Ultimates #24: The Meaning of Strength

In the cities of Heaven, She-Hulk, Wasp, and Shen Qi launch a two-pronged attack against the Hulk. That’s the main focus of the entire issue. No real introspection, no split focus, just the last stand on Gamma Island, and it is an entertaining issue that ties up one of the final loose ends of the Maker’s council. However, the victory at the end of the issue intentionally feels hollow since it coincides with the ending of Ultimate Endgame #4, where the dome comes down.

Camp finishes Ultimates strong (no pun intended) giving most of the focus of the issue to She-Hulk and finishing out her arc. Throughout the issue is a narration about just what strength means to those who choose to wield it. It’s a good contrast between Lejori and Banner and shows just how far the former has come from their last encounter way back in issue six. Janet’s reconciliation with Hank feels something that was kind of just tacked on at the end just to resolve the subplot, but it isn’t anything that will break the reading experience. Shen Qi is also here. His fight with Hulk is fun, and definitely invoked Fist of the North Star. Hulk, on the other hand, remains fairly one-note to the end, but watching his defeat is still very satisfying,

Juan Frigeri is just as strong as its been since the beginning of the series, illustrating a violent yet cathartic battle that felt earned and was in step with the narrative running through it. Federico Blee’s use of green also helps highlight the gamma in She-Hulk.