Ultimate New Ultimates #5

Hell hath no fury like a grieving thunder god, and the Ultimates just may be forced to take down their teammate for the good of Earth.
 

The Good

Frank Cho's art is just top-notch, tying the flash of big action with tried-and-true storytelling. And it goes without saying that he can draw sexy and strong (yet realistic) women like no other! Story wise, I could glom to the new thematic tension of the Ultimates struggling to define their direction in the wake of the Ultimatum catastrophe.

The Bad

I can't help feeling like the purpose of the Ultimates and the Ultimate line in general has been diluted by the introduction, and continued presence, of these deeper parts of Norse mythology. Honestly, I really preferred the mystique Ult. Thor had when you weren't sure if he was really some lunatic, but now the only key differences between him and the 616 Thor are really just his outfits and his choice of girlfriends.

The Verdict - 3.5/5

This is a polished book, without a doubt, that hits all the high notes of action and surprises you'd hope for. However, I still feel like it's missing the wonderfully-nasty attitude that made the Ultimates such an appealing alternative to the Avengers at its inception. Again, I wonder if the title might be getting a little off course with the inclusion of characters like Ka-Zar and Shanna.