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Post by Sage6Paths on May 4, 2014 15:25:30 GMT -6
To generate further discussion in these boards I have created a nostalgia thread. And where best to begin but The Ultimates Vol 1 by Mark Millar. So get out your trades and let's get reading. These can last for a week if people want and we can go on to the next review. Positives and Negatives reviews are all welcome.
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Post by wyokid on May 4, 2014 17:31:17 GMT -6
If we do a trade a week I'm down for this.
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Post by Sage6Paths on May 4, 2014 17:33:03 GMT -6
If we do a trade a week I'm down for this. Yep. I think next week we can start Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 Power and Responsibility. And then just make our way through.
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Post by Mr_Monster_Munch on May 4, 2014 17:48:46 GMT -6
It's settled then. We'll do a new arc every Sunday.
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Post by thecrimson on May 4, 2014 18:00:29 GMT -6
Crap, if only I had my trades around.
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Post by Sage6Paths on May 4, 2014 18:08:57 GMT -6
Crap, if only I had my trades around. Do you have any of the single issues in print or comixcology? If you do you can read the issues in each volume.
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Post by thecrimson on May 4, 2014 18:10:07 GMT -6
Crap, if only I had my trades around. Do you have any of the single issues in print or comixcology? If you do you can read the issues in each volume. I'll probably try re-buying them.
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Post by Sage6Paths on May 4, 2014 18:12:40 GMT -6
Do you have any of the single issues in print or comixcology? If you do you can read the issues in each volume. I'll probably try re-buying them. Maybe if you have access to a library you can get them there. I know in my Campus Library they have most of the Ultimate Spider-Man volumes.
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Post by thecrimson on May 4, 2014 18:18:07 GMT -6
I'll probably try re-buying them. Maybe if you have access to a library you can get them there. I know in my Campus Library they have most of the Ultimate Spider-Man volumes. I didn't think of that. I'll go look tomorrow.
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Post by Wolverine12 on May 4, 2014 23:40:31 GMT -6
So where's the review
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Post by wyokid on May 4, 2014 23:46:12 GMT -6
Somebody get Plawsky in here
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Post by Wolverine12 on May 4, 2014 23:51:10 GMT -6
Somebody get Plawsky in here I sent him an invite. He hasn't responded yet.
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Post by Rok on May 5, 2014 2:19:20 GMT -6
616 Thor have very few redeeming qualities. I am from Denmark I grew up reading all of the old Scandinavian myths, the first comic I read was: Which sadly hasn't been translated into English (as far as I know). It is a retelling of the old myths with a comedic spin. So naturally I was interested to see if Miller made any improvements compared to 616. He did. Gone is the over pompous, "old" english speaking Thor instead we get a hippie. Well the pompous was not gone completely. The scene in Norway where he demonstrates his power is pretty pompous, but the reader also had to see why Fury would risk wasting his time speaking with the guy. "Oh, I am here to save the world, General Fury. From people like you." Even though he did not get that many scenes the ones he got he shined. I cannot overstate how happy I was with this character.
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Post by Sage6Paths on May 5, 2014 11:31:08 GMT -6
So where's the review I'm still working on it. I have to read the rest of the volume hopefully by tonight.
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Post by Mr_Monster_Munch on May 5, 2014 15:59:01 GMT -6
616 Thor have very few redeeming qualities. I am from Denmark I grew up reading all of the old Scandinavian myths, the first comic I read was: Which sadly hasn't been translated into English (as far as I know). It is a retelling of the old myths with a comedic spin. You should check out IDW's Ragnarok by Walter Simonson, a new bi-monthly series starting this July. According to the solicit description, the first trade paper back won't be ready until Fall 2015. Simonson has been talking about this book for years, and now finally it's here! I'm really looking forward to it. Here's a link to the first issue's preview. www.comicbookresources.com/prev_img.php?pid=19893&disp=ilib&oty=1&oid=52331Check out that glorious looking cover!
