Something like a year ago (in graphic novel time; longer ago in single issue time, you understand, but I bet that the ratios work out about the same), the Ultimate universe came to a crashing halt or I suppose more appropriately was swept away on a tidal wave. I may have mentioned it. And then new stories began to trickle in, from Spider-Man, the Ultimates, and their black ops cousins the Avengers. Notably missing were the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, though in the latter case the fact of worldwide mutant hatred due to their ongoing terrorism made sense of that part at least. So, in the meantime, Amazon had this link to a book called Enemy that was meant to be coming out last fall, and it was the next big event in the Ultimate universe. I pre-ordered it, as you do, and then watched in dismay as it was pushed back further and further and further still.
Then, sometime in May or June while I was waist-deep in both ice and fire, suddenly I get a shipping date. Only, now the book is selling for $40 list under a new name, even though my cost never changed from $13 or so. So that was weird. Then Doomsday arrived, and it turns out to be a collection of three separate never-published graphic novels making up the entire story of which Enemy was to be the first third. I appreciate your commitment to low prices on pre-orders, amazon.com! And now, months after that, I have finally come up for air long enough to read something new. Which is nice.
So, anyway, the Fantastic Four are back, more or less, although they’re by no means the only people around. This is one of those stories like the Ultimatum or the big Galactus trilogy a number of years earlier where just about everyone gets a piece of the action. The story starts with a bang, almost moreso literally than metaphorically, when many different heroes and also, somewhat inexplicably, the occasionally nefarious Roxxon corporation are all targeted for destruction on the same day at the same time, with varying degrees of success. Then the survivors must come together to solve the mystery of who is out to get them and what to do about it.
I shan’t say more, except to allow as how I’m really suspicious of the outcome being the real end of the story. We’ll see, though! Eventually.
Things I liked about this:
1. Bendis’ writing. Seriously, Bendis’ Spider-Man is like one of the best characters ever.
2. How they’re taking the Ultimate Universe in different directions than the Classic Marvel Universe. It’s not just “oh, hey, here’s our twist on this famous story” anymore, it’s actually going off and doing its own thing, most notably with one of the big relationships in the book.
3. As mega-event crossover things go, it didn’t suck, which is something all by itself.
Thing I continue to find hilarious:
1. The massive degree of continuity, interconnection, retconning, &c. involved in this “clean,” “continuity-free” reboot of the Marvel Universe.
1a) That is just so entirely factual. Like, and a half.
2a) I’m definitely agreeing with that, and the moreso since I’ve already seen most of the original versions of those stories now. (Well, okay, there’s some Spider-Man and plenty of X-Men stuff left I haven’t gotten to, but still.) But yeah, except when they telegraph things for months in advance, I no longer know what to expect, and that be cool.
3a) I’m still not convinced there wasn’t some sleight of hand going on, and at remove, I cannot decide if that will make me feel better or worse.
1b) Okay, but that was 11 years ago now. Are they still claiming it, or were they still recently? Still, there’s a lot *more* continuity in these 11 years than in Marvel circa 1963-1974.
3a) The biggest thing there is, is fluctuating power levels, a la Buffy S7 or all ninjas. Like, everyone’s unstoppable, unstoppable, unstoppable… and then STOPPED, with no big major trick involved.
1b) Oh, I don’t think they claim it anymore. It’s just the mismatch between the intention and the reality.