Ultimate Comics Thread - Part 1

[Drz]

Ultimate X-Men #2 teaser preview!

It's good to see Johnny and Bobby smile.

 

[Drz]

Comics Alliance: Spoiler free review on Ultimates #1

In short: Yeah, I think this is pretty much what everyone wanted.

So what does Jonathan Hickman give us? A new superhero comic that's half Robert Ludlum and half Jack Kirby, and something that feels like a logical escalation of the very popular work Millar and Hitch did. It's still a world where the Avengers are super-soldiers rather than super-heroes, and everything we know or recognize is a bit off, or skewed, by this military presence. There are numerous characters in this book that Hickman's written, sometimes quite extensively, in the regular Marvel Universe, but his Nick Fury here seems completely different from the one we've seen in Secret Warriors, and another character is a very deliberate, dark inversion of the one Hickman writes on a regular basis.

The attempt to marry technothriller infodump to grand, sweeping superhero majesty is no clearer than in the second and third scenes of the book. The second scene was released as a preview in the back of many Marvel titles in recent weeks, and depicts a sit-rep delivered to Nick Fury that's filled with international intrigue and reports from the President. The third scene, which is completely silent, involves a bear drinking beer and a self-replicating nanotechnological dome. Hickman makes these disaparate elements work well together by playing the goofy stuff as straight as he possibly can, as well as pacing the issue at truly breakneck speed. Fury is quickly presented with multiple new twists and problems on every page. Seemingly disconnected crises pile on with great frequency, communicating Fury's hectic schedule and mounting panic very well to the reader.


As expected, Jonathan Hickman's first issue of Ultimates is an incredibly promising start, bringing the series back to its widescreen technodrama roots while also evolving past them in a direction that feels fully logical. My only major concern is that I'm not sure how it'll work with new readers, which is a big problem with a new #1. The villain's motivation, as well as Captain America's absence, are both set up in the Ultimate Fallout miniseries and are largely enigmas in this context. Whether those factors will matter to new readers at all, I don't know; it's difficult for me to divorce this book from the context of the Ultimate Universe I've formed by reading the line for the past ten years.

Ultimates #1 hits tomorrow in stores.

 

[Mass Nerder]

Sorry for these random questions but why is The Hulk green in some books (like Ultimate Marvel Team Up) and gray in others like The Ultimates?

 

[moraldeficiency]

Sorry for these random questions but why is The Hulk green in some books (like Ultimate Marvel Team Up) and gray in others like The Ultimates?

Different versions of the hulk. Ultimates is a different universe in fact.

God, why is it so hard not to answer "because you touch yourself at night" to every comic question? Oh, that's right, cause I'm an ass.

 

[Slick]

Ultimate Hulk started out green but when Bruce mixed the Hulk formula with Captain America's blood he became the gray skinned Hulk and alot more powerful.

 

[Roose Bolton]

according to Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk his skin changes from grey to green randomly from time to time.

 

[WolfCypher]

There really doesn't seem to be a difference between the two.

 

[Drz]

CBR reviews Ultimates #1!

It’s telling that the relaunch of the Ultimate line begins with “The Ultimates” #1. While “Ultimate Spider-Man” is the steady heart and soul of the line, “The Ultimates” is the prestige book, the one that’s meant to be a big deal. By beginning the new line with it and the creative team of Jonathan Hickman, Esad Ribic, and Dean White, the message is meant to be: this is big and new and must read comics. With the freedom and scope that comes with “The Ultimates,” simply wondering what Hickman will do is enough to get many people so giddy with excitement that they’ll say “Millar who?” when asked about the book. That’s a lot of pressure for a first issue.
Hickman walks a fine balance between jumping right into plots that had their foundation laid in the shorts he contributed to in “Ultimate Fallout” and making sure that anyone who skipped that mini-series can follow along fine. For the most part, he pulls it off by rehashing the three big global threats that first popped up in “Ultimate Fallout” #5, albeit progressed by a day so it isn’t a simple retread. At the heart of the issue is a simple plot: the world is falling apart around Nick Fury and he doesn’t know what to do exactly. However, until the end of the issue, that may get a little lost under a lot of details, sadly.
There are some major details that aren’t covered, or are, at best, alluded to, that were set up in “Ultimate Fallout” like the identity of the man in the helmet on the first page or the recent cuts to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s budget after orders to expand operations that add stress to Fury or even that the team is down one key member. One has to wonder how this issue would have been written without the “Ultimate Fallout” lead-in.
Despite some problems balancing the existing stories and the need to be new reader friendly, Hickman has a strong handle on these characters and their world. The idea of everything falling apart is a great way to start the series, almost the opposite of Millar’s slow burn style of storytelling for the first two volumes. He also integrates the Asgardians into the world in a clever fashion that leads to an amusing scene involving a bear that drinks beer and the new Captain Britain offending Thor.
Esad Ribic is known mostly for his painted cover work for Marvel and the chance to see him do interiors is rare. He really wowed with his work on the “Dark Reign: The List: Wolverine” one-shot he did with Jason Aaron and, along with Dean White’s phenomenal colors, wows again in this issue. His art isn’t as expansive or realistic as Bryan Hitch’s work, but he manages to get across the idea that this is a big blockbuster of a comic through smart page layouts and choosing the exact right pictures to draw. There are a good dozen panels that stop you dead, because they’re so fantastic, including the final panel of the comic.
Ribic’s work is strong enough that it’s amazing to think he’s been relegated to cover duty for so long when he’s such a natural fit for interior art. The way he draws the brawl between the Asgardians and the European superhumans is lively and chaotic, while still maintaining a strong focus. He makes a fairly static centerpiece of the comic, Nick Fury in the ‘war room’ (or whatever you’d call it) monitoring the situations, visually exciting. Part of this is the slow visual unhinging of Fury as things get worse and worse.
It would help to have read Hickman’s contributions to “Ultimate Fallout” before “The Ultimates” #1, though not essential. The comic is still exciting and sets up a large story that, right now, seems like it could easily end with the destruction of the team. A first issue that starts with its foot on the gas is exactly what’s called for.

