Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Featured

    REVIEW: Age of Ultron #1 (of 10)

    Dave CondeBy Dave CondeMarch 9, 2013Updated:January 1, 20143 Comments6 Mins Read

    I haven’t bought a chromium cover in a long, long time, but for you, Major Spoilers readers, I will make that sacrifice. Ultron is back and this time he’s got an army of robots to destroy humanity. Just like last time. What he may lack in personality, he makes up for in sheer bloody-mindedness. Even though we may have seen his threats before, what happens when Ultron succeeds? Will it bring on a new age? Find out after the jump.

    Age_of_Ultron_Vol_1_1AGE OF ULTRON #1
    Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
    Penciler: Bryan Hitch
    Inker: Paul Neary
    Colorist: Paul Mounts
    Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
    Editor: Tom Brevoort with Lauren Sankovitch
    Publisher: Marvel Comics
    Cover Price: $3.99

    Previously in Age of Ultron:  Hank Pym, having never read Frankenstein, built a super-robot, named Ultron, based on his own brainwaves because he wanted it to be like a real boy. And of course that never goes wrong except EVERY SINGLE TIME. Because humans are by nature evil. At least the parts that get replicated to robots. Ultron was last seen escaping from the Avengers, which Iron Man predicted would lead to “the human apocalypse” and that “there’s nothing we can do to stop it.” Gee, Tony, just because you were right doesn’t mean that you aren’t a real downer.

    WHEN THE MOON IS IN THE SEVENTH HOUSE

    The story of this issue is built around Hawkeye rescuing Spider-Man from some bad guys. That’s not really a spoiler because the point of this issue isn’t the plot. The point is to establish the setting and the mood for this whole event. The setting (and mood for that matter) can be summed up as “Holy @$#@! What the hell happened?” Like the Greek classics, the story starts en media res, which I appreciate because I don’t think I could take any “Countdown to Age of Ultron” nonsense. Better that we start with everything having gone to hell and focusing on what the heroes are going to do about it. One of the good things about continuity is that we don’t always have to build every single thing from first principles. Let’s get some action going.

    Now, when you think action and multiple pages with little to no dialogue, Bendis isn’t the first name to spring to mind. However, Bendis is, dare I say, restrained in this issue and it works excellently. Since we’re trying to establish the ominous setting rather than develop character relationships, this issue is able to give a lot of time to the landscape, whether it’s a two-page spread of buildings crumbled under a giant spaceship or Hawkeye sneaking through post-apocalyptic Manhattan. There’s still some of Bendis’ trademark banter, but more like a dusting for flavor. Just enough to drop a little exposition and to give you the sense of how much everyone has been through.

    And they’ve obviously been through a lot. The heroes are in hiding from their new, robotic overlords. Everyone is understandably grouchy but are dealing with the trauma in their own ways. It’s interesting and not only fleshes out the characters but through implication builds the suspense of finding out what happened to the world. One character rang untrue to me though. Bendis has had years of experience putting words in Spider-Man’s mouth, but did he miss the memo on Spidey no longer being Peter Parker? I mean, it was kind of a big deal. I think it was in USA Today, even. This Spider-Man sounds nothing like the “superior” personality of Octo-Parker that we have been enjoying lately. I hope this is just a mistake, and not some weird subplot where we will find out that the Parker personality was restored just for this crossover, because that would make it even more awkward when everything goes back to normal.

    And I’m pretty sure that everything will go back to normal when this is over. They can’t wipe out New York and just clap their hands, say “Damage Control” three times and everything’s back. Not so soon after the last time they did that. I don’t know about you, but I’m mostly OK with that. As long as this story is entertaining, I’ll accept that it doesn’t have to “change everything.”

