Ultimate Power #9: The Conclusion 01.14.2008 This series has taken for-EVER to come out. I hope it’s been worth it. Not much actually seems to have happened. It’s one of those books with lots of big panels and giant fight-scenes. I really like the idea that the “real” Squadron Supreme could meet up with the Ultimate Squadron Supreme, but this issue’s gonna have to be pretty great to tie it all up satisfactorily. Who knows, maybe I’ll read the whole series at once and love. I’ve become skeptical, though. Page 5/6 Double-splash page! (See what I mean?) This is a pretty great drawing though. I like the contrast between the Hulks, the way Land et al differentiate them by supplying one with more detail than the other. They do kind of look like they’re from two different Marvel Universes. Page 8 Splash page! Page 10 Great look on Logan’s face when the Hulk grabs him around the neck. Page 11/12 DOUBLE-splash page!! Page 16 SPLASH PAGE! Seriously, though. This one is worth it. Thing vs Hulk is classic Marvel, and it almost looks like Land had that in mind when he drew this page, something about the Hulk’s face and the restraint Land shows by not adding too much detail. Page 17/18 2 pages – 4 panels. I do like this layout though. The long panels at the bottom make great use of the depth of field, like a great wide close-up in a movie with the deep background in focus too. Page 21 Splash page! Super-heros always grab for some ass when they kiss. They can’t help it. The fighting gets them all a-tingle. End. Nice ending. Quick and too the point. Stark is a jackass and the Things is the sad, gentle giant, and it’s Reed’s guilt that got us into this series in the first place. So, did it live up to my needs? Actually, it just about did. It was a bit too much of a “hurry, let’s explain it all and wrap everything up in three pages” kind of ending for my tastes, but the art was great (if you like this kinda thing) and it had some fun moments. I do kind of want to read it over again to see if I can discern the point of it, though. Was it just a slug-fest? Or what? And is Zarda in Ultimates 3?