The latest issue of The Ultimates from Marvel continues to tackle difficult storylines. Key Comics Vault has covered how writer Deniz Camp is unafraid to talk politics in the series. The Ultimates #22 is, again, an unapologetic fight against fascism, but adds a personal conflict with Captain America at its centre. It is another memorable outing and one of the best of the series.
Major spoilers ahead for The Ultimates #22!
War is Hell
The ongoing war against the Maker and his supporters has never been glorified in the series. Despite it being a righteous war for liberation, Camp is careful to show the darkness and horror. The Ultimates #22 continues in this manner, but it feels even more apparent here.
Captain America leads the campaign on the ground against the Grand Skull. It is a bloody war with high casualties. Artist Juan Frigeri and colour artist Federico Blee do an incredible job showing visual disonance in the first two pages. Page one shows a nostaligc look at Steve Rogers growing up, with bright colours and a hopeful air. The following page shows Captain America pull a knife form his arm, surrounded by the bodies of friends and foes amidst an ongoing battle.
The cost of this battle is high. Pietro and Wanda use their powers to help scores of wounded and dying. Even Vision starts to see this was as folly as the death count mounts. The Ultimates are fighting to secure a future but Cap sees that as unobtainable without finishing past battles.
Red Skull II
What the Ultimates need for a breakthrough in the fight against the Grand Skull is a miracle. One seems to apear from a very unexpected quarter. Captain Ameria receives an invitation to talk from someone claiming to be the Red Skull.
This Red Skull is none other than John Walker. Walker had received an Origin Box containing super soldier serum. He had been a member of the neo-Nazi Red Skulls however, so was not going to use it to help try and free the world. Instead he became a super-soldier for the Red Skulls.
The Ultimates had thought him dead though, as Jim Hammond had immolated his face in The Ultimates #10. Alive and well, despite the horrific injuries, Walker was able to offer Cap a secret way into the Grand Skull’s fortress. Walker wanted to do this as he led a breakaway faction of Red Skulls and removing the Grand Skull would remove a rival.
Despite who the information came from, Captain America uses the intel. Cap, Hawkeye, and Quicksilver, follow the information to access tunnels that lead them into the base. Camp uses this bit of plot to reinforce the fact that war makes strange bedfellows, but also how fixated Cap is on getting to the Grand Skull. He would work with an enemy to get to the Grand Skull.
A truth most feared
Since an earlier encounter, Captain America has suspected who the Grand Skull is. Hearing his voice, Cap immediately recognised it as Bucky Barnes, his old friend. When Steve and the others infiltrate the Grand Skull’s base, they quickly discover the Grand Skull. One deflected grenade to the head later and the Grand Skull is indeed revealed to be Bucky.
“You’ve betrayed the people! Everything we fought for!” – Captain America
Bucky, visibly much older than his peer Steve, is more than prepared for this fight. A mechsuit forms aroud the Grand Skull allowing him to go toe-to-toe with Cap. Once-friends, the two trade blows.
Ultimately, Steve beats Bucky. Then he goes one step further. Tears streaming down his face, Captain America breaks Bucky’s neck, killing him. This shocking scene ends the issue.
What were the Grand Skull’s motivations?
During the climatic fight between the Grand Skull and Captain America, Bucky explains how he became a fascist. Captain is shocked and appalled to find his old friend is behind the mask. The two of course had fought together against the Nazis in the Second World War. Seeing Bucky in this role feels like a betrayal of all the sacrifices made by them and others.
Bucky explains how he felt left behind by America after the war. The public seemed keen to move on without him and no longer wanted the freedoms he fought for. Despite this he tried to run for Congress on several occasions. In his eyes, he tried to make changes. An unpretentious, but valuable, job as a mechanic followed until he became obsolete. Bucky had no place in the Maker’s world.
Nick Fury contacted Bucky a cure for a diagnosis of liver failure but also with a proposal. It would be dangerous but would give Bucky purpose. Fury wanted him to go deep undercover and become the Red Skull. Bucky accepted.
As the new Red Skull, Bucky had to say and do terrible things. He told himself it was for the greater good. The more he did those awful things, the easier it got. The lines blurred. In the end, Bucky started to believe in the things he was saying. Bucky truly became the Grand Skull.
Bucky did not want to die alone. Captain America honoured his friend’s, his brother’s, wish. The tears shed were for the friend he had lost, not the man he had become.
Camp’s message to readers
Bucky’s transition to become the Red Skull does mirror the real world. There is a well-trodden path to extremism, where recruiters target vulnerable and disenfranchised people. People who might have actual grievances with the world, but are then convinced solutions lie elsewhere.
These people, like Bucky, may not have joined because they completely share the same world view, but this group would have shown some level of care towards them. Perhaps they just made them feel important or offered them a purpose. Inevitably, that care is a façade and the recruit is used for a nefarious purpose. This is just what Fury did to Bucky.
Bucky’s actions obviously mirror those who commit violence under orders. There is often an attempt to justify it. Collateral damage and loss of life is a price worth paying for security is an example of this.
Although it was unlikely this was Camp’s goal, there are some similarities to draw with extremist elements on social media. Many start to try throwing in controversial views or comments for engagement. When challenged it can always be brushed off as a joke. If it goes on long enough, those same people then often become advocates for those views.
If there is a message from Camp here, it is how easy it is for even good people to fall into doing bad things. It can happen to those you would never suspect. To those you love.
Every issue from Camp offers a lot of depth, highlighting some injustice or social problem. The Ultimates is far more cerebral than the average superhero comic and is a gem among Marvel’s current titles. It will be a shame to see the series wrap up. How one person can be writing so many quality series at the moment is testament to Camp’s abilities.
Buy The Ultimates Vol 1: Fix the World – Bookshop.org US
Buy The Ultimates Vol 1: Fix the World – Bookshop.org UK
Pre-order The Ultimates #24 – Forbidden Planet UK
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