ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #14 REVIEW

[Adam Chapman]

Reviewer: Adam Chapman adam.chapman@sympatico.ca
Quick Rating: Fantastic
Title: N-Zone Part 2

The Fantastic Four prepare to enter the N-Zone.

<a href="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/media/432/ultff14.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/thumbnails/432/ultff14.jpg"align="left" border="0"> </a>Writer: Warren Ellis
Penciler: Adam Kubert
Inks: John Dell
Colours: Dave Stewart
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Production: Julio Herrera
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Review: It consistently amazes me how amazing a job Warren Ellis has done breathing new life into this relatively new series. His approach to the Ultimate FF has brought interesting new scientific insights into the Fantastic Four's powers, and he has made their scientific ventures intriguing and enjoyable.

The characterization in this issue of Reed Richards is superbly done. This is a Reed Richards who hasn't yet done the bulk of the discoveries he's noted for in the mainstream Marvel Universe, and Ellis' use of illustrating Reed's zest for knowledge, in the manner of scientific exploration into the N-Zone, is well done. This storyline seems to be going in such a direction where it is the scientific explorer aspect of the FF which is going to be highlighted, and it fits well with this title, and the idea that Reed and Sue have long been toiling for a governmental think tank. It's interesting how operating within a governmental complex molds Reed Richards, and how he handles his discoveries and how he goes about them, but its also very realistic. He plays political ball in order to get what he wants, showing that he's not just a genius but politically savvy as well.

The family aspect of the Ultimate Fantastic Four is really starting to come into its own, as Ben and Johnny become more like quarrelling siblings, much like in the 616, and Reed and Sue are starting to mature into their parental-like roles, in the foursome. When it comes to the FF's experiment to gain entrance into the N-Zone, its interesting how Ellis and Kubert are really striving for real-world realism, with a giant launcher, etc. It just looks and seems more realistic, which is an important factor in how this title approaches the otherwise fantastic nature of the characters and their exploits.

The art in this issue is just stunning. Kubert's work in this issue is fantastic, with rich detail, especially in the panels where the launching pad and the shuttle "Awesome" are being prepped. The book looks great.

This is a very solid Ultimate title, and really does offer something substantially different than the regular universe Fantastic Four title. This series brings a grounded real world approach to the FF, without depriving them of the fantastic elements which are the bedrock of the team's world. It's fun and gripping at the same time. This storyline doesn't seem to be about where the storyline is going, but instead about how it gets there- the journey is what makes it interesting, and following Reed on his.

Ratings:

Story: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/half.jpg

Art: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/half.jpg

Overall: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/half.jpg

Buy this issue online now from X-World and Save! (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/)

[B. Schatz]

I loved the shuttle reveil, and would rather Ellis stay on this title, than leave for Millar. His characterization is amazing.

[Ryan Broussard]

i like ellis on this title more than millar too, appearently millar still had some ideas for this characters that he never used because he had to leave the title early, lets all just hope there better than victor van damme:rolleyes:

[Adam Chapman]

I'm not against Millar, sometimes he can be quite good, but I wasn't sold on his take on the FF (although half of that was also Bendis). But regardless, it's just a huge shame because Ellis has been really working some magic with this title since he jumped aboard with #7... He really made me love this title, in a way I didn't think was humanly possible after the first storyarc. The characterization is superb, and the scientific angle which has been played up considerably is very entertaining. :D

[Lord_Magneto]

this issue was awesome!:p awesome review:D

[Symphony of Six]

Warren Ellis' characterization is top notch but I just wish he would make things happen quicker. I mean it's going to be part 3 of N-Zone and they'll just be getting there.

[Adam Chapman]

As I've said earlier, I actually don't mind that nothing really happens in terms of advancing the plot that fast, because the characterization is well crafted, and the emphasis isn't on where they're going but how they get there- This is decompressed storytelling which is all about the journey throughout an arc, and here, it works. :D

[AmazingMattMan]

ellis is leaving? bah! i like ellis much better on this title then millar

but i have a few questions that have been confusing me for quite some time about the ultimate fantastic four.

where in the ultimate timeline does it fit?

i realize that this is supposed to be before a lot of the ultimate spider man titles but still (i consider the "current" timeline to be around the ultimate spidey and ultimate x-men time) . in the venom arc they showed a building named after reed richards, but when they show reed in usm 68 is still a youngin like they show in this title. are they saying that very soon he will discover something that deserves a building? because that would be a cool thing to show in this book.

there are also a few other things that confuse me, but they probably belong to the usm posts even though they have to do with the uff.

[Adam Chapman]

Originally there seemed to be a bunch of possible continuity problems, actually.

Ultimate X-Men's second storyarc, Weapon X, introduced Nick Fury and General Thunderbolt Ross. Ross was killed at the end of that storyline. As a result, Nick Fury was promoted to Head of SHIELD, and later started the ULTIMATES. When the Ultimates were first forming, Nick Fury didn't want anyone on the Fantastic Four (by name) being on the team, because of the complaints around the Baxter Building, etc.

However, when the FF first has to fight Mole Man's creatures, Dr. Storm wants to wait until the Ultimates handle the threat.