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Post by Mr_Monster_Munch on May 5, 2014 17:12:45 GMT -6
Here's mine. Mark Millar's The Ultimates #1-12 Review By Mr Monster Munch [/B][/CENTER] Superheroes smashed HARD into reality. Superheroes intertwined with a world of 21st Century political conflicts and the evolution of modern warfare. IMO it's the perfect theme for an international super team of Earth's defenders. The original The Ultimates by Mark Millar is one of the best works of fiction I have ever read. The Avengers needed to be updated and modernised for the 21st Century, a more realistic approach to the Marvel world, and it needed to work. So in comes Millar and Hitch with The Ultimates, as they created one of the most incredible superhero epics in comic book history. It also provided a template for the other books in the Ultimate Universe to draw upon too, such as with it's militant themes and it's more factual science fiction elements. It just defined very perfectly what the UU was about; superheroes smashed hard into the real world. The concept feels so epic to me, and what's best about it is that it's based upon all my favourite Marvel characters. In my mind, this is the definitive Avengers origin story, largely focusing on Captain America as "The Man Out of Time" and making a beautiful story with it. I think what makes Ultimate Cap so fun to read about in comparison to his mainstream counterpart is his flaws, as suitably depicted, it's flaws that make characters so compelling. One of his more interesting nuances was how he struggled to live in a world where kids listened to what he called "thump, thump music" and where primitive and tribal patriotic values had become partially outdated. And his battle with Giant Man was sensational. I was completely romanticised by his act of personal justice, as he stood up for the woman he secretly loved. And let's not forget Ultimate Thor, arguably the greatest character concept ever created in the UU. As if the Norse god of thunder wasn't awesome enough, Ultimate Thor was depicted as a beer guzzling hippy who fought for human rights and world peace. I was thrilled with excitement when he joined the Ultimates to take down Hulk in Manhattan. It was the first major threat the team were faced with. Hulk went on a rampage on Manhattan island, smashing and chomping his way through over 800 innocents. My thought of it at the time I first read it was pretty horrific, and straight away the tone was set for a Hulk vs Avengers/Ultimates battle the likes of which the world had never seen. Suddenly, The Ultimates exploded into action, and I was in complete awe of what I was seeing. The Chitauri War is perhaps my favourite battle in all of Ultimate Marvel/Comics. A grand finale to Mark Millar's original Ultimate epic. Thor was absolutely incredible. (It's a shame The Avengers movie didn't show off Thor's godly powers any where near as awesome as he was in The Ultimates). The last few issues of what is possibly my favourite all-time superhero comic book really displayed the astonishing might of Thor's power, destroying hundreds, possibly thousands of Chitauri warships as they swarmed the skies. Also, the issue How I Learned To Love The Hulk is my favourite issue in the entirety of the UU. Hulk was deployed as the B Plan, and then destroyed everything in sight. It's scenes like that which make The Ultimates one of my most beloved all-time purchases. Cap told the Hulk to smash Herr Kleiser, and OMG, it was such a delight to see. And my proverbial hat goes off to Bryan Hitch who drew it. The smoke, the lighting from the flames in the back ground and the red cloudy haze of blood, all culminating in a beautiful display of Hulk's unquenchable rage. This is what the Hulk is all about; an embodiment of absolute rage and brutality. I could go on all day about the sympathetic portrayal of Bruce Banner and the uncontrollable creature that dwells inside him, Black Widow and Hawkeye's stunning debut as the Black Ops team before being moved to the main team to fight the Chitauri, Tony Stark's drunken charisma and Hank Pym's frightening reveal as a wife beater, but I shan't. If Plawsky can write a better review than this, I'll eat my hat. Granted, first I'll actually have to go out and buy a hat.. but you get my drift. Somebody get Plawsky in here I sent him an invite. He hasn't responded yet. Give it time. It's only been a few days. Our baby forum hasn't quite started walking yet.
