ULTIMATE WAR #2 REVIEW

[Dave Harris]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/ultwar2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/ultwar2t.jpg" align=left alt="Ultimate War #2"></a>Reviewer: David Harris, HeroComplex00@hotmail.com
Quick Rating: Great!
Story Title: Ultimates vs. Ultimate X-Men

The clash of titans continues!

Written by: Mark Millar
Penciled by: Chris Bachalo
Inked by: Tim Townsend & Andy Owens
Lettered by: Chris Eliopoulos
Colored by: Paul Mounts
Associate Editors: C.B. Cebulski & Brian Smith
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

The Ultimate line as a whole has been gaining steam in recent months. While titles such as Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra are being added to the Ultimate roster to feature more characters, there are also events such as Ultimate War, focusing on and combining to of the existing Ultimate teams. #1 featured only the Ultimates, but this issue brings the X-Men back into the story, albeit not for the issue’s duration. Having Mark Millar, who is responsible for these characters on a monthly basis, as writer for Ultimate War ensures that the story stays close to the intent of the line as a whole, and that the characters remain true to their prior characterization, overall making the series an excellent read, though with drawbacks. As to the particulars---

The quick pace and suspense that ended last issue is lacking at the start of this issue , and in general the opening isn’t as impressive as #1’s was. It was a great conversation and a very fun scene, one of my favorite parts of the issue, in fact, but I don’t think it warranted being the book’s starter. It’s place is somewhere in the middle for a mix of a little comic relief and a good bit of plot furtherance. It works decently as exposition, but surely something else would fit that better. That’s one of the flaws of this issue, actually: it’s somewhat jumbled.

The issues of timing have begun taking their toll on this series, I believe, as Millar is walking a very fine line with continuity, despite the Ultimate line’s claim to have none. The Ultimates is on hiatus, and so the characters we see can be see as frozen from the moment that Ultimates #7 ended, which is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, Ultimate War can have a set time within the two series so that the characters are not appearing in multiple books at once and contradicting themselves. However, Ultimates #7 had something of a cliffhanger ending, or if not a cliffhanger then surely it wasn’t the end of a storyline. The characters in Ultimate War are either taken from the middle of the search for Giant-Man or from some point in time to which the readers aren’t privy. Ultimate X-Men, on the other hand, creatively avoided that conflict by releasing a flashback-centric issue last month. As Ultimate War was meant to begin directly following the events of Ultimate X-Men #25, it seems that Millar plans to show us nothing until the war is over, as opposed to the potential blunder of shattering the War’s suspense with details of the conclusion months in advance. Despite that, current issues are coming out, and taking place in the present, so readers can only wait and see.

And regarding those 2 titles, Millar has done what he can to keep all three books continuous, in that none of them falsify the others. However, certain things always slip through. Ultimate X-Men #26, out last month, showed Charles leaving Moira in a great fit of apathy towards her emotions. But here the readers see a spiteful Charles, throwing their divorce back at her, which also seems to go somewhat against the relationship seen when the X-Men dealt with Proteus. And, though this is more an issue of art than of characterization, Kitty springs to mind as an example of an extreme break between the series. Whoever was drawn for all of three panels in Ultimate War #2 was not the same character being drawn in all of Ultimate X-Men. And this can’t a case of dissimilarities of style overriding the intent---it’s just a completely different character, with hardly anything in common with Shadowcat aside from gender.

A fault with having so many Ultimate titles, in addition to minor, forgivable mistakes of art, is that the Ultimate line threatens to go the same way as normal Marvel continuity has: there will be too many mutants for them to be considered a minority. Already the first scene has set up that, with the X-Men and the Brotherhood members taken into account, there are a fair amount of psychics. It is supposed to be rare to be “super,” but now every team is expected to have their own, and they seem to be everywhere. The Brotherhood has an abundant number of hideouts, implying that mutants have progressed to a regularity; instead of evolutionary oddities, mutantkind has apparently reached populous levels despite only recently appearing on the scene.

The art for this title, and all of the Ultimate, really, is dark. But the art is adaptable as well, as is evidenced by the first scene; things can be light. The strengths truly shine through in the Ultimates Headquarters, however, as a few very minor things become the focal points of the story. Lighting is adeptly handled to help the atmosphere, setting the mood for Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver’s terror, although to a degree it becomes single-toned. Magneto’s depiction, both in art and writing, most definitely proves the point that he is a deadly force in the world, and the end of this crossover will certainly be something to remember.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore) and save!

[Andy James]

i loved this issue a lot, the only flaws were occasionally bachelos artwork was hard to follow in the dark scenes, as well as the timing of the ultimates delays affecting the book.
good issue and a good review

[gambitX]

I loved this issue.. ILOVE Bachalo's art but I was very confused when "Kitty" showed up... UNLESS that is not really Kitty and it's EMMA, who is mentally controling everybody else to think it's Kitty... now THAT would be interesting...............

But yeah... at itmes I am a bit confused with WHEN this is happening... specially with RETURN OF THE KING, now Im positively lost.