Final teaser for Ultimates #1 and Hawkeye #1 preview, Ultimates #1 out tonight:

 

[Slick]

Amazing first issue Hickman is on point with this book just so much chaos going on and the art speaks for itself.

 

[Slick]

Cool article about The Ultimates and Hawkeye books.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics...icks-off-Marvels-Ultimate-relaunch/50110254/1

Captain America won't be a part of the Ultimates team, Hickman says. Feeling overwhelming guilt because of the death of Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man, he's "turned in his shield and walked off into the sunset," according to Paniccia. This doesn't rub Fury well, naturally, since it's the worst time to be without one of his most valuable assets.
Does this mean we'll never see Cap again? Paniccia says no. "Jonathan has this really crazy idea for bringing him back into the fold. Something you'd never expect, and the ramifications will be felt across the line."

 

[kguillou]

Ultimates was a good start....I think. Maybe i'm just stupid but I couldnt really understand what was going on from a story perspective. I'm gonna have to re-read it a couple of times. I feel like Hickman talks a completely different language sometimes.

 

[El Bastardo]

**** yeah, Mr. Ribic.

 

[WindsofHorus]

I've never been big on the Ultimates before, but I'm a big fan of Hickman's previous work, and he definitely didn't let me down here. I can't wait for this and Ultimate Hawkeye!

 

[Drz]

So i really enjoyed #1, it was a great start for the relaunch and Millar really set up a great status quo for Hickman to continue, we got good amounts of Triskelions and the Republic truly is burning because America has stretched too thin, now the protagonist of the book is obviously Nick Fury, but just like Ultimate Thor wasn't simply about Thor, but felt more about Asgard and it's characters themselves, this feels like a book about Ultimate Marvel as a whole. You got Iron Man subplot, Hawkeye's subplot againts SEAR, we got Thor and Asgard subplot, we got the European Heroes and we have the Future Foundation alongside Captain America calling it quits for now. Great way to start and i'm anxious for more, as #2 we meet Monica Chang and Bruce Banner, oh yeah!

Hatchette has pretty much released all Marvel trades coming up from January to April 2012, it shows that the relaunch titles Ultimates, Spidey and X-Men are getting 6 issue collections as assumed.

Page 115 has info on the Avengers Omnibus, lots of cool stuff there nonetheless.

Also Bendis once again confirms Peter aint coming back: "...but I'm going to say never. So there's that. It's only worth it if we stick to our guns".

From iFanboy podcast, at 25 minutes of the interview.

 

[El Bastardo]

**** all the rest of that. If Hickman is introducing Morrison's idea of The World, that's all that matters.

 

[Drz]

Scott Lang will appear on Ultimates and so will Brian Braddock

 

[Drz]

I thought this was interesting enough to share and discuss, two tweets from Bendis on the digital age of comics and the format we use for comic book story telling:
The 1st tweet:

@brubaker joe and i have been talking about the idea that things may swing from collected 'stories' with digital.

The 2nd tweet

@brubaker we may be heading back to awesome chapters with no 'ending'. like marvel 70s. I'm trying it on usm and moonknight now. love it.

We also know thanks to Hatchette page 46 that the relaunch titles are getting 6 issue collection trades as one would suspect, so this just reminds me of Dan Didio talking about DC relaunch how the trade department gets to "deal with it" and writers are allowed to write as long or short stories they want, and the trade department will decide how they will be collected more or less.

So yeah how i understood these messages was that Bendis is wanting to write USM in a non-written for trade style decompressed stories, but rather standalone issues that stood up on their own. Ultimate Spider-Man was always very accessible if you ask me, but this still really nice.

