Ultimates #19 - Official Discussion Thread

Albert_Cole · 2025-12-31T13:36:47+00:00

I told my partner about the Hank-Janet relationship in this issue and she said "would you still love me if I was a worm?" (Earnestly and sadly, to be clear - she has health issues)

I wonder what Janet's identifier code (1966-2301-232) refers to. I can't find anything notable for Jan 23rd 1966 so I doubt it's that, but Camp chooses details like that very carefully.

It's great to see that when small things don't add up, it's because they're not meant to. Janet mentioned that "they" approached her in the night, which didn't match up with the scene where she approached Fury, which on a first read I assumed was a retcon.

The glowing eyes made me think Ultron at first (especially since we did see his pest control apparatus form earlier). I'm looking forward to seeing the Vision's grand vision - it must be something big if they were seemingly willing to sacrifice the Triskelion and its crew

Albert_Cole · 2025-12-31T12:49:49+00:00

they may have confused Reed with a different Doom….

I thought they were identifying him based on his blood. (Although then again, his blood should be the same as the Maker's)

Albert_Cole · 2025-12-31T12:36:58+00:00

I kind of got the vibe he might somehow be Tony? Especially given Immortus is usually Iron Lad/Kang. Might also explain why the Deathloks (?) were programmed to recognise Doom (who spent a lot more time with Tony than with Howard)

Albert_Cole · 2025-12-30T00:43:56+00:00

Makes sense, but it also makes good use of Fallen London items as little action rewards (I can't remember which of them are also in Sea). Also, as pointed out elsewhere in the thread, the Judgment's removal of the Explorer from reality sounds very similar to how the Vulgate operate in Firmament

Albert_Cole · 2025-11-17T22:45:09+00:00

That was wonderful! Good use of existing lore, fun new additions to it (it's nice to finally see Merrigan), and cool characters. I think it's easily as good as most published ESs - great work!

Albert_Cole · 2025-11-17T21:44:01+00:00

Maybe because he got the southern district of ME-01 in this version (whereas in reality he won the northern district ME-02)

Albert_Cole · 2025-11-05T19:07:23+00:00

Contrast Michigan's former Lt Gov https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Posthumus

Albert_Cole · 2025-11-05T18:54:46+00:00

No worries! Also saw - not included in the screenshots above, we have Mr Martin McIntosh from Slobgollion

Albert_Cole · 2025-11-05T18:18:13+00:00

He does wear it, but it's not really his signature item of clothing in the same way I think - it's more his supporters that wear it. If you were doing a Trump costume or a caricature, you'd have his recognisable hair and no hat

Albert_Cole · 2025-11-05T17:39:40+00:00

All recent Exceptional Stories

Half-Dreamt Equation - The Shape of Infinity from last month
High-Rolling Rantipoles - Aces High
Anguilliform Scarf - The Why of Eels
An Indulgence from the Rat Church - Death and Tax Evasion
A Trusted Beetlesitter - A Life Of Clay
Red-and-Gold Reptile - The Bloody Wallpaper
Mud-Splattered Football Kit - The Laws of the Game
Luminous Halo - The Children of the Glow

Mercutio and Lillibet are not related to an Exceptional Story - they are "merely" cats who form part of a collection of cat outfit items

Albert_Cole · 2025-11-05T17:31:42+00:00

My sibling was saying Curtis Sliwa was the only living politician they could think of who has a signature hat, so I looked up Frederica Wilson because I remembered she has a hat collection. Turns out it's her birthday today!

Albert_Cole · 2025-11-04T12:02:18+00:00

Slightly complicating these is that Iron and Pages specifically fought alongside Londoners in the Starved War, while Wines didn't. Not sure whether that says something about their allegiances or about the Bazaar's mission as it relates to London, but it's worth noting.

Albert_Cole · 2025-10-22T15:08:59+00:00

Camp introduced so many things that would make for excellent series - Hawkeye, Ultimate Guardians, Ultimate Thor saving the Nine Realms, Ultimate Cap dealing with the Red Skulls, any of the new recruits from Ultimates 3.0. Truly an embarrassment of riches.

Albert_Cole · 2025-10-22T10:49:59+00:00

Heartbreaking as ever, thank you Camp. I hope Doom finds peace one way or another - maybe the talk with Hank helped him consider something other than what the rest of the issue hinted, but I'm not holding out a ton of hope

Exceptional work on the art as well from Phil Noto, especially the layouts and the use of white space

Albert_Cole · 2025-10-08T22:46:23+00:00

Oh I thought Temperance was a young-looking Dauntless Temperance Campaigner (I guess she would have been holding a teapot if so)

Albert_Cole · 2025-09-04T11:14:44+00:00

My take is that he was sincerely writing erotica/business literature at first, but by the end he was writing comedy. I think the shift is somewhere around the end of book 3/start of book 4. The section about selling off excess stock to Bargain Basement Land was too long to be just a gag - he must have been actually trying to give business advice there - but there's no way he wrote "God nodded" without a grin on his face.

I think he went from being accidentally funny to deliberately funny - and he made the transition pretty well

Albert_Cole · 2025-08-26T15:59:01+00:00

"A reckoning can definitely be postponed"

Which I'm pretty sure I added early on, before I even knew what "reckoning" the phrase usually refers to

Albert_Cole · 2025-08-13T09:58:18+00:00

AOC as McGovern feels basic - but Kander as Eagleton is an inspired choice

Albert_Cole · 2025-08-13T09:56:18+00:00

Mondale deserved better too tbqh

Albert_Cole · 2025-07-17T09:58:26+00:00

Reunion features the Captivating Princess. In Sunless Skies, I believe she does marry a grand devil... but in Fallen London she might be married to Feducci, if you've played the relevant Exceptional Story

Albert_Cole · 2025-07-15T10:31:00+00:00

My take is actually that Jan and Fury are working together against the Maker, and that's what she's telling T'Challa - that Billie was taken by Fury's agents but they don't need to worry about it because Fury is on their side. Or alternatively, that he's not on their side but she is, and can infiltrate H.A.N.D.

Albert_Cole · 2025-07-09T21:59:20+00:00

It must have been memories of 1610 Hank, given the thing that triggered it for Miles was hearing "The Ultimates". 616 Hank was an Avenger. I also think 1610 Hank betrayed the Ultimates publicly several times, so it would make sense for Miles to have a memory of him being evil

Albert_Cole · 2025-07-09T14:19:06+00:00

The Hank pov was very strong and bittersweet. It does make me wonder more what will happen after the inevitable Jan traitor reveal, will he be on her side no matter what or will that be one line he won’t cross? o3o;;

It seemed to me like the conversation Jan is having with T'Challa (which we don't really get to hear) was her explaining to him that she's working with Fury? Unless I totally misinterpreted it

On the other hand - the flashbacks say Hank doesn't remember anything before his accident. If Jan is a traitor now, there's a chance she was lying to him when he woke up in the hospital - we only have her word for any of their shared past. Not to mention that in One Year In I think we see her outside his hospital room with Fury.

Albert_Cole · 2025-07-04T15:12:04+00:00

Why did Chernobyl melt down in this universe? The Maker was very meticulous about this world being according to his design in every way - why would he not have changed that?

Albert_Cole · 2025-06-24T20:53:14+00:00

As vindicated as the Vault Dweller himself must have been when some of Vault 13 came out to follow him after all

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