Biff Bam Pow Comics

This is one of those ‘was it worth the wait’ books. Issue three came out quite awhile back, but was a damn good read (as were the first two issues), proving well that the book stands up alongside Mark Millar’s original Ultimates, and Ultimates 2.

Buuuuutttt… As great as the artwork by Joe Madureira and script by Jeph Loeb is - both would be even better if issues of The Ultimates 3 actually came out on time. Something that seems to be the curse of the Ultimate Marvel Universe.

***SPOILER ALERT***

That aside - you can’t deny that Joe’s jaw dropping work compliments every tense moment in the book, making some truly awe inspiring moments with Sabretooth / Hawkeye, Juggernaut / Wolverine, and Thor / Magneto.

Sadly, as wonderful and as truly grim (in some places - see Valkyrie’s final expression followed by Pyro’s errie words) as this book is - I just can’t forgive the delay. It took me half the book to remember what was going on - which is never a good thing.

Therefore - Ultimates 3 issue 4 - docked one point for timekeeping.

Pete’s Score: 4 out of 5
(late - but brilliant nonetheless)

Brilliant…! I was getting a little worried about the Fantastic Four after Mark Millar / Bryan Hitch’s last issue, but happily - book 557 has put many of those fears to rest.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Issue 557 picks up right where 556 left off, giving the closing act of ‘World’s Greatest’ - with the FF and pretty much the entire Marvel U mopping up Alyssa Castle’s mistake - the rampaging CAP.

Needless to say, Reed twigs CAP’s one and only weakness pretty quickly, and does his best to exploit it with his Anti-Galactus suit. Yes - you read that right - his Anti-Galactus suit.

That could have come in handy a little while back eh?

As with the previous three issues, this book serves well as a stand-alone story. Unlike the past issues however - this issue has a mini-link in to Secret Invasion - blink and you’ll miss it.

This issue also requires that you read the Mighty Avengers issue 11 beforehand…

Pete’s Score: 4 out of 5
(much better - recommended - should be an interesting next issue with that cliffhanger…)