Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra
August 20, 2006 | 3 Comments
The more I read in the Ultimate ‘verse the more I realize how truly top shelf everything about it seems to be. So far every Ultimate book I’ve read has been great, in some cases awakening interest in characters I previously had no attachment with. Having this in mind, I picked up Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra.
This series starts as a four part series. It is extremely character central. There is very little classic bang up super fight action scenes, but that’s a-ok with me. Especially good when the character development and dialog is as expertly composed as this. In many ways I think this title was targeted at female comic readers, I hope it was successful at this, because I’m certainly going to be making Sara read it…
Here’s the premise: Elektra is a freshman in college. She is the child of a single father who started her with karate lessons at a very young age. Elektra is strong willed and outspoken. Her character exudes strength and confidence. In all ways a great role model for girls (at least early on). She shows up to school, meets some great friends, including one mousy shy girl who she protects from some frat dude jerk. This is where all the problems start, establishing the core conflict of the series.
Later we meet Matt Murdock aka Daredevil. In all ways Daredevil is secondary to Elektra in the series. He and best friend Foggy Nelson are studying law. Murdock immediately becomes Elektra’s love interest.
As the Elektra and frat boy conflict heightens in extremity, eventually she and Daredevil find themselves as a decision point. He must make a choice between supporting her in an act of vengeance or saving the life of someone he does not like. Daredevil feels strongly that the legal system must be played out; Elektra has lost her faith in the law.
In addition to Greg Rucka’s fantasticly written morality centered action character drama, the art of Salvador Larroca is stunning. In fact, it was the recent Marvel Spotlight: Neil Gaiman/Salvador Larroca issue that raised my awareness of this book. I enjoyed reading his interview, but hadn’t read anything he penciled.
If you are interested in Daredevil, Elektra, the Ultimate ‘verse, or character driven story telling, this is a must read for you.
Tags: "ultimate universe", character, comic, comic books, comics, daredevil, drama, elektra, greg rucka, marvel, marvel spotlight, Neil Gaiman, salvador larroca, ultimate, ultimate daredevil and Elektra
Geeks and Gamers
February 8, 2006 | 3 Comments
To my great happiness, Geeks and Gamers opened in Meredith, NH this January. This is a store devoted to comics and gaming. I’m not huge into the gaming culture, but finally having a well stocked comic store near me is just fantastic!
The owner is friendly and happy to see new customers. He was quick to offer setting up a pull list for me, which I initially denied, but now have every intention of going back and setting up.
My only criticism would be the prices on back issues, but that is pretty much a universal complaint. Ebay can always outperform what comic stores hold as stock.
While there I bought Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk #1, Ultimate Extinction #1, Astonishing X-Men Saga #1, and a new box for my rapidly expanding collection. Reviews on what I bought will be here pending my completion of the series.
Tags: comic, comic book, comic books, comics, extinction, gamer, gamers, geek, geeks, geeks and gamers, hulk, store, ultimate, ultimate extinction, Wolverine
Ultimate Iron Man
February 7, 2006 | 2 Comments
When I found out Orson Scott Card was writing Ultimate Iron Man, I had to check it out.
Card is without compare my favorite author. His portrayal of children as intelligent full characters captured me at a young age. Many other authors leave children as one-dimensional after thoughts. Used to build character of others, but with none of their own. In fact, his character development is fantastic all around.
Anyway, it was no surprise that Card decided to begin his Ultimate Iron Man series with Tony Stark as a child. Stark was always just a rich snob with a fancy suit to me. Card made him a gifted child with unique abilities. This portrayal of Iron Man made him have neural tissue distributed throughout his body, not just in his head, giving him the advantage of great intellect, but this was coupled with suffering. His entire body hurt constantly, like having second degree burns all over.
Card take Stark through to early adulthood when he gets his first taste of alcohol, setting the ground work for his alcoholism. Apparently, the distributed neural tissue greatly enhances the effects and adds some relief to the constant pain. I’m a bit uncomfortable with this justification of his alcoholism…
Anyway I look at it though, this is the first time Iron Man has ever been made interesting to me. This series gets two thumbs up from me.
Tags: alcohol, alcoholism, card, comic, comics, iron man, ironman, marvel, orson scott card, stark, tony stark, ultimate, ultimate iron man, ultimates
The Ultimates
January 12, 2006 | 6 Comments
I just completed reading the full first Ultimates run (1-13) and am now up to date on the current run (1-9). There is only one word that describes The Ultimates series.
Dark.
There isn’t a single character in this series so far without some massive flaw. But I’ll get to that in a moment…
The Ultimates is a recreation of The Avengers in the Ultimate Marvel Universe. This is a primarily non-mutant super hero team that is commissioned by the government as a division of S.H.I.E.L.D. In this reality, mutations have become somewhat common as they are cropping up all over the world. These mutants are hated and this story all plays out in the Ultimate X-Men series. However, science has also progressed to the point where manipulations are being made to “normal” humans’ genetics, giving super powers. These artificially enhanced humans are then made members of the Ultimates, or are villains.
Even Ultimate Spider-Man falls under this “requirement,” Fury informed Peter Parker that when he turns 18 he will be required to join the Ultimates.
Another interesting note about this series is the way the Ultimates don’t actually have much reason to exist. There aren’t any significant super villains in the series, no global fights to justify their existence. In fact, they wait until the 11th issue before revealing the first non-member global threat. This is only a 13 issue original series.
The second, currently ongoing series has a similar start. There is a lot of back story and character development, which I appreciate, but again no massive threat until the current issue (#9) which justifies government creation of the “super team”.
Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of action in this series. My point is that the other “bad guys” existence can be directly attributed to the work S.H.I.E.L.D and the government in general is funding. Or, in some cases members of the Ultimates themselves. Clearly the authors want the readers to wonder about the politics and justification of this super army. Maybe they want us to wonder about our own militaries on a smaller scale. Do aggressive militaristic groups spawn additional?
Anyway, one thing that kept me intrigued by this series was the lack of true hero in any of the members of this super team. Here’s a quick rundown of the flaws in each of these character which stops me from being able to idolize any of them, as I might someone like Spider-Man.
Captain America [Steve Rogers]: Uber-aggressive “old” codger, 40’s mind set. Sees things in black and white.
Iron Man [Tony Stark]: Playboy alcoholic, flaunts his place as one of the world’s richest men.
Wasp [Janet Pym]: Secretly a mutant, loaned genetic material to Hank so he could make great scientific breakthroughs. Publicly dates Steve Rogers while still married, but continues to screw Hank. She has other subtle flaws, but in many ways I like her the least.
Giant Man=>Ant Man [Hank Pym]: Secretly cheated to get where he is professionally. Wife beater. ‘Nuff said.
Hulk [Bruce Banner]: arrogance leads him to self experimentation. Hulk rampage leads to over 800 civilians killed. Cannibal.
Nick Fury: Pawn of a larger scheme he may be a part of. Plays like Samuel L. Jackson in a Pulp Fiction/XXX kind of way. An ends justify the means sort of guy.
Thor: Possibly insane. Conspiracy theorist. Ultra left wing. Violent opposition to American dominance. In many ways I find many of these traits endearing, but the writing clearly does not intend them as positives.
Scarlet Witch [Wanda Maximoff]: Daughter of Magneto. Known Terrorist, only in this for the money. Belive in mutant supremacy. Implied incestuous relationship with Pietro.
Quicksilver [Pietro Maximoff]: Son of Magneto. Known Terrorist, only in this for the money. Belive in mutant supremacy. Implied incestuous relationship with Wanda.
Black Widow [Natasha Romanova]: Her evil is a massive spoiler… Trust me though, it’s bad.
Hawkeye [Clint Barton]: The one we know the least about, and in turn, I think he’s clean…
There are also a pile of “reserves” who are all portrayed as mindless puppets to whatever S.H.I.E.L.D wants of them.
As I devour each issue in this series I find myself torn between loving and hating the series. I guess either emotion conveys conviction, and I’m still reading it. Mark Millar was successful at least in hooking me.
Tags: ant man, avengers, black widow, bruce banner, captain america, comic book, comic books, comics, giant man, hawkeye, hulk, iron man, Magneto, mark millar, marvel, nick fury, quick silver, scarlet witch, shield, steve rogers, super hero, thor, ultimate, ultimates, wasp, x-men
Ultimate Fantastic Four
December 11, 2005 | 6 Comments
I’ve never been a fan of the Fantastic Four. At all. They sort of go against everything I love about Marvel. They have life easy, their beloved by the community, and have unlimited funds. This is very different than Spider-Man who is trying to hold his life together while being hated for his altruism.
Anyway, I decided to get my hands on Ultimate Fantastic Four purely to find out if Brian Michael Bendis had put the same touch on this series as he had on The Avengers. Though I was skeptical, he did it here as well. I just finished reading Ultimate Fantastic Four 1-6 and these characters are interesting to me for the first time.
Sadly Bendis left writing Ultimate Fantastic Four after issue 6. Apparently that’s when he concentrated on reinventing the Avengers, which was certainly a success as far as I’m concerned. Anyway, my hopes are a bit lowered for the rest of the series. I intend on reading it regardless, check back on my impressions.
I may even need to see the movie now…
Tags: bendis, brian michael bendis, comic, comics, fantastic four, marvel, trade, ultimate, ultimate fantastic four, ultimates
New Avengers, New Comics Legend
November 23, 2005 | 5 Comments
Over the last few months of reading Amazing Spider-Man, a continually running core plot point has been his membership in a newly reformed Avengers. Never having been a huge Avengers fan, I wasn’t initially very interested, but this interest has slowly increased.
I just completed reading New Avengers Volume 1: Breakout, which collects New Avengers #1-6. After completing this, I was hooked. The writing was just all out fantastic. I hadn’t been this excited about a comic since the Ultimate Spider-Man Collection. It was then it hit me.
Bendis wrote Ultimate Spider-Man, and he also wrote New Avengers. In fact it was him who dissolved the original Avengers. That series has been compiled in the aptly named Avengers Disassembled.
Bendis has also been involved in writing Daredevil, Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four. In the meantime he created and wrote Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Secret War, Alias, Powers, and House of M. He’s also responsible for bringing Spider-Woman and Luke Cage back to life.
I’m looking forward to getting my hands on as many Bendis written stories as I can. As far as I’m concerned he’s a living legend like Stan Lee, Frank Miller, Jack Kirby, or Steve Ditko. In 5-10 years all the comics based movies will be driven by the characters and worlds Bendis is creating and expanding right now.
Tags: alias, amazing spider-man, avengers, bendis, book, breakout, brian michael bendis, comic, comic book, comic books, comics, daredevil, fan, fantastic four, frank miller, house of m, jack kirby, marvel, marvel team-up, new avengers, powers, secret war, spider-man, spider-woman, spiderman, stan lee, steve ditko, ultimate, ultimate fantastic four, ultimate spider-man, ultimate x-men, ultimates, x-men