One of those novels that it seems many were assigned in High School reading, but I never actually read. Figured it was probably about time. 😄

In a nutshell, take the modern world and turn a number of interesting trends up to 11. Dissolve family ties. Genetically engineer children as a sort of uber-caste system. Make sex purely recreational. Add to that the perspective of ’the Savage’. One raised on a reservation without this ‘modern’ world–giving an outsider’s perspective to all the changes.

I think the craziest thing is that this book was written in 1932… Oddly prescient that. It could extrapolate from today’s world about as easily as the world of almost a century ago. Probably a bit more influence from the Internet and social media; perhaps more commentary on how the sexual revolution in Brave New World compares to what actually happened in the decades after the book’s release. But I’m not sure what else I’d see changed. A mark of good distopian sci-fi, that. For better or for worse.

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Another giant story; the second ‘biggest’ of the Ultimate Marvel Universe

Uh oh. Gah Lak Tus? Time to meet GALACTUS!

I’m sure this will go well.

Being titled Cataclysm—and the last in the Ultimate Marvel Universe line—after all.

The X-Men’s involvement? Meh.

Spider-Man? Pretty awesome. Touching and personal, even in the face of a giant purple guy with a fancy hat.

The Ultimates: what is with that art style? Everyone getting infected with Galactus is amusing. Purple Hulk!

The Ultimates Last Stand? The meat of the story.

Reed Richard’s redemption arc (of a sort)? What… he does not deserve that.

It’s kind of a deus ex solution to an impossible problem. But that’s sort of the way with comics.

Or … maybe it is?

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So this was on the list of ‘Ultimate Marvel reading order’, primarily as a lead in to the events of Cataclysm: The Ultimates' Last Stand. That was not necessary.

I feel like most of these ‘big events’ have ended up being overwhelming. They just need more room to breathe than comics can give them. The ‘smaller’ scale comics (like Spider-Man) do so much better.

In any case:

A bit weird to be suddenly dropped into another universe with no idea what’s going on with all the characters I either know from the MCU or Ultimate line. But here we go!

Yup. Definitely not in (Ultimate) Kansas any more.

Crazy concept. Wonky time travel shenanigans. A decent solution. And yet another something happening after.

Onward to Cataclysm!

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One Year Later.

Miles is done.

But then (Ultimate) Cloak and Dagger show up:

Origin story and all.

Crazy comic action. Touching family scenes. Motivational speeches. It’s really good.

Onward!

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Who would be the absolute worst person in the Ultimate Universe to get the Infinity Stones?

Worse than that.

Now… both at once.

It’s a pretty crazy volume with some interesting twists and some big action pieces.

But really, it’s just the beginning of the end. Cataclysm is coming.

Onward!

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Two mutant homelands, Tian and Utopia. Well, apparently you can’t have that…

Jean has never been the most stable personality, at last not in the Ultimate Universe. And… I get it. So much power, so young. And yet… she keeps causing more issues again and again. Oy.

It all seems so sudden to escalate. And then in the way of comics—so suddenly over.

Oh and apparently the Sentient Seed dies again? Not sure what the point of that was either way.

So it goes.

Onward.

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A solid book.

“There are three conditions you must agree to meet before I grant you this opportunity.”

“Firstly, the considerable skill you possess must be used only for good. You will not let bitterness or anger draw you down the darker ways of your craft.”

“Secondly, if anyone asks for your help, you will give it willingly. I do not mean solely those who come to you for assistance with their ailments, but anyone at all who seeks your aid.”

“And thirdly?” It occurred to me that I could be as good a liar as anyone. What was to stop me from agreeing now, and once I was out of here, doing whatever I pleased? I might yet live beyond dawn and see Mathuin brought down before nightfall. My heart began to race.

“Thirdly, you will not seek vengeance. You will remain in Dalriada and stay away from Mathuin of Laois.”

Take a bit of magic/folklore in an oldentimes Ireland; add in a Fae bargain (with all the complications that ensues); combine with a prince and princess who’ve never met outside of letters–and seem entirely different in person; and finish it all off with fairy tale magic of Dreamer’s Pool.

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It’s YA Urban Fantasy. Don’t go in expecting anything earth shattering¹, wonder what in the world they’re all thinking, and have some fun.

It’s not the best Urban Fantasy I’ve read, but it’s really not bad. The world-alongside-our-world of the Fae is fairly standard, the romance is mostly predictable, and there are few enough action scenes. But on the other hand, the world feels real enough, I liked Aislinn more than I had any right to, and I’m intrigued what happens next. And that’s more enough for a quick read in my opinion!

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So much continues to change in the Post-Wave world…

So instead let’s introduce some new foe in the Mandarin. Hacking in and taking over Stark Tech. The Iron Man suit.

Neat idea but feels incomplete. Both in what I expected post Ultimatum and in the resolution.

Onward.

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Utopia.

Turns out, pretending the Sentient Seed died out lasted… not at all. Now there’s a new Mutant homeland in America…

That’s actually really cool.

Of course Tian isn’t thrilled by the competition. It’s kind of amazing that after so long, Jean is still around. This has potential… but she’s starting with lies. I’m sure it will go well. Especially if she’s both hiding and going by her original name. Wat.

Overall, it’s a neat story. If I didn’t know the Ultimate line was nearly over, I’d be intrigued. So it goes.

Onward!