The Ultimates Volume 1: Super-Human

**trigger warnings for anti-woman violence. Because yes, this book is that classy.**

So, I'm kind of obsessed with The Avengers movie. And though I've long shied away from superhero comics, it seemed like maybe this was a good time to give them a shot. But where to start? I spent a good amount of time hunting online for some kind of guide to the Marvel universe. Finally, I found an article that seemed to be just what I was looking for -- a "if you loved The Avengers movie, try these comics..." sor of thing. It recommended this.

It was horribly, horribly wrong.

Okay, think what you want of Joss Whedon. But he is explicitly feminist. Sure, he doesn't get it right 100% of the time (who does?), but he's always trying. His dialogue is sharp, show more intelligence is respected rather than made the butt of jokes, and he does ensembles really well. That's what I was looking for in a comic, but that is not what this is.

You know, I actually mostly enjoyed this book while I was reading it, but the more time went by, the more I thought about it -- the less I liked it. Now I pretty much detest it. Let's start with the feminism, shall we? Not counting Captain America's elderly ex, there are two female characters in this book. Betty, who is (here), a self-centered bitch who thinks it's a compliment when The Hulk tries to rape her and kill her dinner partner, and Janet Pym, who starts out promising, but then evidently ends up making out with Captain America in front of photographers, prompting a psychotic rage from her insecure husband, who then maybe almost kills her at the end.

Awesome.

As for the smart, even though throughout this volume, people keep expressing supposed concern for Bruce Banner's tendency to Hulk out, the whole volume is basically a textbook pressure cooker for poor Bruce. And at no point does anyone ever stop and say, you know, maybe we should be nicer to Bruce. Take a little pressure off. Give him the occasional compliment. If for no other reason than if he gets angry he could kill us all/destroy the entire island of Manhattan/completely undermine everything we've been working for.

You know, I get the whole thing of portraying your "superheroes" as flawed characters, warts and all, but the only character I even liked at the end of this was Thor, who was pretty full-on awesome, all the time, even if he's maybe not really a god in this 'verse.

Anyway, I'm not at all interested in reading any more of this. Giving up on superhero comics a little longer. show less

"The Ultimates: Super-Human” is issue 4 (volume 28) in Marvel’s Ultimate Graphic Novels Collection. The book brings together the first six issues of Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch’s “The Ultimates” limited series, which originally began publication in March 2002. The story begins with a World War Two introduction, with Captain America apparently killed. Fast forward to the present where we find Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. seeking to establish a strike force of government-sponsored metahumans to ally public fears about the rise of mutant beings with incredible powers. Based at S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Triskelion facility in Manhattan Bay, we follow the team being put together.

Mark Millar’s writing on the book is highly entertaining, show more playing clever riffs on well-established characters and continuity, while at the same time making the book accessible to newcomers. The book is an updating of The Avengers and this modernising is nowhere more apparent than in Millar’s take on classic characters: Tony Stark (Iron Man) is an alcoholic playboy industrialist with a brain-tumour; Bruce Banner (the Hulk) is a tormented geneticist; Thor is a socialist hippy and the husband and wife team of Hank (Giant Man) and Janet Pym (the Wasp) are hiding dark secrets. This is all very clever and entertaining, but it strips back any nobility in the characters, fore-fronting their petty jealousies and making then little more the weapons for the manipulation of a cynical Government. The book sports some incredible artwork from Bryan Hitch, which is perhaps the last word in cinematic photo-realism. Hitch describes his Ultimates work as "widescreen, cinematic compositions" and it is simply visually magnificent. The hardcover also comes with a set of nice extras: the histories of both the writer and the artist, the original Bryan Hitch covers for the first six issues and a comparison of the Ultimate versions of the heroes and the regular Marvel Universe versions. This is an excellent book, which provides an excellent updating (if very dark) updating of the classic Marvel team and has some of the most incredible art from the last ten years. show less

They’re all jerks, and what’s even more impressive is that each of the --Ultimates-- are jerks in a unique and individual way. Maybe I’m sympathizing with Banner too much (one too many school dances being the nerd that doesn’t get teased because no one even notices I exist). But everyone from Betty Ross (quite the bitch in this TPB) to the Pyms, to Thor and Tony, and even the supposed perfect Captain America just seem to never let up on Banner.