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Post by wyokid on May 7, 2014 19:37:53 GMT -6
As a story Millar's run is good. As a story. What Millar fails to do is create likable and memorable characters/moments due to everyone being an asshole. These are the heroes and you just do not want to root for them because they are so unlikable.
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Post by thecrimson on May 7, 2014 22:21:53 GMT -6
As a story Millar's run is good. As a story. What Millar fails to do is create likable and memorable characters/moments due to everyone being an asshole. These are the heroes and you just do not want to root for them because they are so unlikable. Yeah, I could never like any of the characters.
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Post by Wolverine12 on May 8, 2014 1:39:25 GMT -6
As a story Millar's run is good. As a story. What Millar fails to do is create likable and memorable characters/moments due to everyone being an asshole. These are the heroes and you just do not want to root for them because they are so unlikable. Yeah, I could never like any of the characters. In issues 1-12 what is unlikable about these characters? I'm curious because for the most part everyone except Jan and Hank are shown as being good people imo.
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Post by Mr_Monster_Munch on May 8, 2014 4:45:22 GMT -6
I don't know why I'm the only one who's posted a review. Feel free to do one yourself. Yeah, I could never like any of the characters. In issues 1-12 what is unlikable about these characters? I'm curious because for the most part everyone except Jan and Hank are shown as being good people imo. Especially Cap and Thor. Millar's Thor is one of the most endearing, noble characters in all of comics. His heroic nobility is even on par with Peter Parker's. Even Nick Fury, despite how much of a bastard he can be sometimes, was sympathetic towards Bruce Banner losing his job. As a story Millar's run is good. As a story. What Millar fails to do is create likable and memorable characters/moments due to everyone being an asshole. These are the heroes and you just do not want to root for them because they are so unlikable. Which moments weren't memorable?
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Post by wyokid on May 8, 2014 8:33:45 GMT -6
Yeah, I could never like any of the characters. In issues 1-12 what is unlikable about these characters? I'm curious because for the most part everyone except Jan and Hank are shown as being good people imo. Captain America is a jerk, Black Widow and Hawkeye murder civilians, Thor's a massive tool, Banner is a jealous psychopath, and Tony is a self-center womanizing alcoholic. What's to like? I don't know why I'm the only one who's posted a review. Feel free to do one yourself. In issues 1-12 what is unlikable about these characters? I'm curious because for the most part everyone except Jan and Hank are shown as being good people imo. Especially Cap and Thor. Millar's Thor is one of the most endearing, noble characters in all of comics. His heroic nobility is even on par with Peter Parker's. Even Nick Fury, despite how much of a bastard he can be sometimes, was sympathetic towards Bruce Banner losing his job. As a story Millar's run is good. As a story. What Millar fails to do is create likable and memorable characters/moments due to everyone being an asshole. These are the heroes and you just do not want to root for them because they are so unlikable. Which moments weren't memorable? Every page
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Post by Agemoi on May 8, 2014 8:49:04 GMT -6
wyokid When do Hawkeye and Widow murder civilians? You mean the mass amount of undercover aliens trying to usurp humanity the two killed in their introductory sequence in the office building? I haven't read it in about a year so I cant remember the story beats 100% I can't argue that the characters come across as assholes quite often. Hell, I recently got my friend to read ultimates and that was his first realization to me: "Everyones kind of an asshole hahaha" was his direct quote. But I enjoyed Millar's run because he didn't just write the typical, chest pounding, always right protagonists. This book came out in a time where Marvel characters still weren't incredibly well-rounded individuals. These are FLAWED people, hell a couple may even be considered bad people. And that was refreshing in 2003. Millar is.. too good at making extreme personalities. They're not the definitive version of the characters by any means, but I can personally enjoy them regardless. They all usually have a moment in both volumes where they show you who they are at their core. But again, opinions! I've known you weren't a fan of these books for quite some time now haha
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Post by Mr_Monster_Munch on May 9, 2014 3:24:51 GMT -6
Captain America is a jerk, Black Widow and Hawkeye murder civilians, Thor's a massive tool, Banner is a jealous psychopath, and Tony is a self-center womanizing alcoholic. What's to like? When is Captain America ever a jerk? Black Widow and Hawkeye didn't murder any civilians. They were Chitauri. Thor was never a tool. In fact, he's the very antithesis of that. He's probably the most independent character out of all of them. Banner is never a psychopath. He's actually the very opposite of that; a weakling, wuss, unconfident little man. Never does he go "psycho". Now I know why you didn't like the book. You didn't understand it. It all makes sense now. And I believe you when you say you can't remember any scene from the book, because the only character you remember correctly is Tony Stark. Everyone else' character you just made up. You took a wild stab in the dark thinking you would get their characters correct, but due to not being able to remember a single scene, you couldn't remember the characters. That's not true. You remembered Tony Stark correctly.
