Ultimates #9 Spoilers/Discussion

[sage6paths]

I think that's the Triskelion.

Well it was kinda cubic right plus if it was the only thing that could hold she-hulk it might just be the same design.

[G@ry]

Shifting gears to the Ultimate line for a moment, SpiderX wanted to know, "Is there any chance we will see former Ultimate Fantastic Four Members Sue and Ben show up in the new Ultimate Comics? I'm sure they would be interested to know about Reed as the Maker of the Children of Tomorrow and Johnny's whereabouts. I was also thinking since Sue is a biotechnologist, Fury could get her to come in and help analyze Miles. She could give an explanation as to how his abilities work and maybe even discover those webshooters that he so desperately needs. *wink* *wink*"

Alonso: Spider X, have you been bugging our offices? I'll give you this: One of the characters you've mentioned will show up in "Ultimates" #10 and play a big role in the stunning conclusion to the war with Reed Richards' City in issue #12. As for the web shooters, all I can say is, if -- and I mean, IF -- Miles gets web-shooters -- or anything like them -- you'll know the same time he does.

So next issue should be an interesting one indeed. Plus we are getting the next 2 issues on a biweekly schedule.

I can't see how Ben or Sue could beat Reed, and frankly it would be kind of stupid if they did.

Although I don't mind if they show up.

[Robbie_Jee]

I know I've just said this but I'll say it again just so that it's set in stone and so that I can boast about it later when my prediction is revealed because I was the one who called it.

Captain Britian is going to show power that none of us knew he had in him. The agent said that the cube might not contain him because his abilities lie beyond measurable levels. So She-Hulk's alright but Captain Britain's too powerful? Wait a sec. Just how powerful is he? I reckon in the next couple of issues he going to unleash this extraordinary power that has been hinted at. I'm calling it now just so you know.

[G@ry]

Oh, that's a good point. I wonder what he'll do.

He must be powerful if The City was experimenting on him.

[Codah]

I can't see how Ben or Sue could beat Reed, and frankly it would be kind of stupid if they did.

Although I don't mind if they show up.

We don't know how powerful Ben is. He doesn't even know, he said so in Ultimate Doom. Presumably between then and now, he's learned a bit more about his newfound abilities and might pop in and do some badass stuff. I'm not betting on it, but hey.

[sage6paths]

We don't know how powerful Ben is. He doesn't even know, he said so in Ultimate Doom. Presumably between then and now, he's learned a bit more about his newfound abilities and might pop in and do some badass stuff. I'm not betting on it, but hey.

Reed on teleporting Ben. Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.

[Celestin]

Now that I think about it I may dislike how Bendis made Reed a bad guy, but I like what it brings to the story. Because Ultimate Richards, for all his flaws, was rather likable hero, now there is a villain that I actually want to see win even if that means the end of the human race as we know it and it's not something that happens often to me. Well, there are times when I want the hero to fail, but not because I like the villain, but because the main character is too annoying, so it doesn't count.

[Robbie_Jee]

Personally I hope Reed doesn't die at the end of the arc. In fact I'm counting on it. After the death of the Red Skull and the Leader, and the fact that Loki will probably not attack earth/midgard again because of his truce with Thor, we NEED a villian that's gona stick around. The UU needs a recurring villain. I want Reed to interact with Ben and Sue at least one more time before he dies. And that shouldn't be crammed in at the end. I want that to happen in Humphries run. Reed created the Children, they might die but I think he'll still have First Knife.

What I think would be really cool would be if Reed left earth at the end of the arc with Hulk and First Knife. Reed finds a way to banish the bruce banner persona forever and together they could create the new Masters of Evil. The Maker, Hulk, First Knife, Second Sword, Death Child and something new. I want Reed to return with a new creation and I think a little team of baddies with him like Hulk and First Knife would be pretty awsome.

[ActionSage]

This issue certainly made me officially sick of The People. WAY too overpowered.

You just be hatin'

There is absolutely no way this plot point will not become a major part of the future of both Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men, if any pretense of the three titles taking place in the same continuity is to be maintained. Hickman just wiped Washington D.C completely from the face of the Earth, including every single member of every single branch of government! The millions dead and the atomization of the capital would be enough of a tragedy on its own, but the entire government, and really any form of backup government, is now simply gone in the blink of an eye. The rest of the nation may have been spared direct annihilation like that, but now they're a country of three-hundred million people in total anarchy. The events of this unforgettable, truly groundbreaking issue are a game-changer in every single sense of the word, times a thousand. It will not only be off-handedly referenced; it will become a major part of future plots in both of the other two books in the Ultimate Universe. It's simply too big not to be.

I can't wait for the ramifications of the events in this issue.

One thing I don't get though...Reed said he was gonna show everybody the way to save the world. How? by killing everyone that's not the children?
I wonder if tony's tumor is coming back or something.

[SpiderX]

I'm pretty sure "Death" is dead. He was sent in as a suicide bomber. Looking at him you can tell he was a failed part of the Children of Tomorrow experience. I can't wait to see where this story goes. The person I'm most interested in seeing how the cope with situation is Monica Chang. I think her main focus will be trying to get back to Julius which will conflict with Fury's agenda I'm sure.

