Written by AL Ewing
Pencils by Kenneth Rocafort
There was a scene
in Avengers issues 44 where T'Challa goes to the White House to meet
with President Obama a few hours before the final incursion beween
Earth 616 and Earth 1610. T'Challa delivers the news that the
universe is about to end and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
He asks the President to deliver this message because he is someone
everyone trusts. At one point, one of the president's aides barks out
“You people were supposed to save us...”
Initially I
ignored this scene. There were several other scenes in issue 44, that
overshadowed this scene. It was not until I began reading the first
issue of The Ultimates, did that scene pop back into my head.
T'Challa wanted to emulate what the Illuminati did but with much more
transparency and cooperation than ever before. At the same time, he
wanted to put Wakanda's resources and know how at the forefront of
this operation. Finding T'Challa in this happy medium will most
likely bring better stories to the Marvel Universe. T'Challa has
assembled a nice team of heavy weights. There is Blue Marvel, Monica
Rambeau as Spectrum, Captain Marvel, and Ms. America Chavez. So the
power set in this group outweighs that of the other Avengers teams.
In the first story
arc written by Al Ewing and pencilled by Kenneth Rocafort, the
Ultimates tackle the problem of Galactus. They approach this
differently from anyone else before the Ultimates. T'Challa instead
chooses to research the origin of Galactus and learns that he was
formed out of an “Incubator” of sorts eons ago. Spectrum and Ms.
America are sent to retrieve the Incubator while Captain Marvel and
Blue Marvel are sent to intercept Galactus. Their plan works and the
team is able to capture Galactus and place him in the Incubator and
reversing his life energies. The result is Galactus the Life Bringer.
There are
consequences to their actions. There is a sentiment on Earth that
their actions might make Earth a target again as we have witnesses
several times before the Incursion event in crossovers like Infinity,
Avengers Vs. the X Men, and story arcs in the Fantastic Four under
Jonathan Hickman and other stories. Their actions do not go
unnoticed. The Shi'ar learn what the Ultimates have done and they
don't seem to be happy.
I have always
enjoyed Al Ewing's work on The Mighty Avengers and then Captain
America and the Mighty Avengers. He is familiar with the members of
these teams and one can tell in the Ultimates. He pools from previous
Marvel stories especially that of Blue Marvel and has continued to
integrate him in the Marvel continuity. Ewing's pacing is wonderful.
While it moves quickly it does not leave the reader in a lurch. I
have just begun to read Ewing's work on other imprints and his work
is stellar.
Kenneth Rocafort
was probably the only thing I enjoyed from Red Hood and the Outlaws.
He doesn't miss a detail. His work for DC is amazing and I honestly
can't remember something I didn't like that he did. I appreciate the
fact that Marvel allowed him to do the covers for the Ultimates. They
are very attractive. The thing about doing battles in space is that
there is so much to put in and Rocafort does a great job of doing
that. I really hope Marvel gets him to stay as a penciler in the
series.
Quite honestly,
this is the best Avengers title Marvel is putting out right now. It's
really a shame that more folks aren't talking about this team. While
I was hoping that Marvel would bring back the Illuminati from before
the incursions with a slightly new line up (Reed Richards is
recreating the multiverse and Namor is dead), I don't dig the new
title.
I have to point
out that Marvel did not reboot the universe. It's a newer universe
with several changes but the Incursion is being treated as something
that “just happened.” In the overall Marvel Universe, people are
asking questions and there is more distrust towards super humans, but
the Incursion isn't being given any more concern than a minor super
human event. While it is true that it seems that no one seems to know
what actually happened, including the heroes, it really cheapens the
entire situation.
I do appreciate
the fact that T'Challa decided to continue the work of the Illuminati
but on a more PR level. They broadcast their work to the planet
Earth. I also enjoy how the greater universe continues to see the
Earth as a global threat. Finally, Ewing keeps throwing in the
problem of the time stream and how many heroes have arbitrarily toyed
with it. This will be the Ultimates next problem to fix. I am so
looking forward to this.
