Ultimate Invasion #3 moves a bit slower than normal in order to unveil a rather creative and inventive wrinkle that fans would never expect. However, thats kind of the problem with the story. This week has two pretty wild reveals, however, none in which were even thought of or built up towards. Its almost as if Hickman gave us a surprise we werent even planning for. Its like your wife surprising you with a bowling ball and bowling lesson but you never mentioned you wanted either of the two. Youre surprised and grateful. Heck, you may even enjoy it. But, it wasnt even on the radar. Mixing that together with the pacing, lack of action, and the series concluding next issue, I cant help but feel a bit perplexed after reading Ultimate Invasion #3. The story itself isnt bad. It just doesnt feel altogether there yet with one issue to go. Read Full Review

Great dialogue combined with some interesting (and informative) world-building help keep Ultimate Invasion #3 moving at a brisk pace. It's a comic featuring the likes of Iron Man, the Hulk, and Mr. Fantastic that manages to be incredibly intriguing and engaging without any of the aforementioned doing anything "cool. Which is a direct result of excellent writing and art coming together. And again, the final few panels alone look to shake up the entire series and set the stage for a very wild ride to come. This is highly recommended reading material. Read Full Review

Ultimate Invasion has revealed itself to not be a mystery box, but rather a multi-faceted vision of a radically different timeline in which a strange and unpredictable future may unfold. Besides a few panels with distractingly thick linework, Ultimate Invasion #3 puts the final pieces in place for a sprawling finale ready to set the stage for something utterly fantastic within Earth-1610. Bring on the finale. Read Full Review

Hitch delivers some beautiful art in the issue. The story is very character focused and Hitch does a great job of conveying the complex emotions of the characters in this issue. Read Full Review

Ultimate Invasion #3 is a fascinating look into a moral quandary that seems to be on par with some of the stronger Star Trek episodes; however, Hickmans lack of central focus makes this penultimate issue feel very underwhelming and disappointing. The art team seems to be wasted here, with there being little to no action to highlight their capabilities. Read Full Review

Ultimate Invasion #3 accomplishes everything the second issue tried and failed to do. We get the full idea behind the Earth-6160 continuity that The Maker has created and what is at stake. We even get an ending that sets up the big battle that will conclude this story. All that said, with only one issue left there is concern that it'll be rushed given how much is left to wrap up the story. That includes aspects from the first issue that have not been addressed in these two middle chapters. We'll have to wait and see with the final issue of Ultimate Invasion. Read Full Review

Ultimate Invasion #3 is either setting readers up for a shocking surprise in the next and final issue or a red flag that the hailed return by Hickman to the Ultimates is a bait-and-switch. Hitch does his best to make an issue-long series of exposition conversations look interesting, but I've got a bad feeling about how this mini-series will end. Read Full Review

There's a lot of good here. Unfortunately, it's overwhelmed by a slow pace. It'll remain to be seen if they conclusion sticks the landing at this point. Read Full Review

The story is 75% over, and I finally have a grasp on this incredibly relatable world of elites play-fighting in the background. However, coupled with its price tag and lack of storytelling rhythm, you're better off waiting for Marvel Unlimited with this mini that would be fine as a prologue to a large universe, but not a whole entree. Read Full Review

While not quite at the level of the first two issues, in my opinion, this was still another well-written book for this miniseries. I hate to say it, but I don't really have anything new to add aside from how I felt with Issues 1 & 2. Hitch has some solid art and Hickman's writing continues to be the strongest part of all this.

The concept of carefully constructed conflict to mask peace for the sake of those individuals who can't accept true peace is as Stark put it, truly insidious. It's also brilliant in terms of storytelling and showcasing a possibility of our world. Who knows if that's actually what is happening in our countries around the world? Deception that induces conflict to hide the inner turmoil among states or countries is a long practiced tradition among the powerful or governing bodies. You don't even have to look that hard to find any record of it historically. It's dystopian but it's real. What is presented as crazy and fictitious in the pages of a comic book are very real occurrences while not being on such a grand scale involving superheroes and secret cabals (that we know of).
Hickman continues with his deep narrative that I feel will definitely get lost in the expectations of people who just want a comic book about superheroes and the message will either be completely invisible or lambasted for being "political" or not "fun" enough for comics. Comics have always been a reflection of the real world and it's problems with those caped heroes to save the day with extraordinary conflicts but that doesn't mean our own ordinary conflicts can't be confronted by those with the power to change them in great numbers as the Maker pointed out.
"It's not how it used to be in ages gone by. Back then it wouldn't have mattered--the powerful would just roll right over the powerless if need be. We could build an empire on their bones if we wanted... But now they are a COLLECTIVE--instantaneously aware of just how many of them there are--and how much they uniformly hate people like us." more

Conceptually good, but how much cooler if this was 6 or 8 issues and we spent a few issues with this Tony creating a centers team to take down the Maker?

