Ultimates: Super-human vol 1 Review by Fleur, 09/02 Ultimates: Super-human vol 1 Written by Mark Millar Art by Bryan Hitch Publisher: Marvel Comics "... he's murdered dozens of people, drunk a truck full of beer, and, right now, looks like he's stealing a huge pair of pants from a fat corpse... You imagine what he's gonna do when he catches that girlfriend of his with Freddie Prinze Jr.?" I must admit that generally, it took me a while to get into the concept of Marvel's 'Ultimate' universe. Launched in 2000, the books were conceived to make the Marvel lines more accessible to new, modern audiences by both starting afresh without the vast amounts of backstory, and by making the books and characters themselves 'edgier' in content and tone. The line was an overall hit, but without a doubt, the top-selling title has always been Ultimates - the Ultimate Universe's Avengers. The first trade, 'Superhuman', was written by Mark Millar, with art by Bryan Hitch. It is, essentially, the story of Nick Fury creating America's first ever superhero defence team. It also tells of the return of Captain America, the further story of Bruce Banner, as well as throwing in a story of PR, politics, and Tony Stark's 10am vodka and orange. Oh, and did I mention Freddie Prinze Jr.? Although 'Superhuman' deals primarily with the formation of the Ultimates, it manages to avoid the trapping of sounding like a flat roll call. Even when characters are relegated to offhand comments (Betty Ross talks about an Olympic archer they want to get on the team), the lines come off much less token mentions than nifty little cameos. Of course, the book's flow is helped by the very strong subplot. We first met Ultimate Hulk in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, issues 2-3. As of the second issue of Millar's Ultimates, Dr. Bruce Banner is seemingly in control of his monstrous counterpart. No problem. Well, no problem, right up until a talk-show host asks Tony Stark (who's swanned off to take an actress into space for her birthday) why they really need a superhero defence team - after all, someone like Ultimate X-Men's Magneto will surely only come around once every ten years. Banner, thanks to a combination of both this comment and a rivalry with Giant Man Hank Pym (who took Banner's first-place research role during the second issue), force-triggers his Hulk transformation in order to give the Ultimates something real to fight. And the resulting fight is what really makes this book. Freddie Prinze Jr. I can't even explain any more, but believe me, this alone makes the book worth the purchase. (Oh, that, and the fact Wasp gives Hulk a 'Mardi Gras Special' in an attempt to take him down.) The humour in 'Superhuman' seems to put Ultimates above any other book in the Ultimate lineup, right off the mark. There's a small poke at DC, as people very much resembling Lois Lane, Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen make an attempt at interviewing Tony Stark. Some people have said that Bush's appearances (asking a newly unfrozen Captain America if the twenty-first century is "cool") will be dated soon enough, but for now, they're a worthy little injoke. And of course, one of the best moments has to be when the entire team is sitting around discussing who's going to play them in a movie - for the record? It's Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Johnny Depp as Tony Stark, Brad Pitt as Captain America, Matthew McConnaughey as Hank Pym, Lucy Liu as Janet Pym, and Steve Buscemi as Bruce Banner. This is all fun and games, but what really makes 'Superhuman' quite exceptional is its serious side, combined with a real knack of moving smoothly between the moods. Though the sheer patriotism of Captain America seeing the flag for the first time after being brought to life falls a little flat for the non-Americans among us, we can appreciate the gravity of him finding his best friend and girlfriend moved on, married, and had children and grandchildren, all in a blink of his suspended-animation eye. The last issue, however, is what really makes 'Superhuman' brilliant. A beautiful piece of character work finally lends alcoholic playboy billionaire Stark motivation, as in one speech he reveals that he gives all his things away, he risks his life daily because he has an inoperable tumour the size of a golfball at the back of his head. All of a sudden, this previously unsympathetic but incredibly amusing character has depth, and you can't help but feel for him. But the final issue isn't titled 'Giant Man vs the Wasp' for nothing. Husband and Wife Pym have a fight, and it isn't a small one. There's a sense here of shock - for much of this book (with the exception of some delightfully crass dialogue in issue five) you could be excused for wondering if you were reading a normal Marvel book. But it would seem Millar's simply been lulling you into a false sense of security, and here, with one horrible domestic fight, he knocks you to the floor. Millar took a big risk, here, so villifying Hank Pym, and it comes off. It has to be read to be believed. You know, just like the Freddie Prinze Jr. thing. Millar's known best for his work on team books - and 'Superhuman' shows why, as he deftly switches back and forth between a multitude of characters and plotlines. Hitch's pencils are pleasing to the eye, with a nice, realistic style that works very well for the book. The first Ultimates trade is a very easy read, and one that will, without a doubt, draw you right into what is easily the best line in the Ultimate Universe.