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Mini Reviews: Incredible Hulk, Avengers, and Ultimate Invasion

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The Incredible Hulk #1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Incredible Hulk #1 (Marvel) – It’s not Immortal Hulk, but Philip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein, and Matthew Wilson get the Hulk back to his horror roots in Incredible Hulk #1. Wilson’s palette evokes an old EC book rotting on the new stand, and the entire comic is stress from start to finish with Bruce Banner barely clinging onto his humanity. The antagonists in this initial arc are thinly drawn, but the tone and hook are in place. If you like monsters, Incredible Hulk is the book for you. Overall: 7.4 Verdict: Read

Brett

Incredible Hulk #1 (Marvel) – Philip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein, and Matthew Wilson get the Hulk back to his horror roots moving away from the trippy sci-fi experience of the last volume. The result is an intriguing setup and planting of the flag as to what we should expect. What’s more interesting is how the comic hints at its folding in more of Marvel’s horror segments. What we’ll see in the future due to this should make for an intriguing series that might bridge the superhero side of things with the horror. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Avengers #2 (Marvel) – Kang has given the Avengers information to save thousands of people but needs their help in return. The issue really left me wondering… with all of the access to magic, technology, the future, why haven’t they gone in this direction before? There’s almost an emphasis the Avengers have been reactive and not proactive. Still, the issue builds the threats to come in a series that so far is entertaining but not yet memorable. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read

Ultimate Invasion #1 (Marvel) – The Maker is up to something and that something seems to have to do with the Ultimate Universe which I thought we already knew existed? Still, the start of this intriguing reboot/relaunch is entertaining mostly to watch heroes try to figure out what the Maker is up to and how he’s steps ahead of them. What’s the most intriguing is the ending which indicates this won’t be an “Ultimate” version of the Marvel universe like we experienced before and instead something slightly different. Overall: 7.85 Verdict: Read

Well, there you have it, folks. The reviews we didn’t quite get a chance to write. See you next week!

Please note that with some of the above comics, Graphic Policy was provided FREE copies for review. Where we purchased the comics, you’ll see an asterisk (*). If you don’t see that, you can infer the comic was a review copy. In cases where we were provided a review copy and we also purchased the comic you’ll see two asterisks (**).

Around the Tubes

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Ultimate Invasion #1

The weekend is almost here! What geeky things are you all doing? Sound off in the comments below. While you wait for the weekday to end and the weekend to begin, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

CBR – Studio Behind Secret Invasion’s AI Credits Insists “No Artists’ Jobs” Were Cut – Some pretty impressive spin with this response.

Book Riot – 8 Recently Published Political Graphic Nonfiction and Memoirs – What would you add to the list?

Reviews

The Beat – Hitomi
CBR – Scarlet Witch Annual
Atomic Junk Shop – The Sucker
CBR – Ultimate Invasion #1
CBR – Wonder Woman #800

Ultimate Invasion #1 is a flashy sequel to Hickman’s previous Marvel work

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Ultimate Invasion #1

After teasing in various comics penned by Donny Cates and/or featuring Miles Morales, the Ultimate Universe returns in some shape or form in Ultimate Invasion #1. However, despite the Maker (The villainous Reed Richards from the Ultimate Marvel Universe) acting as basically the protagonist of the first issue in the Jonathan Hickman/Bryan Hitch miniseries, Earth-1610 doesn’t make an actual appearance, and this comic is more of a continuation of Hickman’s Marvel epic than let’s just say, The Ultimates 6 despite its cover. The Maker is on the loose playing god, and the Illuminati must attempt to stop him, but are hamstrung by their own moral greyness as Hickman continues on some of the themes of his excellent New Avengers run that culminated in Secret Wars. And one of the results of Secret Wars was the end of the Ultimate Universe except for Miles Morales, his family, and the Maker. (Other survivors have been glimpsed at in stories in like Spider-Men 2.)

But, despite all its connections to previous Hickman Marvel books, at its core, Ultimate Invasion #1 is a blockbuster of a comic (Fittingly released on the summer solstice) beginning with an action sequence reminiscent of The Dark Knight‘s IMAX-shot prologue, but with force fields and black hole generators. Hitch and his Ultimates inker Andrew Currie are in widescreen mode as the Maker frees himself and performs a series of heists to remain true to his name. During the scenes, Alex Sinclair’s colors come in handy in differentiating between a variety of generic military types that are only stepping stones on the Maker’s path to godhood and universe-shaping.

However, he, Bryan Hitch, and Currie stumble in a splash page of the Illuminati facing the Maker that reads as either parody of typical superhero fisticuffs or a reminder that this art team can still pull off big multi-figure spreads like they did back in Ultimates 2 and The Authority. However, this page comes across less like the iconic spreads of the Asgardians arriving in Ultimates 2 and more like Jim Lee’s deadline-saving pin-ups in his run on the New 52’s Justice League. The scene falls flat, especially for a team focused on intellect versus brawn and basically just shows that the conventional Earth-616 heavy hitters are no match for The Maker and his both literal and metaphorical deconstruction abilities. It’s like there’s a reel missing between Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic figuring out what the Maker has done to construct his machine and then just leaping into a full-frontal assault. But it’s not like the Illuminati had a chance any way.

