Comic Review – “Ultimates Vol. 2: Homeland Security”

When it takes three months to get an issue out, one
asks oneself if the wait is worth it. After reading
this, I think I’ll continue to wait for the trade
paperbacks.

General Information

Title: Ultimates Vol. 2: Homeland Security

Author: Mark Millar

Illustrator(s): Bryan Hitch

Original Publication Date: April 2004 reprint of
seven issues first
published between the fall of 2002(!) and this
spring.

ISBN: 0-7851-1078-X

Cover Price: $17.99 US, $29.00 Can

Buy from: Amazon.com
or Amazon.ca

Past comic reviews can be found here.

Premise

In the aftermath of the Hulk Incident, the Ultimates
are called upon
to deal with an alien invasion.

If it weren’t for the incredible publications delays
this title is
notorious for, it would have come out before both the
Ultimate
War
and Ultimate Six. (The first has
already been
reviewed; the review of the second is forthcoming,
and probably the
lowest rated Bendis work to date, being interesting,
yet ultimately
pointless.)

High Point

Captain America vs. Giant Man.

Low Point

Fury’s comment on Cap’s joke. The joke was amusing,
but the
discussion of it later was just beating a dead horse,
moving into
preaching territory.

The Scores

This was not original. Every major plotline
was used
elsewhere, and not just in the “classic update” sense
that most
Ultimate titles work in. The Black Widow’s
introduction couldn’t be
more like Trinity in the first Matrix if
they tried, the
basic plotline was much like The Arrival or
First
Wave
, and the incessant pop culture references
that showed us how
close their world was to ours in the first volume
just seem pointless
in this volume here. There’s no real chance to set
itself apart from
its source material when all the title does is string
action sequences
together. The action is well done, mind you, but
there’s nothing else
to this title. I give it 2 out of 6.

The artwork is very well done. The battles
are well
depicted, with relative locations clearly laid out,
and the individual
panels have excellent arrangements, particularly in
Captain America’s
location in the first hospital scene. I give it 5
out of 6.

The story is, well, pretty vapid. Cap’s
reaction to Janet’s
situation was interesting, and the rest was just
enough story to
string some action sequences together. I give it 3
out of 6.



The characterization of some characters is
good, particularly
Cap, Janet, Iron Man, and the Black Widow. Others,
just as Hawkeye,
Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch, are pretty
one-dimensional.
Even the good characterizations are limited to a few
strong traits,
and not a “complete picture” that has any appeal. I
give it 4 out of 6.

The emotional response this produced was
decent. As I said,
the story itself is rather unsatisfying, but the
action sequences are
great. There’s a huge amount of time spent on action
sequences, so
the entire package reads quite well. I give it 4 out
of 6.

The flow was well done. The story kept
moving, and the art
tells the story at least as well as the words. At
least, when there’s
a story to tell. The action moves very nicely. I
give it 6 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a decent read if you’re
looking for superhero
action, but there’s nothing else to it. I give it 4
out of 6.

In total, The Ultimates Vol. 2: Homeland
Security
receives 28
out of 42.

One reply

  1. bleh
    I totally agree. Ultimates has gone down the toilet. They’re TOO disunctional. I thought that was cool at first but it gets old quick and you don’t really feel anything for the characters after a time. What they’ve done to Banner was just so harsh, the guy never gets a break. I hope Iron Man dies, he’s such a prick. Hell they’re all pricks. One thing I noticed is the Ultimes which are depicted in the Ultimate 6 series seem like a better team(better written?). It’s the same creative team so it shouldn’t make a difference but I just felt that way. I’ll be taking it off my reserve list – What a dissapointment.

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