Ghost Rider: Vengeance Unbound

ULTIMATE AVENGERS # 8

SYNOPSIS
In South America, a gangster drug-lord named Tyrone Cash leaves his mansion for a walk on the beach. He thinks back to sixteen years ago, when he was a crippled scientist at Oxford and first met Bruce Banner. Back on the beach, Cash meets with War Machine, who is acting as a representative of Nick Fury's Avengers squad. Rhodes shows Cash a picture of a woman and child who say they miss him very much - SHIELD knows that Cash is really Leonard Williams, Bruce Banners former mentor on the Super Soldier program in England where he first became addicted to murder and destruction, and that he now runs this country since he killed the local gang-lords. Cash attacks Rhodes and the two battle their way up the beach, eventually crashing through Cash's mansion. When he gets War Machine on the ground, Cash leaps into the air and grabs a commuter plane, which he slams into Rhodes. Rhodes tells Cash to stop, to which Tyrone replies that there's nothing they can take away from him that he cares about. Except, Rhodes replies, if he doesn't come back to America with him SHIELD will tell his family that he's still alive. Reluctantly, Cash agrees to hear War Machine's proposition.

Later, at Fury's New Jersey safehouse, the assembled Avengers (Fury, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Punisher, War Machine, and Cash) are debriefed on their next mission. The White House itself has given them a kill-order on a frightening biker called the Ghost Rider!

ANNOTATIONS
Though the cover says "Ultimate Avengers 2 # 2", the indicia labels it as "Ultimate Avengers # 8".

REVIEW
Ultimate Avengers has its second issue a row that deals with the recruitment of a new member. This time it's Tyrone Cash, an original character who is called "the first Hulk".

I really don't know what to think of Tyrone Cash, I honestly don't. What was the point of bringing this character into the cast? Even though the real Hulk is dead, Millar had just introduced the "Nerd Hulk" in the previous story-arc (in fact, almost all of the characters introduced as Avengers in the first arc have been discarded). It's almost as if Millar wanted to use Luke Cage, but was told at the last minute that he'd already introduced Cage into the Ultimate universe years before as a joke character. Cash has some interesting attributes, particularly how "going Hulk" changed him from a mild-mannered scientist to a violence-addicted killing machine that still possesses his brilliant intellect (unlike Banner's Hulk). But the guy's dialogue is so awful, with every British stereotype you can think of coming out of his mouth (which confuses the hell out of me, considering Millar's English!).

Like last issue's introduction of the Punisher, there's hardly a plot to this issue - it's nothing but a padded fight sequence, We're now two issues into this arc and the main plot hasn't even started yet, illustrating why I have such a problem with comics written for the eventual trade paperback. Why should I spend four dollars on a comic that can be read in less than a minute?

The best thing about this issue is Leinil Francis Yu's artwork, which has improved exponentially since his work on New Avengers and Secret Invasion. I can't help but think the improvement is due at least in part to Gerry Alanguilan's inking and Laura Martin's brilliant colors. The fight sequence between Cash and War Machine is illustrated well, with the actions drawn clearly and dynamically. The real money shot of the issue, of course, is the final double-page spread that introduces Ghost Rider. Yu draws an amazing interpretation of the character, and I especially love how he draws the Rider's motorcycle.

I'm eagerly anticipating the next issue, which will hopefully get the Ghost Rider plot underway after two months of stage-setting. This issue is pretty, sure, but by itself I can't help but feel a little gypped.

Grade: C+

VENGEANCE UNBOUND
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ULTIMATE AVENGERS # 8 SYNOPSIS In South America, a gangster drug-lord named Tyrone Cash leaves his mansion for a walk on the beach. He thinks back to sixteen years ago, when he was a crippled scientist at Oxford and first met Bruce Banner. Back on the beach, Cash meets with War Machine, who is acting as a representative of Nick Fury's Avengers squad. Rhodes shows Cash a picture of a woman and child who say they miss him very much - SHIELD knows that Cash is really Leonard Williams, Bruce Banners former mentor on the Super Soldier program in England where he first became addicted to murder and destruction, and that he now runs this country since he killed the local gang-lords. Cash attacks Rhodes and the two battle their way up the beach, eventually crashing through Cash's mansion. When he gets War Machine on the ground, Cash leaps into the air and grabs a commuter plane, which he slams into Rhodes. Rhodes tells Cash to stop, to which Tyrone replies that there's nothing they can take away from him that he cares about. Except, Rhodes replies, if he doesn't come back to America with him SHIELD will tell his family that he's still alive. Reluctantly, Cash agrees to hear War Machine's proposition. Later, at Fury's New Jersey safehouse, the assembled Avengers (Fury, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Punisher, War Machine, and Cash) are debriefed on their next mission. The White House itself has given them a kill-order on a frightening biker called the Ghost Rider! ANNOTATIONS Though the cover says "Ultimate Avengers 2 # 2", the indicia labels it as "Ultimate Avengers # 8". REVIEW Ultimate Avengers has its second issue a row that deals with the recruitment of a new member. This time it's Tyrone Cash, an original character who is called "the first Hulk". I really don't know what to think of Tyrone Cash, I honestly don't. What was the point of bringing this character into the cast? Even though the real Hulk is dead, Millar had just introduced the "Nerd Hulk" in the previous story-arc (in fact, almost all of the characters introduced as Avengers in the first arc have been discarded). It's almost as if Millar wanted to use Luke Cage, but was told at the last minute that he'd already introduced Cage into the Ultimate universe years before as a joke character. Cash has some interesting attributes, particularly how "going Hulk" changed him from a mild-mannered scientist to a violence-addicted killing machine that still possesses his brilliant intellect (unlike Banner's Hulk). But the guy's dialogue is so awful, with every British stereotype you can think of coming out of his mouth (which confuses the hell out of me, considering Millar's English!). Like last issue's introduction of the Punisher, there's hardly a plot to this issue - it's nothing but a padded fight sequence, We're now two issues into this arc and the main plot hasn't even started yet, illustrating why I have such a problem with comics written for the eventual trade paperback. Why should I spend four dollars on a comic that can be read in less than a minute? The best thing about this issue is Leinil Francis Yu's artwork, which has improved exponentially since his work on New Avengers and Secret Invasion. I can't help but think the improvement is due at least in part to Gerry Alanguilan's inking and Laura Martin's brilliant colors. The fight sequence between Cash and War Machine is illustrated well, with the actions drawn clearly and dynamically. The real money shot of the issue, of course, is the final double-page spread that introduces Ghost Rider. Yu draws an amazing interpretation of the character, and I especially love how he draws the Rider's motorcycle. I'm eagerly anticipating the next issue, which will hopefully get the Ghost Rider plot underway after two months of stage-setting. This issue is pretty, sure, but by itself I can't help but feel a little gypped. Grade: C+	Ultimate Avengers # 8 Published: July 2010 Original Price: $3.99 Cover: Leinil Francis Yu Title: "Crime & Punishment", Part 2 Writer: Mark Millar Artist: Leinil Francis Yu Inker: Gerry Alanguilan Letterer: VC's Cory Petit Colorist: Laura Martin Assistant Editor: Sana Amanat Editor: Mark Paniccia Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada