Comic Info
Comic Name: Ultimate Nightmare
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artists: Trevor Hairsine/Steve Epting
# of Issues: 5
Release Date: 2005
Ultimate Nightmare #4
Reprints Ultimate Nightmare #1-5 (October 2004-February 2005). Jean Grey and Professor X sense the development of a new mutant in Russia as broadcasts begin around the world presenting otherworldly events. With Captain America, Black Widow, Nick Fury, and the Falcon also heading to Russia, the X-Men find themselves in conflict with something otherworldly in Tungusta.
Written by Warren Ellis, Ultimate Galactus Volume 1: Ultimate Nightmare was the first part of a trilogy which brought Galactus to the Ultimate universe (or Gah Lak Tus as he was called there). The series was illustrated by Trevor Hairsine (except issue three which was illustrated by Steve Epting). The series was met with so-so reception and didn’t end up making a big impact on the Ultimate universe. The comic was originally perceived as a bigger idea with effects for the whole Ultimate universe, but the original writer Mark Millar was forced to give up the project when he had health issues. The collection was also reprinted in Ultimate Galactus Trilogy.
I love Galactus. He is one of my favorite Marvel creations. I like his costume, and I love his massive nature and importance in the Marvel Universe. I was excited about Ultimate Nightmare, but it is not my favorite Galactus tale.
Ultimate Nightmare #5
Ultimate Nightmare doesn’t have a lot of Ellis’ normal interesting plotting. The first part of the story where the death of a world is being broadcast is very much like a Stormwatch or Planetary story, plus it is fun that Ellis encompassed the real life story of Tungusta (where a mysterious explosion leveled a large area in 1908). The X-Men and Fury’s investigation into the Russian Soviet era program gets a bit dull at points (with both groups facing opposition). The end result was the discovery of the Vision (who I thought almost more resembled Deathlok when he is first shown). The Vision warns of the coming of Gah Lak Tus and this leads into the next limited series.
The art for the series was good with Hairsine’s art which is very typical of art in the Ultimate series. There is very little difference between Hairsine’s art and fill-in artist Steve Epting in issue three so the change isn’t as jarring as when a completely different style is brought in for a story.
Ultimate Nightmare is a slightly above average book. It isn’t great, but with the nice art it does strive to be a bit better than some lower stories. I with my admitted soft spot for Galactus, any Galactus story will probably score higher in my book even if I have read better takes. Ultimate Galactus 1: Ultimate Nightmare was followed by Ultimate Galactus 2: Ultimate Secret.
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