After recruiting Wasp and Ant-Man to the Ultimates, Captain America decides to travel to the White House with the team to learn more about the Maker and the history of what happened to the United States. As the dark secret truth gets revealed to him, Captain America and the Ultimates will face a different person sitting behind the desk of the Oval House. They are not solely coming to fight against the Maker’s leadership but to rescue a secret hero held hostage underground. Captain America, a man that time forgot, must reckon with the forgotten dream that the Maker erased to keep control in The Ultimates #2 by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri.

I applaud Camp for focusing on Steve Rogers to experience the untold history of what happened to the United States on Earth 6160 since it reflects his status as a man out of time and represents the Maker’s interference with the lost history. More important, though, lies in Camp understanding the symbolic nature of Captain America as not a mouthpiece for the government and politicians but inspiring people and fighting for justice, freedom, and the idealized American dream, which works flawlessly in him fighting with the Ultimates rebelling against the tyrannical Maker’s council. Especially with a character like Midas serving as the villain of the issue whose capitalistic greed and hunger represent some of the country’s worst qualities and history, which contrasts with what Captain America stands for. Outside of being a physical threat, he is a solid contrasting ideological foil to Steve and the ideals he fights for. 

Another significant component of The Ultimates #2 peels the curtain back of the history of what happened to the United States and how the North American Union formed. Similar to his previous works, Camp has excellent experience when it comes to crafting an alternate history and genuinely thinking about the implications and ripple effects that the Maker’s interference would have. Illustrated by the talented Frigeri, we watch in silence and horror as we experience what Steve sees and feels in the hologram program. Although it does not reveal everything, Camp and Frigeri give enough context to what has happened previously and to the present. Camp handled the intertwining real-world elements with aspects of the Marvel Universe exceptionally well and provided exciting context. Along with giving the broad strokes of what led to the dissolution of the United States, Camp does sprinkle in some hints to previously unmentioned characters and locations to provide an idea of what happened to them and their place in the universe. 

I am still in love with Frigeri’s art and how he depicts the world of Earth 6160. Everything is gorgeous and wonderful and perfectly complements Camp’s script and voice. Considering he has to craft a new universe, he makes Earth 6160 feel different than 616. With Federico Blee’s colors and VC’s Travis Lanham’s colors, all the artistic and visual elements combine exceptionally well and make another memorable issue. 

As the Ultimates gain another member for their team, the countdown for the Maker’s return creeps up. Camp and Frigeri are doing incredible work that excels beyond a flawless first issue. They prove that nothing is truly off the table in the new Ultimate Universe as they make bold choices in crafting this section of Earth 6160. The Ultimates #2 demonstrates Camp and Frigeri’s firm grasp of such beloved characters and how unafraid they are to take them in thrilling new directions while holding on to their core characteristics.

Story: Deniz Camp: Art: Juan Frigeri
Color: Frederico Blee Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Story: 9.7 Art: 9.7 Overall: 9.7 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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