The Ultimates #22 (Marvel Comics)
Hello there! Padawan J here, the resident Star Wars expert from the ODPH! This week I'm going to be reviewing the 22nd issue of The Ultimates from Marvel Comics!
The Ultimate universe is at a tipping point! It’s an all out battle against The Maker and his forces with the fate of the universe on the line and everyone is fighting! One such person is Captain America. So just what happens when he finally has to confront a complicated part of his past? Let’s jump into it!
Credit: Marvel Comics // The Ultimates #22 by Deniz Camp (Writer), Juan Frigeri (Artist), Federico Blee (Color Artist), VC’s Travis Lanham (Letterer), Dike Ruan & Moreno Dinisio (Cover) is an incredible issue that is among the series’ best.
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The Story
Deniz Camp has been on a run with this series and it’s been some of the best storytelling I’ve read in a long, long time! We take a step back from the larger story that’s being told between this series and Ultimate Endgame and shifts it’s focus solely to that of Captain America. We also turn our focus back to a figure, and a group we haven’t seen since at least issue #10!
The story switches from the past and a recap of Steve Rodgers history with Bucky Barnes to the present. The story with Bucky feels very familiar and that makes sense, it’s one of the more well known “origin” stories and one that doesn’t really need improving or changing. Also it feels like one of those scenarios that happens in every iteration of their story, no matter what universe it takes place in.
As for the story in the present, Deniz does a fantastic job building the story up with some incredible moments of action mixed in with heartfelt ones. From the sequence with Wanda, to the sequence with Hawkeye and Quicksilver it’s an issue packed with emotion and fantastic storytelling. Deniz does a fantastic job capturing some of the familiar feel you’re used to if you’ve read any Captain America story and this issue feels like it should be in the mention of some of best that have been ever written.
Then there’s the matter of the twists in the issue, and as is standard I will NOT be going into spoilers on what happens with this. You really need to go into this without knowing full details, because WOW it’s a crazy one. What I will say is that I was very surprised by how the issue played out and ended. If you read the preview on Marvel’s website, then you know a confrontation is going to happen. I just wasn’t expecting it to play out the way that it does. Will it have some sort of far reaching impact on either characters or those connected to them? Only time will tell, but it’s sure to be a crazy ride!
The Artwork
Juan Frigeri & Federico Blee really did a great job with the artwork in this issue. I really liked the way the sequences in the past were drawn & colored because there was a very strong familiarity to them that helps build a connection to this version of Cap with the reader. The action sequences continue to be some of the best ones you’ll see on the stands this week. Also, the last 8 pages or so are some of the best ones I’ve seen in years. They’re simply stunning and some of the most visually engaging panels you’ll see this year.
Overall Grade: 10/10
This issue is one of the best issues of the series thus far. Deniz Camp’s work is absolutely mind blowing at it’s level of depth. You’ll be thrilled, shocked and comforted all in this issue. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re passing on this for any reason whatsoever!
Thank you for taking the time to check out my review. Be sure to reach out to me on Twitter, and let me know what you thought of the issue!
