User blog:SerenityValley/Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates

Finally. It's been so long. So very very long. But it's here in my hands.

Despite the silly ostentatious white plastic bag this comic came in I picked up the latest iteration of The Ultimates. And yes, against my better judgment. I had to sit through Jeph Loeb's painfully stupid 'Ultimates 3', Mark Millar's mildly disappointing to downright terrible mess of post-Ultimatum titles were dreadful enough to make me quit.

But now Jonathan Hickman has reinstated some of that hope. I don't know how much trust I really have in him. I love his gonzo 'S.H.E.I.L.D.', but found myself weary and unimpressed with the second half of 'Secret Warriors' and all of his 'Fantastic Four'.

But this book was cool.

And fun.

And for the first time since Ultimate Cap and gang celebrated their victory of Loki on the National Mall the Ultimates feel...back.

A lot of credit goes to the art team. Esad Ribic blew my mind with his simple yet sexy as hell pencils, enough so that I never realized I had seen his work before. Dean White is impressive with some truly unusual but intelligent choices, a command of color that has buzzed so brightly in the lines of John Romita Jr. on Millar's 'Kick-Ass 2'.

Also Hickman actually seems to understand Millar's 'Ultimates', something lately it doesn't even seem Mark Millar truly does anymore. Tony Stark's interaction with his new 'Jarvis' is enough to convince that Hickman is tuned in to these characters and will be respectful to the original interpretation.

Admittedly, as is usual with Hickman, the villains at this point are only hinted at and shrouded in a sort of mystery that doesn't feel earned. This paired with some slightly silly but also pretty cool bombast leveled at the title of the book gives the whole thing a blockbuster feel that initially feels a bit put on by the writer, who seems to treat every one of his book like he's writing a Greek epic despite the writing not actually holding up to it's ridiculous promises.

However there is a slickness and a sexiness that permeates the art and the writing that inspires hope. Hope that this will be the 'Ultimates' we've been waiting for. No more second hand Avengers crap. No more vampires. No more fucking Loeb. The Ultimates universe may be for all intents and purposes dead in the water, but that doesn't mean we can't get one more ride out of Mark Millar's team, courtesy of Mr. Hickman.