And now, more aftermath.
So… they’re going to build a new team, right?
Of course they are.
It’s got potential.
Onward!
JP's Blog
Tongues of Serpents Temeraire #6
It seems to me after a fellow has been mutinied against three or four times, there is something to it besides bad luck.
Convicted of Treason in Napoleonic Era Britain? Where else to go next but… Australia!
It’s another travelog of a book, showing off yet another continent, although this time without much in the way of native dragons at all. We get a lot of very minor politics, a very long chase sequence across much of the continent following a stolen egg, a few interesting newly hatched dragons (probably the highlight of the book honestly). I do miss a lot of the old crew, but it’s something.
Notice anything missing?
There’s painfully little in the way of big Napoleonic battles (with dragons!). Slightly more exploration of Chinese dragons and that end of the world, but not that much more.
In theory, it’s a way for Laurence to deal with his actions in previous books… but we’ve already done a chunk of that in Victory of Eagles and we really don’t get much of it here.
Really, it doesn’t seem quite like something we need.
Onward. Fingers crossed.
I am sick of the quarrels of nations and kings, and I would not give a ha’pence for any empire other than our valley, if that can content your ambition.
Tress of the Emerald Sea The Cosmere * Year of Sanderson #1
Take one part Princess Bride (a modern fairly tale for a grown up audience), one part Hoid as the narrator (even more Wit-like than in Stormlight), and add in weird world–Sanderson style. It’s funny. It’s touching. And it’s a delight to read.
Voilá. Tress of the Emerald Sea.
It’s a really good book.
Ultimate Comics Iron Man: Armor Wars Ultimate Marvel Universe #78 Ultimate Marvel Universe (Post Ultimatum) #1
The world’s turned upside down…
And someone has being stealing Stark Tech.
It’s a dig into Tony’s past and thus post Ultimatum world. Pretty interesting. Curious where they go from here!
Onward.
Ultimatum: Requiem Ultimatum #4 Ultimate Spider-Man #22.9 Ultimate X-Men #19.9 Ultimate Fantastic Four #11.9 Ultimate Marvel Universe #77
requiem - a mass for the dead; a solemn chant (such as a dirge) for the repose of the dead
Ultimatum: X-Men/Fantastic Four Ultimate X-Men #19.5 Ultimate Fantastic Four #11.5 Ultimatum #3 Ultimate Marvel Universe #76
Death and destruction on a massive scale. And to make it worse…
We have zealots blaming all mutants and going on a rampage.
So much death.
And on the Fantastic Four side:
Mole Man and Grimm, going in. Such a weird time for it. But I suppose it’s otherwise all the time Sue has left.
Ultimatum Ultimatum #2 Ultimate Marvel Universe #75
Well. That’s a thing.
Wrapped up in the events of Ultimate Spider-Man, we have Ultimatum: Magneto flipped the poles and killed millions—including a number of heroes we know. Knew.
It’s a bloody transition. A lot of it feels more designed to sock than anything. And it certainly does that.
If this were the beginning of the Marvel Ultimate Universe… the fallout could have been fascinating. I just hope what’s left is worth it.
Onward.
Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 22: Ultimatum Ultimatum #1 Ultimate Spider-Man #22 Ultimate Marvel Universe #74
Well that escalated quickly.
Seems Magneto decided to kill everyone. Good times. Oy.
It’s quite the sudden tonal shift. So much death and destruction.
Given enough time to breathe, this could be quite a story line. I’m not confident it will though.
Onward.
Ultimate Origins Ultimate Marvel Universe #73
And now we learn…
How it’s all connected.
That’s an awful lot of a story. The origin of super heroes and mutants in the entire Ultimate Marvel Universe. And the Black Panther. And the Hulk.
It’s a lot for one volume and… I really wish they’d established this earlier. It’s different enough to make a fascinating world and we’ve only gotten hints thus far. I want more! And we’re near the end.
So it goes.
On a side note (minor spoilers!), tying the origin of super soldiers to military experimentation of a young black man against his will… that’s kind of gross. It feels like taking a dark truth and trying to make something better of it. But there’s not enough room for the nuance that would need.
Onward!
Ultimatum: March On Ultimatum Ultimate Marvel Universe #72 Ultimatum #0.5
More Annuals! Mixed stories!
X-Men/Fantastic Four hints at Ultimatum. Everything goes wrong. And a team back to stop it… but no luck there.
Captain America. And really the origin of Ultimate Black Panther. Is that all we’ll get of him?
Hulk. Naked. Fights. Eats. That’s really it.
Spider-Man and MJ being teenagers. Cute. But hardly earth shattering.
Overall, as always, a weird mix.
Onward.