Review: ‘The Ultimates’ #6 Is A Terrifying And Apt Metaphor

One of the greatest parts of the new Ultimate Marvel Universe is how much it’s turned the familiar on its head. The Ultimates are not the shining beacons that the Avengers are in Marvel’s prime universe — or even the very public government agents of the previous Ultimate Universe — but clan destine freedom fighters. And in The Ultimates #6, the team encounters the most terrifying change yet.

Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee and Travis Lanham bring the Ultimates to their biggest fight of the current run.

They have a mission that could change the course of the cold war they’re fighting. They have a team that can withstand any challenge they face. Or so they think. The Ultimates are about to face their most terrifying challenge: the Immortal Hulk.

I’ve been digesting this one a lot since I read it last week. A comic about a group of progressive heroes fighting a fascist ruling class being dealt a massive set back hit harder than normal. And Camp absolutely did not intend it to be timed that well, these comics are made months in advance.

The direct (accidental) allegory is right there though. Here, the Ultimates walked into a situation thinking it was one thing, found themselves facing something totally unexpected and losing. The fact that the Hulk here is a fascist monster who considers virtually everyone beneath him makes it even worse. It’s a fantastic metaphor of the rise of fascism, and the setbacks that the war against fascism often faces.

Even if it hadn’t been so well timed, it’s an amazing action comic. Blending the Hulk with the Immortal Weapons turns an already horrifying threat into something completely new. Camp sets up the concept, but Frigeri delivers. This is an action comic through and through, and Frigeri makes every moment of it tense and scary. We know the time is outmatched, and when it falls apart, we see every detail of it. She-Hulk’s disfigurement is gut wrenching, Wasp’s brush with death is frightening, and the emotion in Iron Lad’s fate is absolutely heartbreaking.

The Ultimates #6 is available now from Marvel Comics.