I think Loeb is certainly a more talented writer than shock-writer Millar, but for some reason, I just don’t think Loeb’s run will be very good. That, and despite the lateness, Hitch was the perfect artist for the book - I sense a great change in tone for the coming volumes. Anyway, I hope the HC will come out soon - I haven’t read most of volume 2, but from what I hear, it will be a nice read in HC, just like volume 1.

I agree that it is going to change. In fact, I agree that the whole thing may be over. (This might be due to my bitterness, so take this with a grain of salt.) When the Ultimate universe came out, I really liked the opportunity to read Marvel titles even though I didn’t have much of the history. I was more of a DC kid growing up. So it was neat to read this stuff and know that I wasn’t missing some big continuity overtones because I didn’t know what current ailment kept Tony Stark dependent on the Iron Man armor.

But, as an outsider, I don’t see anything that distinguishes Ultimates 3 from the pre-Civil War Avengers. It’s the Avengers, and they are going to go on adventures, etc. If I’m worried about continuity, I could have picked up the Avengers CD-ROM and caught up that way rather than wait 3 years for one freaking story. That said, I do still look forward to the Ultimate Fantastic Four trades. I never read FF before, and these are kind of fun!

By the way, what is the big deal with Hitch? Everyone loves this guy’s art. I just think it’s OK. I suppose it’s all a matter of taste, but it looks like nuts and bolts comic book art to me. I guess I’m crazy.

I am enjoying “Countdown” and love the weekly release schedule. It is refresshing not having to wait through any delays for my fix.

The comics buying public has to shoulder some of the blame too for putting up with late comics but I think the tide is definitely turning on that front

I don’t know about the “comic-buying public”, but I won’t buy another book Hitch illustrates in single issues. Ever. And I won’t buy a trade of a new Hitch and Millar Ultimates series. The 13th issue of Ultimates 2 just left me feeling angry. Maybe, a couple of years from now, I’ll pull out the issues and read them again and really enjoy them. But, for now, I feel like I was treated poorly as a customer and that I reinforced the behavior by buying the last issue. So, I’m not going to make that mistake again.

As pointed out in the review, the Karate Kid sequence was pretty much a retread of a scene that happened in another comic.

The difference being, we actually saw the fight this time I don’t think we saw any of the punches, kicks, etc. supposedly thrown on and off-screen in JL of A #8.

Also, Batman and Black Lightning finally called each other by their codenames!

As pointed out in the review, the Karate Kid sequence was pretty much a retread of a scene that happened in another comic. It seemed like the whole issue was just treading water story wise. A series like this should be filled with “WTF?!” moments, not merely things that look like they may get interesting in a month or two.

Is this the last Ultimate’s book?

I don’t know why, but the way it ended (with dedications, no less) made me wonder if they were finished. I mean, they certainly aren’t in the current line of Ultimate Marvel storylines because how can they be with so random of release dates. Still, I know they appear in other books in one form or another so I am curious how they do it in the future.

I would read another 13 part series, though I would be happy if they waited to realease them until the art was completed on all issues.

no, this isn’t the end of an ultimates book. loeb is writing i think two new ultimates series, but book three will have a different artist from book four. and hitch has said he and millar have talked about doing another run

Loeb & Joe Madureira on Volume 3 and Loeb & Ed McGuinness on Voulme 4 are the creative teams. It looks like Marvel have learned their lesson and giving both artists plenty of lead time on both books.

To be honest, I think a lot of blame when it comes to lateness in books lies with the editors and higher ups at the various companies. One, for tolerating excessive lateness from a number of artists and two, not being realistic when it comes to various creator’s speed. I fully understand that they may want a “superstar” team for their books but if that’s the case then allow for the proper lead time for these creators to get some issues done and rotate the artists accordingly when needed. Captain America & Daredevil are two books that a good example of this, when the art team needs a breather a guest artist does an issue that fills in some background detail of the previous/forthcoming arc allowing for the books to come out on time. I know Captain America has had delays lately but that’s not the creative teams fault. If anything good can come out of the recent Civil War delays fiasco is that hopefully a lot of art teams can get ahead on various books and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

The comics buying public has to shoulder some of the blame too for putting up with late comics but I think the tide is definitely turning on that front

Maybe I missed something or I’m wrong, or maybe that’s in the story for a reason and I’ll find out later but it really bothered me when I read it because it made it seem like Palmiotti and Gray hadn’t bothered to read the background (very recent background I might add, not really obscure continuity stuff) about the characters they’re handling.

Is this the last Ultimate’s book?

I don’t know why, but the way it ended (with dedications, no less) made me wonder if they were finished. I mean, they certainly aren’t in the current line of Ultimate Marvel storylines because how can they be with so random of release dates. Still, I know they appear in other books in one form or another so I am curious how they do it in the future.

I would read another 13 part series, though I would be happy if they waited to realease them until the art was completed on all issues.

no, this isn’t the end of an ultimates book. loeb is writing i think two new ultimates series, but book three will have a different artist from book four. and hitch has said he and millar have talked about doing another run

Is this the last Ultimate’s book? I don’t know why, but the way it ended (with dedications, no less) made me wonder if they were finished. I mean, they certainly aren’t in the current line of Ultimate Marvel storylines because how can they be with so random of release dates. Still, I know they appear in other books in one form or another so I am curious how they do it in the future. I would read another 13 part series, though I would be happy if they waited to realease them until the art was completed on all issues.

Nova #2. Can’t agree more. This was a fun book that poked holes in all the right places and kept up on developing a cool character for the MU. I am excited to see where the next issue takes it (per the teaser at end of this issue).