Movie Review: Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron

   The sequel to a hit film always has a lot to live up to, and while I'd hesitate to say Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron is better than 2012's Avengers movie, it's a close call - and the new film is one of the few sequels that lives up to the original.

   The movie opens with a blast as the original Avengers attack a well-known menace (cleaning up some leftover business from the last Captain America movie).

   But during the battle, Tony Stark suffers a terrible vision that convinces him of the need to build a stronger defense for the world - and that effort leads (if inadvertently) to the creation of Ultron, a (possibly) unstoppable menace to all mankind.

   Writer / Director Joss Whedon weaves a terrific story, loaded with love interest, humor, plot twists and amazing action sequences (more than once I found myself grinning uncontrollably).

   Each character gets a chance to shine, and the relationships between the "band of brothers" (and a couple of sisters, including Maria Hill) is fun to watch.

   As a comic fan, it's a pure delight to see so many characters brought to life (yes, there are more than just the main team and Quicksilver and Wanda), and the expansion of some of the characters, including a budding romance and a surprising secret about Hawkeye.

   And one of my all-time favorite characters, Thor, gets some room to show his own capacity for humor and friendship.

   Marvel continues to show it has the magic touch for this kind of movie - the perfect balance of humor and adventure and great characters - and a terrific story to pull it all together.

   How much did I like this movie? How's this: I can't wait to see it again.

   Highly, Highly recommended!

Grade: A+

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Age of Ultron #10 AI

I have to admit, I always get scared when a Marvel comic focuses on Hank Pym / Giant-Man.

That's because, so many times in the past, the character has been treated like absolute crap.

He's been driven mad, he struck his wife (Janet Van Dyne) once and was forever after labeled a wife abuser, he created the artificial intelligence that became the world-destroying Ultron, he's been through numerous costume and name changes - Ant-Man to Giant-Man to Goliath to Yellowjacket to Hank Pym to Yellowjacket again and most recently back to Giant-Man (where he should stay, with any luck).

So I approached this "aftermath to Age of Ultron" issue with some trepidation. I was relieved to see that Mark Waid was writing it - he certainly has respect for the history of the character.

Thankfully, my faith was well placed. This is a comic that intends to set Pym on his future path, and as a long-time fan of the character, I'm delighted to see where they're going. It's also heartwarming to see Giant-Man done properly - fighting the bad guys, helping emergency crews - you know, hero stuff.

But I'll continue to live in fear if the new Avengers A.I. comic (which this issue is obviously setting up) doesn't do well.

Pym has all the potential in the world, but he's also a big target for writers who like to deconstruct classic heroes. I'd appreciate it if they'd keep their grubby paws off his one.

Grade: A-

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Age of Ultron #10

Sometimes - not often - I hate the Internet.

I try to avoid spoilers, I really do - but sometimes they sneak up on you.

So it was with some disgust a couple of months ago when I saw a blurb revealing one of the surprising events that take place at the end of Age of Ultron.

It's difficult enough for entertainment vehicles to surprise us, whether it be comics, movies, TV or what have you - but it's almost impossible when there are armies of writers who delight in spilling the beans about upcoming events.

Of course, the companies are just as bad, releasing information to the news media ahead of time to maximize news coverage of events.

This issue offers the wrap-up to the time-spanning storyline about the conquest of Earth by the robot Ultron, and the final pages feature a surprise character. If I had not known about it, my jaw would have dropped.

But since it was spoiled already, my reaction was a subdued, "Cool."

This series has been a bit erratic all along - did we ever find out what happened to the team of heroes who went into the future? Why do we take a look into the Ultimate Universe? Didn't that big bad already appear there in a different guise?

But the wrap-up is satisfying, if a bit on the "what just happened again" side of things.

The art is terrific, using a small army of artists, including Alex Maleev, Bryan Hitch, Butch Guice, Brandon Peterson, Carlos Pacheco and Joe Quesada (among others), and the result is (mostly) terrific.

It remains to be seen how the series affects the Marvel universe proper (if at all), but it's been a (mostly) fun series.

I just wish it had been allowed a few more surprises.

Grade: B+

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Age of Ultron #9

With the next-to-the-last issue, the maxi-series Age of Ultron threatens to completely jump the tracks.

That's because it's not playing by the rules.

Here's why: the story is set in an alternate present, where Wolverine travels into the past (this was two issues back) and kills Hank Pym before he invents the original Ultron.