However, this splash is just a blip on the radar of Ultimate Invasion #1, which in addition to the wide panels, has a little bit of the edgy quality of the Ultimate Universe, especially in regards to the fate of the folks who break the Maker out of prison. It succeeds where Fant4stic Four fails in showing the body horror potential of Reed Richards’ powers, and you can see the revulsion in Mr. Fantastic’s face as he sees his doppelganger melt and squirm into nothingness while the Maker taunts him from parts unknown. Also, Jonathan Hickman writes Mr. Fantastic as a monologuer with his long speeches breaking the action thriller flow of the comic whereas the Maker has mastery of both action and words crafting multiverse-traveling tech while evading some of the best and brightest of the Marvel Universe and also manipulating his Earth-616 counterpart.

Also, in his brief, yet haunting interaction with Miles Morales and in this issue’s game-changing epilogue, the Maker has a bit of what Grant Morrison would call fifth-dimensional awareness. He understands what makes a shared universe tick and is there to upend it and shape it in his own image. The epilogue is brief, yet tantalizing commentary on how the Ultimate Universe both deconstructed (The Mark Millar stuff.) and stayed faithful (Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley’s Ultimate Spider-Man) to superhero/Marvel tropes. Even though it took six issues to get there, Uncle Ben had a ponytail, and Peter Parker was the Daily Bugle’s webmaster and not a freelance photography, there’s still great power and responsibility in Ultimate Spider-Man just like Amazing Fantasy #15. This isn’t the case in Ultimate Invasion #1, and Hickman/the Maker’s twisted vision of iconic Marvel moments is what has me anticipating the next issue.

Ultimate Invasion #1 is a flashy sequel to Jonathan Hickman’s previous Marvel work that explores nostalgia, deconstruction, and features one dastardly villain. It’s not just a trip down memory lane, and with the exception of one poorly paced splash page, is an additive experience with Bryan Hitch showing off his storytelling chops in both quiet conversations as well as big explosions. Ultimate Invasion is definitely a must read for fans of the Hickman epic and Ultimate Universe as well as anyone who loves a bombastic superhero yarn as the days get longer and the weather gets hotter.

Story: Jonathan Hickman Pencils: Bryan Hitch 
Inks: Andrew Currie Colors: Alex Sinclair Letters: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.8 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.4 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Around the Tubes

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Ultimate Invasion #1

It was new comic book day yesterday! What’d you all like? What did you dislike? Sound off in the comments below! While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web to start the day.

Kotaku – New Marvel TV Show’s Credits Were ‘Made’ By ‘AI’, Look Terrible – Should be interesting to see how this is spun. And yes, it looks terrible.

The Beat – hoopla Digital adds manga to streaming collection – Intriguing.

Reviews

Atomic Junk Shop – Light Carries
Comicbook – Ultimate Invasion #1
Comicbook – Wild’s End #1
Comicbook – Wonder Woman #800

Preview: Ultimate Invasion #1 (of 4)

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Ultimate Invasion #1 (of 4)

(W) Jonathan Hickman (A/CA) Bryan Hitch
Rated T+
In Shops: Jun 21, 2023
SRP: $8.99

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE BEGINS!
Superstar creators Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch team up! The Illuminati must form once again to stop the Maker from his plans to destroy – or perhaps rebuild – the universe, with Miles Morales at the center of it all! Bryan’s work on THE ULTIMATES helped redefine super hero comics for the 2000s – wait until you see what he and Jonathan have in store for this decade! Including new data pages by Jonathan Hickman – plus exclusive behind-the-scenes material on the world-building that has gone into this project!

Ultimate Invasion #1 (of 4)

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Wonder Woman #800

Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.

Bone Orchard: Tenement #1 (Image Comics) – The story of seven residents in a building and the dark secrets that bind them together…beginning with a death that feels much more sinister than natural. From Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, and Dave Stewart, this is a must get.

Cryptid Kids Vol. 1 Bawk Ness Monster (First Second) – A young girl wants to find “Bessie” before she moves to prove her experience as a little girl was real.

Disney Villains: Scar #3 (Dynamite) – Dynamite’s series of comics focusing on its villains. All have been really good so far adding to the classic tales we know and love.

Incredible Hulk #1 (Marvel) – The Hulk is diving deep into its horror roots with this start of a new volume.

Josif 1957 #1 (CEX Publishing) – You know about Laika, the Cosmonaut dog sent into orbit on Sputnik 2. But no one knows about JOSIF, the first gorilla in space!

Nightwing #105 (DC Comics) – Another cool visually experimental comic where it’s told from Dick’s perspective.

Scarlet Witch Annual #1 (Marvel) – The “Contest of Chaos” kicks off here with this prelude that has Agatha Harkness learning that the Scarlet Witch absorbed Chthon.

