Just a guess, so I'm open to other theories.

I think you're thinking of Warren Ellis, King of 10-issues-and-out. And 10 is actually some kind of high-water mark.

That said though I'm still weary of things like Damien who is a clone and completely disposable, Mr. Toad and a flying Jetsons style Batmobile. If Morrison can keep himself under control he might have a good story in him but his track record doesn't fill me with high hopes. Still, I'm going to give it a chance.

I have to say to the Professor though, why are you so shocked and giving Morrison credit for something people have thought should have happened for years like he was behind it? I'm sure he is not he first writer who wanted to elevate Dick Grayson, he is just the one who got to do it.

Isn't it indicative of some kind of narcissism, to invite readers to view an 8 year-old's Twitter updates? I'm a proud parent too, but Jesus Christ. From what I gather, pre-schoolers aren't a significant percentage of AICN readers.

But not my favorite comic of the year. I actually enjoyed War of Kings more, I got so involved with the action and actually caring about what happened. And the last page was a shock! Will this stand? It looks like it will. Either way, the dramatic effect was achieved.

I also loved New Mutants, thought it managed to balance the old and the fresh very well. But if Illyana is really going to "go evil" for the umpteenth time, I'll drop this one like a hot potato.

And NA: Reunion. I don't care for the monochrome coloring of this mini, but I liked everything else about it, and again I actually found myself caring about Clint and, especially, Bobbi.

I haven't had time to read Secret Six yet (due to a two-week, 21 comic splurge last week) but I thought the latest Wonder Woman was pretty good. Although the Genocide character is rather lame, the rest of the issue was interesting, had good art, and was solid (but not spectacular, not Rucka level for sure).

My personal favorite comic of last week: In a tight race of several good issues, going to go with War of Kings. Action and drama, all working together for the excitement of the reader.

But he has to be able to take his lumps like any other reviewer, it's not fair to ban someone (even a tool like JoeNathan) for insulting him unless they get really inappropriate. And I sort of think it's weird for his dad to defend him, but whatever...

Following an eight year old on Twitter is highly hilarious to me.

Please don't ban me.

And I think their are laws against what you are suggesting chetedawg.

No one is going to like every review or reviewer.

The Kid gets a shot at the books none of us have time to review or don't want to review.

Now, can we talk comics again please.

My question is what about the rest of the Ult. Universe/World. Will they acknowledge that half of the world is dead like Wildstorm? And could this actually make it a more interesting universe in the long run since it will now be SOOOO different from the real Marvel U?

The Ultimate Universe should have been what the Supreme Powers universe was in the beginning (before JSM started missing deadlines) and what direction I thought it was going to go in: a warped version of the Marvel characters, and how the world might function if super-powers really existed. In other words, a clusterfuck.

First, the entire idea is based on the fallacy that the main Marvel Universe was being strangled by its continuity and the general audience would be lost. That's simply bullshit. As if daytime soap operas don't always get an influx of new viewers. If you tell good stories, people will always be willing to learn as they go. I'm nothing special, and i'm not 60 years old, yet i was able to start reading comics without having to start from issue #1. Imagine that.

Then there's the "modernization" factor. Did these concepts really need to be given new sleek, hip spins? The genre at its core is silly, nothings gonna change that. It's cynical because Marvel, in trying to initially sell the Ultimate line, trashed their own main universe by presenting it as impenetrable and archaic. And what did we get? A canabilistic Hulk, a Captain America that was a Bush wet dream, the constant pop culture name dropping, etc., etc. Slap big name writers and artists on it and call it a day.

And now here we are. The main Marvel Universe has been revitalized in recent years by their event stories and the constant shaking up of the status quo. Love it or hate it, it's selling big time. It was always about the stories. Slap big name writers and artists on it and call it a day. The Ultimate Universe was not necessary.

Know what was actually "super heroes in the world outside our window"? The New Universe. It failed initially because it was ahead of its time. We're ready now. Marvel should try harder to revitalize that. The only Ultimate title worth anything was Spider-Man. Marvel should give that book the "spider-man family" treatment and drop the rest.

Why don't any of our opinions matter, by the way? Are we not the supporters of this site, via views and ad clicks? If the content drives us away, the ad revenues suffer.

DP7 had the government controlled superhuman idea going with a cast of characters who had powers that were just as problematic as helpfull, like the speedster who has to constantly eat or the strong man who keeps having muscle spasms as his body adjusts. Sure, Kicker's Inc. wasn't a gem but the line had some strong concepts that were written fairly well. We just wasn't ready for a more "real people" with powers take on the genre back then.

3 years or 43 years is the same shit when it comes to comics, we needs us a primer Warren.

I think i heard Shooter wanted to attract the top name talent in those days - guys like Miller, Moore, Byrne - from the beginning, but he had a very limited budget so he couldn't bring those guys in. Kind of curious how it would have turned out if he could have gotten them.