[Dave Harris]

That's perfectly fair to say, kotsin. The reason I offer is this: I enjoyed the issue, but less of it jumped out as worthy of special mention afterwards than from the first issue. I concentrated on, I suppose, what would be called more editorial aspects of the book because I felt that this issue was rife with them and they stuck out to me. But it was not an issue with special moments to concentrate on in my reading---if I try hard, I can find certain other things to note, but the discussion of them might come off as artificial because they were not what I would naturally think to talk about. Although, looking back, I agree Magneto deserves more attention than I gave him; the tension makes his scene go quickly though it is an important part of the back.

Overall, the issue was more of a thorough, consistent goodness than the usual up-and-down climactic style.

[mindovermatter]

I couldn't agree more about the art in this series. I am a huge Bachalo fan, but Kitty was not Kitty. I don't know why he drew her that way, but she was not recognizable in the least. Jean's hair is too long, and shouldn't Storm's be curly? Those are really my only complaints with the series.

[NateGrey65]

Dave-I agree with Kotsin-I normally don't even care who the reviewer for an issue is, but I disagreed with your opinions so much by the end of the article that I actually scrolled up to the top to see who it was that had such a glaringly misinformed view of the issue he was reviewing. I disagreed with your comments about the exposition, kitty, AND how you see the mutant population. And while I'm on what is quickly becoming a tirade, I would also like to add that had you read any of Millar's comments about the series you would know that he very clearly explained the continuity of ULTIMATE WAR (it takes place immediately after X-Men 25 and Ultimates 13 for those of you who happen to be uninformed) I know XFAN usually likes to keep the comments positive, so I will try to restrain myself to constructive criticism. I know it's not your fault but in the future I strongly suggest you know a little bit more about what you're talking about if even a casual comic book reader like myself can see holes in your review (not to mention all the avid fan boys on this site) Maybe Brian E. Wilkinson would have been better suited for this review seeing as how he usually does Ultimate X-men (and the Ultimate too I think)
Thanks for letting me get all that off my chest

[Dave Harris]

No problem. And as long as you back up your criticism, as you did here, you are welcome to negative comments about the review.

However, the timing you mentioned validates my comments---the title is taking place at a point in continuity which doesn't exist yet, and that is something extremely eligible to detract from the book. And I wouldn't assume the timing to be knowledge to the common comic book reader, though I may be incorrect in that assessment. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable, and Millar's comments escaped my notice. I knew that this was meant to take place after Ultimate X-Men #25, but had not heard of it's relation to Ultimates. That could be because the title is so delayed, and as such doesn't enter into conversations as often as Ultimate X-Men does.

The other three you mentioned---Kitty, exposition and mutantcy, I stand by. Unless gambitx's musing turns out to be on-the-ball, Kitty was extremely disorienting to see, as she was not herself, and opinions expressed above verify that this was not my problem alone. I enjoyed the exposition, as I said, but with the tense pace of last issue's finale, I think the story would have flowed better had it begun on a high note.

And the mutant population---well, perhaps the current arc of Ultimate X-Men proves me wrong, but the abundance of psychics I find out of place. Prosimian had som able to override the Professor's programming of Magneto, the X-Men have two, and the Ultimates/SHIELD has at least two. Is a psychic power meant to be the "common" mutation? Possibly, but it has not yet been addressed that I have seen.

[RocketNumberNine]

Good review.

The current War/Return of the Kings arcs are certainly keeping my attention, but the thrust of Magneto's character keeps on nagging me. I consider UlXM #20 to be a defining issue for the title in terms of character development. Xavier's mental rehabilitation was actually working and Erik made decisions of a much more peaceful nature by his own free will. Unfortunately, with the return of Magneto's memories, much of that is blown out of the water. Now Xavier's realization in UlXM #20 looks to be a bit of a self-deluding moment. It's definitely understandible that Magneto would be furious concerning the wool pulled over his eyes for six months, but he still had experiences that were more like a typical life. UlXM #26 helps to color his motives a little better, but I continue hoping that Millar will allow some sort of character depth similar to the 616 Magneto, who is a more noble and sympathetic villan. I don't want his past six months to be only defined by lines such as "sharing a bed with an idiot." With Magneto's actions in UW #2 concerning his offspring (how do you cover spoilers so that I can be more lucid?), this sort of character depth is seeming less likely. I hope to be surprised.

[NicholasRogue]

I liked this issue, but I thought how they presented Cyke's death (or supposed more likely) was dumb, they didn't even really explain how he died.

[Brandon Yates]

Originally posted by NateGrey65
I would also like to add that had you read any of Millar's comments about the series you would know that he very clearly explained the continuity of ULTIMATE WAR

Internet comments and interviews are not required reading to review a comic book. If someone has to come across a Millar feature on a website to understand what's going on in said comic book then the book's producers have not done their job.

And, while you didn't break any rules, I think your post was harsh and unnecessary. You say you agree with kotsin, but I thought his assessment of Dave's review showed more class and constructive crticism without actually having to announce it as such so as to deflect a critical response.

Anyway, the first issue bored me but I loved this one. Probably had something to do with an actual appearance by the X-Men and the awesome Ultimates vs Magneto bout.

[x-man17]

how and when did cyclops die?

