Throughout The Ultimates #24, a single question echoes: “What is strength?” Is strength pure physical power? Is it the power bestowed upon others, whether they want it or not? Or is it the mental strength to keep going, even in a world that tries to grind you down? By the end of the issue, readers will have their answer. In the meantime, they’ll be treated to a truly intense storm of martial arts, gamma-powered beings, and superheroes as the Ultimates take the fight to the last living member of the Maker’s Council: the Hulk.
This is a big deal for two major reasons. First, when the Ultimates faced the Hulk, he killed them all and forced Doom to use time travel to save their lives. Second, it brings She-Hulk’s story to a close, as she joined the Ultimates to take revenge on the Hulk for using her home as a test for gamma-powered weapons. Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri have wrapped up nearly every plot point in this last arc of The Ultimates, so it only makes sense that they take care of the biggest threat, both metaphorically and physically.
As a result, Frigeri gets to go wild with the fight sequences. She-Hulk engages Hulk’s gamma-powered followers in brutal combat, with each of their blows resulting in pure gamma energy flowing through the sky. The “Monster Island,” where She-Hulk and her people make their home, deploys its forces, including massive fire ants and crabs, as well as gamma-irradiated dinosaurs. Perhaps the best part is when Hulk and Shen Qi confront each other over who wields the Iron Fist; it’s a mix of gamma-powered strength against martial arts, and it’s just as amazing as it sounds.
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I also love the crazy names that Camp comes up with for Hulk and Shen Qi’s attacks. We have names like “Black Hole Body Slam”, “Cyclotronic Spin Kick”, “Scorpion’s Heart-Stopping Sting” and “Fury of the Ultimate Iron Fist.” But while this might be pure comic booky goodness, the true meat of the issue lies with She-Hulk. What happened to her and her people is a direct result of how the Maker’s rule has affected so many lives; it’s only fitting that they take those lives back, even if they have to tear down their oppressors to do it.
The one thing I would have liked to see more of is the dynamic between Ant-Man and Wasp, as the duo finally reconciles following the reveal that Wasp was a double agent for H.A.N.D. They were the characters that served as a gateway to The Ultimates, so it would have been great to see more focus on their relationship. For what it’s worth, their presence brings everything full circle, and also helps set the stage for Ultimate Endgame #5.
The Ultimates #24 ends just as the series began, with a gloriously illustrated subversion of Marvel lore and a full circle moment with some of the team’s members. While I could have easily read more of this series, it still remains one of the best entries in the new Ultimate Universe.
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