ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #26 REVIEW

Ultimate Comics Ultimates #26

Written by: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Art by: Michael Komarck

Does anything truly go the Ultimates way? Seems like when you think things couldn’t get any worse for them, Fialkov manages to give them another kick. Everything is falling apart for the team, though even as it’s nothing new for them it’s makes it all the more exciting to see how they manage to dig themselves out of the hole they find themselves in. Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s one thing to have the Hulk want your heads, but a Hulk and super genius with the Infinity Gauntlets? That’s a conflict you want to see happen when the time comes.

I do have to point out that some of the narration did come off as an eye sore. It was one thing to read so many text boxes, but trying to focus on an individual box is more effort put forth than necessary. While that was bothersome along with some dialogue which felt clichéd, there were moments that made you forget about that. It was inevitable that Sue was going to confront Reed and it was shocking that she did with the help of The Thing. Both who were able to see him for what he really has become. Fialkov definitely turned up the intensity of the story near the end and it made everything else leading up to it worth it just to see the Ultimates start to take control of the situation. Not only this, but to learn that one of the gems has been right under their nose the whole time and at the cost of a life.

It has been a layered story in which all sides have their purpose in a fight that has proven to not be in their favor from the start. Whatever happened in this issue will lead to something shocking if Fialkov can keep up with the progression of the story and focus less on cliche dialogue or narration.

Score: 7.7/10