The thing is, while I can barely stand most of the characters, I really liked the plot. They find Captain America in the ice and General Fury puts together the Ultimates, a team that’s basically the Avengers in the Ultimates universe.

So, it’s onto the second volume and maybe the show more characters get less douchey? show less

Nick Fury gets the funding and the staff to assemble a group he calls "The Ultimates," a variety of super- and costumed heroes that he hopes will be able to fend off any threats beyond the capabilities of military force. Gathering together Iron-Man, Bruce Banner, the Wasp, and Giant Man, Fury's next big move is to tempt Thor to join the group. While the public questions the need for the Ultimates, their first super-villain turns out to be one of their own ranks.

This was an entertaining, light and short read that had a good balance of action and backstory in the narrative. The artwork was well done and helped pull the reader in further. While I don't generally care for crossover comics, this is an example of doing that well -- the point show more of the book is that it's bringing together heroes from various lines, not a Green Lantern comic where Spider-Man makes an appearance just because. If I had a major criticism of this book, it seems like this story has been told already, especially given the recent Avengers blockbuster hit (although it's not really fair to ask a book from the past to compete with something in its future). The real downside of the book was the weird and bizarre domestic violence outburst between Hank and Jan Pym at the end of the book. This was purportedly the "hook" to draw readers in to Volume 2, and it did nothing for me but leave a bitter taste in my mouth and pretty much guarantee that I won't pick up the next book in the series. show less

I read this so fast I didn't get a chance to post it in my currently reading list. I liked it but I also just saw the Avengers animated movie a couple months ago so there was some extreme deja vu. This is a new, origins of the Avengers so not a lot happens other than the group forming. But there are some real cool things in it.

First off this was written around 2002 and Nick Fury is black and looks a lot like Samuel Jackson. Then he says, "when they make the movie the only person that could play me is Samuel Jackson." Which, if you watched all the credits in the Iron Man movie, turns out to be a prophesy fulfilled. Also Thor turns out to be a total anti-corporate activist hippy instead of the haughty, holier than thou hero we're used show more to.

The Avengers was always one of my favorite comics growing up so I may end up reading more of these if I can get them. I'm hoping to see Hawkeye (he is mentioned) show up and I'd like to see what they do with the Wonder Man story line that I only slightly remember from way back when. show less

This book was simply amazing, and I will definitely be looking up the rest of this series now. Only thing, if it can be an issue, is that Marvel is making the setting contemporary. On the one hand, it is a strength as it allows them to make certain commentaries on current events, but in the other, I could do without little things throwing it off like an appearance by George W. (who even in the comic looks foolish). That aside, this is an excellent storyline. The art is very good as well, and for me it was something I enjoyed a lot. Overall, I highly recommend this. Great start to what looks like a great series. And I also think casual readers will enjoy it. It is very accessible if you are not a fan of Marvel comics. If you are, you show more will enjoy this as well. show less

When I'd first read this trade, I'd known practically nothing about the 616verse Avengers or their formation. I still loved these comics, but now that I've read the first several issues of the Avengers title, I love the book even more.

Mark Millar takes the Avengers team and updates them for a more modern time. Captain America is still frozen in a block of ice, Iron Man is still dealing with a health problem that threatens to end his life prematurely (although it's not his heart this time), and the Hulk is still a founding member of the team before the Avengers have to unite against him. So old-time fans of the Avengers will probably enjoy all of the little nuggets of history that have been fashioned to fit into the Ultimate Universe. show more And for those who are new to comics, it's a great jumping-on point for them. I think that Millar does a great job of fleshing out the team members, especially Captain America.

And there is, of course, Bryan Hitch's awesome artwork to accompany the story. Artwork can make or break a good plot, and Hitch's art makes this "good story" a great one. His faces are especially great - expressive, realistic, and distinctive. He captures the characters wonderfully. show less