Ultimate Origins #4 – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Butch Guice (Artist), and Justin Ponsor (Colorist)

Well, now I have to go back and re-read every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man.

Ultimate Origins continues its portrayal of a twisted version of the original Marvel universe, similar enough to be familiar, but different enough to surprise and intrigue. The battlefield connection between Nick Fury and Wolverine wasn’t unexpected, but the violent-yet-forgotten encounter between Bruce Banner and a very young Peter Parker sure was. And now every old scene from USM with Spider-Man and Nick Fury can be seen in a different light.

The issue opens in a Baghdad hospital, where Fury is recuperating from the battle that lost him his eye. He is visited by one General “Thunderbolt” Ross, who hasn’t yet grown that white Yosemite Sam mustache. Their discussion brings us up to date on where Fury has been for the past forty years, how he’s changed, and the ways is which he’s like—and more importantly, unlike—Captain America. This sets the stage for the new super-soldier project, where we meet the four chief researchers: Franklin Storm, Richard Parker, Bruce Banner, and a ridiculous, rebellious youth named Henry Pym.

I can’t say more without spoilers, but rest assured Ultimate Origins is not losing any steam. Bendis has been waiting years to tell this tale, and he’s having fun. My only beef is that Guice draws General Ross to look just like Private Fisk from the first issue (ie, like Robert DeNiro). Are they hinting that Ross and the Kingpin are somehow related? Or is Guice just re-using reference material?

Oh, one more thing: we finally find out what those alien traffic-lights are. Frankly, I should have seen it coming. They’ve all got eyes on them, right? And what do eyes do? Sure, they “look”, they “gaze”, but there’s another word… Starts with a “W”…

(Grade: A)

– Andrew C. Murphy

A Second Opinion

We’re four issues in, and I’m not sure what this book is trying to be. After previous issues serving more as one-shots, and some as backup to a larger story, Bendis leaves us to trust him, promising that everything will tie together in the end. But, I have to react to the here and now, and as the moment I’m confused.

This particular issue feels more related to a larger story than a one shot. Even though it’s Hulk’s cover, this issue like much of the series is about Nick Fury. Fury’s the real star of the title so I’m fine with that, but it’s a little misleading to have Banner be such a bit part while he’s on the cover. That’s not to say he doesn’t have an impact, he’s just not the focus. The red-eye thing from previous issues turns out to be part of Ultimate Watcher. I say part, because each one of part of a hive-mind organism. Sound familiar? Re-read Ultimate Galactus. Still, the book reads well, Bendis’ dialogue is sharp and hits all the marks. What amazes me about him is how he keeps up the quality with so many projects. Some would argue that he’s spread too thin, but each book has that something special to keep us all reading.

One of the best parts of the Ultimate line is the artwork, and Butch Guice is no exception. Each title has a level of realism and detail that’s missing from a lot of comics today. Part of that is the fact that the Ultimate U is groomed for film, but the quality of work is awesome to see. If you had told me that a science montage (which is a large portion of the book) could be visually interesting I’d probably laugh. Guice pulls it off though. His ability to make something like taking blood engaging only adds to the punch of his action scenes. Anticipation plays a part in that since it’s a slower book than previous issues, but that pacing couldn’t work without Guice’s stellar pencils.

The biggest problem with this series is that it’s tough to stand on it’s own. Wolverine’s book was part one-shot, part setup. Cap was a retelling of his origin, as was Magneto. Hulk is mostly about Fury with parts of the larger story. Each issue is good, but it’s different month to month. From the writing to the art, it has a lot of good parts but so far Ultimate Origins has yet to feel whole. (Grade: B-)

-Ben Berger

Ultimate Origins #3 – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Butch Guice (Artist), and Justin Ponsor (Colorist)

Hey, hey, now that’s more like it!

After last issue’s beat-for-beat retread of Captain America’s origin, we’re back in virgin territory. This time it’s the first meeting of Erik Lehnsherr and Charles Xavier (Magneto and Professor X, for you newbies), and the spirit of the story is the same but the details are substantially different, the way it should be in the Ultimate universe.

The book begins with Carol Danvers and the Fantastic Four arguing over what to do about the suddenly-activated alien artifact at Project Pegasus. Then the artifacts (which still look like extraterrestrial traffic lights, if you ask me) start showing up all over Earth, usually in the vicinity of super-heroes. It’s all a little too 2001: A Space Odyssey for me, but I’m giving Bendis the benefit of the doubt.

Next we jump to Canada, where Lehnsherr frees Wolverine from Weapon X, which just happens to be run by his parents. A ten-year jump, and Lehnsherr walks in on Xavier’s classroom (where Xavier is, appropriately, reading Dr. Faustus to his students). They have an entire psychic conversation while Xavier continues to read. Everything is pitch perfect. It’s easy to see what would attract these two to each other, how the man of intellect and the man of action would need each other.

At the end of the book, Lehnsherr brings Xavier to the Savage Land where they will form their isolated mutant community, and so we finally—finally!—have the first half of the back-story to Ultimate X-Men #1. The second half will, of course, end with Lehnsherr driving a steel spike through Xavier’s spine. I wonder what will bring that about? Might it have something to do with the woman Magda that Lehnsherr brings along, and Xavier’s notorious lack of self control around beautiful women? It might be something loftier, more noble, but I doubt it.

Oh, and for those people who doubt Bendis has the smarts to plan a plot-line like Ultimate Origins or Secret Invasion five years in advance (yes, I’m talking about you, Ambush Bug at AICN), remember the opening lines of Ultimate Origins #1, “Listen, it’s all connected. That’s it. That’s the secret.”? Those words were first uttered in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #2. Published when? Over five years ago.

Heck, I know it’s not Shakespeare (or, in this case, Marlowe), but in comics this is about as good as it gets (Grade: A+).

– Andrew C. Murphy