The Ultimates #2 - Story by Deniz Camp, art by Juan Frigeri, colors by Federico Blee, edited by Wil Moss
Marvel has been conservative on the Ultimate comics out right now, there are only four of them, but Ultimates #2 is proof enough they should expand that universe. The story set up years ago continues in issue #2, with Iron Lad, Cap, Giant Man and Wasp trying to liberate the White House from the Hellfire Club. The story is an excellent mix of very thought provoking dialogue with excellent action sequences. The story is also two fold, one part of it is the Ultimates assault on the White House, but pretty much every other page is a flashback to Cap pulling an Ultron and catching up on the 60 plus years of history he missed through video. We get a cool glimpse into some of the alternate takes on big Marvel events (the Maker talking to Galactus) and also some events that will never change (the assassination of JFK). It's a clever way of showing Steve's shock/awe as to what he has missed, while having him have to deal with Midas' monologue about how America is all about money. The "Save America" line was a bit on the nose/repetitive, but it's still done very well. The art from Frigeri and Blee is top notch, some of the best art on any mainstream Marvel comic right nos. This creative team is huffing life into the Ultimate universe, and Marvel needs to see what they have and give up on Spiderverses and put more into the Ultimate Universe with a couple of new titles. Ultimate Punisher would be perfect, just saying.
2. X-Men #1 - Story by Jed MacKay, art by Ryan Stegman, colors by Marte Gracia, ink by JP Mayer, edited by Tom Brevoort
The X-Men series has been through a lot of rapid changes in the last couple of years. From Scott and Logan being two of the only X-Men left (and on a badass murder spree) to literally they can't die and there are 100 teams again only a year after (Krakoa). This "reset" after the events of Fall of X sees the Xmen series back to it's three parts, X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, and Astonishing X-Men. Among others. The X-Men series is really the only one that matters, because Cyclops. So far it was a good start to the new series, in what essentially is an expositional first issue. We met the team, which itself is pretty strong. I love seeing Beast back to himself, and Magik and Juggernaut are incredible additions to the team. I'm not sold on Psylocke, Temper, or Kid Omega yet, but they didn't really have much to do besides Kid Omega. My opinion on him is the same as Magnetos', "Tell me he will die on a mission soon." He reminds me too much of Morrison's bizarre run. Psylocke just doesn't seem like she "fits", as much as I love her. And honestly, full transparency, no clue what a Temper is, but man it looks familiar. It's her power! Not her Dad's! Either way the story was interesting, the lineup is mostly a success, and Cyclops and Beast will be what hold this entire series up, as they usually do. As far as the art goes, I need a print of Magneto in that chair, it's so cool. Stegman does his usually great work, and Gracia and Mayer make the images come to life. I will say, Cyclops' design confuses me. He looks SO young. He still acts like the same seasoned veteran leader, but he looks like he's eighteen. I think it's the hair that makes him look so young, but he just doesn't look like a leader, he looks like he's ready to go to the mall in the 80s. This creative team is strong so I'm sure they are a lot of good things on the way for this series! Worth starting now.
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