Good comic, but it strangely never felt like it belonged in the Marvel U.

But this week is seems to be the reviewers. "All this talk of cynicism..the perfect example is this talkback." Geez, next you're gonna tell us to get the hell off your lawn, I mean your talkback.

And anyway, so what if we're cynical? We're still buying comics and hanging out on this site.

I am again reminded of Bill Mantlo, who I've loathed since I was in middle school and he published comments about "the fan elite" and how he doesn't care about them, he writes for kids. I immediately boycotted him, and I was only 12 at the time. People who don't appreciate their fan base/customers....F*** those people.

Well, I just bought Starman Omnibus 2, and am having buyers' remorse due to the wretched, abysmal, horrible JLA preview in this week's books. Pro-active, hunting down the villains before they strike...not only is this not the portrayal of JLA that I know, this is a total Marvel rip-off (and I didn't like it when Marvel espoused the totalitarian hero concept either). So...maybe Robinson isn't so great.

Aside from that:

New Mutants makes me very happy. I started collecting X-Men/New Mutants right after the Mutant Massacre and before Fall of the Mutants, and at the time New Mutants was my favorite book coming out.... I love to see the old gang back together.

Loeb made me not only stop reading the Ultimates, but made me give up on the Ultimate line altogether. Unlike some (many? most?) of you I like a lot of Millar's stuff, but I'm still not giving his Ultimate Avengers book a shot. Fuck Loeb and fuck Marvel for keeping him employed.

I'm enjoying X-Factor again, but the non Jamie/Layla stuff is still dragging it down for me. Isn't there anything more interesting the rest of X-Factor could be doing?

I'm growing a little weary of the "Dark" stuff. Again -unlike many of you- I enjoyed SI, but Marvel is going into full-tilt overkill mode with Dark titles.

I'm fucking pissed that Wolverine is being replaced with Dark Wolverine. If I wanted to read about that douche, I'd be reading Origin. Why not let him take over the title he was introduced in?

Secret Warriors and Dark Avengers are both on the bubble for me... It could pop at any given issue, and they could go bye-bye from my pull-list.... What's helping is that list in question has never been shorter... at least not in the last 20 years.

I was a big fan of Ultimates 1 and 2. I didn't buy 3 because I am sick of Scarlet Witch being mistreated, and am not interested in any more books that kill her, make her crazy, etc. Ultimate X-Men, however, rocked! Millar's run was outstanding and so was BKV's. Unfortunately, Kirkman ruined the book, but it was still awesome.

I am half interested in Ultimatum because I find train wrecks interesting. I'll keep reading here and see if I want the trade. The mention here of Valkyrie chopping Magneto's arm off sounds like my kind of thing. I like the Ultimate concept, so am sorry it's ending.

I don't think it is possible to make the Fantastic Four interesting. Byrne is the only one who ever came close, so I never actually checked out Ult. FF.

Batman proper is more Dick debating whether to be Batman, I gleaned that from just a cursory pass. It was cool in BFTC, but I don't need another issue of internal struggle. Plus he's already executed the deed in the Morrison book, which came out LAST WEEK (seriously whoever is scheduling at DC wake up).

Ultimate U had some interesting stuff, just slid downhill quickly in the past few years...except Spider-Man...(clenches teeth)until...last...week....G RAGHHHHHH CRAP!!!!!

I would be fired from my job if I put out either repetitive stories or fucked up sequencing like DC has been doing.

Kid Flash appearing in FLASH REBIRTH b4 he is resurrected in LoTW. Introducing Damian and Dick (there that flows better than Dick Damian) one week and then the next week having Dick debate whether to be Batman.

DC you need a level of oversight timing these damn things. Whoever is doing the job now is doing it poorly, this needs to go to someone who loves comics, not just someone that can run an excel spreadsheet.

You lost two sales today because of this, so don't tell me some level of continuity and liquidity between titles isn't important. Seriously, if Morrison's book came out next week, you boys have another three dollars. We always say sales dictate operations, well there you go.

And he did create the above mentioned Rocket Racoon and created Cloak and Dagger.

It is sad he got injured in a hit-and-run.

They never did catch the driver.

ANd I am not taking anything away from David's run. I am a firm believer you don't have to be original, just be good. Take what was used before you and make it your own.

Still, I love his Hulk run. Criminally under appreciated.

By the way, I have always loved your username.

But I was a pretty crappy boycotter since I did indeed read, and love, Rocket Raccoon. I only remember Mignola as credited.

And, while I don't apologize for being an "always negative douchebag," I am sorry to hear about Mantlo's poor health.

It had amazing talent when it started out but it all just dwindled away. Ult. X-Men and FF began with A-talents Kubert and Immonen, but for the latter half of the releases they have been penciled by C-talent (and zero interest) fill-in artists!