When UFF was first introduced, it was established by the creators in interviews, etc, that FF was originally SUPPOSED to take place well before "present" Ultimate continuity expressed by titles like Ultimate Spider-Man, such as Ultimate Daredevil & Elektra.

In UFF #13 Reed goes to General Ross, who as mentioned before should already have been dead. Add to this the fact that the Ultimate Spider-Man arc in #68-69 establishes the FF as still being very young in current continuity, and in fact the existence of the FF isn't even known yet.

In UFF #13 Johnny claims to want to be an Ultimate, even though as mentioned before the Ultimates #2-3 suggests that the FF already existed and had problems of their own, and this was before the Ultimates were created in the first place.

In UFF #14 Reed mentions that General Ross came back to life, which solves the most glaring continuty error, although hamfistedly at best.

(Can't wait till the relatively upcoming Ultimate Spider-Man gang war storyline with Kingpin vs. Hammerhead, especially since Hammerhead was murdered in Ultimate X-Men #14 by Gambit) :p

[AmazingMattMan]

so i guess we need an ultimate line to the ultimate line because they are so many continuity problems all ready. ::sigh:: at times i hate comics, or at least the editors.

also, what i was gonna mention before was that spidey once said (i think in the hollywood arc when he was wearing womens clothes) 'i bet you none of the x-men, ultimates or the fantastic four...yadda yadda yadda". yet the ff have not gone public, so hed probably have no idea what the fantastic four do. for all he knows they could all love dressing in womens clothes (well sue of course but still) youd think that with the talent that is working on the ultimate lines, you would not have these problems

[Andrea Speed]

You know, if you think about continuity in any of the Marvel universes long enough (616 or ultimate), your head will explode. So try not to worry about it; eventually they'll have to have a Ultimates Disassembled to work it all out. :LOL:

(And Ellis, at the top of his game, can write circles around just about everyone.)

[TwIsTeD_Rubz]

It was great characterization and i appreciate how we are getting to know the four more. they are really starting to stand out individually but at the same time gaining character as team. i enjoyed the issue a lot until i realized at the end of the issue, "that's it?" I think that ellis has characterized the characters enough, or he could at least have done it with the plot moving along with the characterization. i think at this point in the story, there was enought characterization in issue 13 and the plot should at least move the least bit forward in issue 14.

POSSIBLE SPOILER I mean, at the end of issue 13 they plan to go to the N-Zone, by the middle of issue 14 they get their ship Awesome (hehehe. this one just cracked me up!) and by the end, they finally just get in to the N-Zone. i feel like they could have done this all in the span of 1 and 1/2 issues and at least have discovered something weird in the N-zone and leave the issue hanging there. POSSIBLE SPOILER END

On a side note, i think that it is a general sentiment that people (including me) want Ellis to stay with the title. I mean, this is a science fiction book, get a science fiction guy to write it. what i'm really hating about this book is the revolving door of creative teams. I mean, 4 creative teams in a span of four arcs? The other ultimate titles (most notably X-men) get to at least keep the writer for a long time before switching creative teams (except for Bendis' run). And of course, as we know the pencillers of Ultimate Spider-man and Ultimates haven't even changed at all! so i don't know why this can't be done in UFF. despite the gorgeous pencils of Greg Land, i don't think i'll be staying on this title after this story arc, if only for the constant changing of creative teams. i mean, how can the direction of a book be planned and streamlined if so many creative teams come on a book this early?

[Adam Chapman]

Um... Greg Land isn't on this title... Adam Kubert is... :p

[TwIsTeD_Rubz]

Originally posted by Adam Chapman
Um... Greg Land isn't on this title... Adam Kubert is... :p

I was talking abou the next arc, the one with Mark Millar writing, not even his art will let me consider the next arc anymore :p isn't he the next artist?

[Magnus2k]

Am I the only one upset that Dr. Doom had hooves as feet? :mad:

[Adam Chapman]

Originally posted by TwIsTeD_Rubz
I was talking abou the next arc, the one with Mark Millar writing, not even his art will let me consider the next arc anymore :p isn't he the next artist?

I thought Kubert was staying on? :confused:

[Ryan Broussard]

i didnt think that kubert was leaving either????

[AmazingMattMan]

Originally posted by Magnus2k
Am I the only one upset that Dr. Doom had hooves as feet? :mad:

yes




...haha well i dunno what i think of it, i have yet to read a comic with doctor doom in it besides the ultimate line :(

[TwIsTeD_Rubz]

Newsarama has learned that Millar and Land will move to the Ultimate version of New York, and sign on as the new creative team for Marvel’s Ultimate Fantastic Four with May’s issue #19

Millar and Land will replace the current creative team on the title, Warren Ellis and Adam Kubert.

this was according to newsarama:
http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=24004&highlight=Land+Millar

i don't know how accurate this is though, i'm just relating what i saw, i not taking this as gospel truth but that's what i heard recently.

anyway if this won't push through, sorry for the mix up :D

[ohiogtd]

Great issue. Again, great art and a nice blend of science, drama and comedy.

Too bad about Ellis / Kubert. They should at least get heavy credit for there even BEING a UFF. Without them coming on board, this title was headed down the drain.