To be honest, I almost forgot about Ultimate Thor and Sif. They’ve been underutilized in this series, but finally take center stage here, with writer Deniz Camp and artist/colorist Stipan Morian giving us the Ultimate universe’s version of Ragnarok. Plenty of spectacle follows, but it rings hollow as the story races to its finish by the last page.
Title: The Ultimates #23
Creatives: Deniz Camp (Writer), Stipan Morian (Artist/Colorist), Travis Lanham (Letterer)
Characters: Thor, Sif, Heimdall
Villain: Loki, Mangog, Hela, Fenris
Format: Ongoing
Our Rating: 7.5/10 Stars
Where Have Thor and Sif Been?
Thor and Sif have returned to Asgard, determined to overthrow King Loki. The action that follows is gorgeous. Morian tells this story through beautiful splash pages that make each scene look more like classic Norse mythology than a comic book. Vicious battles rage between Gods, monsters, and mortals alike, with Morian using bright oranges to show raging fires or dark greens and blues to distinguish various realms. Thor and Sif leap into the fray in dynamic poses with weapons drawn, standing out whenever they grace the page.
Camp makes a bold choice to tell this story using a prose-poetry hybrid. He narrates using alliteration, meta-fictional language, and broken lines, giving the proceedings the feel of an epic poem. It reflects the mythological influences in this book, and letterer Travis Lanham reinforces that by using a free-flowing font that resembles ancient text. This is one of the most stylized issues in the entire series, and it’s thanks to these unique choices.
Ultimate Mangog Makes His Debut
Ultimate Mangog makes an instant impression on page six. Morian keeps his design similar to his 616 counterpart, but he’s still menacing all the same. He towers over the other combatants, sharp horns bursting from his head and jagged teeth bared as he slaps away Asgardian soldiers like insects. His fatal encounter against Sif is a highlight, with each combatant trading blows in a whirlwind of blood until they both lie dead on the ground.
What Are the Downsides of This Issue?
The problem with this book is that it’s too late for all this. Camp has packed an entire arc’s worth of stories into one cramped issue. It’s fantastic to see Mangog, Fenris, and the other species that inhabit Thor’s world, but it’s all over too quickly. This is the penultimate issue for the series, and these characters make their debut and last appearance over the course of a few short panels. There’s enough going on here to fill out a miniseries, and the narrative would have benefited from getting to breathe over multiple issues.
Not only that, but this is completely separate from what’s happening with the Maker and the rest of the Ultimates on Earth. It makes this story feel more like a side quest than an essential part of the Ultimate universe. It would have been better if Camp had shown us the galaxy-wide consequences of Thor and Sif’s fight, rather than just telling us.
Verdict: Should you buy Ultimates #23?
Camp and Morian’s ambitious creative decisions can’t save The Ultimates #23 from rushed storytelling. Morian’s epic battles and lush colors make each page feel mythical, while Camp’s rhythmic prose turns it into an epic poem. Unfortunately, we’re getting all these developments too late. Thor and Sif were an afterthought in their own series. They deserved more than limping to the finish line.
‘The Ultimates’ #23 Review: There Was a Time When Old Gods Died
Camp and Morian’s ambitious creative decisions can’t save The Ultimates #23 from rushed storytelling. Morian’s epic battles and lush colors make each page feel mythical, while Camp’s rhythmic prose turns it into an epic poem. Unfortunately, we’re getting all these developments too late. Thor and Sif were an afterthought in their own series. They deserved more than limping to the finish line.
