The Ultimates 2
Encyclopedia
The Ultimates 2 is a thirteen-issue comic book
limited series
written by Mark Millar
with art by Bryan Hitch
, the sequel to The Ultimates
. The series features the superhero team the Ultimates
and was published by the Ultimate Marvel
imprint of Marvel Comics
.
and was completed in May 2007
.
Millar stated in Pop Culture Shock that this arc reflected contemporary issues, ranging from hyper-powered countries
like the USA, preemptive strike
s, the rising world-wide anti-American sentiment in the wake of the Neo-Conservative Bush Doctrine
, and the "rogue nation" classification and the fear of backlash in form of nuclear Armageddon. Millar said: "In the name of oil, this administration is stirring up a hornet's nest . . . . My own belief is that there'll be a couple of nuclear attacks in the States, the multinationals will move elsewhere, the American economy will completely collapse and make the 30s
look like the 80s
and the Middle East
will be occupied by drafted teenagers from your home town. . . . I hope I'm completely and utterly wrong."
Bryan Hitch has described completing the final issue of Ultimates 2 by saying, "The bane of my life for the last five years is gone from my day to day routine." He describes the job as difficult, but stated that no prior job in his then-twenty years in the business was "so creatively rewarding, so time-consuming and so fulfilling".
is accused of being an escaped mental patient and is incarcerated. This is the doing of his brother Loki
, who also facilitates the creation of a new team of anti-American multi-nationals called the Liberators. With the aid of the Black Widow - who betrays the team to the Liberators - the Liberators conquer the United States and capture the Ultimates, but the Ultimates eventually escape. With the aid of Asgardian warriors and American and European heroes, the Ultimates defeat both Loki and the Liberators.
Kevin Powers from comicsbulletin.com reviewed the final issue #13 but found it anticlimactic with the issue degenerating to a "slug fest". The artwork was praised with the reviewer stating that Bryan Hitch's "artwork has definitely been one of the main elements that will make this series memorable." Similarly Robert Mclaughlin from denofgeek.com praised the artwork, with "Bryan Hitch doing some of the best work of his career". He was critical of the Millar's writing stating it had "no substance".
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
written by Mark Millar
Mark Millar
Mark Millar is a Scottish comic book writer, known for his work on books such as The Authority, The Ultimates, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Civil War, Wanted, and Kick-Ass, the latter two of which have been adapted into feature films...
with art by Bryan Hitch
Bryan Hitch
Bryan Hitch is a British comic book artist. Hitch began his career in the United Kingdom for Marvel UK, working on titles such as Action Force and Death's Head, before gaining prominence on American titles such as Wildstorm's Stormwatch and The Authority, DC Comics titles such as JLA, and Marvel...
, the sequel to The Ultimates
The Ultimates (comic book)
The Ultimates is a thirteen-issue comic book limited series written by Mark Millar with art by Bryan Hitch. The series introduces the superhero team the Ultimates and was published by the Ultimate Marvel imprint of Marvel Comics.-Publication history:...
. The series features the superhero team the Ultimates
Ultimates
The Ultimates is a fictional group of superheroes that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team was created by writer Mark Millar and artist Bryan Hitch, and first appeared in The Ultimates #1 , as part of the company's Ultimate Marvel imprint...
and was published by the Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
imprint of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
Publication history
The series debuted in December 20042004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
and was completed in May 2007
2007 in comics
-January:*January 10: Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator released.*January 24: The Boys is canceled with issue #6.-February:*February 2: Newsarama reports that The Boys has been picked up by Dynamite Entertainment....
.
