There was a time when the idea of the Ultimate universe seemed lunacy.  Failed attempts at getting that wacky ‘reinvention/back-to-basics’ approach on Spider-Man failed miserably before with ‘Chapter One’ and restarting all these tiles with all new backgrounds and histories and stories, well… who wants to reread a bunch of stories that made their mark the first time?

And then we got the books.  Reading Bendis’s very natural take on an updated Spider-Man and seeing a rather sexy and slick new X-Men stick to almost more ‘rational’ explinations of their origins and basic concepts silenced a lot of naysayers.  The Ultimates and the breakneck storytelling that Mark Millar set the bar for has nerly become standard as to how the Avengers formed in both animated and possibly movie form.  The Ultimate universe has been nothing but a playground of reinvention and  creativity with the idea that the character’s truths were being told no matter how they deviated.  Sure, Peter Parker was a webmaster for the Daily Bugle, but it’s the fact that he’s a kid working in the news business for J. Jonah is what counts.  Sure, it was a ‘genetically engineered’ spider and not a radioactive one, but the lessons learned are just the same.  we bought it enough for the House of Ideas to steal one of there own and had ‘classic’ Peter try out some organic webshooters for a time.  The denizens of Marvel Universe are fantastic character studies as very few heroes (or villains for that matter) actively chase their destiny.  Happenstance occurs, a quirk of genetics, fate Itself intervenes and its up to the person with the great power to accept their great responsiblity or turn towards something else.

It may be a change but it’s one that’s couched in familiarity and a certain amount of sincerity towards the original origins, so to speak.  It was new and fresh but didn’t exactly move from the rock solid ideals we all loved about the Marvel U.  The Ultimates line had just enough of this to keep the Marvel style and keep their individuality, while at the same time uniting them in the Mighty Marvel manner.  Cautiously at first, the Ultimates and the Fantastic Four and the X-Men and Spider-Man all started to interact, share plotlines and team-ups.

You might have noticed I’m using a lot of ‘past tense’ verbs here.  Today, Ultimate Origins #3 comes out and when Bendis said this was going to be huge, he was not joking.  Ahead, we’ll look at a sudden turn in direction for Marvel’s Merry Mutants and what this could mean for Ultimatum and those rock solid ideals.

WARNING:  Really, we’re talking about Ultimate Orgins #3, so go grab your copy and read along.  Spoilers ahead.
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August kind of creeps up on you, doesn’t it? It seems like only yesterday that we were counting down to crises, and being infiltrated by one alien or another.

And now, here we are, with the third issue of Final Crisis — plus a “Director’s Cut” of Issue 1! — and the second issue of the ancillary Secret Invasion series Front Line.

This week also sees the first Creepy Archives from Dark Horse, a trio of “Batman R.I.P” tie-ins, the (limited) return of NYX and Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, a hardcover Bleach Collector’s Edition and, after some delay, the appearances of Special Forces #3 and Okko: The Cycle of Earth.

To see what other titles Chris Mautner and I think are worth mentioning, just keep reading. As always, let us know your choices in the comments below.

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Full disclosure in that Grant Gould is a friend of mine. It may not be important to you that he’s one of the nicest dudes I know and that he constantly cracks me the hell up, but what should be important to you are that he’s talented and the following three words: Vikings vs. Werewolves. How can you not want to read that?

Grant’s career so far is mainly as a sketch card artist for every major trading card set from Revenge of the Sith to Iron Man. His first comic Wolves of Odin is coming in November from Super Real Graphics, but I wanted to know more now, so I asked him some questions and I’m sharing the answers with you. He was also recently announced as one of the artists on Lucasfilm’s Clone Wars webcomic, but I’ll save that conversation for a future column.

Michael May (MM): Tell me about your background with sketch cards. How’d you get into that?

Grant Gould (GG): In 2004, Topps was looking for new artists to tackle their Revenge of the Sith card set and one of my online pals, artist Tom Hodges, was already on the set and gave me the heads-up and put in a good word, etc. I sent Topps some samples, they got me approved through Lucasfilm, and that was that. Since then I’ve worked on several more Star Wars sets, Lord of the Rings sets, DC, Marvel, Heroes, Halo, Indiana Jones, you name it. Sketch cards have been huge for me in terms of helping to get my name out there and get my foot in the door.

MM: What’s your favorite piece that you’ve done so far?

GG: As in, which is my favorite card set so far?

MM: I’m wondering more about which drawing of yours are you most proud of? You’ve done so many sketch cards and commissions and fan prints; is there one particular piece that you still look at and think, “Yeah, that was a really good one.”

