Ultimate Marvel Team Up Reviewed by Den Dotson

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up Reviewed by Den Dotson

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Ultimate Team-Up #4-Ultimate Spiderman and Ultimate Iron Man
Plot: This issue opens with Peter Parker reading a report on the Ultimate version of Tony Stark and remarkably Iron Man. In the Ultimate universe everyone knows Tony Stark is Iron Man and this seems to cause him no trouble other than people constantly trying to buy the secrets to "Irontech". Peter's report wins him a chance to go to a science expo sponsored by Stark Industries. Meanwhile, Tony Stark refuses an offer to buy the secrets to Irontech from a representative of the government of Latveria. To those of us in the know this is the country ruled by Dr. Doom. Dr. Doom never to be one to take "no" for an answer sends his Mandroids to capture Iron Man. Peter Parker is there at the Science Expo and witnesses the attack. The issue ends with Iron Man disabled and Peter Parker standing over him as he asks for help.
Likes: This issue featured the artwork of Mike Allred. Allred has long been a mainstream comic outsider known for his "campy" style reminiscent of the beloved artists of the sixties. His work is an acquired taste one I became familiar with and fell in love with on his own Madman comic. Here telling a slightly "campy" story it fits in nicely and gives the story a retro feel. Further, I would have to say unlike the previous issues of Team-Up the writing here shines with a nice light sense of humor and a good flow. The retro artwork and writing would have been all wrong if the plot had been dark in any way. Overall, I enjoyed the welcome change of pace.
Dislikes: I had two small problems with this issue. One small and the other not so small. First, the small problem. Tony Stark refers to himself as being in his thirties, however, he is drawn so he looks more like he is in his fifties. For someone in their thirties I don't need to feel any older than I do and I'm sure Tony Stark doesn't either. Second, is the Mandroids. Here they are portrayed as a hi-tech version of the Keystone Cops. Characters who spend panels squabbling about "radio silence" should not be able to so easily disable Iron Man. Furthermore, if Dr. Doom has the technology to quickly disable Iron Man on a whim why would he need the Irontech secrets? I think Bendis needs to slow down a little when he is writing. This issue had a nice feel to it until the Mandroids slipped into caricature. The lighter touch at the beginning was much better suited to this story.
Rating: I enjoyed the retro feel to the artwork and story. Up until the Keystone Mandroids that is. I would have to give this issue out of 4 web heads...hoping for better things to come.

Ultimate Marvel Team Up #3
Plot: This issue is the second part of the first meeting between Ultimate Spiderman and Ultimate Hulk. Last issue we saw Spidey being held by his face in the massive hand of the Hulk just before Hulk is about to smash him. Spidey narrowly (and lamely) escapes. Then he develops a plan to lure the Hulk away from the crowds of people. The place Spidey picks is the waterfront. In a warehouse the Hulk enjoys a little fishy snack and then reverts to Bruce Banner. Before Spidey can get the scoop on who this guy is the military shows up and blow up the building.
Likes: The first thing I really liked about both of these issues featuring the Hulk is Phil Hester and Ande Parks artwork. The style reminded me of storyboards for an animated TV show. Lots of action and strong direction. You always have a clear idea of where the Hulk "IS" and "WHERE HE IS GOING". I have always thought the best Hulk stories were about action. The Hulk's opponent can talk all they want to the Hulk but most of the answers will be "Hulk Smash" and then some smashing to demonstrate. The artwork here though extremely stylized kept the action going and flowed from panel to panel. Secondly, I liked Spidey trying to reason out what to do next while getting the crap kicked out of him. His concern was always for the people around him and how to keep them at a safe distance. True hero motivations. My third like is the cover. I really like the painted computer-enhanced look here. Comics seem to be playing "hard to get" with using the artistic possibilities of computers and the great enhancements they can give to the artwork. As a working computer-aided animator, illustrator, and graphic artist of 16 years, I can say they are missing the boat. The covers of the Ultimates and the new issue of Xtreme X-Men show the incredible possibility of comic art enhanced by computers.
Dislikes: My major disappointment here was the writing. Perhaps Brian Michael Bendis is overworked or he has trouble working in short story arcs, I don't know. What I do know is he is wonderful on Ultimate Spiderman and terrible here. In the last issue Spiderman hits the Hulk with a car and it barely slows him down. Here the Hulk is holding Spidey by the face and about to "smash" him when the Hulk is hit by a lamppost and drops him. A lap-post should be about as distracting as a fly to the Hulk. Also, too much is given away without it moving the story forward. Spidey has a "Vicki Vale in the Batcave" moment when he sees the Hulk change back to Bruce Banner. This told new readers about the Hulk but Spidey didn't need to see it. It would have been much more interesting to see the Hulk change out of sight and then Spidey lose him because he doesn't know to be looking for a scrawny scientist. Perhaps, Marvel should consider giving Bendis more issues to flesh out his stories or pick a writer who is better suited to the short format.
Rating: I appreciated the animation like artwork here and the full out action. However, the characters are too flat and the plot too full of quick fixes. I am still hoping this title comes up to the level of the other Ultimates. I would have to give this issue out of 4 web heads
Reviewed by Den Dotson

Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #2
The Good: The storyline...Brian Michael Bendis impressed me with the plot. Peter and Ben Ulrich end up together in the DB cafeteria at the same time and discuss trig when Ben is called to the phone. Long story short; an Army general's troops have been chasing a large green mutation from the Nevada desert. Said general (who knows Ben from previous journalistic endeavors) calls Ben to alert him the monstrosity is headed straight for Manhattan. JJJ seems a little impressed with the idea, as it ties in with the Mutant Section he plans to publish on Sunday. That monstrosity is none other than the Incredible Hulk himself, in all his "Hullk SMASH!" glory. While stupified New Yorkers stand in awe, watching the green behemoth trash the downtown (no one knows who or what he is), Spidey web slings in to try and stop the Hulk. One really great panel is just a shot of Ben looking back at the table he had just shared with Peter a few seconds earlier, now empty except for the trig book. The almost earthquake like rumbles from outside drove everyone into the streets to see, but Peter the book worm that he was leaves the trig behind.
The Funny: Spidey with a taxi on his shoulder, "Candygram for Mr. Mongo..." This is a great little one-liner, but ONLY if you've ever seen the Mel Brooks movie, Blazing Saddles. A few panels later, Spidey looks up at the towering Hulk and says, "Hey, listen man, don't make me angry...you wouldn't like me when I'm angry." A little homage to Bill Bixby.
The Bad: Phil Hester's pencils, especially on the fight scenes. Hester keeps the panels simple, not a lot of details, but there seems to be something missing. The center is a 2 page spread of the Hulk coming right at Spidey, screaming, arms outstretched. The proportioning on the scene seems wrong. The Hulk doesn't seem big enough and Spidey seems to be a little more muscled suddenly than teenage lanky. It's not until the second to last panel that Hester gives some real dimension to the size difference between the two of them. The Ugly: The idea that the Army general calls Ben to tell him the monster is on his way to Manhattan and suddenly he's there! If they were chasing him from Nevada, why not Chicago? Why not head south to Houston? Instead he goes state hopping straight to New York. (Yeah, I know why NY: if the Hulk had gone somewhere else, Spidey wouldn't be there to battle him.) But all that happens within seconds. There's no time passage. It's just BOOM!
The Rating: This was my first look at the Ultimate Spider-Man. I'm more of a traditional Spidey fan, but I was impressed with what I've seen so far. I give it out of four Spidey heads.
Reviewed by Spider-Woman

Ultimate Marvel Team Up #1
Plot: Spider-Man happens upon Sabretooth and Wolverine hacking each other to pieces. Spiderman confronts the mutant issue and wonders if he could be a mutant. Then he befriends Wolverine and as Peter Parker idolizes him. Likes: First let me say I am normally a huge fan of Matt Wagners art. His Mage and Grendel work are legendary. In this comic at times he reaches near that level at times and then seems to rush through the rest of the page. So I'd say I liked the good and was disappointed in the bad. Secondly, I am really enjoying the level of hysteria reintroduced around mutants. The abundance of mutants in the regular X-books tend to make then commonplace and almost acceptable in normal society. I like that the issue of prejudice are carried over in this comic from the other Ultimate titles. Also I felt that Spiderman and Wolverine acted well within their characters and played well off each other.
Dislikes: I already my disappointment with some of the artwork. I believe if some of the panels weren't so good you wouldn't notice as much the really poor ones. Second, I hated Sabretooth here. He showed no motivation and really could have been substituted for any villain. He was just their to pick on Wolverine and draw Spiderman's attention. Villains should add to the story not just be punching bags.
Rating: With the high quality writing and art in the other titles it is just sad that this one is starting off so poorly. The really good news is next month you get a new art team and maybe the writing will improve as it goes along.
I would have to give this issue out of four web heads
Reviewed by Den Dotson