The Maker has forever scarred the world of Earth-6160, but that’s nothing compared to what he did to Doom. Your Major Spoilers review of The Ultimates #4 from Marvel Comics awaits!
THE ULTIMATES #4
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Phil Noto
Colorist: Phil Noto
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Editor: Wil Moss
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: September 4, 2024
Previously in Ultimates: Doom’s years of torture at the hands of the Maker finally catch up to him in this secret history of the real Reed Richards! And tensions rise among the Ultimates when Doom might be more fixated on re-creating the life he should have had than the life he’s got…
INTO THE NEGATIVE ZONE
After the destruction of the original Ultimate Marvel reality, Earth-1610, that world’s Reed Richards traveled to the prime reality, then targeted the world of Earth-6160. There, as The Maker, Richards undid the events that led to the age of heroes, including capturing his alternate self. That Reed, now wearing the mask and name of Doom, joined with Tony Stark and others to rebel against The Maker and try to repair the damage done. Having successfully restored Captain America, Thor, America Chavez, Giant-Man, The Wasp, and She-Hulk, the growing ranks of The Ultimates have embarked on another mission without Doom. When Iron Lad arrives to dress him down, he finds that his colleague has been dealing with emotional issues caused by the trauma of The Maker’s actions. At the same time, Doom has continued to work on “Project 4,” attempting to replicate the cosmic-ray-induced superpowers that he and his family should have had.
“SOMETHING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU COULD BE”
Perhaps the most impressive part of this issue is the use of the term “Negative Zone” not to represent an alternate dimension full of monsters and mayhem, but for the depressive state experienced by Doom when his trauma overtakes him. It’s at once horrifying and incredibly clever, especially when the blanks start to fill in. The deaths of Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, and Susan Storm have all been hinted at, but each of their demises is… Let’s just say “thematic.” The Maker’s torturing of Reed is mostly left off-panel, but what we do see turns the stomach. The story starts with the question, “What is the fourth dimension?” and proceeds to show us a four-tiered narrative that balances the fateful space-flight, The Maker’s actions, Reed’s immediate past, and the present, with each story expertly moving back and forth. Phil Noto’s work is perfectly suited to this unusual structure, thanks to his ability to make it clear who is on-panel, even if they are years younger, altered by time and circumstance, or horribly scarred by their own alternate self.
BOTTOM LINE: THEY MIGHT HAVE HOOKED ME
During a recent Major Spoilers Podcast, I mentioned that I was hesitant to take on another alternate world, save it overwrite my memories of learning algebra. EIC Stephen convinced me to give the world a try, and Ultimates #4 proves his optimism justified, delivering a very attractive issue of comics that not only makes this Reed-become-Doom separate from other instances, it takes the journey in an inventive and complex way, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. I’m definitely going to follow this title, and I’m also going to be watching for other works by Deniz Camp, as this shows him to be a writer to watch.
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ULTIMATES #4
Seeing the whole truth of what was done to turn this innocent man into Doom is harrowing stuff, made even worse by revealing the fates of the rest of the FF. It's a chilling issue full of literal torture, done very skillfully.
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Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.