GG: Well, I tend to be my own worst critic. I have a habit of really liking a piece, then going to sleep and looking at it the next day and suddenly hating it. But there are a few things I’ve done that I’m pretty pleased with, even if I do see faults in the art that I wish I could change. For example, on the most recent Lord of the Rings: Masterpieces card set, I had the opportunity to illustrate one of the base cards and that was a huge thrill because I’m such a massive fan of Tolkien and the LOTR movies. I think I tend to be most proud of the projects that I enjoyed the most – not so much the projects that I think the drawings look the best, if that makes sense.

MM: Perfect sense. Drawing sketch cards and commissions is pretty secure work for you, right? What’s the attraction to making a comic that makes you want to spend more time on that and less time on the work that pays more regularly? In other words, at this point in your career, why comics?

GG: To be honest, sketch cards and commission work aren’t very secure, or reliable, in terms of making a living off this stuff. I knew that I would have to start branching out into other things if I wanted to keep any sort of fulltime art career going. I think there are three major factors in me getting into comic work:

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Skip Carey is dead and I’m getting married in less than six days. The first bit makes me sad, the second part makes me very happy and busy. On with quotes of the past week.

“If you’re the sort of person who’s going to find Mary Jane sexist, why weren’t you disillusioned with her a long time ago? I mean, even if some other writers have made her more of an independent woman, there is this history of the character being a preposterous brain-dead male fantasy. Surely, were you a feminist, this might give you pause before you pledged her your undying loyalty.”
- Noah Berlatsky on Mary Jane Watson’s value/merits or lack thereof

“Sinatra didn’t become a great singer until his heart was broken, and Mauldin didn’t become a great cartoonist until the invasion of Sicily. There, along with the civilian dead in towns, he was witness to a horrific snafu where hundreds of U.S. paratroopers were killed by friendly fire, not that such an idiotic term existed then. Any gore or death was offstage in his cartoons, but his humor grew grimmer, his mud and zipping bullets more palpable. You can feel the rain and chill in the cartoon that won him the Pulitzer Prize: A news headline ‘Fresh, spirited American troops, flushed with victory, are bringing in thousands of hungry, ragged, Battle-weary prisoners’ is accompanied by his drawing of rain-soaked, exhausted, hangdog German prisoners, indistinguishable but for their uniforms from their sodden, exhausted, hangdog American captors.”
- Jim Washburn on Bill Mauldin

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Between trailers, convention footage and new promotional images, the Watchmen movie has become a big topic for conversation.

Thom Wade is cautiously excited:

Snyder seems to be approaching the film from a much smarter place that some in the comic community are willing to give him. It is interesting to note that the movie went the opposite direction of 300, which was primarily green screen. Here, he had sets built, and it appears much of the computer work is surrounding the one character that requires it(Dr. Manhattan). It suggests to me that Snyder works to remain true to a creator’s vision when bringing something to the screen. 300 is a pretty shallow story and more memorable for Miller and Varley’s artwork than how deep the story is. And he focused on bringing the art to life.

Here, he seems dedicated to bringing the themes of Watchmen to life.

Michael K. Willis gives the trailer credit:

I have not changed my feeling that a Watchmen movie might not be the best idea but after seeing the trailer I have to give them credit for, at first blush anyway, making it look pretty amazing and seemingly very true to the source material (visually at least.)

One might nitpick some little things…Nite Owl is too buff for a character who was presented in the comic as going to seed somewhat and Silk Spectre looks more like “Leather and Rubber Spectre”…but there’s no point in going all fanboy on the thing…well, at least until it actually comes out.

Trevor Dodge believes it’s unfilmable:

The comments thread on this post reminds me of the several times I’ve taught Watchmen in my literature courses over the years, as I’ve made a lot of those same points myself during class discussions about translating Alan Moore’s writing to film. I’ll teach the graphic novel at least one more time before the film comes out next spring, and I’m coming to think of it as probably the last time my students will have a mostly textual relationship with the source material. Once Snyder’s film rolls out, future readers of Watchmen will inevitably suffer from what I’ve come to call The Ed Norton Complex (named, natch, after Mr. Norton’s portrayal of “Jack” in David Fincher’s adapation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel Fight Club, in which the narrator is essentially erased and unnamed), where the film version of a book skews a reader’s first encounter with the source text. For the large part I have absolutely no problem with this skewing, and I even think this skewing is helpful in appreciating how much we really do read in a consumer culture that–strangely enough–is always telling us that we aren’t reading; Fincher smears the line between his film and Palahniuk’s novel to great effect, and Norton’s voice-overs in the film are lovingly appropriated from the source text.

But Zach Snyder is no David Fincher, and as I’ve noted before here on this humble blog, Snyder seems to revere Watchmen as much as he does filming a Miller Lite commercial. Furthermore, I’ve said it plenty of times before in both class and casual conversation: if Terry freakin’ Gilliam says Moore’s Watchmen is freakin’ unfilmable, well sir, the freakin’ story is freakin’ unfilmable.

