Fuzzy Birds
Well-Known Member
Ultimate Fantastic Four has ruined the Ultimate Universe.
Although it's quality is inconsistent at best, Ultimate Fantastic Four is still a damn sight better than most comics out there. My gripe with the comic though, is what it does to the Ultimate Universe as a whole. Let me elaborate.
The Ultimate line was created not only to provide an answer to new readers facing continuity problems, but to place stale characters in refreshingly modern and realistic enviroments. Well, as realistic as Spiderman and the X Men can be. The end result was a pleasingly streamlined, accessible world, held in high regard for sticking to logical ideas, usually grounded in reality.
Prior to Ultimate Fantastic Four, the most unbelievable concepts we had were Animal Evolutionaries, Phoenix Forces and Thunder Gods (all of which from Mark Millar). Okay, so Thors godhood is questionable, and so are Jean's Phoenix abilities to that point. We even had an alien invasion, which proved to be very well written indeed, with great thought being put into the motivations and origins of the would be invaders.
(Although I still don't forgive those Animal Evolutionaries.)
Anyway, to the point in hand: up until UFF was released, the Ultimate Universe was portrayed as a reasonably believable world, with the more over-the-top aspects and characters from the regular Marvel universe being toned down in favour of realism.
In the first 6 issues, just one arc, we are introduced to a parallel universe in the form of the Negative Zone; long extinct, technological societies in the form of the Atlanteans (which look to be resurrected in the form of Namor pretty soon); and huge subterranean sea monsters. While the next arc, Doom, would stick pretty close to the ground, the third arc, N Zone, would fly off the handle again with travelling between parallel universes, giant flying lizards in space, and hammy 'I want to rule your world' aliens from said parallel universe. Think Tank is a harmless two parter, but the real **** hits the fan when Millar picks up the reigns from Warren Ellis (technically from Mike Carey, but you know what I mean) in Crossover, an arc that, so far, is responsible for time travel and genuine alternate universes. And zombies.
That's not to say it hasn't all been one hell of a ride. Ellis in particular stays interestingly close to acceptable scientific theory, and Millar just writes one heck of a good story. But, there's still that niggling little thing about the book that just doesn't fit with the rest of the UU.
Of course, it could be argued that without these plot devices, the book would be less deserving of it's 'fantastic' moniker; that the whole charm of the Fantastic Four are the unbelievable and downright ridiculous situations they find themselves in. And I agree. But when that silly, adventurous charm sacrifices credulity and believability for an entire universe, you gotta step back and look at the picture. The Ultimate Fantastic Four are destroying what made the Ultimate Universe so pleasing in the first place.
All this said, I'm still a huge fan of the book, but out of all the titles, I think UFF is the one that really doesn't fit, feeling, in fact, more like a regular Marvel universe book.
Anyway, after writing faaaaar too much about a comic book than I really should be, I'd like to hear others' opinions on this topic please.
Disclaimer: I aim no criticism or dislike towards any of the writers I mentioned, (it's just that Millar seems to be the biggest culprit here).
Although it's quality is inconsistent at best, Ultimate Fantastic Four is still a damn sight better than most comics out there. My gripe with the comic though, is what it does to the Ultimate Universe as a whole. Let me elaborate.
The Ultimate line was created not only to provide an answer to new readers facing continuity problems, but to place stale characters in refreshingly modern and realistic enviroments. Well, as realistic as Spiderman and the X Men can be. The end result was a pleasingly streamlined, accessible world, held in high regard for sticking to logical ideas, usually grounded in reality.
Prior to Ultimate Fantastic Four, the most unbelievable concepts we had were Animal Evolutionaries, Phoenix Forces and Thunder Gods (all of which from Mark Millar). Okay, so Thors godhood is questionable, and so are Jean's Phoenix abilities to that point. We even had an alien invasion, which proved to be very well written indeed, with great thought being put into the motivations and origins of the would be invaders.
(Although I still don't forgive those Animal Evolutionaries.)
Anyway, to the point in hand: up until UFF was released, the Ultimate Universe was portrayed as a reasonably believable world, with the more over-the-top aspects and characters from the regular Marvel universe being toned down in favour of realism.
In the first 6 issues, just one arc, we are introduced to a parallel universe in the form of the Negative Zone; long extinct, technological societies in the form of the Atlanteans (which look to be resurrected in the form of Namor pretty soon); and huge subterranean sea monsters. While the next arc, Doom, would stick pretty close to the ground, the third arc, N Zone, would fly off the handle again with travelling between parallel universes, giant flying lizards in space, and hammy 'I want to rule your world' aliens from said parallel universe. Think Tank is a harmless two parter, but the real **** hits the fan when Millar picks up the reigns from Warren Ellis (technically from Mike Carey, but you know what I mean) in Crossover, an arc that, so far, is responsible for time travel and genuine alternate universes. And zombies.
That's not to say it hasn't all been one hell of a ride. Ellis in particular stays interestingly close to acceptable scientific theory, and Millar just writes one heck of a good story. But, there's still that niggling little thing about the book that just doesn't fit with the rest of the UU.
Of course, it could be argued that without these plot devices, the book would be less deserving of it's 'fantastic' moniker; that the whole charm of the Fantastic Four are the unbelievable and downright ridiculous situations they find themselves in. And I agree. But when that silly, adventurous charm sacrifices credulity and believability for an entire universe, you gotta step back and look at the picture. The Ultimate Fantastic Four are destroying what made the Ultimate Universe so pleasing in the first place.
All this said, I'm still a huge fan of the book, but out of all the titles, I think UFF is the one that really doesn't fit, feeling, in fact, more like a regular Marvel universe book.
Anyway, after writing faaaaar too much about a comic book than I really should be, I'd like to hear others' opinions on this topic please.
Disclaimer: I aim no criticism or dislike towards any of the writers I mentioned, (it's just that Millar seems to be the biggest culprit here).