And now the Universe has culminated with Ultimatum, which has just been an action figure massacre (imagine a 9-year old using a Red Washable Marker to scribble blood on his toys' faces).

The only positive thought is that I still have my good memories (and books). Marvel can continue to mutilate its characters, I'm just not buying. I've been buying Marvel in some form or other for more than ten years but I stopped last year. Now I'm investing in GL (not Corps though) and whatever Quitely-Morrison book is out there(I say Quitely first cuz if he ain't drawing, I'm not buying). That's it.

David Finch's illustrations in Ultimatum are grotesque and unpleasant. It's really quite absurd and unnecessary. I don't buy the book, and if i had a kid I certainly wouldn't let him/her look at it either.

Eight. This Kid is three-and-a-half feet tall and he probably hasn't grasped division or cursive yet (well, based on his writing level, maybe he has, but you get my point).

the book represents 1) Prof X getting his neck broken, which was a little traumatizing to me, 2)The Blob eating Wasp's intestines, 3)(the worst yet IMHO) Dr. Strange getting squeezed to death and you get a frame-by-frame of his face exploding under the pressure.

It is 100% awful and really shouldnt be marketed to kids

As many here (and Christian Bale) have already said, "It's pretty useless." As well as annoying and disturbing. Really, why waste our time? Because I doubt there's anyone here who's bookmarked Liam's website to read his opinions on a regular basis or has any interest in them, outside of Archie books and the occasional "DC Adventures" comic. You know... comics FOR little kids!

But it's nice to know how much you care about the thoughts of the folks who actually are responsible for this site's success.

Dude, they're comic books. Do you need some kind of degree in Comicbookology to review them?

I always felt the goal of this column was fan improvement, a worthy goal since we're all fans who need improving.

Trust me, bunkies, modern fans need to ditch the pretentiousness.

Comics are supposed to be fun.

So let me ask you, what comics did you love as a kid and why?

I got seriously into comics when I was about 10. I was already seriously into monsters and horror and at the time, the spinner rack was loaded with monster comics. Garish covers. Overbold lettering. Werewolves battling bizzare amalgams of vampires, Frankenstein monsters, zombies, golems. You had cover blurbs like WOLF BEAST VS. MOON NIGHT and ADVENTURES INTO FEAR AS MORBIUS SWIMS THROUGH A HELLEYES DARKLY.

The snobbishness of some people on this page is utterly ridiculous: there's no stipulated age limit on this site, nor on the comic books The Kid reviews, so why should he not submit his reviews?

And one day he will be just like those of us over the age of 30, earning his cash and buying his books and remembering what a bunch of idiots some of us were on AICN Comics Talkbacks. Younger readers should be encouraged, supported and given a voice because WE WERE JUST LIKE LIAM once.

I remember being a kid and getting the train to Camden Town to pick up my Batman comics from Mega City. The guys who ran the shop were so friendly and supportive - they'd chat about books and point my in directions I hadn't considered. I still pop back there whenever I can and it's been twenty years since I first set foot in there...

If they had behaved as some people do on this site then that would have been one fewer fan supporting an industry we all, hopefully, love.

I want to have a stirring row, a little verbal fist-to-cuffs. Let's back off junior mint for one week please.

The Kid is here to stay and some people do enjoy his reviews, especially the parnets out there.

We cover all bases. You want smart you Got Bug, Imp, Jinx, Ryan, Rock. You want dripping with irony, Mr. PAsty fits the bill. You want dirty, I think I fit that notch pretty snugly. Surly Sleay...we have it all for everyone.

I'm still wondering though who thought delivering a comic without words was a good idea after the horror show that was "nuff said".

At least that crap came with a warning.

To a certain extent Bendis has earned all the latitude in the world for his run on Ultimate Spider-man. Even if he had finished the series with Mary-Jane waking up and Peter stepping out of the shower then one could, possibly, stretch to degree of forgiveness.

If they were going to make the images the central focus of the comic then why-o-why didn't they get Bagley back to do the art as a special, or convince another marquee artist to give it a shot. If you're going to be different be REALLY different...

a./ Sell them on ebay...

b./Offer them to your LCS...

c./Take them to a charity shop so that someone benefits from the sale as well as the find...

d./Any other suggestions?

It's a question of space...

Yeah, like anybody at Marvel knows about that story or Steranko.

Of course, that story was secret agents doing secret agent stuff.

Also, it could be Bendis answer to critics who complain that his stuff is too talky.

Maybe I'll look at the issue in the shop next time I take the kids in for their Aliens Kubricks. Might be an honest effort to do something different.

Total Bendis move.

http://tinyurl.com/mlcdxu

Shameless plug.

99% of Bendis fans will agree though that his strength is his dialogue not his plotting. Non-fans won't even give him that (which is where I think you're coming from).

