Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates # 28 Review

By: Joshua Hale Fialkov (Writer), Carmine Di Giandomenico (Penciler), Lorenzo Ruggiero (Inker), Jim Charalampidis (Colorist)

Review: First of all: Yeesh! Try typing out the names of that creative team. Go on, try it. It tests everything you ever knew about the layout of the QWERTY keyboard to its utmost limits. I felt like a monkey tasked with typing out the entire Human Genome with single-stroke key taps while I was entering that…testing stuff.

Second: All such effort was totally worth it because now I can get to the good bit – telling you exactly how awesome Fialkov and co have made The Ultimates. I was pleasantly blown away by the last issue, and this one continues to impress. Humpries’ run seems like a distant memory now (one that I’m keen to forget) and even though some of Fialkov’s moves lay claim to similar structural traits as those laid out by his predecessor, this team actually makes them work – and work brilliantly. It’s full of the kind of grand ideas, great character moments and high stakes that make this book an undeniable keeper.

Actually, the storyline also has shades of Hickman’s time on the title, as well as a touch of the Phoenix Force Five’s A vs X exploits. Reed’s band of villains have set about winning the hearts and minds of Earth by building a better world than the Ultimates were ever able to give them. Quicksilver’s doing what is, I guess, community outreach work, Banner’s bringing about an ecological revolution (and the odd bit of smashing) to Africa, and Reed’s Herbietrons are fixing and securing pretty much everything else.

Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #24 – Review

By: Sam Humphries (Writer), Joe Bennett (Penciler), Ruy José (Inker), Matt Milla (Colorist), VC’s Clayton Cowles (Letterer)

Review: I’ve taken a l’il sabbatical from my Ultimate Comics Ultimates review duties of late. Partially this is the fault of Bioshock Infinite and Injustice: Gods Among Us – both of which give Heroin and Marshmallow Fluff a run for their money in the addiction stakes – and also because I thought it best to give Sam Humphries a break. Most of his issues I’ve…well, ‘savaged’ is a strong word. I’ve ‘lightly rebuked’ them? Yeah, that sounds better. However I honey-coat it though, here’s the main gist; this has not been a good run. At its best Humphries’ Ultimates has read like a parody comic flirting dangerously near Robot Chicken territory while at its worst it’s been one of the most depressing uses of a Marvel licence since *dry-heaves for a few minutes* that Hasselhoff Nick Fury film *vomits all over his keyboard*.

Ultimate Comics Ultimates #22 – Review

By: Sam Humphries (Writer), Joe Bennett (Penciler), Ruy José (Inker), Matt Milla (Colorist), VC’s Clayton Cowles (Letterer)

Review: I have trouble sleeping some nights. It’s this recurring dream I have: every comic writer I’ve ever trashed in print lines up and takes turns kicking me right in the nuts. On and on it goes. Brian Wood’s been getting a few jabs in there lately. Joe Keatinge nearly took ‘em clean off the other week. But even in the grip of deep sleep my body physically convulses when Ultimates writer Sam Humphries steps up to the plate; by Christ, that man must be able to power a Pedalo at an impressive rate of knots with those well-developed calves. And that’s not even the half of it. I always know that at the back of the queue stands Jeph Loeb, a &$@!-eating grin on his face and steel-toed,  rocket-powered boots on his feet. Bring it on Loeb, I’ve had worse; I read Ultimatum…twice.

Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates #1

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Esad Ribic (art), Dean White (colors), and Clayton Cowles (letters)

The Story: Nick Fury finds himself complete overwhelmed by disasters all around.

What’s Good:  It’s not something I’d have expected out him in particular, but Jonathan Hickman fully nails the “blockbuster” feel of the Ultimates, and in doing so, hammers home just what makes it a distinctive read from the 616 Avengers books.  This is a high-octane book with a high budget feel and one that feels bleeding edge slick and modern.

Despite this, however, Hickman still adds the little touches that keep the book smart and remind you just who is writing the book.  We’ve got what looks to be an ultimate version of “the World” that is the sort of ominous, sleek science fiction that Hickman does so well.

That’s not to say that it’s all high-tech realism however, as one of the major storylines takes place in Asgard, as does possibly the book’s best scene.  Hickman’s portrayal of Thor and the Asgardians as friendly partiers who take disrespect very seriously is one that makes them immediately likable.

That said, Nick Fury is the star of the show this month, and Hickman manages to convey his current circumstances very well.  Hickman overwhelms the reader with disasters and narratives from every angle, which is exactly what Fury is going through.  As a result, we get a real appreciation for the global juggling act that is Nick Fury’s high-risk life.  It’s a taut, dynamic read.