I didn’t expect to feel so gutted after reading Ultimate Endgame #3. Over two years of world-building has been leading to this, but writer Deniz Camp proves he has more twists up his sleeve. The Maker’s absence made us forgetful. He’s still the most dangerous force in the Ultimate Universe, and that’s apparent by the last pages.
Who will survive the Maker?
Our heroes have been on the ropes ever since they entered the Maker’s city. The villain’s forces are overwhelming them, while Iron Lad appears to be in shock following his father’s death. Artist Jonas Scharf leans into the chaos. The battle is frantic, with laser beams, explosions, and debris flying freely. Page ten shows Spider-Man transforming into Venom, tearing free from the clutches of a giant robot with teeth bared and symbiote tendrils bursting from his body. Colorist Edgar Delgado shades each panel with dark blues and blacks, driving home the sinister feeling of the Maker’s home.
It’s not until the arrival of Absolute Kang that our heroes get a reprieve. He’s revealed to be a future version of Tony, coming to deliver a cryptic message. They’re destined to fail. This appears to be true when Doom, influenced by hallucinations of the Maker, shoots Kang and seems to wipe him from existence. That’s when we get the biggest shocker of the entire series. One of our main heroes perishes in brutal fashion, as Camp ends the issue with a haymaker to your heart.
The Ultimate X-Men and Erik Killmonger Arrive on the Scene
The Ultimate X-Men and Erik Killmonger have finally made it to Latveria. It’s fantastic seeing them leap into action on pages fourteen and fifteen. Terry and Rachel Dodson handle the art and colors, unleashing Maystorm’s lightning in blinding yellow bursts while Natsu Tsukishima’s eye erupts with bright red energy blasts. Killmonger cuts an imposing figure, carving through his foes and towering over the X-Men. It’s great these characters are finally entering the story, but these brief glimpses only leave you wanting more. They’re going to need more time to shine in future issues.
What Will Be The Legacy Of [Redacted]’s Death?
Your mileage will vary based on your feelings about the big death and this issue’s legacy will ultimately be decided by how the series wraps up. On its face, the moment feels anticlimactic. It’s definitely a shock, and Scharf doesn’t spare the gory details, but it’s not a satisfying end to the character’s story. It also feels destined to be undone, especially with how much time travel’s been mentioned. But if it’s supposed to reinforce the Maker’s threat, that changes things. If our heroes truly aren’t meant to be victorious, then this cements him as one of Marvel’s all-time greatest villains.
Verdict?
Ultimate Endgame #3 doesn’t pull its punches. It makes you pay for forgetting the Maker’s danger, while giving us the most shocking death in the series so far. This issue accomplishes a rare feat in comics. It makes you feel something long after you’ve put it down. Now Camp has to stick the landing.
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‘Ultimate Endgame’ #3 Review: Why Were You Crying?
Ultimate Endgame #3 doesn’t pull its punches. It makes you pay for forgetting the Maker’s danger, while giving us the most shocking death in the series so far. This issue accomplishes a rare feat in comics. It makes you feel something long after you’ve put it down. Now Camp has to stick the landing.