And there's the problem. Past continuity has established that if you travel to the past and change the normal events, you then create an alternate timeline - the original timeline doesn't change (I think this was first referenced in John Byrne's Marvel Two-In-One #50.)

Anyway, when Logan and the Invisible Woman return to the present, they realize there's no winning, because even without the creation of Ultron, the world has been radically altered and faces destruction from an unexpected source.

So what's left? They journey back in time and try to change history yet again.

The one factor that promises repercussions is hinted at by Tony Stark, who points out the dangers of time travel, because of other powers in the universe - that may carry things into an interesting direction.

Once again, the issue features great art by Carlos Pachco and Brandon Peterson, and sharp scripting by Brian Michael Bendis.

Next issue will tell the tale. Can Bendis sort out the gnarled timeline, overcome the continuity difficulties and sort this mess out?

Here's hoping - but I'm finding it difficult to see.

Grade: B

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Age of Ultron #8

Well, this one has me conflicted.

On the one hand, this issue of Age of Ultron is the usual action-packed, mystery-laden adventure by writer Brian Michael Bendis, with lots of great dialogue and characters along the way.

On the other, it's another example of the kind of time-travel mumbo-jumbo that I'm really not crazy about.

The series has split into two fields of combat - the one in the future (not seen this time around), and the one in the present - but the present reality is completely changed because of the actions in the past by the unlikely team-up of Wolverine and the Invisible Woman.

After their trip to the past (during which one of the two killed a certain key player), they return to a world that seems only slightly better than the Ultron-devastated one they had left.

A different menace threatens humanity now, and there may be no defense against it. And Logan and Sue Richards are prisoners, suspected of working for the enemy.

So the story's a bit of a muddle, with lots of alternate reality / timeline alterations playing hob with the "real world."

The art, however, is terrific. Brandon Peterson provides the finished art, and it's outstanding, with lots of personal moments, big hoo-hah events, great character designs and a new look for New York.

Even though the story's kind of all over the place, I have to admit that it's still compelling enough to keep me coming back for the rest of the series, just to see how they untangle this mess.

Grade: A-

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Age of Ultron #7

Well, this mini-series has moved into unexpected territory - though that's not necessarily a good thing.

The Age of Ultron story has been building for years, and now that it's here, it somehow has become.... House of M. (Both are written by Brian Michael Bendis, so at least he's cribbing from his own work. Sorta.)

In other words, reality has somehow become jumbled, with characters and reality transformed into... something else.

It's obvious that there has to be some kind of "reality reboot / reset" at the end of this series, because Ultron has caused too much damage and too many deaths for the result to be otherwise - and this issue just ramps up the "things are messed up" quotient.

It's a result of time-travel, as one team went into the future to confront Ultron, and another went into the past on a darker mission. Don't they know how those things always turn out?

The art is tag-teamed by Brandon Peterson (the story from the past) and Carlos Pacheco (the present day story) with Roger Martinez inking. The art is good, although it feels a bit rushed.

I know, time travel complications are a time-honored tradition in comics (and Star Trek episodes) - but it's going to take a heck of a finale to tie this up - or use it as a launch pad for future stories.

It's still possible of course.

Grade: B

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Age of Ultron #6

I have to admit that I'm starting to worry about this series.

That's because the solution the team has arrived at involves time travel, and that's a dangerous road to travel - because it can present a too-easy solution to every problem.

Your loved one got killed? Go back in time and change the past! Wish you had money? Go back in time and win the lottery! Hey, let's kill Hitler! (Sorry, Doctor Who reference.)

So that's the minefield this series is tackling, and it reaches a pivotal point here - of course, it remains to be seen how it all works out. Writer Brian Michael Bendis is a solid craftsman, but he's going to have to do some mighty clever stuff to make this all work out properly.

The art is a bit of a letdown from the work up to now by Bryan Hitch. The usually-excellent Brandon Peterson and Carlos Pacheco split the duties this time around, and while the work is good, it feels like it was a rushed job - both are capable of much better work than this.

Here's hoping that my fears are groundless and Bendis is about to pull a plot twisting rabbit out of his hat. (Wouldn't that be something!)

Here's hoping!

Grade: B+

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Age of Ultron #5

Something happens in this issue of Age of Ultron that I really, really like.

It's the return of one of my all-time favorite characters - Nick Fury. As in Sgt. Fury (of the Howling Commandos) and the first leader of SHIELD - the one whose creative "parents" include Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, John Severin, Dick Ayers, Jim Steranko, Howard Chaykin and many, many more.