So what do you think?

With this issue we’re getting into what looks like the next big story arc, involving a group of very familiar (and very appropriate) villains. It’s another good blend of plotting and action.

By the way, if you were missing Troy Brownfield’s sit-down with Kurt Busiek for the last couple of issues, they’ve played catchup right here. As for the identity of the woman Bagley’s sketched, I say she’s Ms. Marvel.

SPOILERS FOLLOW

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As the vendors’ booths go back into storage, and the sights, sounds, and smells of a hundred-thousand conventioneers fade into memory, let’s consider some of DC’s announcements from this year’s Comic-Con. Obviously these aren’t presented in any particular order, nor do they represent all of DC’s Big News over the weekend.

Anyhoodle:

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Well!  Now that Comic Con is over and the cats are roaming free out of their respective bags, what can we really say besides … GO TEAM MARVEL!  Sure, the Distinguished Competition let some things slip and seem to be doing well for themselves, but as a True Believer, I just gotta say how awesome it was to watch the next year or so unfold at panels, hear word of exclusives, catch hints and secrets and yes, see ‘Stan The Man’ Lee cruising down the halls on his way to his next panel.

The con is sort of a surreal experience with so much happening all at once, it’s hard to take in.  I know I missed a bunch of panels and events waiting in one line or another, so here’s just a bunch of things that caught my eye that might have gone under your radar, what with all the Stephen King mobile video episodes, exclusive contracts, Marvel movies and assorted madness.

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RORSHACH’S JOURNAL.
July 22nd, 2008

Dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood.

No one notices. Chesty girl in Elektra costume walks by and lecherous men stop to take photos.

Accumulated filth and sex, whores and politicians, following the droppings of lechers and capitalists. They had a choice, all of them. They could have followed in the footsteps of good men. Decent men who believed in a day’s work for a day’s pay.

Instead, they came to Comic-Con. Now they stand on the brink, staring into bloody hell.

Hurm.

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With all of the hustle, bustle and hype of Comic-Con, we could all use a little break. So it’s probably good that it’s a light week for big releases.

Well, mostly. Del Rey Manga has seven noteworthy releases this Wednesday, from the first volume of Me and the Devil Blues to the second volume of Toto! to the fourth volume of Parasyte. Image uncorks a second installment of the Popgun anthology, and Winsor McCay’s groundbreaking Little Nemo in Slumberland gets two hardcovers.

To see what other titles Chris Mautner and I think are worth mentioning, just keep reading. As always, let us know your choices in the comments below.

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Hey, is it me, or is everybody talking Watchmen these days? I’m fearful the Watchmen popularity wave will end with a new Cartoon Network show, Watchmen Babies. This week I snagged a few Watchmen-related quotes as well as tapping that San Diego gathering that I held in disdain last week.

“I’ve picked it up again to skim a few times, hoping each time that I would appreciate it, get into it, like I hadn’t before. I hated Shakespeare until my sophomore year of college, when a professor-prompted epiphany finally demonstrated to me how awesome King Lear was. I read both The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye in high school but appreciated neither until I read them on my own while in college; I reread Gatsby a year or so ago, and discovered it was even better.

I keep hoping I will experience something similar with Alan Moore.”
- Will Entrekin’s confession of his inability to enjoy Moore’s Watchmen

“I’m wondering if the reclusive British writer will be able to stay soured on the movie industry after Snyder is done borrowing the Owl Ship.”
- Geoff Boucher speculating on whether the expected success of the Watchmen film will change Alan Moore’s view of Hollywood

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Now that The Dark Knight’s been out for a bit over a week, reviews and commentary are appearing all over the place. One particular topic of note among feminist fans is the movie’s treatment of the Rachel Dawes character.

I don’t think I have to warn you that these links and quotes contain massive spoilers.

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With Trinity #8, our heroes can indulge in a bit more introspection before the action starts up again. So far, I like the rhythm this series has established. It’s a good mix of action and theme-building, with neither part dominating for too long. While Trinity has the freedom to move at its own pace, it hasn’t taken undue advantage of that freedom to get stuck on any one subject.

In this regard I wonder how much it resembles the old World’s Greatest Superheroes newspaper strip, which (from what I understand) had a tour-of-DC aspect similar to the “Justice League” animated series. I get the feeling that those works, like Trinity, wanted to capture the feeling that anything could happen at any time, so that you should expect to get your 22 pages/20 minutes/3-4 panels’ worth from any given installment.

Speaking of which, time’s a-wastin’ — let’s get on with this issue!

SPOILERS FOLLOW

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Late July, and thoughts turn to roving bands of the costumed damned.