Also preview art for next issue showed War Machine pops up.

[PhilUrich'sFlamingSword]

So #12 is conclusion of the war? On the one hand I want to see how Hickman planned to deal with Reed and the City before he is gone from the title. On the other I don't want to see them defeated yet.

This sums up my feelings on the matter exactly. I have loved every moment of this book so completely, from the wonderful art, to the high-concept, incredibly intelligent and absolutely brilliant story, to the characters, and, perhaps greatest of all, to the fact that Hickman took a very interesting story angle by Bendis (having Reed Richards become a 'villain' per say, and, through clever use of flashbacks, somehow making us not only believe, but readily accept that it is not only in character for him, but was an inevitable development given the incredible marginalization and lack of respect he recieved from almost everyone he ever loved and who should have utterly supported his special nature), albeit one that ended with much exploration and potential left on the table (a trait Bendis has shown frequently in my opinion, although mostly in 616 - great, epic storylines with tons of potential that tend to be clunkily executed towards the endings), and took it about a thousand levels further than Bendis ever would have dreamed of. As you say, I'm glad that Hickman will still be at least a co-writer through the conclusion of his initial conflict, but I am still saddened that his run was cut short, especially after the developments in issue nine. It would have been fascinating to see where he took the Ultimate Universe next, a continuity that was, frankly, invented to tell just these types of unique, 'crank-it-up-to-eleven and then completely obliterate any percieved lines' type of stories. After all, as wonderful as his 616 Fantastic Four run has been, and it's been extremely epic and high-concept in scope, it doesn't approach this level of complete subversion of most familiar tropes. So yes, it is sad that he's leaving, but it will only increase the legendary status of the twelve issues he either wrote or co-wrote down the line. I'm convinced this run will eventually surpass Ultimates 1 and 2 as far as both fan and critical acclaim are concerned. Plus, Mr. Humphries really seems to be exciting people familiar with his prior work, which I am not, so just based on the opinions of some other posters here who I respect, I am cautiously optimistic he'll take the opportunity Hickman has presented him with and craft a great, engaging story of his own.

I can't see how Ben or Sue could beat Reed, and frankly it would be kind of stupid if they did.

Although I don't mind if they show up.

He didn't say they would 'beat Reed,' only that they would play an important role in the conclusion of the story. That could mean any number of things, and I highly doubt that Sue or Ben will be the sole or even primary reason for his defeat (if, indeed, he is defeated in the traditional sense like being killed or captured, with his forces broken and defeated, and in a story that's been this utterly unconventional so far, I wouldn't necessarily put money on that happening), merely one piece of the puzzle.

We don't know how powerful Ben is. He doesn't even know, he said so in Ultimate Doom. Presumably between then and now, he's learned a bit more about his newfound abilities and might pop in and do some badass stuff. I'm not betting on it, but hey.

This is very true, and a good point. Another poster pointed out that, since Ben was able to get past Reed's defenses with his new powers before, and now Reed has had over a thousand years to plan ahead for another potential encounter, that Ben's powers likely won't' be the reason for his defeat, but bear in mind that Reed wasn't around for Ben's metamorphosis, only saw it briefly before being dogpiled by ever hero on Earth simultaneously, and has had no chance to study it. Given that, even with a thousand years to prepare, Reed may not have had enough information available from the start to really do anything more than guess at the nature of his powers, and prepare several potential counter-measures. It's entirely possible, despite his obviously absurd intellect, that Ben is still a mystery to him, and I wouldn't be surprised if this is a plot point in the future.



On a personal, unrelated note, I just want to say that I've been extremely, insanely busy for the past month trying to get my new career off the ground, and I haven't really visited this site much, and haven't posted at all in over three weeks. Now that things have calmed down just a tad, I've caught up on all my comics and come back, and I have to say it's good to see the posters on this board that I've come to enjoy debating with again. Happy to be back.

[Movieartman]

Yes they Best Not Kill off Reed before we get a proper final confrontation between him, Susan and Grimm

aslo in the eventual arc where Madi returns i hope a Ultimate Surtur is a villain

[G@ry]

I was just thinking, we may see a confrontation between Johnny and Reed, because Reed still has part of his face ruined. I think he left it that way as a reminder about what happened. I think he could have easily developed a way to heal himself, it seems he healed his eyes and doesn't need glasses when that helmet is on him, if he healed that he could have healed his face.

[Lascoden]

Reposting:
HOLY CRAP!!!
I honestly could not believe what I was reading. Zorn is a total beast (big surprise). That image of him in full black hole mode was beautiful. And I actually had to reread the end DC scene a couple times, because I honestly could not believe it. This is why I've fallen in love with Hickman's Ultimates, you can't do that stuff in the main MU.

Anyone else think Death is, well, dead? I was getting the vibe of that being a suicide mission. Reed mentioned the impulse he didn't weed out (heh Reed, weed) I thought he was talking about the suicide impulse. Anyone else read it that way?

[sage6paths]

Anyone else think Death is, well, dead? I was getting the vibe of that being a suicide mission. Reed mentioned the impulse he didn't weed out (heh Reed, weed) I thought he was talking about the suicide impulse. Anyone else read it that way?

Yah I read it that way. Especially since he said that this will be an end of an era.