None of which is to take away from the new Samuel L. Jackson version of Nick Fury. He's a fine, entertaining character, now ported over to the "regular" Marvel Universe by some serious writing gymnastics - but since I was a kid in the '60s, the original Nick Fury is the "real" one to me.

So as the world nears its final destruction at the hands of an army of countless Ultron robots (my heart breaks to see Austin under attack in this issue), it's great to see the possible solution being devised by Marvel's greatest warrior.

This series has been blessed with strong writing from Brian Michael Bendis and incredible art (so far) by Bryan Hitch - and I say "so far" not because I expect the quality to drop, but rather because the art next issue will be by Brandon Peterson, another outstanding talent we don't see enough of.

I still have the unsettling feeling that I know where this is all going, but it's been mighty entertaining (if quite grim) getting there. Recommended!

Grade: A

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Age of Ultron #4

This series continues to be a heck of a wild ride, as the Age of Ultron gives us a present-day world that has been devastated in a matter of days and is under the control of the robot Ultron.

Every major city has been virtually destroyed and the few remaining heroes are desperately trying to find a way to fight back against a seemingly insurmountable opponent.

At the heart of this issue is Luke Cage, who manages to make his way to the heart of Ultron's citadel and make a discovery about one of Ultron's allies - and then gets in the fight of his life.

It's another outstanding chapter in the series from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artists Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary, with amazing visuals and a shocking story.

How shocking? You'll see protagonists meet their end, you'll see heroes travel to the ends of the Earth in a desperate bid to save humanity, and you'll see three of America's biggest cities in ruins.

It's a big, grim story rolling out, and it seems hopeless for humanity. But that, oddly enough, is all part of the fun!

Grade: A-

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Age of Ultron #3

You have to give credit to writer Brian Michael Bendis - he likes to work with a big canvas.

For the Age of Ultron mini-series / event, he's operating in the present-day Marvel Universe - but one that has been devastated by an overwhelming attack by the robot Ultron (who apparently has an vast army of doubles).

He's destroyed most of New York and other major cities, he's apparently killed the majority of the world's super-heroes, and is in the process of finishing off what's left of the human race.

As with the previous two issues, the amazing artwork is provided by Bryan Hitch, with Paul Neary inking and Paul Mounts providing the color. It's amazing work - no one does widespread destruction and larger-than-life cityscapes like Hitch. Throw in powerful character designs and you've got work by one of the best in the business.

The story has the remaining heroes acting out of desperation, trying to find a way to fight back against overwhelming odds. It's a compelling story - but there are problems with the continuity.

Spider-Man is apparently Peter Parker, unlike the repellant current story in his comic. He's also unmasked - didn't they learn anything from the last time that happened? The number of heroes who have (apparently) been killed leads one to believe that the story will have to end with some kind of reboot, wiping out some of the more terrible events that have happened.

Of course, there's plenty of time to explain these things away or resolve the problems - but it's going to be a tall order.

Despite those problems, it's been an outstanding series so far, and I'm anxious to get the next chapter.

Which is a lot more than I can say about most event books these days.

Grade: A-

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Age of Ultron #1

Well, I certainly didn't expect that. It's like the '90s all over again!

The Age of Ultron was teased a few years ago, during one of many recent Avengers restarts. Brian Michael Bendis also wrote that story, which presented a future world where the evil robot Ultron had conquered the world.

One of the nifty things about that story was that it featured a timeline for future events in the Marvel universe, culminating in Ultron's devastating attack - the Age of Ultron.

That attack has apparently arrived, and the results are shocking. The events that play out in this issue (with the focus on a rescue effort by Hawkeye) are surprisingly grim and gritty.

There are deadly attacks, strong language and lots of mayhem. Most surprising is the condition of New York and the time frame for the story.

The art is by Bryan Hitch (with Mark Neary inks), and it's impressive stuff, loaded with detail (sometimes too much detail to absorb), dynamic layouts and shocking visuals.

Hitch may not be for everyone - his art is (to use TV terminology) High Def to the extreme, and his panel layouts can take surprising turns. Personally, I'm a big fan - you're definitely seeing a master at work.

This event seems to be taking over the company for the next few months, and it's an epic of impressive scope right out of the gate - I can't wait to see where it goes from here.

Oh, and the cover features a foil-embossed cover. Can't get more '90s than that!

Grade: A

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