 

[Saved]

Sooooo... remember when Bendis said he had plans with peter's future back at the beginning of USM? Where, every 100 issues or so, he'd age like a year? Also, how does [BLACKOUT]Peter's death [/BLACKOUT]work with Ultimates 3?

Just some thoughts I had recently.

 

[El Bastardo]

What does Ultimates 3 have to do with anything?

It came out and happened chronologically before Peter's death. And he was in, what, one issue?

 

[Dangerman]

Ultimate Captain America should really have his own ongoing series. Really him and Iron Man.

 

[Drz]

Newsarama - Ultimates #2 preview!

Jamie has such a nice grin, he is truly enjoying himself. Also never mess with Thor!

Hawkeye #1 a pretty decent start off for the 4 issue mini, we get some hints on what a modern day Mutant is and how this is going to effect both the Brotherhood and the X-Men, so it's really nice to see the arms race having the Mutant genes on it too. Hawkeye and Nick Fury had spot on dialogue.

 

[Mass Nerder]

I just picked up Ultimate Thor, really good stuff. It sorta fills in the gaps with Thor before and during 1st Ultimates. I wanna read Ultimate Captain America. Just wondering what is everyone's opinion is of these books.

 

[CConn]

Ultimate Cap was great. Jason Aaron is phenomenal.

 

[Drz]

CBR gives Ultimate Spider-Man #1 4,5/5 stars

When "Ultimate Spider-Man" first launched more than a decade ago, the opening issue left readers confused. It heralded the arrival of what would later be called "decompressed" storytelling, preferring deliberate, dialogue- and mood-heavy scenes over the abbreviated, distilled style of the years that preceded it. The result was a first issue of a series that, utterly against expectation, didn't feature Spider-Man at all, mostly the still-powerless Peter Parker, and only touched on the moments beyond the fateful spider-bite.
If the relaunched "Ultimate Comics Spider-Man" is anything to go by, then Bendis and company have decided not to mess with a successful formula. Those hoping to see more of Miles Morales, following the character's first in-costume appearance in "Ultimate Fallout" #4, will not be disappointed. Those hoping to see more of Morales as Spider-Man, though, are in for a slightly longer wait.
But enough about what isn't in the book, because there's a lot that is. For a start, we're introduced to the three adults who will presumably make up the principle members of Morales' supporting cast -- though the spectre of Uncle Ben quickly looms large (metaphorically) over one of them in particular. We see a character who could be Morales' first villain (or possibly his mentor) -- a newly-ultimatized version of an existing Spider-Man character who debuted during the Lee/Buscema years. We also see the first power Morales discovers, a power that Peter Parker never possessed.
Speaking of Parker, one thing that will surely upset some readers is the character's lack of presence in this book. It's understandable why, given both the chronology of events and, philosophically-speaking, the need for Morales to stand on his own feet as a character -- but Bendis' assurances that Parker would be a factor in Morales' origin may lead fans to expect him to appear. He doesn't. At least, not yet.
In many ways, "not yet" is the main criticism that you can apply to "Ultimate Comics Spider-Man" #1. It's a strong start, but even with Bendis' dialogue-heavy interactions and trademark slow pace, it's all over far, far too quickly. A double-sized issue would have been fantastic. Admittedly, "I wanted to keep reading" is hardly the harshest criticism a book can face, but it feels like the engine's just warming up when it cuts out entirely, and that's sure to negatively impact readers' perception of the issue.
At least it's a technically strong book. Bendis' writing is as at home on this title as it's ever been, while Pichelli's artwork represents her strongest effort to date. It seems as though her star has risen quickly, and yet she's never failed to meet the challenges, fully justifying Marvel's decision to put her on what is likely to be the most widely-read Marvel title of the year. Her strengths -- body language, fashion and location work -- make her at once a perfect collaborator for Bendis and well-suited for a book like "Ultimate Comics Spider-Man," which needs to look grounded, youthful and relatable.
In a month when readers have been prompted to think about the craft of the first issue (courtesy of DC Comics) "Ultimate Comics Spider-Man" #1 makes it look easy, striking a strong balance between showing what readers need to know and teasing what might come later. Most importantly, what the issue lacks in costumed antics, it makes up for with character. It's only the second time we've seen Miles Morales on the page, but already we're starting to see how his background and outlook differ from Peter Parker's. It suggests that we're going to see a Spider-Man quite different than the one we're used to -- but at the same time, it's still one who you'll want to read about next issue. A very conventional start to the series, but in the Ultimate line in particular, that's exactly what it should be.

Meh, i was worried the issue would be full of Bendis speak, it seems like another set-up issue with no single issue story to be told nor barely any action. Oh well i do hope i'll enjoy it tomorrow.

 

[El Bastardo]

Ultimate Cap was great. Jason Aaron is phenomenal.

Ultimate Cap was okay, and its merits were largely based on Garney's artwork. Aaron's strong writing was the first issue and the ending, with a giant pitfall of **** in the middle.

Much as I wanted it to be great, it's some of his weakest Marvel work to date.