Ultimate Comics Thread - Part 1

Miles Morales debuts today in Ultimate Spidey #1, check out the preview here!

Ultimate Spider-Man #1 at Comixology

Here's what "happens":
- We learn the origin of Miles' powers and how it ties with the one and only: Norman himself.
- The issue opens the same exact way as the original Spider-Man #1, it's pretty clever to see Norman tell the same tale of Athena.
- Spider 42 is what will bite Miles during this issue.
- Spider 42 is clearly more powerful than Peter's, since it takes Peter a whole night to get the transition with his DNA and stuff. Miles passes out but awakens quickly, and more or less immeidately his body can create an camoflauge for himself.
- Miles lottery number to enter the Brooklyn Visions Academy is also 42
- Miles Morales' neughbour Uncle Aaron is the ultimized new villain, some thief guy.
- Miles' father is over protective because he seems to know about Aaron's past, i'm going to assume Aaron has been a willing thief to make his way thru living, wheres Miles' father is the hard-working family man, but Miles digs Aaron, it seems he's a free spirit and "has a good heart" kinda guy.
- Miles gains his powers, and thats about it.
- The story opens and i believe the whole issue is 11 months ago, meaning Peter Parker has been Spider-Man for, what? 7 months? And then the issue with Miles Morales is suppose to be post-Ultimatum correct? Or is this all pre-Ultimatum and DOSM and hence it's just focusing on Miles being an ordinery kid with powers, but will only start using them for good once Peter dies? Thats the kinda vibe i got here, i'm abit confused here to be perfectly honest.

Nothing happens in this issue, it does absolutely nothing engaging for the reader outside of the whole hook that Miles Morales is a Spider-Man, we don't see him act as a Spider-Man, we don't learn really anything about Miles Morales except (lets assume someone didn't read the internet previews/interviews/reviews) that he has parents, he's multicultural and he's bitten by a spider. For a 3.99 dollar comic this is just a slap to the face for long readers and makes me just wonder should i trade wait? I can understand a whole new audience picking up just 1 comic (and it being this) and enjoying spenting 48 dollars per year for 12 issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, but lets compare this to the very first Ultimate Spider-Man from 2000 that cost 2.99 and was oversized, we learned so much more and it had Peter doing Spider things, now yes granted Miles does use a power here that shows his uniqueness.

Now let's compare this with the original #1: We learn about Peter, Mary Jane, Norman & Harry, Peter's school life, Aunt May and Uncle Ben, Kong and the other school mates while alongside showing how the Spider powers we're created and how Norman reacts to all of this. So much happened n the original issue that it hooked up people, now here i really feel it should have been longer, because this isn't a good impression, for a older comic reader it gets you worried that it's very slow decompressed writing of Bendis, and i hate the idea of letting the second issue convince me wrong because again we're talking 3.99 dollars here, but again maybe that pricing is just fine for "the whole new audience" since 48 dollars for 12 issues of Spidey aint seeming that bad if its that 1 single comic you wish to read.

The art however was nothing but plain great, Sara Pichelli gets the bodies, the facial expressions and the body language, so i'm really glad this can be her moment of shine to get her into a big mainstream artist, i anxiously wait to see more action scenes from her, i know it's going to rock the house.

Ratings:
Writing: 7/10
Art: 10/10
Story: 2/10
Overall: 5/10

Final Verdict:

I feel Marvel should have either made it more "accessible" with a 2.99 price tag, or kept 3.99 price tag but made the issue atleast have 2-4 pages of more content than an usual issue in "good will's" sake because first impressions are always more important and to me, it didn't give a big impression.
 
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gotta admit was very surprised to see Ultimate Prowler show up and they atleast explained why this kid is developing different abilities than what peter had. I'll keep reading out of curiosity.
 
First off, great review Drz. You're spot on.

the origin is a weak copy and paste of what happened to Peter, and it took an entire 20 pages to tell it. I was expecting something related to Pete's origin...but this is pretty much the exact same origin. Bendis even completely recycled like 2 pages worth of script. While that CAN be clever, here it just felt lazy as hell to me.

The art was the only saving grace for this issue. It was gorgeous. I might give it another month or two to see where it goes, but I think this might be one of the titles I just wait for trades on.
 