Millar stated in Pop Culture Shock that this arc reflected contemporary issues, ranging from hyper-powered countries
Hyperpower
A hyperpower is a state that dominates all other states in every sphere of activity. A hyperpower is traditionally considered to be one step higher than a superpower. The definition and use of the term varies....
like the USA, preemptive strike
Preemptive war
A preemptive war is a war that is commenced in an attempt to repel or defeat a perceived inevitable offensive or invasion, or to gain a strategic advantage in an impending war before that threat materializes. It is a war which preemptively 'breaks the peace'. The term: 'preemptive war' is...
s, the rising world-wide anti-American sentiment in the wake of the Neo-Conservative Bush Doctrine
Bush Doctrine
The Bush Doctrine is a phrase used to describe various related foreign policy principles of former United States president George W. Bush. The phrase was first used by Charles Krauthammer in June 2001 to describe the Bush Administration's unilateral withdrawals from the ABM treaty and the Kyoto...
, and the "rogue nation" classification and the fear of backlash in form of nuclear Armageddon. Millar said: "In the name of oil, this administration is stirring up a hornet's nest . . . . My own belief is that there'll be a couple of nuclear attacks in the States, the multinationals will move elsewhere, the American economy will completely collapse and make the 30s
1930s
File:1930s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Dorothea Lange's photo of the homeless Florence Thompson show the effects of the Great Depression; Due to the economic collapse, the farms become dry and the Dust Bowl spreads through America; The Battle of Wuhan during the Second Sino-Japanese...
look like the 80s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
will be occupied by drafted teenagers from your home town. . . . I hope I'm completely and utterly wrong."
Bryan Hitch has described completing the final issue of Ultimates 2 by saying, "The bane of my life for the last five years is gone from my day to day routine." He describes the job as difficult, but stated that no prior job in his then-twenty years in the business was "so creatively rewarding, so time-consuming and so fulfilling".
Plot synopsis
A year after the end of The Ultimates public opinion has turned against the team when it is discovered that Bruce Banner is in fact the Hulk and was responsible for hundreds of deaths. The team is undermined further when ThorUltimate Thor
Ultimate Thor is a superhero in the Ultimate Marvel Universe based on the Marvel Universe version of Thor who is in turn based on the god of the same name of Norse mythology....
is accused of being an escaped mental patient and is incarcerated. This is the doing of his brother Loki
Loki (comics)
Loki is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. He is the adoptive brother and archenemy of the superhero Thor. He is based on the being of the same name from Norse mythology...
, who also facilitates the creation of a new team of anti-American multi-nationals called the Liberators. With the aid of the Black Widow - who betrays the team to the Liberators - the Liberators conquer the United States and capture the Ultimates, but the Ultimates eventually escape. With the aid of Asgardian warriors and American and European heroes, the Ultimates defeat both Loki and the Liberators.
Reception
Lance Eaton from curledup.com reviewed the first story arc Gods and Monsters. He praises Millar's writing of the classic heroes and states that the "inclusion of current-day politics" improves the storyline.Kevin Powers from comicsbulletin.com reviewed the final issue #13 but found it anticlimactic with the issue degenerating to a "slug fest". The artwork was praised with the reviewer stating that Bryan Hitch's "artwork has definitely been one of the main elements that will make this series memorable." Similarly Robert Mclaughlin from denofgeek.com praised the artwork, with "Bryan Hitch doing some of the best work of his career". He was critical of the Millar's writing stating it had "no substance".
Collected editions
| The Ultimates 2 | (ISBN 9780785121381) | collects Ultimates 2 #1-13 and Ultimates 2 #1 Variant Sketch Edition |
| The Ultimates 2 Vol. 1: Gods And Monsters | (ISBN 0-7851-1093-3) | collects Ultimates 2 #1-6 |
| The Ultimates 2 Vol. 2: Grand Theft America | (ISBN 0-7851-1790-3) | collects Ultimates 2 #7-13 |
| The Ultimate Annuals Vol. 1 | (ISBN 0-7851-2035-1) | includes Ultimates 2 Annual #1 |
| The Ultimate Annuals Vol. 2 | (ISBN 0-7851-2371-7) | includes Ultimates 2 Annual #2 |
| The Ultimates Omnibus | (ISBN 0-7851-3780-7) | collects Ultimates #1-13, Ultimates 2 #1-13, Ultimates Annual #1, and Ultimates 2 #1 Variant Sketch Edition |