Ultimate New Ultimates #2

The Ultimates comic has had what we can charitably call a sporadic publishing schedule, as issues often miss their regular publication dates and show up months (and months and months) late.

The problem has been at the other extreme lately. Two weeks ago, issue #6 of Ultimate Avengers was published, followed a week later by issue #1, Volume #2 of the Ultimate Avengers. Now, a week later, we have the second issue in the Ultimate New Ultimates series (which I must admit, I had forgotten completely about).

This is the series written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Frank Cho. So you know the art is going to be great (and it is), but the story is much more difficult to predict. The first issue's story was surprisingly good - but here, it all starts to unravel.

We start with Ultimate Captain America being his usual self - a colossal jerk. The Ultimate Enchantress shows up and starts recruiting new members of the Lady Liberators (a '70s group of heroines that appeared in a single issue of The Avengers to fight for Women's Liberation). (Really!)

In the meantime, Loki is attacking New York with an army of trolls and dragons, and the Ultimates are fighting a holding action. Meanwhile, Ultimate Thor is gettin' busy (if you get my drift) with Ultimate Hela. Yeah, I know.

The purpose of the story is obviously to give Frank Cho as much opportunity as possible to do what he does best - draw beautiful women and dinosaurs. This he does spectacularly, but the story doesn't really hold up its end of the bargain - it's a mess, as impossible events pile on top of improbable actions, and all the characters have to act like lunkheads to keep the story moving.

It's almost worth it for Cho's art - but that's the only reason to buy this issue.

By the way, I can't help but note that in the indicia, this comic is to be published monthly. On the same page, the ad for the next issue lists its publication date: July 7, 2010. Sheesh!

Grade: B