I'll say right now, I'm a words guy when it comes to comic over art. Just how I'm wired. But this is a totally different way to handle a book and requires a special team. These guys ain't it.

Utter lack of detail to the over arching event, sloppy presentation in some cases (the building giving birth -- one minute no water, next minute woosh) and as you stated if you didn't read Ultimatum all you could give is a big WTF am I reading from a story stand-point.

http://tinyurl.com/mlcdxu

http://www.aintitcool.com/node /31582#2

Google to the rescue again.

Even if there was a space invaders comic, I avoid game to comic bleeds like the plague.

Crazy searches aside the site for Outer Space Men is a bitch to navigate, but you can order from there: http://tinyurl.com/np5436

I agree snappy banter was not called for here, but then you have to ask should he even be writing comics if he can't man up and can the snark to deliver some heartfelt pages.

And you said it man "attempted" seriousness.

I'm man enough to admit that certain comics have caused me to have outward reactions whether laughter or tears.

The only thing that made me want to cry after reading this book was Terms of Endearment playing on AMC in the background.

Not saying I'm God's gift to the keyboard, but I button-up every day to write drab CorpSpeak, but can still rock out with my cock out about comics.

Someone of Bendis' calbre should be able to table the funny and be able to add some gravity to his dialogue.

(2)His reviews are all pretty much the SAME (When Spidey/Hulk/Bullseye hit the guy off the roof it was cool! 9/10!)

No one over the age of 12 — which is pretty much everyone who GOES to this website — really CARES what an 8-year-old thinks about comics that aren't geared towards children! Unless Ambush Bug or The Kid's daddy are going to claim that Ultimatum or Dark Avengers were written with 8-year-olds in mind... which they clearly WEREN'T.

What's sad is that the TBers seem to have a MUCH better grasp of appropriate material and venues for children than The Kid's biggest defenders/pimps, Ambush Bug and Poppa Kid. Their egos are apparently so big, they refuse to recognize or admit how irresponsible what they're doing really is. Bad parenting rears it's ugly head, yet again... and we all get a front row seat! Yea! >:(

A comic book is something the teacher takes from you when you have it slipped under your health text book in study hall.

A comic book is something you'd better not be drawing when someone SMART AND HARD WORKING is lecturing you about how you should work hard at something smart.

Comic fans who deserve the space? We comic fans ARE space or at least we TAKE UP space and we're proud of it!

Saying smart, hard working comic reviewers is as big an insult as saying smart hardworking surfers or bikers or garage band musicians.

And the parenting guy. What are you, man, the PTA? Or the father of ... girls? Man, when I was the Kid's age, it was Billy Jack and Bruce Lee kicking ass, Dirty Harry and Death Wish blowing it away, reruns of Colonel Hogan and his Heroes blowing up Nazi stuff, smoking cigars and making out with Fraulein Helga and being the only adult is media that I respected! My Dad let me watche POINT BLANK and my reaction to Lee Marvin was: "Now, that's who I want to grow up to be!"

If you don't have kids and want to see realistic portrayals of kids it literature, may I suggest William Golding's LORD OF THE FLIES, Richard Hughes A HIGH WIND IN JAMAICA and Orson Scott Card's ENDER'S GAME. Also, Bart Simpson will tell you that there are many fine books on war in your local library with cool, gorey pictures. Don't believe what your Mom or girlfriend thinks about kids, dude. You'll be selling your own kids short and setting them up for bad school experiences.

As for some of the over the top violence/language/adult sitchiachuns in comics, well, we know that those aren't FOR kids OR adults. That is adolescent material.

Personally, I wouldn't allow myself to read something that I wouldn't allow my middle graders to read (they only like ALIEN VS. PREDATOR comics and Jeff Smith's BONE).

And as far as the whole DARK KNIGHT vs. BATMAN & ROBIN thing, yeah, TDK if yer 11-1000, but yeah, if yer 8, BATMAN & ROBIN has Mr. Freeze and the Hockey Team from Hell and Bane and that ice cream truck. Now, the real movie is BATMAN FOREVER. The only thing Batman that Buzz Jr. cared about when he was the Kid's age was Two Face.

And I'm sure that DARK AVENGERS and ULTIMATIUM (or whatever it's called)weren't written for the 8 year old mind. They were written for the 14 year old mind, as God intended.

Besides, even when taking over Daddy's business, kids ought to be allowed to wear their own clothes.

Your criticism of "Bruce as asshole" is a criticism of the writers, not the characters. There's no reason Bruce can't be written so that he pats a sidekick on the head every once in awhile. There's no reason Morrison couldn't write the exact same story with Bruce in the costume.

In fact, it would be a better story, I pose, because it is Bruce's son in the pixie suit now. That Morrison re-introduced a biological heir but never let Bruce even take the boy fishing is as dumb as resurrecting Jason Todd.

Call a gimmick a gimmick.