ULTIMATE WAR #1

[MattBrady]

<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/uw_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/uw_2_t.jpg" width="175" height="263" align="right" border="0" alt="Ultimate War #2"></a>Press Release

<blockquote>Two months ago Marvel designated December 2002 "ULTIMATE SWEEPS MONTH" – a key month where Marvel's most accessible series - led by the debut of ULTIMATE WAR - would all begin new storylines or contain important events, presenting retailers with the opportunity to introduce the industry's most popular series to new readers.

It turns out the "Sweeps" designation was not only descriptive but prophetic, as December's ULTIMATE titles nearly swept Diamond's TOP TEN Sales Chart for the month.

The chart charge was led, of course, but the first two issues of Mark Millar and Chris Bachalo's ULTIMATE WAR limited series, pitting the Ultimate X-Men against The Ultimates. ULTIMATE WAR #1 & 2 finished #1 and #2 respectively on the Top Ten chart, giving Marvel the distinction of being the LAST publisher to pull off the rare feat of placing consecutive issues of one title with the same creative team in the top two positions (during 1996's 'Heroes Reborn' era) and the LATEST.

And the impressive numbers don't end there. ULTIMATE titles make up 6 of Diamond's Top 10 comics for December and 8 of the Top 14. Other notable chart-toppers include the beginning of the Venom arc in ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #33 (#5 on the chart) and the second and third issues of the ULTIMATE DAREDEVIL & ELEKTRA limited series (#13 & 14).

Overall Marvel Comics took 9 of the Top 10 positions on the December chart and 12 of the top 15.

"ULTIMATE SWEEPS MONTH" begins in full-force Wednesday, December 4th, with the release of ULTIMATE DAREDEVIL & ELEKTRA #2, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #32 and the highly anticipated ULTIMATE WAR #1.

And to remind readers of the debut of December's #1 comic book event, here's a look at the never-before-seen cover to ULTIMATE WAR #2 (on sale 12/26) and a couple of color preview pages from issue #1.</blockquote>

<center><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/ULTWAR001009_col.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/ULTWAR001009_col_t.jpg" width="160" height="240" border="0" alt="Ultimate War #1, page 9" hspace="2"></a> <a href="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/ULTWAR001011col.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/ULTWAR001011col_t.jpg" width="160" height="240" border="0" alt="Ultimate War #1, page 11" hspace="2"></a></center>

[RDuarte]

Chris Bachalo is, without a doubt, one of my favorite artists. I loved his work on Gen X, Uncanny X-Men, the mini he did with Loeb (the name escapes me) and Ultimate X-Men. Couldn't make heads or tails of Steampunk, but it sure was pretty. I hope he gets a high profile gig after the Ultimate War is over.

[csGuy]

Is that Rogue in the middle of the last panel of page 11?

[blankpoint]

>>>>I loved his work on Gen X, Uncanny X-Men, the mini he did with Loeb (the name escapes me) and Ultimate X-Men.<<<<

my poor man, ever read Shade? Death? You know - the good stuff by Bachalo? Appears not, and that's too bad. While his Gen X art was great and a lot of those stories were even fun, most of what he's done since he left Vertigo has been pretty weak compared to his older work. Steampunk was such a horrible story, one could barely even look at the art without wondering "why, WHY?" Even the mini you mentioned, The Witching Hour, I found to be something of a disappointment. It was nice, but not as good as Shade.

Look at out for the new trade of Shade coming out soon... though with the Levitz running the show, DC's trades have been looking crappier and crappier every month. Just compare volume one of the hardcover for Batman: Black and White to the new Volume 2. Or The first printing Sandman hardcovers to the ones they have now.

*sigh*

[Reloaded]

[quote]Originally posted by blankpoint:
<strong>

my poor man, ever read Shade? Death? You know - the good stuff by Bachalo? </strong><hr></blockquote>

Ah, I remember the good stuff. The first four issues or so of Gen X is the last you can see of that old style.

[American Caesar]

Is that the BB, destroyed in the background? Spidey in a pile? Piquing my curiosity...

[RDuarte]

<<<<my poor man, ever read Shade? Death? You know - the good stuff by Bachalo? Appears not, and that's too bad. While his Gen X art was great and a lot of those stories were even fun, most of what he's done since he left Vertigo has been pretty weak compared to his older work. Steampunk was such a horrible story, one could barely even look at the art without wondering "why, WHY?" Even the mini you mentioned, The Witching Hour, I found to be something of a disappointment. It was nice, but not as good as Shade.>>>>

That was before my time. My first Bachalo work was Gen X. I actually remeber being disappointed when he left the title to pencil a few issues of SHADE. I picked them up to follow his work, and was disappointed AGAIN when I found out they were by Mark Buckingham and not Bachalo. Of course, this was when I was a wee lad. My taste in artists has improved (I probably would have picked up the Buckingham issues), but at the time, I was just looking for the work of Mr. Chris. Thanks for the recommendation. I'll go back and look for his early work. And I prefer the actual comics rather than trades (to continue the arguements started on the DD thread)...

[Burke 0011]

Picked up Ultimate Spidey, War, and Daredevil/Elektra today. So far, only read Spidey and it was excellent as always.

But I found myself with one BIG question:

What the FUCK is up with those lousy excuse for covers on the Ultimate books? I mean, you read a comic and then when you're done, the thing can't even maintain it's normal comic 'shape'. Seriously, these covers are just SORRY-ass crap.

