Ultimate Impact: Reborn #2: Strange Visitors

The origin boxes and in the wind and Miles will have the enlist the aid of the Avengers before things go awry. However, it might already be too late as across town The Punisher comes face to face with the mad Hostilicus.

With Ultimate Endgame and Ultimate Finale now in the books, we can fully focus on its fallout with the origin boxes in Ultimate Impact. While this first issue was all set up, this one starts to establish a bit more of the stakes and the players involved. Specifically Hostilicus, Vin Lerner, and more importantly Orson Boothe. While things are relatively small scale all things considered, there are certainly more elements building to a breaking point.

Chris Condon frames the bulk of this issue from the perspective of The Punisher, whose narration comes off a bit…hokey to say the least. It teleports me back to the 90’s and not in a positive way, but there are times when its amusing. Orson Boothe is quickly turning into a despicable man due to the gems power, while Vin is getting much of a slower build when it comes to his new powers.

Stefano Caselli’s art is still great to look at, with the battle between Castle and Hostilicus being the obvious highlight. It’s fun to see Frank try to dodge and weave around the Negative Zone dweller’s hulking frame. A special shoutout as well should be given to Joe Sabino, whose lettering of Boothe’s Cyttorak influenced words are striking and haunting.