This week, the Marvel Rundown looks at Ultimate Invasion #4, which answers the question inherent throughout this miniseries — is Ultimate Marvel back? This review is SPOILER-LITE, so scroll down for the Rapid Rundown for some Spoiler-Free reviews of more of the week’s books.
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Ultimate Invasion #4
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Penciler: Bryan Hitch
Inker: Andrew Currie
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
This week marks the end of Ultimate Invasion, a book I’ve followed since it started in June, and, I suppose, for 20 years before that, having been the exact right age to go all in on Marvel’s Ultimate Universe when it launched 20-some years ago. I’ve enjoyed it, and the final issue is no exception. It’s high concept sci-fi from Hickman that makes great use of the Hitch-Currie-Sinclair team’s flair for giant intricate battle splashes that hit so hard you have to shake them off before you turn the page.
Ultimate Invasion #4 — and, indeed, this miniseries as a whole — is above all else a grandiose sci-fi action thriller that brims with large-scale superhero set pieces (I mean, just look up above at this cover). It’s a book that I imagine most fans of such things could pick up and enjoy on its own merits, even if they’re not An Old like me who cut their teeth on Bendis, Millar, Hitch, Bagley, and co.’s work on the original Ultimate books way back when.
But there is, of course, also a connection to that Ultimate Universe, and I feel like that’s the question more readers will have about this series. They’ll wonder less whether it’s a satisfying story on its own (again, I think it is), and more about its implications for the Ultimate Universe moving forward. Put it like this: I have mentioned to several comics friends that I’m reading and writing about this book, and to a one they’ve wanted to know: oh, so are they bringing the Ultimate Universe back?
In keeping with this column’s spoiler-line ethos, I will answer that here by saying kind of. Essentially, there will definitely be more stories featuring these characters moving forward, given how it ends, and these characters are very much spun out of the Ultimate Universe, although with one exception they’re not really the versions of the characters from the first round of books. It’s not a return of the Ultimate Universe and neither is it a re-do of that concept, which re-imagined and modernized long-time characters in comics that ran parallel to the mainline legacy books.
Instead, what Ultimate Invasion #4 and this miniseries serves up is a sort of continuation of the Ultimate Universe, a way to tell new stories that continue from that plot thread. And it’s a satisfying call. The Ultimate Universe was ended with a bit of fanfare by Hickman and Esad Ribic’s Secret Wars story in 2015. Miles Morales was ported over to the 616, as was the evil Reed Richards known as The Maker.
What this book does is not restore what was ended, but sees The Maker endeavoring to essentially re-create it in a more perfect image, one that he (of course) entirely controls. He machinates to stop many of the superheroes from becoming powerful, and he creates a secret council that runs the world, ginning up fake conflict to keep the masses engaged (because, the book posits, a truly peaceful world simply doesn’t work). This brings its fair share of problems. And we get a fun Howard Stark saves fights the good fight story in the end, complete with appearances by Tony, a new variation of Reed Richards, and Kang.
And it ends in such a way that there’s interesting ground for Hickman and his collaborators to pick it back up. What I’m not sure is pulled off here, though, is the more grounded tone that defined the Ultimate Universe at its start. But I’m also not sure it needs to be. This book is certainly in keeping with what the Ultimate Universe became, which speaks to its whole continuation over redefinition motif.
Finally, what we also get here is a hint at what Hickman might have in store for his forthcoming Ultimate Spider-Man project in January. The Maker stopped the radioactive spider from biting Peter Parker, and kept it for himself. There’s plenty of interesting ways that plot point can do, and I for one am excited to see where Hickman — working with possibly the ideal artist in Marco Checchetto — takes it.
Verdict: BUY
Rapid Rundown!
- The Immortal Thor #2
- What began as prelude erupts into epic action that spills off the page and aims to distill superhero storytelling into its purest, most mythological aspect. Martin Coccolo’s art shines in this issue, rending the page with lightning and turning a super-god of storm into a frightful being of the elements. But in quieter moments his deft character acting brings a vulnerability to the god of thunder, showcasing the range of both artist and subject. Al Ewing’s script drips with Shakespearean poetics and melodramatic narration that speaks directly to the reader. Thor’s battle with the mysterious Utgard Thor is stirring, grounding the cosmic action by bringing the reader in to be part of the story. Ewing’s script reminds us the strength and escape that can be found in these tales of victory and courage, while also providing a warning about relying too much on fictional stories. It’s a beautiful book that is amplified by Matt Wilson’s painterly colors and Joe Sabino’s evocative letters. It might be trite by now to call Al Ewing the best writer at Marvel, but he continues to challenge himself and his collaborators, to the great benefit of readers. —TR
- Invincible Iron Man#10
- Writer Gerry Duggan and artist Juan Frigeri give us more than a shotgun wedding as they follow up on the events of X-Men #26, as our favorite Armored Avenger, Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, and one of Earth’s grand telepaths, Emma Frost jump the broom to take down the anti-Mutant group Orchis and their technologist Feilong in this post-Krakoan era. Feilong has full ownership of Stark’s Iron Man technology and has used it to enhance Orchis’ Sentinel program for hunting and remaining Mutants on Earth, forcing Tony and Emma to stage a Vegas wedding to fly under the radar and make their next move against Orchis and Feilong. This issue is all about the chess moves between Stark and Feilong, as each works to better position themselves to take the other completely off the board. And in all this, Tony seems to be falling for Emma which will make this faux marriage fun to watch. –GC3
- Realm of X #2
- This has been a very interesting series so far, especially because of how much of an outlier this is compared to the rest of the Fall of X. It absolutely has a New Mutants feel to it, but it takes advantage of the strange genre-bending of that series, and swings far into the high fantasy that occasionally springs up in those stories. Torunn Grønbekk is spot on with these character voices, and also does a great job of fleshing out Vanaheim’s inhabitants, making us feel for the Vanir and their plight against Saturnyne, in her masquerade as the White Witch. Diógenes Neves has a unique style, one that’s a lot more angular and jagged in the way he defines bodies, though it’s still wicked fluid, especially with the way Typhoid Mary’s fantastic hair dances in every panel. Along with Rain Beredo’s colors and Clayton Cowles on letters, this is a great-looking book, and one that looks to have some severe consequences with Saturnyne’s involvement. –CB
Next week, we finally find out what the heck G.O.D.S. is all about!
And don’t miss Marvel Rundown columns from past weeks!
