The Ultimates (Issues 1 to 3)

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.

American Panther

We are not behind the ball on this one folks. I just wanted this story arc to marinate before we start discussing it on our blog. I am an older cat and like to sit down and think about something before speaking. I am not the only one who cringed at the pictures.

My initial impulse was to denounce it. I do take an issue with how Marvel is handling the former Wakandan monarch. Bringing him back to the United States to fill in for someone else is rehashing an old story of when T'Challa was a teacher in Harlem. I loved the Doomwar limited series but I abhor the Man Without Fear story arc.

I originally assumed that Marvel was doing this to help promote the Captain America movie. I know this idea is farfetched but I noticed that when the X Men movies were being released, Marvel stormed their lines with mutant oriented stories. When Wolverine was slated to be released, fans were bombarded with like 100 Wolverine titles and included Wolverine in every story line and had him as a member of every super powered team.

I was listening to the Afronerd's the Comic Shoppe the other day and listened as Captain Kirk, one of the co-hosts made a good point. Remember that this American Panther incarnation of T'Challa is a result of the Fear Itself crossover. Captain Kirk points out that T'Challa's biggest fear is losing his identity as a citizen and monarch of Wakanda as he continues his open relationship with Western nations. This statement really made me rethink the American Panther motif.

We shall see for now. What do you think?

Doomwar Part One

Written by Jonathan Maberry
Penciled by Scot Eaton
Inks by Andy Lanning & Robert Campanella
Review by Dan Tres OMi

When I first saw the promo for this limited series, I was hesitant to pick it up. Now I think Dr. Doom is one of the best villains out there. I dislike the Fantastic Four movie franchise and felt that Hollywood did a horrible rendition of Dr. Doom. Dr. Doom is vastly powerful and I find that most writers haven't explored Doom's personality or genius. Since Reginald Hudlin began writing and reworking Black Panther/T'Challa, he has introduced Dr. Doom as a rival. I really liked this. Two monarchs of two advanced nations squaring off on a grand chess board. Sometimes, T'Challa and Doom are allies and sometimes they aren't. Well, Doom has finally made his final move and has behind the dethroning of T'Challa and his sister Shurri. To top it off, Ororo, T'Challa's wife and X-Man has been captured by Doom's minions, the Desturi.

T'Challa and Shurri flee Wakanda leaving Ororo/Storm to fend for herself. With no allies and the entire world community believing allegations of human rights violations committed by T'Challa ans his family, the monarchs find refuge with the X-Men. Cyclops however, realizes that his hands are tied since Utopia Nation X is a new nation with few allies and very few nations that recognize it's sovereignty.

The story so far is wonderful. T'Challa knows that a full all out war will kill a great number of his people so he has to pay Doom's game for the time being. Meanwhile his sister, refuses to wear the kid gloves and wants to return Wakanda to it's rightful owners by any means necessary. The X Men are wary of T'Challa since he so readily abandoned his wife. It will be interesting to see who else who take sides and lend a hand.

This is a story I have been waiting and hoping on. I hope that we see the Wakandans take the war to Latveria since Doom rules that country like an Iron Fist. If not, it would be great to see another political realignment with several groups within the Marvel Universe.