Shadow and Flame with Magik

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Art Joe Quinones

Colorists Rainier Beredo with Joe Quinones

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

I wish I had gotten the other cover but there was none of the variant available.  It is cool as it is in the same vein of the Marvel 25th Anniversary Frame Cover.

Also, Storm doesn’t appear in the issue at all and Falcon is shown from behind once.

Glad Bendis remembered that Captain America in the Ultimate was the President, thus deserves and requires a presidential funeral.

Though I still don’t believe Cap is dead as there is no body and last we saw, he was escaping from the plane.  To Bendis’ credit, he never has Quinones show Cap watching the proceedings.

This issue takes place during Tony’s speech at Cap’s superhero funeral and it takes place with various heroes three days ago.

In front of Tony’s podium, someone put flowers around Cap’s shield, making it into a bit of a wreath.

People attend in their superhero costumes, so others can recognize them.  I wish they were wearing trenchcoats over their costumes, at least appear to make it a somber occasion.  Spider-Woman has a jacket on, and Thing is wearing a trenchcoat.

I looked up that Avengers Confidential Black Widow & Punisher animated film.  It is an original Amine styled cartoon, so I will be passing hard on this.  Any other Avengers that appear are barely cameos.  It is violent and funny – so there is that.

Days ago, Foggy Nelson finds SHIELD Director Chang at what is left of New Jersey.  He informs her that she will be the public scapegoat  and that SHIELD will most likely be disbanded after this.  SHIELD’s whole function is to be prepared for this type of event, and they failed hard.  Nice to see Foggy existing without Murdock, as he died during Ultimatum.

I have no connection to Chang or Ultimate SHIELD, so this isn’t a lost for me.  It also makes sense to disband SHIELD.

During Tony’s speech, he wishes Steve could walk through that door right now and he points to a door.  I like the panel from his perspective, and we see Chang, Jean, Rogue and Iceman all turn to look.  It feels like a real moment, as that is what people would naturally do.

I do like Tony’s theory that Cap is King Arthur, he should exist in every generation.  Maybe he will show up again in 3020 – imagine if comics are still around in some form at that point?

Three days ago.  Baxter Building.  Reed is going through the debris.  He looks older here, like in his thirties.  Sue is not happy he is there.  She is wearing the same style black jacket Spider-Woman is wearing.  Must be a SHIELD thing.  Or a reminder of the 90s Avengers, where everyone wore a brown bomber jacket with a red A on the sleeve.

I like how Sue and Reed are wearing essentially the same uniform. Her pants are white, and his are black – classic good and bad guy colors.

Sue hopes he wasn’t having a flashback and he totally was.

Reed tells Sue about seeing their daughter from his moment over in the Proper Marvel Universe.  He downloaded several files while over there.

Sue tells him they are not getting back together.  Never ever.  He responds with a, clearly.

Reed wonders what would have been if the Baxter Building Think Tank fulfilled its purpose, setting up the Ultimate FF title.  That would stand for, Future Foundation.  That is what this issue is suppose to do.  Give Cataclysm closure and set up the next wave of Ultimate titles.

Tony’s speech.  He comments on how the Ultimates are no more.  Captain America is dead.  Thor is stuck in the Negative Zone with Galactus.  Tony is not in the right frame of mine.  He sees the younger heroes at the ceremony, and wants them to step up.

This transitions into what should be my favorite part of the issue but it starts off wrong and continues to mess up from there.  We finally see Theresa Pryde after so many years.  Bendis has her be named, Devora Pryde.  Could her name be Devora Theresa Pryde?  I guess it is now, but it is an extremely easy detail to have looked up.

Poor Theresa, is Devora even a real name?  I bet it is one of Bendis’ aunts or grandmothers names.  She has appeared in four comics.  Ultimate X-Men 27 and 72; Ultimate Comics Spider-Man 5 and 10.  10 came out four years ago.  Those two Spider-Man comics were written by Bendis.

Kitty went to her mother’s house, to sleep.  Which is odd as she has her mutant nation, Utopia in New Mexico, she could go back too.  Her mother must still live in Queens, so it was closer.

We learn the men at the door want Kitty so she can take a phone call.  Poor Kitty wakes up, gets on the phone.  It is the President of the United States.  She gives him a s’up as the 90s are back.  Also the Kitty from Ultimate Comics X-Men is clearly gone and forgotten.

The President wants to give her the Medal of Freedom, to show his gratitude to her.  He also wants to enlist her help.  He wants to finally end mutant prejudice.  Kitty saved the world, practically by herself, so the world should start recognizing mutants as the good guys.

Tony’s speech.  He mentions how after every disaster, crime goes way up.  Which makes sense, I gues, but I haven’t thought about it before.

Days ago, Spider-Man helps with the clean up.  One construction worker doesn’t want to touch any of the Galactus world devouring equipment.  He clearly isn’t a member of Damage Control.

Spider-Woman shows up, without her mask on.  She sort of does look like a girl version of Peter Parker, which makes sense.  She tells Miles that she is thinking of changing her hero name.  She also wants to swing an idea pass him.

The final page ends with the funeral.  Spider-Woman interrupts Tony’s speech.  He makes an awesome joke about, who interrupts an eulogy?

Spider-Woman tells him that he shouldn’t worry about the future.  The young heroes are going to form The New Ultimates or Young Ultimates.  That sets up the title, All New Ultimates with Kitty, Bombshell (I believe that is her name), Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Cloak and Dagger.

The third title of the relaunch line is of course, Ultimate Spider-Man.

I am only buying All New Ultimates.  I am looking forward to finally reading Miles Spider-Man on a regular basis.

Before those titles come out, we first get Ultimate Spider-Man 200, remembering Peter Parker one year after his death.  I am hoping to secure a copy as I already know Kitty is in it.

. . .

Be here tomorrow for the kick off of Captain America Month here at S&FwM!