“Yesterday’s” Comic> Ultraverse Premiere #5

“Paper covers rock! I win!”

Ultraverse Premiere #5

Malibu Comics/Ultraverse (July, 1994)

EDITOR: Hank Kanalz

I was supposed to be reviewing Prototype #13 but I can’t seem to find it anywhere. I can find the flipbook of Ultraverse Premiere #6 but I haven’t done #5 yet, so let’s get caught up on this. Because apparently the week I try to cut down my time consuming anthology count is another way to eat up my time! Hopefully the comic I was going to review shows up in time to review it, as the whole series seems to be down past #4 on every site I tried.

This issue shared a flipbook with Firearm #11 but I don’t care about that series. Naturally that one came up! I still won’t review it. It just makes me madder!

Rush: “Hang Time”

WRITER: Andy Mangles | PENCILER: Sam Liu | INKER: Jasen Rodrigues | COLORING: Derek Bellman & Violent Hues | LETTERER: Dave Lanphear

My first exposure to this guy, and I wouldn’t mind if it was my last. Rush’s superspeed powers are tied to his hormones. He’s also the son of a cop, and total jerk. In this story he fakes an Ultra threat to a singer to get an easy in to her concert and get paid as an Ultra bodyguard. Well surprise, some guy named Aeon wants her brassiere because it’s a portal to another world or something. he’s a stuttering mess but his powers almost kill Rush. Rush manages to stop him, and the promoter is going to use the footage because he knows Rush faked the call and they have more high-priced lawyers than he does. At least he got what he deserved and stopped the bad guy. He’s also still getting paid. It’s an okay story.

Elven: “Prime-itive Attraction”

WRITER: Len Strazewski | PENCILER: Greg Luzniak | INKER: Bob Wiacek | COLORING: Mickey Rose & Violent Hues | LETTERER: Carrie Spiegle

I think it was last issue that the warlock Lacroix took over Elven, forcing her to attack Prime, who is still in his annoying 90s tough guy phase (which you can blame Firearm for indirectly). The story is just long battle as Elven tries to find the mind control. Finally, Prime causes her to use so much magic that her Elven body breaks down, which Prime recognizes because it’s the same thing that happens to him. I do know that there’s a connection between these two, and maybe they can team up after stopping the villain. It’s a good fight, and Kevin seems to be maturing as Prime, but we’ll see how this connects to his own title, and presumably leads to Elven’s. The only complaint is that the word balloons are misplaced a lot, so I can’t follow the speaking order of the characters.

Iron Clad: “Remember Last Spring?”

WRITER: Mark Paniccia | PENCILER: Brian O’Connell | INKER: Mike Christian | COLORING: Micky Rose & Violent Hues | LETTERER; Carrie Spiegle

The origin of Spencer Collins, aka Iron Clad. The same day his girlfriend broke up with him is the same day he stumbled upon a gang about to sexually assault a woman. He tried to help and got beat up for it, but that just make the Ultra power he didn’t even know he had kick in, and his metal body was enough to take the punks down. As part one of an origin, it’s not too shabby. While Spencer hesitates a bit he still responds like a hero and gets rewarded for it in the end. Curious to see more.

overall

I rather enjoyed the story. Elven and Prime’s encounter would have been my favorite if the word balloons weren’t all messed up. Iron Clad has an interesting origin start, and even Rush’s story was a good read, even if he is a jerk. I still have no interest in the Firearm side of the comic, but this was worth reading.