BEST SHOTS EXTRA: ULTIMATE ORIGINS #1

[MattBrady]

Best Shots Extra
Ultimate Origins #1
From: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Butch Guice
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Lettering: Chris Eliopoulos
Review by Troy Brownfield

Serving as both the lead-in to Ultimatum and a cluster of revelations on its own, Ultimate Origins manages to overcome a bit of “first-issue-syndrome” by conveying information in an action-oriented, suspenseful way. The story seeds exploited in this issue have been planted essentially since the Ultimate Universe began. Now, Bendis and company pick up those threads and bring them into much sharper focus.

That said, there is a bit of disconnect with the proceedings right at the outset. A caption reveals that the initial meeting between the Hulk and Spider-Man took place “Six Months Ago”. The problem inherent in that is that the ongoing repairs to the destruction caused by this Hulk rampage was glimpsed briefly at the beginning of the first Ultimates series. We know that there was a year between Ultimates and Ultimates 2. Does that mean that the “present” action of this series takes place prior to Ultimates 2? It’s possible, considering that the only “present day” scene we see is of Spidey and the Hulk. Then again, it kind of makes you wonder if the story is that important if we’re seeing revelations that were already, well, revealed many months ago in the Ultimate timeline. Frankly, I regard these points of criticism as extremely valid in terms of the creative and editorial processes. If a company goes through the trouble of wanting you to buy into continuity and a shared universe, then I believe that those things should appropriately synch up. The irony is that the Ultimate Universe was created to divest itself of continuity; these days, by continuing interaction and establishment of months and years between stories, there is almost as much for the writer and editor to follow. I don’t need to know that a story takes place on Thursday, unless the lead character lost their arm on Wednesday; then the presence of two arms would be vaguely important.

It’s also valid when you see that this series is an effort to tie literally everything in the Ultimate Universe together. As Newsarama’s preview showed, things go back to World War 2, where a younger Nick Fury, James (Logan) Howlett, and a certain Mr. Fisk are indulging in a little Three Kings/Kelly’s Heroes action. The group is splintered, and Nick Fury gets enrolled in a rather familiar program. Meanwhile, Howlett gets into some lab-based problems of his own.

There are some interesting ideas here, and Bendis keeps it all moving. The connecting of previously established dots isn’t bad; it’s just not terribly exciting. A lot of this draws from things that many readers would have already intuited, while other points just don’t seem of grand importance in the overall scheme of things. The last piece may raise eyebrows, but what does it do in a story sense?

On the art side, Butch Guice does his usual great job. I’ve always felt that Guice is underappreciated for whatever reason. With the varied settings of this issue, he proves again that he can draw anybody in any time with a great deal of detail. His Howlett looks appropriately rugged; his Hulk is appropriately huge. (The Hulks coloration here is not an error, as he was depicted as green in the Ultimate Marvel Team-Up issues where the rampage occurred; it’s been established in other Ultimate books that his color changes on occasion).

If you’re really into the Ultimate universe, you’ll probably enjoy this. If you’re coming into it cold, you’ll probably be rather confused as to why certain characters may be important. On its own, it’s just okay. If you want to sample Bendis in great Ultimate form, check out last week’s issue of Ultimate Spider-Man. Unless you’re clamoring for Ultimate dirt, this one is just kind of pedestrian.

[The Crusader]

Sounds good!

FIRST! Now I can die fulfilled.

[blue_monkey]

I was never quite sure if Ultimate Marvel Team-Up was supposed to be part of Ultimate continuity. But these Hulk issues apparently are.

[subhuman]

The only Ultimate title I still read is UFF, but I am curious about what elements tie this universe together, so I will probably pick this up. Bendis is Mr. Ultimate Unviverse, and I am sure that once the whole series comes out, it will all make more sense, and justify its relevance...if not then this will be another nail in the coffin of the Ultimate U for this guy.

[Police-dude]

I dont collect any Ultimate title anymore,
But im kinda curious about this, the whole 'everything is connected' i know from U.Team-Up number 3. I wanna know what that was all about so ill look into it, and when i like it, ill buy it

[SDJoyce]

I haven't actually read the entire issue, but I got a glimpse of what's in the issue last week. I'm really interested to see what they do with the revelation of Wolverine in this issue. I think anyone who doesn't read Ultimate books should at least give this one mini-series a try. I've always liked the Ultimate Universe simply because it's familiar, but at the same time it can be as different as they want it to be from the main Marvel Universe. I originally wasn't going to get this series, but I'm actually pumped after what I've read and can't wait to read the book in it's entirety.

