a. Clifford Smith) was recently arrested for tax evasion to the tune of $32,000, something that he told reporters was a simple oversight: "Because I got high, I forgot to pay." More interesting to me than his unsurprising level of pot smoking was his choice of reading material at his recent arraignment:

Smith clutched an "Ultimate X-Men" graphic novel during the noon proceedings at Stapleton Criminal Court. He appeared to be holding his page with his thumb as he held the book behind his back during the arraignment. Earlier today, Smith, 38, of Arden Heights, used the book to shield his face while he was led out of the 120 Police Precinct station house, St. George.

I love that the court reporter makes a note that the book-- "Ultimate X-Men" Vol. 1 by Mark Millar and the Kubert brothers, for those keeping track -- wasn't just a convenient face shield; Method Man was actually so engrossed in the alternate universe reboot of X-Men that he refused to lose his page even while being accosted by the paparazzi.

Check out the video after the jump.

More From ComicsAlliance