I thought the Norman speech was clever and not lazy, and well yeah it's more or less the same origin, but it also does make sense for the mad scientist to try and duplicate his success. I think Morales family is pretty interesting, because you got Miles looking up for his Uncle, who unlike Uncle Ben who had a good backstory and no dirt underground, here we got Uncle Aaron as The Ultimate Prowler, who seems to be just a criminal who gets stuff here and there to have a chill life, will the optimistic attitude of Miles make Prowler into a hero? Will Prowler train Spidey? Will Prowler steal Stark tech to get Spidey's costume and whatnot whatnot.

Here's the other thing, #2 comes in 2 weeks! So this can already feel like a burn for people in such short time to spent 8 dollars for 42 pages of context and if it keeps this incredibly slow pace, i can see people just dropping the title alltogether.
 
Ultimate Spidey has always been that way. Stories that should take 3-4 issues go on for 6 issues. USM#1-5 ten years ago were infinitely slow as Bendis dragged on the origin as long as humanly possible. But after those early issues, the book became great. Give Miles a chance.

I thought developing his world was more engaging than the "shock and awe" of a everything and nothing happening in Ultimates #1. With that said, I was amused and will give that a few more issues.
 
I think I like black Spider-Man tons more than white Spider-Man. :o
 
DACrowe said:
Ultimate Spidey has always been that way. Stories that should take 3-4 issues go on for 6 issues. USM#1-5 ten years ago were infinitely slow as Bendis dragged on the origin as long as humanly possible. But after those early issues, the book became great. Give Miles a chance.
Click to expand...

There is no reason outside of money grabbing to have a 20 page comic at 3.99 :cmad:

Hawkeye #2 preview! and X-Men #1 preview!
 
Ultimate Spider-Man #1 sets digital comics record!

Axel Alonso talks Marvel!
First the eye candy art, Ultimate Spider-Man #3! It also has X-Men but i'm pretty sure we've seen these before: Rogue in shock! & Shroud & Elemental Boys!

1316193852.jpg

1316193854.jpg


Poor Miles, clearly he's already killed in 3 issues and thats not a dream sequence. :p

The big release for Marvel of the week is the new "Ultimate Comics Spider-Man" #1. In general, when you're introducing a new character or concept with a lot of attention on it like that, what do you want to see from an issue #1? What are your marching orders for making that book hit big with readers?

With the Ultimate launch, all three writers knew that accessibility was of utmost importance. If you're going to do a launch, you want to open that story in a cinematic fashion. When the curtain rolls up, you want the experience to please two audiences: the casual reader who took up the invitation of the big #1 on the cover, and the long-term reader who feels rewarded for their investment in that story. "Accessibility" doesn't mean all the questions are answered through clunky exposition and endless captions -- just that the reader can wrap their mind around the universe of that story enough to keep reading.


With Ultimate Spider-Man in particular, you must have known there would be attention on the book because of Miles Morales -- though probably not as much attention as you ended up getting. Did you talk to Brian Bendis about the particulars of that story or more about the kind of tone and feel that book should have to keep it a Spider-Man story even though it's a new face under the mask?

No. If those discussions took place, they were between [Ultimate Comics Editor] Mark [Paniccia] and Brian. I didn't need to get involved. I knew what Brian was intending to do with this first arc, I read the script and I loved it. That was my level of involvement. After we'd committed to Miles Morales as our new Spider-Man and Brian had supplied us with the larger details -- his powers, back story and the broad strokes of his origin -- Brian just started writing. He knows the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man better than anyone.
Click to expand...
 
Are people under the impression that the black guy at the start of USM Vol. 2 #1 was Ben Reilly, even though he was identified by a different name?
 
Not to mention it's a record breaking for the Marvel application, since they won't tell us any numbers, and on Comixology the issue is on 4th spot behind Green Lantern and Batman stuff, it's hard to say is this truly a record breaker or just clever use of words.
 
Nick Spencer mutates the world of Ultimate X-Men:

"There are huge mutant developments in 'Ultimates' and 'Ultimate Hawkeye.' A big part of what this Ultimate Universe relaunch is really all about is that it's going to be cohesive again," Spencer told CBR News. "Because we're all going to be shipping monthly and we're all going to be shipping on time we're able to play off of each other. That includes Jonathan's books and Brian Bendis' 'Ultimate Comics Spider-Man.' Jon and Brian are two guys I really love working with. I learn a lot from them and have a blast bouncing ideas back and forth with them. We're all excited about the chance to build up and react to each others' stories. We really want to create that old school Marvel feeling of interconnectedness and cohesion, so everybody's books will impact everybody else's books in fundamental ways. When you go in and get your Ultimate book for that week, very often you'll see the reflections and impacts of things in another book."
In the aftermath of "Ultimatum" the X-Men disbanded and the surviving members went their separate ways. In "Ultimate Comics X-Men" #1 Spencer begins the process of bringing the titular team back together.