[durkadurka]

That said, there is a bit of disconnect with the proceedings right at the outset. A caption reveals that the initial meeting between the Hulk and Spider-Man took place “Six Months Ago”. The problem inherent in that is that the ongoing repairs to the destruction caused by this Hulk rampage was glimpsed briefly at the beginning of the first Ultimates series. We know that there was a year between Ultimates and Ultimates 2. Does that mean that the “present” action of this series takes place prior to Ultimates 2? It’s possible, considering that the only “present day” scene we see is of Spidey and the Hulk. Then again, it kind of makes you wonder if the story is that important if we’re seeing revelations that were already, well, revealed many months ago in the Ultimate timeline. Frankly, I regard these points of criticism as extremely valid in terms of the creative and editorial processes. If a company goes through the trouble of wanting you to buy into continuity and a shared universe, then I believe that those things should appropriately synch up. The irony is that the Ultimate Universe was created to divest itself of continuity; these days, by continuing interaction and establishment of months and years between stories, there is almost as much for the writer and editor to follow. I don’t need to know that a story takes place on Thursday, unless the lead character lost their arm on Wednesday; then the presence of two arms would be vaguely important.

I agree that seeing it was set "six months ago" is a little confusing, and that whoever is learning this information is learning it...in our past, i guess. I hope, actually, because that wouldn't be cool if it was in the present. However, depending on who's learning it, it could shed some light on recent events (Ultimate Power) or coming events (Ultimatum). I'm not going to judge it until i read it, but i was intrigued by the preview. And i can't wait to find out the origin of the X-Gene in the Ultimate Universe.

[durkadurka]

Originally Posted by blue_monkey

I was never quite sure if Ultimate Marvel Team-Up was supposed to be part of Ultimate continuity. But these Hulk issues apparently are.

I think the only one that wasn't part of continuity was the Ultimate FF one. But that one should be obvious, because they go running through the Marvel Offices, chased by Skrulls or something.
I could be wrong, but i think all the others were in-continuity, even though Iron Man and Hulk had different looks at the time

[durkadurka]

Hey Troy, I'm not asking for spoilers really, but when you said this:

"If you’re really into the Ultimate universe, you’ll probably enjoy this. If you’re coming into it cold, you’ll probably be rather confused as to why certain characters may be important."

Are there any characters that are important in the Ultimate U. but not in the regular Marvel U.? As far as i can tell, the important characters are pretty much the same.

[FancyFroglin]

Are BUTCH Guice and JACKSON Guice the same guy?

I've wondered this for probably 15 years. If they are the same guy, why the difference in the name used on different projects. If they're different guys, what's the deal?

[leahcim]

When Marvel offered retailers a huge discount, if they ordered big on issue one I was worried..and then I read the issue and was so glad we didn't order big.

[Justice]

Originally Posted by FancyFroglin

Are BUTCH Guice and JACKSON Guice the same guy?

I've wondered this for probably 15 years. If they are the same guy, why the difference in the name used on different projects. If they're different guys, what's the deal?

They are the same guy. I'm not sure why he's alternated names.

[samnoir]

Here is hoping that there are many payoffs that the long-time reader is looking for and not just more questions raised that lead into Ultimatum.

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[FancyFroglin]

Originally Posted by Justice

They are the same guy. I'm not sure why he's alternated names.

Thanks, Justice!

At any rate, I love Jackson/Butch Guice's stuff. I bought his entire Flash run as it was coming out and covet them, and I also have to highly recommend Ruse, the CrossGen book.

The art on that was just beautiful stuff (thanks a great deal also to Laura Depuy/Martin).

[Papercut Fun]

Well if you can trust anyone to do good by Ultimate Universe continuity it would be Brian Michael Bendis. He basically sets the universe's pacing with USM which he's said covers roughly a year of Peter's life for every 100 issues. So assuming he's not disregarding his whole story planning process, it's relatively safe to assume this story takes place somewhere in and around issue 50 of USM. Maybe he needs to make use of a few characters, that are no longer around, to properly tell the story so he set it midway through his run on USM. Guess we'll find out (hopefully!)

I read Ultimate X-Men monthly and USM and UFF in trades. I genuinely enjoy the concept of Xmen but have always hated the need to follow multiple books titles of varying quality, never knowing when a crossover loomed on the horizon. While the universe has gotten a bit lost over the past two years while Marvel's focused on their core, I think Bendis, Carey and the various Xmen writers have been doing a genuinely good job in each of their titles.

[Rype]

I should preface by saying I have every piece of the Ultimate Universe but the recent Ultimates 3. I love or at least have enjoyed them all.

The spice has not been there thought over the last year and I hope Mr. Bendis injects it with the same fun he has the main universe. Of course, the main universe was bring for most of the last 12 years.

I will be picking this up.

[dcbill]

I'm unclear why the Ultimate Universe has to be "explained"

[eypcrew]

The ads for this look kind of intriguing, but I have been hurt by ultimate events in the past.

[ShadeCrowe]

Originally Posted by dcbill

I'm unclear why the Ultimate Universe has to be "explained"

lol, simple yet so true.