Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #27 – Review

By: Joshua Hale Fialkov (Writer), Carmine Di Giandomenico (Penciler), Lorenzo Ruggiero (Inker), Jim Charalampidis (Colorist), VC’s Clayton Cowles (Lettering & Production)

Review: I didn’t know quite what to expect from Fialkov’s run on The Ultimates. Previously I was only loosely aware of his work on I, Vampire, and even so he was a pretty unexpected announcement when the time came for DC’s post-Geoff Johns Green Lantern plans. Those were some pretty huge shoes to fill, so maybe things worked out best the way they did. Or maybe not. I mean it’s not like Sam Humphries was a tough act to follow – my thoughts on that are well documented – but even so, what he’s achieved here is remarkable. Under his stewardship The Ultimates has evolved from a book that I’d come to borderline despise with every ounce of my being to one that surprises, thrills and horrifies (in the vey best way). As far as the Ultimate universe goes, it’s a revelation.

In this issue our heroes are either already round beaten, or in the process of being beaten. Following the recent last few issues’ Infinity Gem-fuelled madness – whereby Reed Richards, Hulk, Quicksilver and a funky version of Kang the Conqueror have teamed up to rule/save/destroy the universe – the Ultimates are scattered and lost in a world of hurt. Cap and Hawkeye are Kang’s prisoners, rooted in a jail from which there seems no escape. Ben Grimm (does he even go by ‘The Thing’ in the 1610 anymore?) and Susan Storm are being chipped away piece-by-piece, literally, by Quicksilver. Thor’s facing an unfeasibly over-powered Hulk. And Tony…well, Tony’s predicament is the worst of the bunch.

Really, there’s no concern in spoiling the Reed Richards’ interrogation of Tony Stark in this issue; the cover tells you almost all you need to know. Tony is strung up in a lab, prostate and paralyzed as Reed digs into his brain in the search for an Infinity Gem. Say what!? Yeah…Tony’s brain tumour was actually a magical space gem all along, which kinda explains the whole ‘Little Anthony’ situation. This scene underpins the majority of the issue, and Fialkov revels in the horror. And horrific it is. The most pertinent corollary I can think of is the infamous ‘Brain Dining’ scene in Hannibal, minus the cannibalism. Reed’s also a much more refined tinkerer, and an even more sadistic captor – he keeps Reed conscious and cogent throughout, taunting and mocking Tony’s pleas for compassion and surrender. It’s a brilliant scene, stuffed as it is with dialogue almost as sharp as Reed’s scalpel and a sense of dread that builds up to a truly macabre climax. That bit I won’t spoil.

Young Liars #1 – Review

By David Lapham (writer & artist), Lee Loughridge (colors)

Young Liars is a beautiful mess. And that’s a compliment. I say beautiful because it’s David Lapham’s first fully drawn and written book in years (I think), and it’s just wonderful to see his art again. I say mess because the cast of characters that inhabit this book are some of the most craziest, trashiest, and realistic personalities I’ve read about in a long time.

Now, there’s too much going on in this book for me to write a synopsis about. Instead, I’ll just give you the premise. This book’s about a rag-tag group of young men and women whose lives are spiraling out of control. Their dreams are washed up, they’re poor, and live day-to-day. The only thing keeping their group together is a deranged girl named Sadie, who has no morale compass due to brain damage from a bullet.

At first, I thought this book was just going to be exploitative with lots of senseless violence and two dimensional characters. But, Lapham manages to introduce us to a huge ensemble cast, nailing down their personalities and quirks within 24 pages of story. The way he wraps up the issue is just perfect, too. I hate drawing up comparisons to movies, but when I read this, I felt like I was watching the opening to Fight Club. It’s that kind of mania Lapham uses as the foundation of this series.

This book is a must buy. After the subpar writing Lapham’s given us with Spider-Man: With Great Power and Terror Inc., Young Liars is a display of a man on his “A” game. This is how you write a debut issue. (Grade: A+)

– J. Montes