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Captain-America.US
Ultimates 2 Review
#Disclaimer any political views expressed are that of Cap Writer and
not necessarily that of the webmaster.
The Ultimates 2 is no Electric
Boogaloo: it delivers in a way that Breakin’ 2 never did
By Cap Writer
Contributing Scribe and aspiring Sentinel of Liberty
As sequels go, you rarely get an X2 or a Spider-Man 2, which is just as good – if not better – than the original. Now we have another worthy sequel with the new comic book series, The Ultimates 2. Simply put, it’s the best, most fun and contemporary superhero title on comic shop shelves these days.
As a Captain America fan, I love that ole Cap is the centerpiece of this wonderfully written and drawn series by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. The second installment picks up right where the first left off and takes it to the next level. Can you believe that our very own Star-Spangled Avenger is now committing adultery with a fellow member of The Ultimates? This is 21st Century entertainment indeed, true believers, and as usual, he tells his fantastic tales with so much wit and intelligent humor.
The first panel captures the imagination of classic Cap bravado as he dive-bombs out of a Blackhawk from 600 feet up with no parachute. The uniform is awesome. The cowl no longer connects to the neck and is held down by chinstraps that come from inside the mask. His chain mail now sports a split mock neck that gives him a sporty look. The rest is pure military. Heavy lace up boots. Army green utility pouches strapped to his belt. Bandolier-looking belt straps around his shoulders that connect across his shoulder blades. His gauntlets have little cargo pouches for carrying goodies on his forearms. He has the option of goggles and a breath mask for such missions as his dive-bomb and swim through the Euphrates River. Best of all: no wingy thingies on his head. Yes!
So what’s Cap doing swimming in the Euphrates? His target is an Iraqi terror cell holding American hostages, that’s what. It doesn’t get more contemporary and relevant than that folks. Millar creates a realistic situation and it resonates. It’s not your daddy’s Captain America, rolling around in short-shorts with some spandexed baddie like the evil-yet-suave Frenchman Batrock. Cap takes the head-scarved Iraqi killers head-on and kicks their asses so badly that they eventually set their guns down at the sight of Cap’s steely-eyed and square-jawed gaze.
That is a nice slice of Americana in this time of confusion over a war in Iraq that has no clear objective or end in sight. The benefit of a free Iraq is coming at the cost of young U.S. soldiers and that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people. Where as the current administration has no answer for the families of the fallen soldiers, Cap seemingly avenges them with a swift sling of his red, white and blue shield. Our hero delivers in the void of the supposed “Rambo versus the Taliban” movie that never came to fruition – and I hope it doesn’t because I’d much rather see Cap kicking terrorist tail on the silver screen in 2007.
One subject this title does not shy away from is the news media. Millar and Hitch paint a picture of an intrusive and unappreciative press corp that The Ultimates need to defend themselves from – even in their personal lives. Where as the news media was once glamorized by comics with characters like Clark Kent, Peter Parker, Ben Urich and others, this title puts The Ultimates squarely at odds with everyone from Larry King to nameless photographers. It’s as if this hot new title was penned by conservative radio heretic Michael Savage himself. That doesn’t bother me because it’s realistic of what’s going on in today’s news media environment with regard to Iraq. Bravo Mr. Millar, bravo.
In this first issue, classic characters like Thor, Iron-Man and the Hulk are sidebars to be developed at a later date, which works for a long story arc like this one. Plus, it leaves more time to develop Cap’s alter ego, Steve Rogers. Interestingly and gratifyingly enough, the man behind the mask is dating Janet Pym. Problem is, Mrs. Pym is still Mrs. Pym, separated but not divorced from ostracized wife beater and fellow Ultimate, Hank Pym. It is an adult choice by Marvel Comics and it works. Again, it’s contemporary, it’s real world and it’s edgy. Rogers struggles with his modern-day relationship to Pym because he still has the 1940s sensibilities of a man 60 years out of his time and it makes for a nice contrast for a character that’s much more than a mask and colorful outfit.
Another nice duality is that Cap isn’t shown killing anyone and yet he doesn’t seem to pull any punches while pounding NY street muggers into an ambulance ride, which is referred to “off-panel.” Whether he’s dressed as Captain America or plain old Steve, he is 100 percent ass kicker and he makes no apologies for it. So dangerous in fact, he’s referred to as a person of mass destruction by the news media. We’ll have to stay tuned to see if Cap is graduated from an ass kicker into a hero capable of killing. For now he seems loyal to the non-lethal code of the 1960s Captain America.
Near the end of the first issue, we see a beautiful full-page panel of The Ultimates’ NY harbor headquarters, the high-tech Triskellion, complete with tons of SHIELD Sky Destroyers. Nothing like seeing a navy-style carrier loaded with fighters as it floats through the sky with space-age looking propulsion engines. One look at those bad boys and all of Iraq would drop its collective weapons – of mass destruction or otherwise.
The issue ends on a nice cliffhanger, where Dr. Bruce Banner is left in shock and awe. It’s tough to tell whether Banner is dumbfounded by the public revelation of his secret identity or a pending emergency statement by the President of the Unites States. Can’t wait to see what happens in the second issue of The Ultimates 2.
I told comic shop owner Dan Shahin of Hijinx Comics – serving two San Jose locations – that I’d buy the first issue and then wait for the trade paperback combining the first six or so issues. He said “no you won’t, because it’s soooo good.” After reading the first offering, I have to say dandy Dan was right – and Hitch’s art is simply gorgeous. In an age when everything shows up on DVD, “Breakin’ 2” is still languishing in obscurity, while Lions Gate Entertainment is producing and animated DVD version of The Ultimates due to the series’ overwhelming popularity. ‘Nuff said.
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