Customer Reviews

Ultimatum: March on Ultimatum

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you're lookin' to catch a case of the mehs and the blahs, take a whiff of ULTIMATUM: MARCH ON ULTIMATUM, which compiles five new annuals from Marvel's Ultimate titles, two of which somewhat ties into the ULTIMATUM mini-series currently ongoing. More weak than worthwhile, this trade does benefit from the pretty sweet Spidey and Hulk annuals. The other three, though, carry a stench.

SPOILERS - we've got SPOILERS:

ULTIMATE X-MEN/ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1 is first up and begins 20 years from today, with the Ultimate universe having gone horribly wrong in the aftermath of ULTIMATUM. In a hauntingly familiar future, most of Earth's mutants (as well as superpowered non-mutants) have been persecuted and rounded up. In a last ditched effort to set things right, the last few members of the X-Men travel back to present-day New York with one primary objective: kill the Fantastic Four. The story continues in ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR/ULTIMATE X-MEN ANNUAL #1.

This is one more reminder that the comic book is predominantly a visual medium. In this instance, the shaky art undermines the impact of the story, although, to be honest, I already had qualms once I learned that the two collaborating writers, Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski, had previously written for the plummeting TV show HEROES (which even now is happily ripping off X-Men themes). Several things ring false, from the future Captain America's costume (it stinks) to Sentinels molded after Wolverine (as if we already don't see this guy enough) to the presentation of the Big Bad. I guess Coleite and Pokaski are keeping mum about certain things, not wanting to tattle on Loeb's ULTIMATUM events, but, as written, the main villain fails to satisfy in character development and sheer menace. The big climax of the story is rushed and unexcitingly delivered. When the FF and the X-Men part ways, there seems to be this ho-hum "Um, hey, I guess we're gonna take off now" feel to it. However, not being a regular Ultimate X-Men fan, it's nice to catch up with Firestar (known more familiarly as Liz Allen, who started out in the pages of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN). Anyway, these two annuals left me cold.

If you've read up on ULTIMATES 3 (and if you have, I feel your pain), then you're aware of the shaky shenanigans going on with the silent and mysterious Black Panther. To Jeph Loeb's credit, ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #1 does explain away this hinkiness, and how Captain America and Nick Fury figure into it. Which still doesn't keep the story from being a lackluster one, for me, anyway. Sorry. And I think it's tugging too much at the furry privates of Coincidence that the Ultimates never do figure out that Captain America and the Panther are never in the same room together.

In their time being together, Peter and Mary Jane have gone thru a lot. Seriously, a lot. Tragic losses, dealing with the superhero baggage, run-ins with clones and symbiotes, transforming into a monster, being kidnapped by a supervillain - and that's not even mentioning the normal spats, the break-ups and make-ups. But now it's time for Peter and Mary Jane to embark on the next stage of their relationship (or at least talk about it). To complicate things, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #3 also features the debut of the Ultimate Mysterio, who thankfully doesn't come with a fish bowl for a head. David Lafuente delivers a stylized, cartoony art made even more palatable by Brian Michael Bendis's spot-on knack for dialogue. Lafuente, by the way, is slated to be the regular artist on the upcoming ULTIMATE COMICS: SPIDER-MAN title (once ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN's run ends at issue #133).

If you've read the Ultimate Power mini-series, then you know that Nick Fury now languishes in the universe of the Squadron Supreme. Meanwhile, the goddess Zarda - late of the Squadron Supreme, where she was dubbed "Power Princess" - now hangs out in the Ultimate universe. As ULTIMATE HULK ANNUAL #1 opens up, the imperious Zarda is finding it difficult (mostly because she doesn't want to) relate to this earth's lowly earthlings. On Captain America's strong "suggestion," she ventures on a cross-country jaunt to get in touch with this earth's customs. She's in a diner, eating breakfast and still fuming, when who but the Hulk shows up, naked and demanding waffles? It's pretty much a given that Zarda and the Hulk don't engage in a diplomatic chat-'em-up.

This is a really fun clash between two powerhouses who refuse to kowtow to convention. Between the Hulk and Zarda, I really can't say who flaunts the bigger attitude. I'm down on Jeph Loeb right now for his stuff in ULTIMATES 3 and HULK, but dude does write it up nice in this one, keeping the tone lighthearted and even a bit silly. Marco Djurdjevic and Ed McGuinness do a nice job, drawing the thing. As mentioned, this and the Spidey annual are the picks of the pack. The other three annuals - featuring a feeble time travel story and a blast of bland starring the Black Panther - merit a "meh" or a "blah" or possibly even a stronger expletive.