Tomb Raider King Vol. 3 (IZE Press) – Jooheon is back to doing what he does best-finding Relics…or stealing them! But as his collection grows, so does the list of enemies.

Ultimate Invasion #1 (Marvel) – The Ultimate Universe is back! Sort of.

Wild’s End #1 (BOOM! Studios) – It’s a spin on the War of the Worlds type story where a crew at sea returns home to find their seaside home now occupied by alien invaders.

Wonder Woman #800 (DC Comics) – The current story arc wraps up as a new one begins with the new creative team!

Preview: Ultimate Invasion #1 (of 4)

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Ultimate Invasion #1 (of 4)

(W) Jonathan Hickman (A/CA) Bryan Hitch
Rated T+
In Shops: Jun 21, 2023
SRP: $8.99

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE BEGINS!
Superstar creators Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch team up! The Illuminati must form once again to stop the Maker from his plans to destroy – or perhaps rebuild – the universe, with Miles Morales at the center of it all! Bryan’s work on THE ULTIMATES helped redefine super hero comics for the 2000s – wait until you see what he and Jonathan have in store for this decade! Including new data pages by Jonathan Hickman – plus exclusive behind-the-scenes material on the world-building that has gone into this project!

Ultimate Invasion #1 (of 4)

Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch reveal the full scop of Ultimate Invasion and the new Ultimate Universe

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Earlier today, select retailers were invited to the Ultimate Invasion Virtual Conference where writer Jonathan Hickman, artist Bryan Hitch, and Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski laid out the plans for a new Ultimate Universe that will spin out of the pages of the Ultimate Invasion series. Launching later this month, the four-part limited series seemingly heralded the return of the Ultimate Universe, but as retailers just learned, it’ll actually mark the creation of something entirely new. Something that has been forged in fire, and shaped by design…

In the same vein as the groundbreaking Ultimate Comics line that defined the 2000s with bold storytelling and risk-taking twists on Marvel characters, Hickman and Hitch’s new universe will revolutionize the world outside your window. Witness the spark that will light this new age in Ultimate Invasion. After the Maker’s desperate attempt to restore the Ultimate Universe unleashes massive, unintended consequences, a group of Marvel’s heroes are caught in a war between timelines. As universes collide, the foundation of a new line of Ultimate Comics will be built.

This November, Marvel presents Ultimate Universe #1—a one-shot written by Jonathan Hickman and drawn by Stefano Caselli with a cover by Bryan Hitch. The breathtaking epic will introduce readers to this new line that will be home to an array of brand-new hard-hitting series. A fresh start for a new generation, prepare to see your favorite characters redefined for today’s world. Stay tuned in the coming months for more information about this exciting new universe crafted by some of today’s greatest comic book visionaries.

The Illuminati defeated! The Universe reshaped in the Ultimate Invasion #1 trailer

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Two of the most acclaimed talents in the industry, writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Bryan Hitch, will unveil a new vision of the Marvel Universe next month in Ultimate Invasion! A four-part limited series, Ultimate Invasion will spark the beginning of a new age of Marvel in the same vein as the groundbreaking Ultimate Comics line that defined the 2000s. The thrilling saga will see the Illuminati reunite to prevent the Maker, one of the few survivors of the fallen Ultimate Universe, from remaking his home universe. Fans can see that explosive confrontation for the first time in the new Ultimate Invasion #1 trailer. The trailer shows a twisted glimpse at the aftermath of the Illuminati’s dramatic failure—a bold new world unlike anything that’s come before…

A universe created anew in Ultimate Invasion #1!

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Next month, readers will witness a transformation of Marvel characters and storytelling that could only come from two of the industry’s greatest visionaries, writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Bryan Hitch with colors by Alex Sinclair, in Ultimate Invasion #1. The start of a redefining four-issue saga, Ultimate Invasion #1 will see the heroes of the Marvel Universe clash with one of the few survivors of the Ultimate Universe (which met its doom in 2015’s Secret Wars), a confrontation that ends with the promise of something all-new and vastly different than anything that’s come before.

Fans can get their first look into this revolutionary new project this Saturday in Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man/Venom #1. With a print run of nearly 500,000 copies, this issue will showcase a dramatic scene from Ultimate Invasion #1 where the Maker presents Miles Morales with an offer he may not be able to refuse, while the reunited Illuminati desperately tries to shut down the Maker’s attempt to reshape the Marvel Universe.

In the coming weeks, readers will behold a glimpse into this breathtaking new world and get reintroduced to new versions of familiar characters in a thrilling trailer. In addition, a limited number of retailers can participate in a virtual press conference taking place within the next few weeks, where they’ll have a rare opportunity to learn about the overall development and impact of the series directly from the creators themselves, Hickman and Hitch. Details will be provided shortly in the Marvel Mailer.

Check out all the covers along with interior art and an all-new teaser image that utilizes a data graphic from the debut issue, and pick up Ultimate Invasion #1 on June 21. Featuring covers by Bryan Hitch, Sara Pichelli, Peach Momoko, Ed McGuinness, John Tyler Christopher, Russell Dauterman, and Ron Lim.

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