The Ultimates #23 (Marvel Comics)
Hello there! Padawan J here, the resident Star Wars expert from the ODPH! This week I'm going to be reviewing the 23rd issue of The Ultimates from Marvel Comics!
The Ultimate universe is a war on all fronts! The Maker has returned after a two year imprisonment and now it’s up to The Ultimates and their friends to unite the planet and stop The Maker once & for all. However the Maker is not without his own allies in the fight, and one of them is none other than Loki! So just how will Thor unite the nine realms and stop Loki in his tracks? Let’s jump into it!
Credit: Marvel Comics // The Ultimates #23 by Deniz Camp (Writer), Stipan Morian (Artist), VC’s Travis Lanham (Lettere), Dike Ruan & Neeraj Menon (Cover Art)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The Story
This issue is an epic tale in every sense of the phrase from start to finish. While yes, this issue does deal with characters even casual Marvel fans are familiar with it still feels like a sweeping epic tale that only seasoned fans would be familiar with. It’s a masterful story that builds up in a way that feels like something told from ages long past and only recently discovered in an archeological dig someplace.
For those who may not remember the Maker in his sweeping plan to control everything in the vision he wants did three things when it comes to the Asgardians. First, he killed Odin with the help of Loki. Second he imprisoned Thor and made him give up Mjolnir, however Thor did escape and has since reclaimed Mjolnir. Third was The Maker installed Loki as the ruler of Asgard much in the same way he put the Kingpin in charge of NYC.
This is a story you need to experience for yourself, because it is another tremendous entry in the series and one that continues the generational run Deniz Camp has been on with this series. The path he takes the reader on from start to finish was a surprise at every turn and ended in a way that left me simply amazed. There are some familiar beats to this story that even casual fans of Marvel will be familiar with, and it works so incredibly well with the flow of this issue.
The focus of the story is self contained in that it does not stray outside of what’s going on with Thor and the Asgardians, and as such it really helps the the way the story flows from one beat to the next. The way it builds up and plays out to the ending is simply spectacular and might be one of the best single issues in the last few years. I cannot emphasize how great this issue is, and you really need to check this issue out.
The Artwork
As great as the story is, the artwork from Stipan Morian is just as great if not better. The work Stipan does in this issue is honestly some of the best artwork you will see in any issue this year. Stipan does a great job capturing the look and feel of a mural you might find in an ancient temple or city, and it works so incredibly well with the story. I loved the look they used with the issue and the use of color was simply spectacular and mindblowing.
Overall Grade: 10/10
This is one of the best single issues of not just this series, but any series in the last 5 years. Deniz Camp is penning a story that you will regret missing out on if you don’t read it. The story is the best one you’ll read this week and the artwork is the best you’ll see probably all year.