It’s a shame that Ultimate Invasion is being overshadowed by the events unfolding in Fall of X and the new push for G.O.D.S., Jonathan Hickman’s next project, as the series is offering compelling questions that don’t have obvious answers. That’s exactly the case with this week’s ULTIMATE INVASION #3, which pulls the curtain back on The Maker’s carefully curated universe and we see the power structure controlling this new world order.

To achieve a sense of world peace, we discover the individual regions have agreed to rotate which group is seen as evil in order to concentrate the world’s ire. With this set up, they are able to control their populations from realizing their own governments are evil and corrupt. That reveal offers an interesting moral & ethical question on how far should those with power should go to ensure a peaceful existence for their societies. However, in true Hickman fashion, an additional layer of subterfuge is apparent because the reader knows these new world leaders are really only doing The Maker’s bidding. Whatever power they think they wield is only really allowed by The Maker’s choosing. If he were to change his mind tomorrow, he could (and would) create an entirely different political structure.

These dynamics unfold throughout the issue as Howard Stark, embodying the reader throughout the process, is brought into the inner circle of world leaders. He’s apprehensive as he learns more and we get some clues through a conversation between him and Tony, but Hickman doesn’t offer a clear indication as to what Howard plans to do with his new knowledge. As Tony pleads with him to bring down The Maker, Howard reminds him not to mistake “right and wrong for good and evil.” I actually prefer this approach as Howard’s perspective on the current situation is so fascinating and mimics the duality presented here.

The issue’s epilogue revealing Kang as the mastermind behind the previous issue’s battle and The Maker’s main adversary was spoiled by an incorrect solicitation — the tease for this issue was actually meant for the next issue — so it didn’t carry the weight it was likely intended to. It’s a bit weird to see Kang playing this role here as he’s also playing a major role guiding the action in Jed MacKay’s Avengers run. We don’t know which version of Kang this is so there is time to explain that discrepancy.

In contrast to the action scenes in the last issue, Bryan Hitch’s designs allow this issue to play out like an episode of a top-notch political thriller. Even though this issue is heavy on dialogue, Hitch and the rest of the art team, including inker Andrew Currie and colorist Alex Sinclair, keep you at the edge of your seat with their approaches. A variety of angles are included to reflect things being shaken up for Howard and make readers feel like they don’t have a solid grasp on what’s going on. Characters’ facial expressions are equal parts evocative and sinister. They also continue to utilize a yellow hue that acts as a metaphor for a shiny bright light trying to distract from what’s really happening. Joe Caramagna’s lettering work is put to the test on this dialogue-heavy issue and he handles it masterfully.

For being the third part of a four-part series, ULTIMATE INVASION #3 feels like we’re only starting to understand the premise of Jonathan Hickman’s plans for an Ultimate Universe reset. With only the finale to go, this issue left me with the feeling that we’ll get one of two endings: we’re either heading for an extremely rushed conclusion that’s a let down or we won’t be getting much of a conclusion at all and these four issues will have served more as a launching point for other stories rather than being a self-contained one in and of itself. I’m hoping for the later, but with so much else going on at Marvel, I’m worried it’ll be the former.

Rating: 8/10 more

Although it was very interesting, it didn't manage to provide any movement of plot.

I love the nefarious political and military industrial complex commentary smartly being played out in the story but the issue itself feels so dry and emotionless that it felt like a chore to read. The stiff art and color pallet used also lend to a lifeless read. With that said there's still interesting themes being explored that I can stick with this for the final issue.

Art is great but Bryan Hitch is wasted, mostly just people standing around. I assume this is suppose to be building stuff up for something, but it really isnt interesting. Wait for the trades maybe? Not sure how this will play out, but right now I am leaning towards a 'wait for the trades or skip' type thing.

Unless you love data pages, then go wild. It has got those.

https://youtu.be/2NuG1jbxfTA?si=S9Xomp8X5TNiUWzO

Review at (3:32) in video

Jonathan Hickman is a strange writer to me. He is objectively a great writer, but he's one of those writers that is a hit or miss for me. And unfortunately, this issue is a miss.

Now, there's a chance this issue will get better. But my problem is that this series feels like world-building, but it should have been a 12 issue mini-series instead of a 4 issue mini series. The pacing seems to be bloated and extended a lot, where people are talking. Again, I dont mind people talking, but the dialogue has to be engaging and at least interesting to hold my attention. Unfortunately, this issue doesnt.

Also, Bryan hitch's art has never worked for me. I'm sorry. I believe Hickman can still save this series. But I think this issue really brought it down for me. more