I must confess, after the torrent of comics over the past two weeks, it comes as a welcome relief to only deal with three titles this week: Ultimate X-Men #38,
Ultimate Six #3 and 1602 #3.
- Ultimate X-Men #38: 4 out of 5
On the bright side, the X-Men are actually in this issue (although only Jean gets to say something besides Wolverine and Xavier) and there's no sign of Daredevil or Spidey. On the down side, it looks like the Phoenix thing wasn't really laid to rest. Maybe it's just a by-product of how it's being handled by Morrison over in New, but I must admit, I'm starting to get sick of Phoenix. Jean's starting to turn into a one-trick pony. Admittedly, that trick is pretty damned impressive, but there's still only one. I think I'd really like to see an incarnation of Jean that didn't reference the Phoenix in some way. It's as likely as getting an X-Men book that never features Wolverine, but we can hope.
Despite my annoyance, it's really a small price to pay for actually getting to enjoy this title again. I've missed it. If things maintain on this level, we may actually get other X-Men saying stuff soon!
The identity of the crazy psycho woman was revealed in this issue to be an ex-lackey of John Wraith's. I found this to be sort of anti-climactic really, although I can't say that it didn't make some amount of sense. Just that after three issues of build-up, I sort of expected more. Perhaps more is to come, though, since there are two more issues of this storyline left. (Of course, since the first three could have easily been reduced to two issues, I don't know that the number left is particularly indicative of substance.)
What I enjoyed most about this issue, however, was the fact that the book finally got around to acknowledging the conversation between Wolverine and Cyclops back in #33, and the discussion between Xavier and Fury over the X-Men's role in everything.
As to the former, it's not much to really talk about. Xavier simply says, "One minute Cyclops forgave you and convinced you to come home, and the next you were gone." Nothing thrilling, except that it's something that's been bugging the crap out of me since this arc started. Before this issue, the previous three in "Blockbuster" have felt extremely detached, like a limited series unto themselves, disconnected from the title that features it. With that conversation, the book felt like it was a return to the fold. Continuity, I guess, is what it boils down to. I know it's a dirty word at Marvel these days, but it's my personal bread and butter, so I'll lap up every taste of it I can get. It also perhaps points to a future direction for Wolverine's character in this book, that of a mentor to the rest of the X-Men. I liken it somewhat to Wolverine's role in X-Men: Evolution. My feelings on that role within the Ultimate universe are somewhat dark, but as I suspect I may be reading more into that conversation than there is, I'll hold off on speaking too much about it until supporting evidence emerges.
The best scene in the comic was clearly the dialogue had by Xavier and Fury. I've disliked the idea of the X-Men being a special government mutant task force since its ugly head was raised at the end of "Return of the King". But that's really all it was: an idea. This issue was the first real reference to it we've seen since that point (again, continuity emerges, how keen), and I'm pleased to see that it's not all that Xavier thought it would be either.
I believe that Xavier thought he could have the best of both worlds. As agents, he and his X-Men would have a measure of security, yet he still expected they would be free to act as they chose. Fury has let it be known in no uncertain terms that this is NOT the case. The look on Xavier's face says it all.
Although I trust Bendis in general, I'm still extremely edgy when it comes to his handling of this title. Consequently, my fingers are crossed that these little hints (or, my interpretation of them as hints) to future storylines aren't just phantoms. Particularly since I know his run on this book is very short-term, and given everything else he has on his plate ... I just don't think that Ultimate X-Men is a high priority for him.
Of course, if the quality of issues maintains from this point forward, then I will quite gladly be proven wrong.
- Ultimate Six #3: 3 out of 5
Popping to the flipside from last issue, this one focuses entirely on the reaction of the heroes to the breakout of the Almost-Six. The purpose is, of course, to build up tension, to better hit home the danger that these men pose. In that, Bendis does a fantastic job.
I liken this issue, in that respect, to an episode of Xena; one of my favourites, "The Price". In it, this group of new enemies called "The Horde" are introduced. They do your typical bad guy stuff, savagely killing many soldiers and stuff, and in this they aren't too much different from any given enemy. What makes the episode so powerful, and The Horde such a terrifying enemy, is the fact that Xena has encountered them before, and she's is scared to death of them. XENA is scared of someone. We don't have to really see The Horde in action; just watching her reaction to them is enough.
The role in that episode is parallel to that of Nick Fury in this issue. I really like the Ultimate version of Fury, I daresay more than the original (although my exposure to the original is limited, I confess). Fury is such a together kind of guy. No matter the situation, no matter the odds, he is always calm and collected, always in control. Nothing fazes him.
So when Fury reaches the end of his rope, even just for a second, the threat of the Almost-Six suddenly becomes that much more real. Sure, they killed lots of scientists and SHIELD agents, sure they're homicidal and insane, but it wasn't until the moment when Fury looses his cool with Peter that it really hits home. He's worried. And when Fury is worried, you know you're in trouble.
The end of the issue leaves me somewhat confused, however. I don't remember if I'm supposed to know a "Mr. Stone" or not, and that could very well be the source of the confusion. Otherwise, if we've never heard of him before, then I'm guessing we're not supposed to understand it just yet and will have to wait until next issue for answers.
We're about at the halfway point with this series now, and I'm really pleased with how well it's coming together. Again, though, I'm struck by the fact that I'm very much intrigued by the Ultimates, and wish that we could see more of them.
A final comment: these covers, for lack of a better word, suck. This one is a perfect example. It's a thoroughly undynamic, unimpressive piece of work. The Goblin leers while Spidey leaps. Be still my heart. I'm not so superficial that I would dock the issue's rating because of the cover, but for a series that should be so high profile, I can't help but wonder why the heck they've chosen these flat pictures to be the public face. Particularly in this day and age of Cover Pin-upitis NuMarvel seems infected with.
Just do like me, though. Ignore the cover and skip right to the inside. The art in there is much better (very reminiscent of Bryan Hitch's work on The Ultimates, in fact), and the story is coming along quite nicely.
- 1602 #3: 4 out of 5
Rounding out a week full of Marvel characters, but none from the regular continuity, we have 1602. We're half-way through the series now, and I think that Gaimain's just about done with establishing all the players. He's also pretty much through with the not-so-slight hints and innuendos about the characters; either you get who they are by now or you don't. We're ready, therefore, to focus on the story. As a result, this is probably the most interesting issue of the series thus far.
Not that more attention to the story means I have any greater insight into what's going on, because I'm still fairly lost in the grand scheme of things. I've pondered on it and pondered on it, but I can't for the life of me figure out where Gaiman is going with all this. What's especially irksome is that I'm not altogether sure who or what Virginia Dare is supposed to represent from the classic Marvel Universe. My best guess is that she's a vastly different version of the Hulk, transforming into white creatures when she becomes scared, versus a great big ... uhm, hulking green thing when angry.
The threatening atmosphere of this world presses deeper on the cast with this issue. Things are very wrong, and the events feel much like a last-ditch attempt to stave off the unknown. I strongly suspect that there is a greater allegory at work here, that feeling of dread is the New World coming to obliterate the Old, but I confess I don't know quite enough about world history to say if that's entirely true or not, although I do know that Elizabeth died in 1603, just one year after the events in this issue. Again, I suspect that's no coincidence. (If nothing else, my experience with Gaiman has taught me to take nothing for granted.)