March on Ultimatum collects a handful of Ultimate annual titles; all of which amount to being better than Jeph Loeb's current Ultimatum series, which this is collected as being a lead-in into of sorts. Here, we get stories featuring Captain America, Black Panther, and the Ultimates, Spider-Man and Mary Jane, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and Hulk and Zarda. Bendis' Spidey tale is definitely the best of the bunch, and features great artwork from David Lafuente, while the Cap/Panther tale is better than anything Loeb ever came up with during Ultimates 3. The rest of March on Ultimatum doesn't feature anything else that's too worthwhile though, particularly the X-Men/Fantastic Four segment which lays groundwork for the aftermath of Ultimatum. Or something. It's actually pretty non-sensical to be honest. Other than that though, there's some great artwork to be found in here though, including work from Marco Djurdjevic, Ed McGuiness, Brandon Petersen, and more besides. All in all, if you're still a fan of Marvel's Ultimate line (and there aren't many left), March on Ultimatum may be worth a look, as it provides some pretty decent stories that take place before Loeb finishes destroying the Ultimate universe.

With a title like March on Ultimatum, I was kind of expecting a cohesive story that set the stage for the Ultimate Marvel Universe's first big crossover event. Instead, this is essentially Ultimate Annuals Volume 3. Yes, it vaguely leads into Ultimatum, but if they had just called it what it is I probably wouldn't be so bothered.

Anyway, the Ultimatum tie-in comes in the form of the Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four annuals, which feature a complex, time and dimension hopping storyline with future X-Men, a tyrant Sue Storm and...I don't know. I kind of lost interest halfway through, which is a first for me as a major fan of the Ultimate Universe. Aside from a cryptic warning about the upcoming Ultimatum, the story didn't seem to have much to do with the crossover.

The rest of the book wasn't much better. The Ultimate Captain America Annual gave us a very well illustrated origin of the Black Panther, but the story was a bit dull. Then again, it tied into Ultimates 3 so how good could it have possibly been. The Ultimate Spider-Man story was fun and full of teen angst, though it read more like an issue of Invincible. What (barely) saves this book from a 2-star rating is the Ultimate Hulk Annual, which featured a massive (and hysterical) encounter between Hulk and that psycho Zarda from the Squadron Supreme. It had an ending I was definitely not expecting.

Ultimate Annuals Volume 3 - sorry, March on Ultimatum - is worth picking up if you're a fan of the Ultimate Universe, but if you're expecting it to be important to the Ultimatum crossover, you're going to be disappointed.

The ultimatium series is best described as " Hey cool I really like that character, oh whoops, now he's dead." If you want to see the Ultimate Universe's version of your most delighted characters crash and burn in a poorly written and paced abortion of enormous proportions, then any of the ultimatium books are for you.

As someone who's only experience reading Ultimate titles was The Ultimates 1 & 2, I very much enjoyed this collection of stories. March on Ultimatum trade contains four stories told in five annual issues. First you have the X-Men/Fantastic Four story where the teams of superheroes tangle with versions of themselves from a dystopic world set 20 years in the future. It was fairly epic and intense. Unfamiliarity with the continuity did create a little confusion, though it wasn't too bad. Some of the "what if" scenarios explored in this possible future were very cool. I guess the main thing you're supposed to take away is that the ramifications of the Ultimatum event could be pretty bad, although there isn't much revealed about what exactly happens during Ultimatum.

With Ultimate Spiderman, you see the introduction of Mysterio as a villain at the same time as Peter Parker and Mary Jane broach the issue of sex. After reading that story, I see what all the buzz is about with Ultimate Spiderman. The third story is the ultimate origin for Black Panther and his involvement with the Ultimates superhero team. Prior to this I had very limited knowledge of the Black Panther character. I don't know how the ultimate version compares to the classic, but I found this origin pretty cool/edgy with impressive artwork. I've heard negative reactions about the Ultimates 3, but I very much liked what I saw of the Ultimates team in this issue. Finally, March on Ultimatum includes a Hulk vs. Zarda story which has some great action and even better humor. I'll just say that the Hulk does something in this issue that I NEVER expected to see...

I guess what made this book so enjoyable is the variety of the stories told within. You go from cosmic, end of the world, time-space continuum shattering threats to something as simple (though complicated) as Peter Parker's virginity. It was one of those things where I finished one story and I think "wow, there's another... and another... and another". Part of it may also have been my low expectations going in, so don't go into this thinking it's the greatest book ever and you'll probably have a good time.

Ultimatum is the worst of the worst. They really have destroyed this once great line and this book puts more flame on the fire. I am not for book buring but if I was out of fire wood this book would take its place.

I bought this hoping for some good stories, but they are full of holes. There were times that I had to look to see if I skipped pages or maybe pages were torn or left out.

My suggestion is to not bother.

Marvel really needs to take a chill on these mega-cosmic, continuity-redefining crossover extravaganzas. What is this, like the tenth one in a row? Jeez. Can't their heroes just hit stuff and stop bad guys anymore? Does everything have to be so tie-inny all the time? I kinda feel... a little manipulated by it all. Anyone else? (Axton)