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Post by wyokid on May 9, 2014 9:27:57 GMT -6
wyokid When do Hawkeye and Widow murder civilians? You mean the mass amount of undercover aliens trying to usurp humanity the two killed in their introductory sequence in the office building? I haven't read it in about a year so I cant remember the story beats 100% I can't argue that the characters come across as assholes quite often. Hell, I recently got my friend to read ultimates and that was his first realization to me: "Everyones kind of an asshole hahaha" was his direct quote. But I enjoyed Millar's run because he didn't just write the typical, chest pounding, always right protagonists. This book came out in a time where Marvel characters still weren't incredibly well-rounded individuals. These are FLAWED people, hell a couple may even be considered bad people. And that was refreshing in 2003. Millar is.. too good at making extreme personalities. They're not the definitive version of the characters by any means, but I can personally enjoy them regardless. They all usually have a moment in both volumes where they show you who they are at their core. But again, opinions! I've known you weren't a fan of these books for quite some time now haha Besides my "there's no way there weren't civies in that building" argument, Black Widow shoots Jarvis in the head. Marvel has been making flawed characters for over 75 years, you can be flawed without being a prick.
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Post by Mr_Monster_Munch on May 9, 2014 9:34:33 GMT -6
Besides my "there's no way there weren't civies in that building" argument, Why not? That just seems like something you made up, or assume for some unknown reason. No she doesn't. That was in The Ultimates 2, where's she's revealed to be a villain. I don't understand this at all. Who's a prick?
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Post by wyokid on May 9, 2014 10:04:30 GMT -6
Still waiting for your review Sage
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Post by Mr_Monster_Munch on May 9, 2014 10:16:02 GMT -6
I don't understand how any of the characters in The Ultimates could possibly be considered jerks/pricks (or some other ill explained insult), besides Tony Stark and Hank Pym. Tony Stark is/was a womaniser. The same can be said for his mainstream and movie counterparts too. So I don't see how Millar wrote an asshole version of the Avengers team. The assholes were mainly villains. And that's because they're villains.
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Post by wyokid on May 9, 2014 10:40:47 GMT -6
Looks like you need to read it again because clearly you don't understand it.
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Post by Mr_Monster_Munch on May 9, 2014 10:54:16 GMT -6
Looks like you need to read it again because clearly you don't understand it. Says the guy who admittedly can't correctly remember a single scene from The Ultimates. I don't see the point in trolling like this. If you want to have this discussion, let's discuss. And if answering my questions is this much of a struggle, just read the book again, because what happens in the story is completely different to how you describe it.
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Post by Agemoi on May 9, 2014 16:18:38 GMT -6
Yeah black widow is a villain and she straight up murders jarvis in Ultimates 2. Very different.
Marvel definitely has been one-upping DC as far as complex characters go, so comparatively its true. But its only the last 25-30 years anyone has consistently believed in deep characterization of any kind. Gwen Stacey's death was the beginning of that in '73, but it took awhile for everyone else to catch up.
But hey, agree to disagree. Everyone likes what they look for different reasons.
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