Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Age Of Ultron #9 of 10
Marvel Comics
Bendis, Pacheco, Peterson & Bonet
Age of Ultron rumbles towards its conclusion with another baffling issue. Somehow Bendis manages to continue to surprise me at how badly constructed this series is. I had always assumed things would gel in the end and potentially make sense by the ending but that hasn't happened at all. This particular issue continues to mine the type of material that makes me think Bendis just doesn't understand time travel or simply doesn't care as he makes up his own rules as he goes. This was a tremendous disappoint.
In a surprising move, the Wolverine and Sue that were in the alternate present are involved in an explosion that levels the city. This presumably kills Sue and Wolverine, but Wolverine eventually recovers to return to the past to stop himself from killing Pym that resulted in this chain of events. With me so far?
In the past Wolverine runs into Sue and Wolverine as they prepare to take their roles that leads to the death of Pym. The trio (two Wolverines and a Sue) manage to convince each other that killing Pym isn't a good idea. This takes place in front of Pym. Pym seems to understand to not create Ultron or create him with a failsafe.
The trio head back to the other present time. Two Wolverines. One then kills the other to avoid the paradox.
Where to start?
How about with how inconsistent the artwork is. Wolverine runs the full range of appearing to have a torso three times the size of legs to being slim and trim where his height is equal for legs and upper body. Other ingenious panels include the two Wolverines talking to each other, but while looking in the complete opposite direction at Pym who has nothing to do with the dialogue on the panel. The comic book simply doesn't seem to take care joining dialogue with emotion or with keeping anatomy consistent. I was very disappointed with the art.
Diving into time travel is tricky. Bendis killing off one of the Wolverines doesn't make any sense. Having the Wolverine that went back in time twice kill off the other one makes less sense. How does it make any rationale sense that the Wolverine that should be with Sue doesn't live whereas the other survives? How is that the paradox doesn't simply correct itself before they return to the present, once Pym decides to build the failsafe? I can't understand what Bendis is thinking with these time travel decisions at all.
Lastly, this series built up the notion that Pym built Vision who in turn built Ultron. This issue has Pym discussing how he builds Ultron with no mention of Vision. These types of inconsistencies are impossible to ignore.
What's to like about the book? The ideas are here. Multiple Wolverines, the convincing argument made for Pym to live, the dialogue at times is funny and insightful. The story isn't a total throwaway. However, as an event it is dreadful.
I'm not sure who this is aimed at. I can't see this having any sort of memorable piece coming out of the final issue. The nine issues have been plotted out poorly and the mistakes with time travel are glaring. Does anyone remember Nick Fury? How many issues has it been since that thread has been explored? Proceed with caution.
2 out of 5 Geek Goggles
