Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Brandon Peterson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Plot: The cover presents a rather generic alien invasion fleet. Their alien-ness is supposed to instill chilling fear, and to do that Peterson has borrowed the definitive look of Marvel UK villain the Fury. The streamlined high-tech look is consistent with Ellis’ vision for this entire project, which on one level has been about the contrast of high technology with baser mammal drives.
Comments: Unlike his disappointing recent epic Ocean, which started well but ended on an overlong anticlimax, this sci-fi tale of invasion by Ellis goes out with an impressive bang. Brandon Peterson has proved a perfect foil for Ellis’ big ideas in this installment of the Gah Lak Tus trilogy, turning in some of the shiniest and most impressive work of his career. His figures and battle scenes are as impressive as his space weaponry and his facial expressions are almost as good. His compositions are clear, and his deftinking every bit as good as his layouts.
This tale, following on a history of distrust and despair in Ultimate Nightmare, and some diverting super-hero posturing in Ultimate Secret, wisely started small. The Gah Lak Tus entity had heralds, but of a more insidious sort than those familiar from the regular Marvel universe. Rather than have the herald get in touch with his humanity in order to save our planet, Ellis wrote angelic silver beings who infiltrated the populace with promises of wonder, creating in effect a worldwide death cult.
This faction ran afoul of Misty Knight, whose bionic arm and cop’s training continue to make her a useful character who moves between two worlds; normal folks and super-heroes both accept this rocking hot badass mama, and Ellis took her seriously from the start. She also took on a rival cult based loosely on Moondragon’s particular brand of sci-fi faith, and while Misty sits out this issue (which is all about the big guns), and the heralds were taken care of last issue, the Moondragon clones prove a memorable invasion force in an all-out war.
Ellis makes sure the X-Men make a guest-appearance as a surprise strike force, which means that they and the Fantastic Four and the Ultimates (in the persons of Iron Man, Nick Fury, the Falcon and Captain America) all unite in fighting off this threat. How’s that for an efficient crossover that showcases all the major Ultimate players without fouling up any of their own titles?
The climax and denouement this time are a satisfying finish to the
long-running story. Though Captain Marvel’s role (initially he seemed set to be a showcase character) is minor, Ellis whips up a multi-pronged attack that does hinge on believable sci-fi conventions and gives us a fuller picture of the Ultimate cosmos. Character moments are muted, but he still gets off a few good one-liners.
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