- June 5, 2024
Ultimates #1 Review
Written by: Deniz Camp
Art by: Juan Frigeri
Coloring by: Federico Blee
Lettering by: VC’s Travis Lanham
Editing by: Michelle Marchese, Wil Moss,
Now, you’re probably wondering why a known Avengers-hater is reading and reviewing an Avengers book. But here’s the thing, it’s not the Avengers, it’s the Ultimates, easy mistake to make. The old adage is that if it talks like a duck, walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, then it’s a duck.
But this duck only looks like a duck. It doesn’t talk or walk like a duck, at least not how a duck has walked for a long time. If my metaphor hasn’t gone over your head, I’m trying to say that Ultimates #1 is not an Avengers book, it only looks like one.
What Are the Ultimates if They’re Not the Avengers?
The original Ultimates series had the idea to bring the original Avengers into the modern era with a modern retelling of their origin. It was a very post-9/11 take that thought it was saying something smart about the military industrial complex. There were moments where it succeeded better than others. In other moments… Hulk was trying to convince people he wasn’t gay, Ant-Man was beating the crap out of his wife, and Captain America talk crap about France in one of the cringiest moments in comics.
The Ultimates of 2024, is not that. While two thirds of its roster are Avengers characters, they feel like adaptions of an adaptation. They’re so different and so far removed from what the original characters were, that they’ve become something new. They are just… the Ultimates.
Half the cast feels unrecognizable in the best way, and the other half feels, well, like they’re the background characters for now. There’s only been one issue, I’m sure Thor will have his time. But regardless, the dynamic of people coming together to prove that even in a world deadset on stopping them, they can still be heroes, is different from the Avengers. These are not a group of well-worn heroes coming together for the greater good. These are normal people finding out that they can be extraordinary, hanging out with Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor.
If that sounds rad to you, you should give Ultimates #1 a try.
Read for Non-Avengers Story With Riffs on Avengers Characters
Seriously, the new ultimate line at Marvel has been hit after hit. It’s a much needed boost to my opinion on Marvel comics after they killed the Krakoa era, so check it out.
As for all things Something Central, check out my last video about how writers can break their characters. I’m a writer by trade, or at least I want to be, and that video is where I’m putting my writing ideas. Check out the Youtube Channel and the website, like, comment, and subscribe. Thank you!