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ariad
Oh, dear. Ultimates. I've read the first series and two issue of the 2004 series and I am enjoying it so much. The cohesiveness of the storytelling is something that I've not gotten from Marvel so far except in Marvel 1602. It's nice. The characters are very different from their counterparts in other continuities, and they're very difficult to love given that most of them lack any redeeming qualities, but I can appreciate these grittier, nastier versions because I kind of enjoy fuckfests of terribleness. And I tend to count characters' flaws as merits anyway.
Steve: Oh, Steve, baby, you suck so much in this universe, but I kind of like that. I like that Steve is this self-righteous asshole who thinks he has a license to beat people up if he disapproves with what they do. I wonder if this is a result of his lost time and if he'll get better, but it seems like he was a dick to begin with.
Bruce: I have no affection for this version of Bruce except that I approve of his Buffy the Vampire Slayer poster. I like how pathetic he is and that everybody thinks he's worthless, including himself. The relationship between Bruce and the Hulk is always interesting because it's been done in so many different ways, and the Hulk in this serious seems concerned with defending Bruce's honor.
Jan: ASIAN-AMERICANS REPRESENT. I don't feel any particular affinity for this version of Jan, but I like her messed up relationship with Hank because it depicts the kind of crazy domestic violence that could ensue if people had superpowers.
Hank: He is a dick but I love it. It seems like he's developing a rapport with Bruce. That'll go well.
Tony: ilu Tony. He is the suavest. I love that he's superhero-ing because he's dying. That moment in the Chitauri arc when he thinks that he can't do it and he wants to give up is so excellent because it underscores that he's just a man who wants to help. I love that you can't trust what he says to the press: he paints Thor as a lunatic to discredit him and protect the Ultimates, but we know that, at least under desperate circumstances, he believes in Thor's godly abilities. And he's so badass. Conducting a multilingual business deal, reading up on whatever documents SHIELD shoved at him, and satisfying a girlfriend over the phone simultaneously? Tony is the only character I really like in this, tbh.
Fury: I have some positive feelings about this Fury but I don't actually care about him. At least I don't think he's an asshole, which is an improvement from 616 Fury.
Thor: I'm not crazy about hippie Thor because I live in Berkeley and he just reminds me of every hippie spewing their agendas over the sidewalk, but he's pretty cool for a hippie, and I like the ambiguity about whether he is actually a god or just schizophrenic.
Clint: This one is weird for me because in 616, Clint is my favorite. This Clint is throwing me off with his earrings and his hair and his children and his friendly relationship with Fury. And his ability to behave like an adult. I like that he can come to a meeting late and nobody bats an eye because he's Clint and he pretty much co-founded SHIELD, so he can do whatever he wants.
Natasha: BADDEST. ASS. IN. THIS. SERIES.
Pietro & Wanda: I am all over this ship.
It's really delightful to read Ults having watched The Avengers because so many little bits of the movie are drawn from this series. I particularly love the end of the Chitauri storyline when Natasha thinks that Tony is going to sacrifice himself by flying a huge explosive out into space, and his response is along the lines of, "Whoa, what? I was just going to have Thor teleport it into another dimension!"
YESSSSS. Has anybody else around here read Ults? I want to read Ultimate X-Men, as well. What else in this universe should I read?
edit: OKAY WOW I FINISHED VOLUME 2 LAST NIGHT AND UGH ALL MY FEELS. This series is seriously contending against Marvel Adventures as my favorite. I HURT.
edit2: Ugh, I hate the writer/penciller change after Ultimates 2. The art in Ultimates 3 was pretty sexist, and the story didn't go anywhere. Ultimatum is even more sexist and is just depressing. This series has turned into one misery after another, and I feel like Loeb is more concerned with racking up a body count than with actual storytelling. Why are these characters even dying. How does this serve the story. And can Finch stop drawing women in ridiculous poses. Come back to me, Millar+Hitch. Uggghhhh.