"I have a reputation for being a long form storyteller at this point and this is certainly a long form story. The cast are not all sitting in a mansion somewhere ready to go on page one of issue #1. There is going to be a process of putting all these characters together and I think the ways that they meet up down the road will be so much more exciting because of the way that we're doing this," Spencer explained. "You're going to see mutants scattered around in various locales and situations; most of them are not good. Obviously mutants in the Ultimate Universe have been through so much over the last couple of years and they're showing signs of it. A lot of them are in very bad places."


Kitty, Johnny and Bobby won't be the only teen characters in Spencer's book. Jimmy Hudson, the adolescent son of the Ultimate U's Wolverine will also play a role in the book. "I'm playing a long game in terms of how Jimmy comes to be a part of the group. It's something that we're setting up and working towards. When it happens it will be a very big moment for the book and you'll see why Jimmy is such an important member of the cast," Spencer explained. "So that's a long term burning subplot. I grew up on Claremont's 'X-Men.' This book owes a great deal to the A, B, C and sometimes D, E, F subplot structures of the classic Claremont run. There are a lot of stories that are going to take some time to play out and are very, very important."
The adult cast of "Ultimate Comics X-Men" will include characters such as Jean Gray, who adopted the alias of Karen Grant in the aftermath of "Ultimatum." "You'll see her a bit in the first issue. Jean/Karen is going to have a very important role to play in the big mutant epic that we're setting up here," Spencer said. "You're going to see her in a lot of books. We've got big plans for where she's headed so she's very much a continuing part of the story."
Readers of "Ultimate Comics Fallout" know that Karen Grant has an association with Nick Fury, leader of the Ultimates and S.H.I.E.L.D., but she won't be able to use that connection to protect herself and her fellow mutants from the climate of fear and hatred that explodes in "Ultimate Comics X-Men" #1 with the revelation that mutankind is a manmade species.As Spencer mentioned, he's a longtime X-Men fan and "Ultimate Comics X-Men" is his first chance to work with the characters. He's not going to use that chance to tell Ultimate versions of his favorite X-Men stories or tales that could easily be told in a Marvel Universe X-Men comic. Like all the books in the newly relaunched Ultimate line, "Ultimate Comics X-Men" will be a title for readers looking for X-Men stories that can't be told anywhere else.
"You could never tell this story in the 616 Marvel books. I mentioned in the 'Next Big Thing' phone conference that this was sort of a 'Days of Future Past' scenario. I think a lot of people grabbed on to that and took it to mean that's exactly what this book is going to look like. It's not though," Spencer explained. "'Days of Future Past' was a story that lasted a couple of issues and was a potential future. It was something to be averted and avoided. It was a lesson to learn and take back with you. This is not that. This is the world of today for these kids. It's not going anywhere. It's not going to be erased. It's not going to be undone. The genie is out of the bottle and there's no putting it back. The relationship between man and mutant is permanently severed.
Click to expand...
 
hmm seems like this guy knows what hes' doing. Definitely looking forward to Ultimate X-Men.
 
Ultimate Comics X-Men looks like it will be much better than Ultimate Comics [new] Spider-Man IMO.
 
Ultimate X-Men really didn't do anything for me. I won't be buying issue #2.
 
Oh, and for those who didn't like Ultimate Spider-Man, you fellas have to remember...this is Brian Michael Bendis we're talking about. He exclusively writes for trade.

What made issue one promising was the characterization of Miles. He's actually a pretty cool dude. Which means, once Bendis cranks out a trade or two, we should have some awesome stories on our hands.
 
Ultimate X-Men #1: I think Nick Spencer did a great way of showing us a post-Ultimatum mutant world and showing us some real fear and real terror despite the riots around the world getting 1 panel each and a reference to the riot where Rogue was, you could still feel the fear and hatred going on, especially with Karen Grant's story with the family, man that was a shocker.

