trike's review
1.0
I don't like Ultron. He was okay when he first appeared back in the 1970s, but he's a one-trick pony and a one-note bad guy. He hates all of mankind because reasons and therefore wants to end us. And writers have been playing this same song for 40 years now.
The only thing they can do is up the stakes. It's fine when new technology comes out, giving Ultron new abilities. The Internet and infecting same is a good way to reboot the tale. Taking over Iron Man's armor and using it against him, also good. But randomly able to infect humans, robots, and alien immortals and turn them into Ultron-clones? That's stupid. And then releasing nano-spores so that the entirety of the Earth is an Ultron, AFTER he's completely taken over the moon Titan and somehow reshaped it into a giant Ultron face? Come on, Rick.
Plus, when Ultron takes over someone and you kill them - like when Spider-man is beheaded - is that person dead? Guess not. But who cares about explanations, because comic books. I get it, it's fantasy, but how freaking lazy do you have to be to not even attempt some handwavium?
This feels like a Cliffs Notes version of a larger story, too. Back in the day, people like Chris Claremont, Mike Esposito or Jim Shooter could set up a situation, explore the ramifications, give us a cool new bad guy, and wrap it all up in an issue or two. Check out some of those old Marvel Team-Ups and Avengers to see how he did it. How is it they take 30 pages more to tell a story yet somehow seem to have less content? THAT was the real trick here.
The only thing they can do is up the stakes. It's fine when new technology comes out, giving Ultron new abilities. The Internet and infecting same is a good way to reboot the tale. Taking over Iron Man's armor and using it against him, also good. But randomly able to infect humans, robots, and alien immortals and turn them into Ultron-clones? That's stupid. And then releasing nano-spores so that the entirety of the Earth is an Ultron, AFTER he's completely taken over the moon Titan and somehow reshaped it into a giant Ultron face? Come on, Rick.
Plus, when Ultron takes over someone and you kill them - like when Spider-man is beheaded - is that person dead? Guess not. But who cares about explanations, because comic books. I get it, it's fantasy, but how freaking lazy do you have to be to not even attempt some handwavium?
This feels like a Cliffs Notes version of a larger story, too. Back in the day, people like Chris Claremont, Mike Esposito or Jim Shooter could set up a situation, explore the ramifications, give us a cool new bad guy, and wrap it all up in an issue or two. Check out some of those old Marvel Team-Ups and Avengers to see how he did it. How is it they take 30 pages more to tell a story yet somehow seem to have less content? THAT was the real trick here.
mspris's review
5.0
I spent this weekend catching up on a lot of Avengers, X-Men and X-Force graphic novels. Of those I read, I think this one was the best (and it is only one I'm giving feedback on). I very much enjoyed this story, the tragedy of Hank Pym as it were, and the depth of humanity in Vision are what really made the whole thing for me. The artwork is consistently good through-out, I didn't get distracted by nagging thoughts over suddenly one character looked different than usual, or trying to figure out who someone was and overall the tale had a strong intensity that kept me reading.
gswizzel's review
4.0
Actual Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars.
So I've just been blown away.
It's so funny because there are so many negative reviews about this comic yet really did love it! It kept me from start to finish. I originally thought that this was what The Avengers: Age of Ultron movie was adapted from. It was somewhat based off of it (but more just inspired by it really), but it was something I really did not expect.
I'm going to hit you with the PROs and CONs now
PROs:
- Really love that this follows the new avengers! We do get a little bit of a back story with the previous ones at the beginning to set the story up. The cast was great!
- This story really does reflect Hank Pym's mental health issues, which makes him a somewhat redeemable anti-hero
- Sam Wilson - Ultron is just as or maybe even more powerful than I expected him to be, yet he is such a snobby little child
- The art style and colour scheme was PERFECTION!
CONs:
- The ending was depressing, although it was the right thing to do
- I kind of wished this was a bit longer, as this was a standalone.
I did really enjoy this comic! I just freaking love the Marvel universe in general and I'm excited to read more from it XD
So I've just been blown away.
It's so funny because there are so many negative reviews about this comic yet really did love it! It kept me from start to finish. I originally thought that this was what The Avengers: Age of Ultron movie was adapted from. It was somewhat based off of it (but more just inspired by it really), but it was something I really did not expect.
I'm going to hit you with the PROs and CONs now
PROs:
- Really love that this follows the new avengers! We do get a little bit of a back story with the previous ones at the beginning to set the story up. The cast was great!
- This story really does reflect Hank Pym's mental health issues, which makes him a somewhat redeemable anti-hero
- Sam Wilson - Ultron is just as or maybe even more powerful than I expected him to be, yet he is such a snobby little child
- The art style and colour scheme was PERFECTION!
CONs:
- The ending was depressing, although it was the right thing to do
- I kind of wished this was a bit longer, as this was a standalone.
I did really enjoy this comic! I just freaking love the Marvel universe in general and I'm excited to read more from it XD
twilliamson's review
3.0
Remender isn't a bad writer, but some of the supervillainy of this original graphic novel reads like bad fan fiction, with enormous grandstanding and preposterous villain-logic. It's largely overblown, and while it does put Hank Pym in the spotlight, I think its grimdark tone is overwrought and the story underdeveloped. It would have made a nice 60-page issue, or even a five-issue arc, but as an OGN, it's a letdown.
therudielibrarian's review
4.0
An interesting take on the pain of being human. The struggle for some to feel accepted and loved. The battle to figure out who you are and what your place in the world is. Well written.
pearlinbloom's review
3.0
Probably would have enjoyed it more if I was familiar with the character of Hank Pym. Guess I just have to keep reading :)
olsenc's review
5.0
First off, I really liked the art for this original graphic novel from Marvel. I also enjoyed getting to see such a large ensemble of Avengers characters, both old and new. The story was well-done as well, and I liked the focus on 'family' in terms of the relationship between the Avengers and between Ultron and Hank Pym.