Deniz Camp just dropped perhaps the best issue of the entire Ultimates universe so far. This issue was incredible, and I was hooked from page one. This new Ultimate universe has been a major highlight for Marvel Comics this year. As we prepare to head into Year Two, Marvel decided to end the year with a bang.
Last month, I wrote a review for Volume 1 of The Ultimates, where I described it as “an absolute thrill ride from start to finish—I tore through all six issues in one sitting, unable to put it down.” That sentiment perfectly describes how I felt about this one-shot. Rather than focusing on the heroes’ side of the story, this issue follows Nick Fury, an agent working for the Maker.
My favorite aspect of this issue is how it really explores what life is like in this dark, demented Ultimate universe. The story opens with a suburban dad named Keith Kincaid grilling for his family in December. However, Keith doesn’t get to finish his meal prep—he’s struck by government-controlled lightning and killed by H.A.N.D. (Heroic Anomaly Neutralization Directorate), led by none other than Nick Fury. Keith’s crime? Thinking the Ultimate’s might not be evil.
This is where the story fully reveals its Orwellian tone. Instead of a “Thought Police,” this universe has the “Narrative” task force, which controls media outlets and dispenses carefully curated information to its citizens. This kind of world-building is what makes universes like this one feel alive and immersive.
The issue reads almost like a spy-thriller comic, which feels like the perfect way to follow Nick Fury as he narrates the story in his “Last Confession.” The ending of issue #6 delivered a major reveal, and this one-shot keeps the momentum going with multiple wild twists and surprises. Deniz Camp and Marvel are clearly cooking up some wild and exciting ideas for this universe. As a bonus, this issue teases the new Ultimate Wolverine, whose story launches next month! The twists in this comic caught me completely off guard, and I loved every moment of it.
I have to mention that art by Alessandro Cappuccio, Jonas Scharf, Mattia Lacono and Bryan Valenza illustrated and colored such a gorgeous-looking issue. We got some top-tier writing and story-building and we also got some top-tier comic book art.
If you’re looking for an awesome Marvel comic to read and have even a passing familiarity with the Ultimate Universe, you should absolutely pick this up. If you’ve been following The Ultimate Universe over the past year, this one-shot is a must-read. Year One has been a fantastic, wild ride, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
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Make sure to check out my reviews for other titles in the Ultimate Universe!
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