The Ultimates Vol. 2: Homeland Security (2004)

I love everything Marvel. The storylines are incredible! They have everything you could want: action, adventure, comedy, romance, political intrigue, allegories, metaphors, etc. Some stories drag, some end too soon. ( )

I really enjoyed this book the first time I read it, and now that I've re-read it (with more knowledge of the 616-verse Avengers), I enjoyed the book even more.

I've heard Millar's Ultimates criticized as being too similar to his other works, such as The Authority. I can't say anything about that; this was the third book I've read by Millar (Wanted and the first volume of the Ultimates being the first two), and I really enjoyed what he did here with the characters.

I've also heard complaints about the characterization, but I don't agree with those. Yes, Captain America can come off as something of a jerk here, but think about it. This guy was the perfect alpha male in the 1940s, a soldier through and through, who has literally dropped into the 21st century. Of course he's going to say things and do things that aren't what we'd consider politically correct nowadays; he has no working reference for this time, and even as he gains one, it's still an abrupt change that he must adapt too very quickly.

Altogether, I think this is a very fresh adaptation of the Avengers. And Bryan Hitch's art is perfectly matched with the story. ( )

The first chapter was pretty good, but most of the book is pretty much all noise and no substance. There are far too many unlikeable characters and too much cynicism and emptiness, though there are also some cool moments, and the art is stunningly detailed. Overall, however, it's a book that thinks it's much cooler than it really is. ( )

This is still pretty decent, but I'd still rather re-read The Authority. This of course is done from a different slant. The superhuman carnage here is orchestrated by a right wing military, and Captain America is all gung-ho about it to the point of parody. Thor, however, is a hippie greenie, and is not.

http://graphicsf.blogspot.com/2006/11/ultimates-2-homeland-security.html ( )

The first few issues did the impossible—got me all choked up about Captain America. The rest of the book did the easy—made me go back to not giving a damn.