Avengers: Rage Of Ultron
No, that's not a typo…
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Publisher: Marvel Comics Writer: Rick Remender Artist: Jerome Opeña
As Kurt Busiek notes in his intro, Ultron has always been in the top two of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ most memorable archenemies. With his familial connections through his father and creator, Hank Pym, and so- called son, the Vision, there’s always been something personal about the metallic megalomaniac’s rivalry with the Avengers.
Those – ahem – blood ties are at the heart of this graphic novel, with the Wasp also playing a crucial role. Beginning in the past before moving to the present, Rick Remender’s script isn’t as convoluted as much of his regular Marvel output. And with Sam Wilson replacing Steve Rogers as Cap and the mysterious female Thor taking the place of her male counterpart, Remender strikes an intriguing contrast between the classic “Avengers Then” and the more diverse “Avengers Now”.
After forging a device that “turns off ” all AIs, Pym’s morality is questioned, leading to a debate about what exactly constitutes life. Resembling a more kinetic Jae Lee, Jerome Opeña’s art – assisted by Pepe Larraz and Mark Morales – just about justifies the price, with the superior paper stock enhancing the lavish detail and vibrant colours. With a devastating ending that has significant implications going forward, Rage Of Ultron is recommended reading for all True Believers. Stephen Jewell