Guess Marvel has had to cut some corners to pay Ron Zimmerman's salary......

[gOgIver]

The comic is very good. The writing and colors of issue one were the best parts. I am impressed with Millar's knowledge of the fact that the Vice President of the U.S.A. is the President of the U.S. Senate and has an office in the Capitol Building. But Botch-It-Up can't draw Cheney for $#!T. :eek:

[Hellboy15]

Burke, I honestly have no idea what you mean, I have never had trouble with any of the ultimate covers, and I belive thier actually significantly more expensive than the normal comic covers.

[blankpoint]

>>>I have never had trouble with any of the ultimate covers, and I belive thier actually significantly more expensive than the normal comic covers<<<

They were. Until today. They've gone from cardstock to shitstock. some kind of glimsy, yet glossy cover, like a cheap magazine. They don't even stay straight on the rack at the comic shop... terrible.

On the same subject, DC has an excellent book with Gotham Central, beautiful art by Michael Lark - and they print it on toilet paper. Good paper is one of the only things I miss from the mid-90s.

[Beyerstein]

If they put those super slick covers on the regular Marvel titles it would be considered an improvement.

[Burke 0011]

Blankpoint is right on target - only these latest issues released TODAY have these covers. The previous cardstocks were fine - liked them alot actually. And these new ones - it's not that they're glossy - if that was the only new thing I wouldn't care. It's the fact that they have the consistency of a 'glossy' paper towel. And a damp one at that. Friggin' annoying and makes you reluctanct to even pick the damn book up let alone read it.

[amorphis]

I understand the problem with the new covers not standing on the rack, but since when did the consistency of a comic become important? So they're floppy? So what? I like the glossy effect. I wouldn't care if they went back to old newsprint if I could get my comics for 65 cents again. Christ, the money I'd save....

[Wade @ Sighnub.com]

On a only mildly related topic, I am assuming that at this point Marvel's Press Releases are coming from Messir Michael Doran. Still so stoekd for his success. But I notice that he is not putting his name on them the way Rosemann did. Just an observation...

[cncoyle]

[quote]Originally posted by RDuarte:
<strong>Chris Bachalo...the mini he did with Loeb (the name escapes me)</strong><hr></blockquote>

Are you talking about "The Witching Hour"? It was a GREAT miniseries and his style was perfect for the story.
His X-Men work was okay and this looks okay, but Bachalo seems to mesh better with more mystical tales, such as "Sandman" or "The Witching Hour". I would love to see him do a Zatanna miniseries or a Jason Blood one-shot.

[Burke 0011]

quote:
"I understand the problem with the new covers not standing on the rack, but since when did the consistency of a comic become important? So they're floppy? So what? I like the glossy effect. I wouldn't care if they went back to old newsprint if I could get my comics for 65 cents again. Christ, the money I'd save.... "

I don't care about the gloss and think it's fine, but sorry - guess I just have a thing about having the book I'm reading suddenly bending in half (horizontally) if I move wrong when reading it - or put permanent grroves in the cover with my fingers as the thing collapses under its own weight due to gravity. I know everyone is hot on TPBs nowawdays but I've been collecting for 20 years and would like to keep my books in a semblance of good shape after I read them the first time - hence the whole 'collecting' term. After years and years of a specific type of cover design, I see no reason why I shouldn't voice a complaint when it is changed out of the blue and there isn't even a press release from Joey Q. Is this a money saving tactic? A move to make people just want Ultimate TPBs? What?

As for newsprint you mentioned, I've just been rereading some books of mine from 83/84 and I really don't mind the newsprint used back then. Actually, gives a nostalgic aroma that takes you back to being a wee-lad and getting the comic that first time!

[Graeme McMillan]

Sorry not to be bitching about the paper stock or anything, but am I the only person who thought that the first issue of Ultimate War was... well, really kind of dull?

Okay, it had the Ultimates fighting the Brotherhood and bridges exploding, but it still felt entirely flimsy and the entire thing just washed over me... I didn't feel any empathy with any of the characters or events, any excitement over the moneyshot scenes, or anything other than a cynicism about the way that Magneto is being written as the mutant Bin Laden by Mark Millar these days.

Not to mention, in a series subtitled "The Ultimates versus Ultimate X-Men", is it so wrong of me to hope that the X-Men in question should have at least appeared once by the end of the first quarter of the entire story? I appreciate pacing issues and all, but that's ridiculous... especially considering the storyline continued from and continues back into from Ultimate X-Men again anyway.

All filler, no killer. Pah.

[heir.of.elendil]

[quote]Originally posted by Burke 0011:
<strong>What the FUCK is up with those lousy excuse for covers on the Ultimate books? I mean, you read a comic and then when you're done, the thing can't even maintain it's normal comic 'shape'. Seriously, these covers are just SORRY-ass crap.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Who cares? Everyone's gonna buy the TPB anyway. It'd be stupid not to with these covers.

[Wade]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by blankpoint:
<strong>Steampunk was such a horrible story, one could barely even look at the art without wondering "why, WHY?"
*sigh*</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you kidding?

SteamPunk was a step forward in comics! My god, i wish there were more comics out there with such an elaborate story and such an original style and world. Both art-wise & script-wise.

I heard most people gave up 'cuz they couldn't even grasp the story. Now that's comedy. It's not like it was the Silmarillion or anything quite so... ridiculously over-detailed.

It was an excellent comic if you ask me. But you didn't. But if you did, that's what i woulda said.