The Alpha Review
By Andrew Uys
I’ve heard that trade paperbacks — a run of comic issues collected into a graphic novel — are all the rage today. But which ones are worth your time? This column aims to put the spotlight on the spectacular trades — at least according to this writer. And just for fun, we will start with the letter “A,” and each subsequent review will follow with the next letter of the alphabet. While you might object to my taste or my opinion, I hope that this column will help save you time and money when you are next buying a trade paperback, as well as effort in alphabetizing.
U is for The Ultimates Vol. 1 & 2
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Bryan Hitch
Marvel Comics, 2002
The Ultimates is the Avengers Redux. When Marvel launched Ultimate Spider-Man ten years ago, they were seeking to modernize the hero, hoping to make it possible for new, younger readers to connect with the character. And so, the Ultimate Universe was born. Marvel quickly followed up their Spider-Man title with the Ultimate X-Men and the Ultimate Fantastic Four — each group redesigned to be more in tune with the 21st century, and not burdened with decades of continuity. The Ultimates is no different. Except, it’s mad brilliant. It’s a team of super-powered heroes brought together by SHIELD to protect America’s interest in the burgeoning age of super-humans. Ask yourself what would the American government, circa 2002, have done if it could deploy Captain America, Iron Man and Thor? The answer is The Ultimates.
Mark Millar is one of my favourite writers. The Ultimates consists of two volumes, which are reviewed here as one entity. There is also The Ultimates 2, which is as good, or better than, the original. Then there is The Ultimates 3, which was terrible. Beyond words bad… But, Mark Millar has returned for Ultimate Comics Avengers, and after about four pages I let out a sigh of relief, as I realized that Jeph Loeb’s turn with the title had not spoilt the characters. Now, I have previously reviewed a TPB by Jeph Loeb, and it’s not that I think he is a bad writer — but his run on Ultimates (3) is only worth reading for a) the art, and b) if you are a hard-core fan who (like me) has more money than sense. But back to Mark Millar. He takes the Avengers Redux idea and transforms it into a subtle political discussion, mixed with gripping character drama, and the most mind-blowing action sequences ever. Captain America/Steve Rogers is a hard-ass, who feels like a real war veteran. Iron Man/Tony Stark is an unabashed womanizer and alcoholic, and you’ll love every panel with him in it. Thor is this slightly crazy, almost eco-terrorist, who loves to party, and his hammer has never been cooler. Finally, the Hulk/Bruce Banner is a rampaging monster – who eats people! This is not the Avengers as you remember them, and is certainly not meant for the thirteen-year old comic reader.
Bryan Hitch is a fantastic artist. His work is both realistic and yet amazingly dynamic. And this is what The Ultimates needs. The comic is perfectly balanced between gritty reality and outlandish action. Marvel has always excelled at placing their stories in our world — in our lives. You can feel the sense of anxiety after Sept. 11th, and you can understand the security measures that SHIELD is trying to put in place. Imagine if terrorists could shoot lasers from their eyes, or bend metal at their whim. Sounds silly? Well, we are talking comics here. But imagine how the world would view the X-Men after 9/11, and then remember that Cyclops and his team are the good guys. It feels natural that the American government would want its own team of super-powered agents, who could respond to this new level of danger. Bryan Hitch creates this world with his art. And he never skimps on the action. Just wait till you get to The Ultimates 2, and the eight page fold-out that is one panel.
The plot? Most of the first half of The Ultimates deals with the formation of the team, and how the characters relate to one another. Still Millar manages to fit in a crazy alien armada that includes some now classic scenes and dialogue. But, the real joy of this TPB is watching is old-fave heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Hawkeye get a rejuvenation of cool. These are characters born in the 21st century, and you get to witnesses their first steps. While I am an old-school Avengers fan, it can be tough to navigate their continuity, especially when you factor in events like Heroes Reborn, etc. Here is a Marvel Universe where the characters are similar enough that you can immediately relate, and yet different enough that you realize you don’t know what to expect next. This idea is at the heart of The Ultimates — not knowing what will happen next, ’cause anything seems possible, and Millar-Hitch do not disappoint!
I do like the Ultimates; I remember the series with fondness. Mark Millar is a good writer, but he borders on ridiculous at times. I’m finding that all his characters spout the same absurd testosterone-soaked lines over and over again. Still, Ultimates is awesome when Jeph Loep isn’t involved. He’s terrible. I hesitate to call him a bad writer as well, but his horrendous projects are swiftly outnumbering his satisfactory ones.
everyone spouting absurd testosterone lines makes perfect sense within the context of who these characters are- super heroes! it’s essentially the equivalent of how wrestlers all sound alike (to some degree)
Yeah, it all works out okay in the context of one book — sort of…even if the super heroes talk the same way the super villains do, and SHIELD agents, and so forth, but whatever, that’s the style of the book. But when the Ultimates talk the same way as The Authority, or The FF, Millar’s clever dialogue starts to reveal itself as a weakness rather than a strength, because he can’t seem to write anyone any other way.
but what I’m suggesting is that the kind of person to be a super hero, that brave, arrogant, narccisis of an individual, would of course speak that way. same with the villains in fact.
recognising that, and writing to it, is actually kind of an innovation
I don’t agree. Or maybe comics over the years has drilled into my head that more than one personality is capable of putting their underwear on the outside of their pants and fighting crime. I can see someone like Peter Parker existing; I can see someone like Clark Kent existing, and so on…people who aren’t arrogant overgrown testosterone glands who still have the stones and drive to be a super hero or what not.
But beyond my non-agreement, I don’t think we’re talking about exactly the same thing. I’m not saying everyone in Millar’s comics talk somewhat the same, I’m saying they talk almost EXACTLY the same. And it’s starting to get annoying. It’s to the point now that something happens and I’ll think, “Okay, now this character is going to say something like this:” and then they do. Writing predictable dialogue is NOT good writing. It is tedious and boring.
AND NO ONE IS AFRAID OF ANYTHING. Every time there’s some sort of fight and someone is in danger of having a fist literally driven through their brain, no one seems the slightest bit concerned! And inevitably someone will go “Ho ho ho, pithy comment” just so we get to think they’re badass. But you can’t be a badass when EVERYONE is a badass; because it just makes badassery the norm. It becomes regular.
I think Millar needs to mix it up a bit; he’s getting stale to me. Though I am quite enjoying this latest run of Ultimates thus far.
no, see, it is the norm- if you’ve gone out to hand pick a group of “ultimate soldiers”, and by you in this instance I’m reffering to Nick Fury, you’ll pick out a certain type of individual that appeals to you.
Fury isn’t interested in the brain/the jock/outsider/princess/rebel breakfast club dynamic for his super team, he wants a bunch of awesome fighters.
if Nick Fury, let me repeat myself, NICK FURY of the armies Howling Commandoes, makes a super team, and someone starts to wuss out on him- that person is gone.
In fact, if someone he’s chosen for a team does start to wuss out in a fight, then that undermines the characterization for Fury in that comic, because that is not a mistake Fury would make.