[Dragon]

I think this seires is finally kicking into High gear..though there hasn't been much fighting yet. Magneto proved he's one mean SOB, shotting his own son's kneecaps. It's cool to see Wolverines Real name is James "Jim" Howlett in this world and Cap actual knows him and faught with him. Things are deffently heating up, Plus the fact the Hulk most likey got away during the black out. Again though there were some unusal things.. Kitty for excample..and why was she Blonde. Thats as strange as the fact there appeared to be two Rogue's in issue One. SOmething is up i think, well have to wait and see

[Dave Harris]

Cyclops was something I include in the issues of timing. If it is true that this takes place directly after Ultimate X-Men #25, as I had myself heard, then whatever occured with Cyclops in the Savage Land occured off-panel. I almost hope that there will be a chronologically out-of-place issue which will show exactly what happened, because I don't believe I saw him die and I don't want the burden of three concurrent titles to badly affect them all.

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Ok...After having read Dave's review on the latest issue of Ultimate War, I noticed a disagreement towards his review, and you two know who you are. There doesn't need a fight between your view of the book...For one thing, it's Dave's writing, and you're not the ones writing it, right? So just say what you have to say, but make sure you don't start a massacre which that you can't finish.

[NateGrey65]

yea, ditto

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Originally posted by kotsin
Thanks for the reply Dave, I think you tried to explain things thorughly and I agree with you but I expected a review for the issue. still I think you did a great analysis between both the Ultimates and The Ultimate X-men ongoing.
Zach, all opinions here are welcomed here and we disagreed on Dave's review because we tought it didn't focus enough on the actual issue but rather on the editorial side of the Ultimate Universe. And I didn't see Dave getting mad at us for our comments, he cleared his point of view for us so that we could understand why he chose to write the review as it is, I don't see a massacre here.

What I was trying to say is that people can post their opinion, but they're not writing the review, and Dave's the one that reviews the book. It's his take on the issue, not yours. And the word I used (massacre), I think that was too much.

@ Nategrey65: Which person are you agreeing with? Kotsin? Or meeeh?

[Dave Harris]

Debate on style notwithstanding, no poster should feel intimidated against chiming in. Whether to comment on issue or review, opinions are always welcome and encouraged. All thoughts are valid, so don't be afraid to post your own commentary.

[CornerDemon]

I have to say that I agree with kotsin's statement; the review didn't seem to focus on the specific issue, as much as the mini-series itself. But other than that, I thought it did the job, providing commentary on the artwork and specific scenes.
And Dragon, where were there two Rogues in Issue One??

-CD

[NicholasRogue]

Originally posted by Dragon
I think this seires is finally kicking into High gear..though there hasn't been much fighting yet. Magneto proved he's one mean SOB, shotting his own son's kneecaps. It's cool to see Wolverines Real name is James "Jim" Howlett in this world and Cap actual knows him and faught with him. Things are deffently heating up, Plus the fact the Hulk most likey got away during the black out. Again though there were some unusal things.. Kitty for excample..and why was she Blonde. Thats as strange as the fact there appeared to be two Rogue's in issue One. SOmething is up i think, well have to wait and see

That was another character altogether I forget what she's called though

[Zachary J. Morrison]

How many of you all think Quicksilver is dead? I don't think he is, but I guess we'll just have to find out when the next issue comes out...I can't wait for the issue to come out :)

[Benjamin Ong]

Originally posted by phoenx
How many of you all think Quicksilver is dead? I don't think he is, but I guess we'll just have to find out when the next issue comes out...I can't wait for the issue to come out :)

I don't think he's dead. Remember the first few issues of Ultimate X-Men when we were led to believe that Beast and Cyclops died? ;)

[vengfulgod13]

I can't agree or disagree with most of the points brought up in the review, or say rather the review was good or not. Mostly because I've been reading these in trade format, and they haven't even introduced kitty yet, and ultimates is still covering the first story arc.
I can say, even though I'm not up to speed on everything Ultimate, I've been able to follow the issues pretty well, and not knowing that Kitty didn't look right probably made that a bit easier. For me, it's rare to find a mini-series that you can read, and not have to be completely up to date on the regular issues. I think it's done very nicely so far, and I'm loving the way Magneto is written here.
That's all.

[weapon-x79]

I thought the issue was excellent, but I have mixed feelings regarding Bachallo's artwork. His main strengths lie on his facial expressions and postures, but a major weakness he has is in drawing backgrounds (even though the panel in issue #1 when the bridge blows up looked very, very, good). Story wise I thought it was excellent, and Magneto is slowly displaying his distinctiveness from his 616 counterpart. Plain and simple, this Magneto is pure evil. While the 616 Magneto was one of the most tragic villains in Marvel, Ultimate Magneto is quite ruthless, and the things he does in the Ultimate U would never be committed by the 616 Magneto (especially when he shoots Quicksilver in his knees. I wonder what ramifications this will have on Pietro. It'd be interesting if the Ultimates design mechanical legs for Pietro. Too many possibilities one can use in writing Quicksilver.). Out of the crossovers I've read, this looks to be the most compelling, and (judging by the events that occurred so far) most tragic.