This issue sets up multiple plotpoints and tells a single issue story of Kitty Pryde, i loved it. I'm definately going to be reading more of this with excitment. Whats also interesting how Jimmy was developed, this optimistic bright minded hero who took Karen's word feels betrayed and wants to learn more about his father, we know this will ultimately lead him to become an hero of his ownright, so lets see how Jimmy rises from the shadows into the hero finally. So yeah what does this book have in store? Tons of Mutant stories, oh yeha. :)

Ultimate Hawkeye #2: Man, this kinda seems to retcon some intentions Mark Millar had with Hawkeye's past based off the comics and what Millar has posted on his board, so i was kinda "hurr durr how dare Hickman do this to my Hawkeye" but he does give a realistic explanation how someone like Hawkeye, well can be someone like Hawkeye. I love how huge the scale of Hickman's books are, it's immediately international scale, world wide chaos! It's awesome and this 4 issue arc seems to be going to a nice direction with Hawkeye being the ultimate agent, i loved the scene that reveals the 1st time Clint and Nick meet, because this all builds up to how Nick Fury becomes the godfather to Clint's children and whatnot, these two are brothers. :)

Ultimate Spidey #2 preview! But wait theres more! Ultimates #2 preview! and the big finale SMASH!:
1316720685.jpg
 
I haven't really been buying comics for some time now, but I picked up Ultimate Comics Spider-Man and X-men and ended up really enjoying both. Actually, I hate how almost nothing happened in Spider-Man, but I expected as much from Bendis.The art was pretty sweet though. I'll probably stick with both for the first arcs.
 
Drz said:
Ultimate X-Men #1: I think Nick Spencer did a great way of showing us a post-Ultimatum mutant world and showing us some real fear and real terror despite the riots around the world getting 1 panel each and a reference to the riot where Rogue was, you could still feel the fear and hatred going on, especially with Karen Grant's story with the family, man that was a shocker.

This issue sets up multiple plotpoints and tells a single issue story of Kitty Pryde, i loved it. I'm definately going to be reading more of this with excitment. Whats also interesting how Jimmy was developed, this optimistic bright minded hero who took Karen's word feels betrayed and wants to learn more about his father, we know this will ultimately lead him to become an hero of his ownright, so lets see how Jimmy rises from the shadows into the hero finally. So yeah what does this book have in store? Tons of Mutant stories, oh yeha. :)

Ultimate Hawkeye #2: Man, this kinda seems to retcon some intentions Mark Millar had with Hawkeye's past based off the comics and what Millar has posted on his board, so i was kinda "hurr durr how dare Hickman do this to my Hawkeye" but he does give a realistic explanation how someone like Hawkeye, well can be someone like Hawkeye. I love how huge the scale of Hickman's books are, it's immediately international scale, world wide chaos! It's awesome and this 4 issue arc seems to be going to a nice direction with Hawkeye being the ultimate agent, i loved the scene that reveals the 1st time Clint and Nick meet, because this all builds up to how Nick Fury becomes the godfather to Clint's children and whatnot, these two are brothers. :)


Ultimate Spidey #2 preview! But wait theres more! Ultimates #2 preview! and the big finale SMASH!:
1316720685.jpg
Click to expand...
Yes, Yes,**** Yes! couldn't agree more.
icon10.gif

I only picked up X-men on a whim, but jesus was that a terrific,nihilistic issue, I'm definantly continuing with this.:yay:
and Ultimate Hawkeye was great, I love the modern 007ish tone and setting that Hickman created, love it.
all I can say about Hulk is **** YES. bout time my fav got some attention:awesome:
 
Ultimate December Comics:

ultsmv3005_cov_02.jpg

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #5 & #6
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils by SARA PICHELLI (#5) & CHRIS SAMNEE (#6)
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
• Miles’ journey to becoming Spider-Man continues!
• Will Miles live up to Peter Parker’s legacy?
• A mysterious figure from Peter Parker’s past returns!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99 ISSUE #5 COVER
Click to expand...

There's also an "Ultimate Spider-Man Must Have" one-shot that collects issues #1-3 of Miles Morales' adventures.

ultmtsv4005_cov_02.jpg

ULTIMATE COMICS THE ULTIMATES #5
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by ESAD RIBIC
Cover BY KAARE ANDREWS
• Tomorrow's Children are in control!
• All hope looks lost for Thor and the Ultimates!
• The Children’s creator has revealed his sinister connection to the Ultimate Universe!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
Click to expand...

Ultimates and X-Men are also getting a one-shot collecting #1-3

ultxmv2004_cov_02.jpg

ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #4 & #5
Written by NICK SPENCER
Pencils BY PACO MEDINA
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS
• Stryker’s back in a bad way!
• Our heroes must assemble to put an end to Stryker's evil plan!
• Is there a traitor amidst the new X-Men?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99 ISSUE #4 COVER
Click to expand...

No info on trade department, but ya for double shipments
 
I really think Miles' costume is pretty bada**. I may drop the title though, and pick it up in trades, since thats what Bendis is writing for anyway.
 
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