In a bid to broaden the number of comics we cover at ComicsXF, we give you, the reader, these mini reviews of some recent releases.
The Ultimates #8
W: Deniz Camp | A: Juan Frigeri | C: Federico Blee | L: Travis Lanham | P: Marvel
Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri transport their extraordinary universe building through space and time with The Ultimates #8. Homing in on a time travel event, the Ultimates descend on a remote field, where they are greeted by the Guardians of the Galaxy. Heralding from the 61st century, they are here to retrieve America Chavez from the doomed 21st century.
Each of the seven issues in the series so far has served as something of a vignette about this new universe and its heroes. Camp has used this structure as an opportunity to reflect on the injustices of our world, while building out the wider story one piece at a time. Each issue has built out the universe and, crucially, its characters. Issue #8 provides an insight into America Chavez’s time-spanning history through Guardians leader Captain Marvel’s recounting. Her tale is of one of cosmic tragedy, lost love and a warning of a tragic fate about to befall the Ultimates.
The decision to have America Chavez mimetically cut off from her past makes her reaction to Captain Marvel’s plea for her to rejoin the cause and rekindle their love fall a little flat both in and out of the story. America is emotionally detached from her history and her former lover so, while the violation of her mind is tragic in and of itself, I also felt that detachment. This was perhaps where the one-and-done nature of the series so far didn’t quite work for me.
I need to be clear though: I’m judging The Ultimates against the incredibly high standards it has set for itself, because there were loads of great elements to this issue. It was a particularly strong showing for the art team of Frigeri and Blee, who managed to combine the scale of 40+ centuries of history, composed of amazing character designs, futuristic cityscapes and grand cosmic settings, with beautifully laid out, intimate character moments.
Don’t get me wrong, this is still a hit.
— Jake Murray
Buy The Ultimates #8 here. Don’t mistake it for this one.
Sentinels #4
W: Alex Paknadel | A: Justin Mason | C: Federico Blee | L: Travis Lanham | P: Marvel
Of all of the From the Ashes books, we’ve let this one fall through the cracks, not because it is bad or forgettable — it’s not — but because there are so many that staying on top is impractical by design.
But even after a one-issue detour crossover with Mystique, Sentinels shines as one of the current X-books with a clear mission and statement of purpose. We are here to watch four human soldiers fall apart, literally, and transform into something else in service of a violent, bigoted system, beyond the control of a creator barely keeping it together himself.
Issue #4 reveals where the current Sentinel technology came from — more manna for fans of early 2000s X-comics. It’s the latest choice in a book that goes out of its way to make unexpected choices. Bastion is nowhere to be found. The “evil” mutants the Sentinels have hunted down just want to be left alone to figure out their post-Krakoan existences. The robot people are surprisingly human, but losing more of their souls with each passing second. And Dr. Ellis and her squad are written far better in their small roles here than in the crossover where they are currently center stage, cackling like cartoon characters.
Also — and this is a spoiler but also important — this comic contains the best appearance of Charles Xavier of the entire FtA era. It will explain Drumfire’s hallucinations in a way that will make you cackle.
Artist Justin Mason is treating this book like his breakout, upping the Sentinels’ devolution with each panel. If this were his audition for Skybound’s Transformers, he’d fit right in between Jorge Corona and Jason Howard. I’m even willing to forgive him for thinking Passaic, New Jersey, is some small, suburban town rather than the riverfront city it actually is!
With one issue left, it doesn’t feel like the end is near for these characters. Rather, it feels like the beginning of something else is. If issue #5 ended with the line “The Sentinels will return,” I wouldn’t be mad at it.
— Dan Grote
GI Joe #2
W: Joshua Williamson | A: Tom Reilly | C: Jordie Bellaire | L: Rus Wooton | P: Image/Skybound
It’s long been understood that during the original Marvel Comics run of G.I. Joe, writer Larry Hama was constantly having to rotate through his cast to accommodate Hasbro’s desire to feature their newest figures in the comic. This meant that while certain characters — Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker — tended to hang around, either due to fans’ or Hama’s affection, many found themselves pushed to the background to make room for their replacements. Hawk begat Duke, Breaker begat Dial-Tone, and so on. The resolution to the cliffhanger of Skybound’s inaugural G.I. Joe issue seems to suggest the new series will follow a similar trend, though with much deadlier results.
Certainly, the original series featured its fair share of character deaths, but Hama generally seemed reluctant to use that technique as a driver of character turnover. G.I. Joe #2 suggests Joshua Williamson may be more ruthless with the characters. As long as it’s not overdone, it will stand as another example of the Skybound revamp’s approach to the franchise: embracing what’s come before while applying a modern sensibility.
— Austin Gorton
New Champions #1
W: Steve Foxe | A: Ivan Fiorelli and Ig Guara | C: Arthur Hesli | L: Travis Lanham | P: Marvel
If I had a nickel for every time Marvel invented new sidekicks for their heroes who then got their own series that was about them reclaiming their forgotten/lost lives while trying to become heroes of their own, which also is way better in execution than it should be, turning a jump-the-shark concept into compelling characters and an interesting plot with good art … I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t much, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
— Tony Thornley
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Jake Murray spends far too much time wondering if the New Mutants are OK. When he's not doing that, he can be found talking and writing about comics with anyone who will listen.
Dan Grote is the editor and publisher of ComicsXF, having won the site by ritual combat. By day, he’s a newspaper editor, and by night, he’s … also an editor. He co-hosts The ComicsXF Interview Podcast with Matt Lazorwitz. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two kids and two miniature dachshunds, and his third, fictional son, Peter Paul Winston Wisdom.
Austin Gorton also reviews older issues of X-Men at the Real Gentlemen of Leisure website, co-hosts the A Very Special episode podcast, and likes Star Wars. He lives outside Minneapolis, where sometimes, it is not cold. Follow him on Twitter @AustinGorton
Tony Thornley is a geek dad, blogger, Spider-Man and Superman aficionado, X-Men guru, autism daddy, amateur novelist, and all around awesome guy. He’s also very humble.