Yeah, it’s another cheap shot at Comic-Con, but it’s still funny how the show syncs up with the October solicitations. There’s not that much in this set of solicits, since the big news is waiting to be broken out west. Still, we’ll soldier on here.

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It’s upon us!  Comic book fans and pros alike turn their heads to San Diego, patron saint of Sold Out Hotel Rooms and Panicing Travel Planners, for the Thank-Galactus-It’s-Just-Yearly Comic Con extravaganza.  Now, some of you might missing out on the incredible list of secret announcements, apperances and exclusives coming down like a hammer in the next few days (apparently, this year’s musical question from Marvel is ‘Who will rule?’), but never fear!  We have October solicitations which will most certainly come up in conferance rooms packed wall to wall with eager fans, people waiting for the panel after this one and journalists, like Yours Truly.  So do enjoy these selected noticables out of this month’s sneaky look at what the House of Ideas will provide us in October from the comfort of our own desk chairs.

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This summer I ♥ Comics returns to Blog@Newsarama. Each Wednesday comics bloggers and creators will discuss the things they love about the medium.

This week our guest contributor is Johnny Zito, co-creator of the Black Cherry Bombshells at Zuda Comics. He lives in a big house with three of his childhood friends where they jump on beds, bake cupcakes and stay up real late reading comic books.

by Johnny Zito

My definition of an ego character; like most of the facts and opinions contained within this article, is fast and loose.

The ego character appears in team books and crossovers, almost arbitrarily, to remind readers ‘Hey, we still exist’. Take your favorite ‘other guy’, the also ran or b-lister and drop them into the middle of the action. The result can be an amazing character study or a reviled exercise in vanity. Either way, when a creative team dusts off an old character to make them relevant again I get excited.

Ego Characters provide a chance for under used, under developed or unknown characters to get some well deserved exposure. Some of my favorite super heroes are ego characters, probably a few of yours too.

Think of it like this: You’ve just been handed the reins to Justice League of America and you can put whoever you want on the team. Obviously Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman get an automatic pass. You can’t sell books without name recognition. Next, you look to see what other big guns are available; maybe Green Lantern and The Flash. The roster is still looking a little thin not to mention stale so you better keep adding.

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Although most eyes will be on San Diego this week, at least a few bodies will end up at the comic shop.

If one of those bodies is yours, what will you likely find? Three significant anthologies — Comic Book Tattoo, Flight, Vol. 5, and Meathaus S.O.S. – the landmark 500th issue of Uncanny X-Men, and a mammoth Scud hardcover, for starters.

Plus, the just-optioned-by-Showtime Exterminators ends at Vertigo, while at Avatar, Warren Ellis’ Black Summer wraps up.

To see what other titles Chris Mautner and I think are worth mentioning, just keep reading. As always, let us know your choices in the comments below.

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As seemingly the only comics-connected blogger who is already sick of the letters “SDCC” and finding myself twitching whenever I see “San Diego” on my computer screen, I will make the best effort for this collection of quotes to be as San Diego-free as possible. Of course, in a few weeks I’ll probably be quoting post-SDCC-related comments, revealing myself for the hypocritical bastard that I am. In the meantime, enjoy this week’s round of quotes. One last thought to consider: Wertham as Skrull…discuss.

“Although, I have to say that when I found out that the story actually goes waaaaay back to FF#2, it began to worry me because the Skrulls in the early 60s were that wacky band of lovable intergalactic losers who just couldn’t put a workable plan together. (That was the issue where Reed Richards actually hypnotizes three captive Skrulls into thinking that they are cows who spend the next several years eating grass and passing gas until the Kree-Skrull War wakes them up. Not that Reed was much better in those early days. He completely forgot that the FF were originally attacked by four Skrulls - not three! Oops! See the Kree-Skrull War for details.)”
-KC Carlson tapping the depths of his Marvel knowledge while analyzing aspects of Marvel’s big Secret Invasion jamboree.

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Okay, so the big controversy this week seems to have to do with a certain Barbie doll dressed as Black Canary. The reactions so far have been interesting.

Brett Singer is bemused by the choice:

For what it’s worth (excuse me while I geek out again) Black Canary is, despite her appearance, a fairly positive female role model. She’s considered one of the best hand-to-hand fighters, male or female, in the DCU (that’s “DC comics Universe”) and is currently the leader of the Justice League. She takes no crap, kicks major ass, and asks questions later. Barbie once said, “Math class is tough!” (source) So you could make an argument that Black Canary is a better role model than Barbie, and therefore the doll is empowering.

I don’t really see the point of doing this, especially since Barbie’s target audience is young girls. So while I think the Vast Christian Right Wing Conspiracy is a bit over the top, I do think it’s kind of an odd choice for a Barbie doll. What’s next, Big Gay Ken? Oh wait, they did that already.

Glenn Walker thinks the Christian Voice needs to do their research:

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