Ultimate Invasion #1
- Writer:
- Jonathan Hickman
- Artist:
- Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie
- Letterer:
- VC's Joe Caramagna
- Cover Artist:
- Bryan Hitch
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Price:
- $8.99
- Release Date:
- 2023-06-21
- Colorist:
- Alex Sinclair
Marvel presents Ultimate Invasion #1, a bumper-sized special kicking off an all-new multiversal event that's slated to transform the Marvel universe as we know it. Written by Jonathan Hickman, the architect of the current X-Men canon as well as co-creator of Secret Warriors, with art by Bryan Hitch, one of the original creators behind the original Ultimates series, and artist Andrew Currie, colors by Alex Sinclair, and letters by VC's Joe Caramagna. Ultimate Invasion #1 is double-length and contains some of Hickman's signature data pages and a bonus helping of behind-the-scenes art.
Ultimate Invasion #1 opens with an assault on the Blaakguard Building, springing one of the most dangerous men of the Marvel multiverse from a secret prison: The Maker, Reed Richards from the Ultimate universe. Realizing what might be afoot, 616-Richards reforms The Illuminati, and the group tracks The Maker's progress accruing powerful artifacts. The Maker makes another extra stop: visiting Miles Morales, the only other survivor of the now-extinct Ultimate universe, before allowing himself to be confronted by the Illuminati in a showdown that feels anything but final.
Ultimate Invasion #1 is a masterclass in laying the foundations of a narrative with a wide scope. Hickman uses every tool in his arsenal to establish the tone, themes and cast with flair and efficiency. The plot and pacing are terrific, moving through action, clever reveals, world-building, intimate dialogue, and dramatic confrontation with a fluidity and organic momentum that allows each beat to feel fully realized and fleshed out while still being a jam-packed issue. This is also attributable to Hickman's talent for managing information, dropping numerous revelations with his tight grasp of dramatic tension -- the narrative twisting and turning in unexpected ways that keep the comic feeling dark and oblique. The dialogue is excellent throughout. The Maker is a larger-than-life villain who, in the hands of a lesser writer, could feel contrived or cringey, but Hickman makes him stand out as a chilling character with a strong sense of purpose that adds to his menace.
The art of Ultimate Invasion #1 is stylistically Marvel to the bone: bold lines powerfully bound to realism. With Hitch on pencils and Currie inking, no effort has been spared in carving out small details in every single panel, giving the world of the comic an inescapable sense of visual depth and complexity. The backgrounds are intricate. The cityscapes capture a sense of scale that lends weight to the narrative. There are also some exceptionally cool body-horror moments, made visceral by the level of detail. The action sequences are excellent, the opening fight setting the harsh tone with the sheer force and impact of the violence reverberating through each panel into the next, creating a dynamic sense of momentum that is echoed by the final fight of the comic.
Sinclair's colors perfectly marry the illustration and writing of Ultimate Invasion #1, often doing the heavy lifting in establishing tone and atmosphere. Some stand-out moments include the saturated primary colors of the opening siege, the psychedelic nebula and cold white interior of The Maker's cell, the gloom of Miles Morales' room, and the rich pallet of the final showdown. Caramagna's letters do good work in Ultimate Invasion #1. The deliberate difference between the 616 and Ultimate lettering is a wonderful touch that reinforces the otherworldly threat of The Maker. The letters are solid and clear, adding emboldening and italicizing to create emphasis and rhythm without feeling ungainly.
Ultimate Invasion #1 serves up a thrilling first issue with the brilliant flair befitting its stacked creative team. Shining equally in moments of quiet reflection and high-octane combat, this issue rises to its own ambitious potential with a strong grasp of tone and narrative. Ultimate Invasion #1 sets a stunning precedent for the story going forward, complete with a mind-bending epilogue that is sure to have readers locked in and eager to see the fallout.