Review: ‘Ultimate Invasion’ #1 Is A Bold New Bunch Of Set-Up
by Tony Thornley
The Ultimate Universe was one of Marvel’s greatest successes of the last thirty years. Unfortunately by its end in 2015, it was also exactly the problem it was intended to solve. With Ultimate Invasion #1, the Ultimate Universe returns, but maybe not in the way you think.
Jonathan Hickman, Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, Alex Sinclair and Joe Caramagna bring a return to the Ultimate Universe.
Earth-1610’s Reed Richards is the smartest man in the multiverse. He’s ten steps ahead of the greatest minds of Earth-616. And he’s about to start a plan that could mean the end of one universe and the beginning of something familiar but wholly new.
This issue is mostly set-up. Hickman, as well as Al Ewing and Donny Cates, have put the Maker into a position for him to be such a unique antagonist. Too many characters have been the smartest person in the room, but we fully believe that the Maker has these plans ready. It’s all technobabble, and some of it falls flat, but it makes for a gripping read while setting up the last three pages (and the rest of the series to come). The dialogue isn’t the best, with characters often talking at each other instead of with, but it’s still engaging.
Hitch and Currie’s art is a little stiff, but overall, it’s a great looking issue. The body horror of the opening lands extremely well, with Sinclair adding to the grotesque. They make the conversation between Miles and Reed feel as important and weighty as the fight between the Illuminati and Maker. A few character models are slightly off- placing this story in a confusing spot in continuity- but in the whole, it works.
Caramagna’s work on the issue is great too. He fills pages with lots of information, but he also makes a mixture of fonts feel significant. Miles’ dialogue in all-caps with Reed’s in mixed case makes Reed incredibly unsettling and shows Miles has changed while in Earth-616.
Ultimate Invasion #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Overview
This issue is imperfect, but it has a hell of a hook. The cliffhanger makes the entirety of what came before it worthwhile as well. I’m excited to see what’s next.