    THIS IS THE DAWNING

    Great art here from Hitch, whom I always enjoy. The style is realistic but not photo-realistic. For me it’s a sweet-spot that fits mainstream super hero storytelling without distracting from the story. The “Battle damaged” versions of the characters are clearly changed (as befits their experiences) but still capture the essences of the same recognizable characters. When the Ultron’s attack, there is a shaky, out-of-focus visual effect that was both good and bad. It is good in that it looks like the thing it was trying to depict and makes you almost feel the vibrations, but the effect is so unusual that it calls attention to itself, drawing me momentarily out of the story.

    Another place where Hitch could be overreaching is in panel variety. Ninety-some percent of the time he does a great job of mixing up the panels to control the story pace and direct the reader’s attention to the important story elements. However, there are a few times where I had to stare for a few seconds to figure out if I should follow the story from left to right across two pages, then down, or to read one page then the next. It’s a minor quibble and I suppose once the great migration to digital is complete the problem will go away entirely.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: LET THE SUN SHINE IN.

    I give Age of Ultron #1 four stars—It feels a little short, but what’s here is well done. I’ve only been given a glimpse into the story but I definitely want to see more. Especially after that last-page reveal. It could go overly melodramatic, but for now it’s full of potential and I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.

    Rating: ★★★★☆

    DID YOU READ THIS ISSUE? RATE IT!
    Reader Rating

    [ratings]

    Age of Ultron Avengers Brian Michael Bendis Bryan Hitch Marvel Review
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleMajor Spoilers Question Of The Day: He’s The Ace, He’s Amazing Edition
    Next Article REVIEW: Shadowman #5
    Dave Conde

    Dave Conde went to Grad school for Accounting and was voted “Most Likely to Quit Accounting and Become a Professional Skateboarder”. This is not demonstrably false. He reads a bit of everything but values the writing above the art. The only books he’ll buy regardless of the story are by Frank Cho, because…well damn. (Once he masters drawing more than one female face, Frank’s going to be unstoppable.) He’s Dave. Solamente Dave. And he can’t be locked up in a cage like some kind of Manimal. He’s outta heeeeeeere.

    Related Posts

    Pepe Larraz covers Amazing Spider-Man #26

    Read More

    Something is Killing the Children #30 Review

    Read More

    More action figures enter the Spider-Verse

    Read More

    3 Comments

    1. B.V.K. on March 9, 2013 2:49 pm

      Maybe I am wrong, but I thought this was happening in an alternate version of the Marvel U, like Age of Apocalypse. That would explain the Spider Man thing.

      Reply
    2. Stuart Conover on March 9, 2013 4:42 pm

      Superior Spider-Man hasn’t gotten to Age of Ultron yet.. plenty of time for Ghost Peter to regain control of his body before this kicks off for him!

      …Seriously though that wasn’t really a big damaging point for me but I also noticed the same thing when reading the issue.

      Reply
    3. ryanchan on March 10, 2013 5:55 am

      how do you that wasnt otto parker if it was it could exsplain why no one but hawkeye was ever willing to recuse him and how everyone said if you leave to get him dont come back, hawkeye might not have been rescueing peter parker he might have been rescueing the made scientist instead thats what i first thought since i was annoyed that every single one of them were willing to leave him for dead

      Reply

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    8.0
    March 30, 2023

    Something is Killing the Children #30 Review

    7.3
    March 30, 2023

    The Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1 Review

    7.0
    March 29, 2023

    Dungeons & Dragons: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 Review

    6.0
    March 29, 2023

    Rocketman and Rocketgirl #1 Review

    6.7
    March 27, 2023

    Milestone 30th Anniversary Special #1 Review

    Patreon Support
    Major Spoilers Store
    Recent Comments
    • Stephen Schleicher on The Legendary Lynx gets comic book series
    • Karl G Siewert on The Legendary Lynx gets comic book series
    • Liz on Something is Killing the Children #30 Review
    • J Michael T on Ten Abandoned Aliases
    • Doni on Titan Comics announces Gun Honey spin-off series
    Subscribe to the Major Spoilers E-Mail List
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    ComiXology Home Page">
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2022 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.