And so it is that the Ultimate Universe ends with both a bang (as more heroes and villains are brutally murdered) and a whimper (that coming from the fans who read this thing).This final issue of Ultimatum features excellent art by David Finch and a reprehensible script from Jeph Loeb.
The entire thrust of the series is simply to kill as many heroes as possible in the most shocking way possible. In that effort it was quite successful - we've seen characters torn apart, chewed up and generally mutilated.
However, there's no entertainment or story value in it - it's just violence for shock value - the comic book equivalent of torture porn.
It leaves me so indifferent, I can't work up the energy to talk about it any more, and the comic doesn't warrant much discussion.
The Ultimate universe was one brimming with potential when it was created, but this crass effort has left it smelling like failure. A shame, really.
Grade: D
4 comments:
I (and my friends, for that matter) don't know what's happened to Loeb. He was a solid writer at one time, but the past few years have been horrid. I see his name, I run the other way.
Jim, it's sad but true! Loeb has done some outstanding work in the past, but he seems to be struggling lately. I keep thinking he's just in a slump, but there are no signs of revival yet.
Oh come on, Chuck! The way Thing killed Doc Doom was very creative!
Shudder....
Ha! The interesting thing about that is that the latest issue of the FF places the Thing in a similar position. Amazingly, even with Mark Millar writing it, the Thing does the morally correct act. Whereas in Ultimatum, he becomes a cold-blooded murderer.
Post a Comment